​Provident Living is living a life of preparedness and self-reliance. Being Prepared is not a destination that you arrive at, and sit back to wait for the storms of life. It is living a daily life of being prepared in every needful thing. 

​

Provident living is being "wise, frugal, prudent, making provision for the future while attending to immediate needs." (Barbara Smith, May 1976) It is also an “orderly approach to using the resources, gifts, and talents the Lord shares with us” (Victor Brown Ensign Nov 1976) and “Joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies.”(Robert D Hales) “Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the necessities of life for self and family.”

​

If we make preparedness a way of life, it is easy to be prepared. It becomes more difficult and complicated when we try to figure out how to have a set of rules for “Life” and a set for disasters or times of great need. Following are thoughts on how you can direct your thoughts to a “way of life” mind set. 

​

• Make an assessment of your supplies: food, water, clothing, emergency, cooking, fuel, shelter, light, communication, first aid, supplies, equipment. What do you have and what do you need? 

• Make a timeline /plan to build your supply. 

• Begin building a supply: Buy two of everything, spend tax return money, and build across the board. 

• Eat what you store: rotate. 

• Consider the store to be a warehouse. Your needs are met within your own home. 

• Strive to be self-reliant in as many areas as possible: plant a garden, DIY repairs, basic sewing skills, can/bottle home grown produce, minor medical needs (1st aid supplies, medicines and home remedies.) 

• Have a plan for what to do when (not if) the power is out. How will you heat and cook. (Woodstove, kerosene heater, backyard fire pit or barbecue.) 

• Keep a fuel supply updated year round. 

• Shop regularly to re-supply your storage. Watch for sales to buy in bulk. 

• Live frugally. Follow the admonition: “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without.” 

• Acquire new skills that will allow you to become more self-reliant. 

• Stay caught up in home repairs. Keep gas tanks above half. 

• Follow the lists for 72 hour kits, a basic year supply and an expanded year supply. 

• Be proactive in caring for your needs. Do not wait for the ward (or others) to make purchases for you. Only you know what your family needs. 

• Save clothing to pass on to siblings. Have material and notions ready to repair or make new. 

• Be willing to give up some of the luxuries of life to become more self-reliant. 

• Get out of debt – stay out of debt. Save for a rainy day. 

• Involve the family. Brainstorm together ways you can make preparedness a way of life. 

• Test yourself: can you make it without going to the store for a month? Three months? Longer? 

• Some things we are very reliant on the city/government for such as water and electricity. However, you must have a plan for short term. Store water, have a generator, store equipment to can or dry freezer goods. 

• Be brave, be creative. Try something you never have before. Be willing to become a self-learner! 

 

“The Lord does not expect us to do more than we can do, but He does expect us to do what we can do, when we can do it. As President Nelson said… “The Lord loves effort.” Church leaders have…encouraged Latter-day Saints “to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.” At the same time, we are encouraged to “be wise” and “not go to extremes” in our efforts to establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve. (Bishop W Christopher Waddell Oct. 2020)