Earlier this year, some changes were announced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints concerning their Home Storage Centers. Some of you may have missed the news article and the flood of speculation surrounding it. Suffice it to say, it’s a good idea to do our homework and get our facts straight. Because of the misinformation that circulated on blogs and other web sites (and I don’t want to add to it), here is “the” news release on September 25, 2013 from the Church Newsroom that will explain everything. I hope you will read it.
After reading it and a few other Newsroom releases, I considered what impact these changes would have on my family. Not a whole lot. Frankly my aching back is extremely excited that more pre-canned or prepackaged goods will be available at the Home Storage Centers near me at no additional cost. I love that I can visit the local storage center and purchase what I need “without the additional time and labor that comes with self-packing food items.”
Change is a constant in an every growing church. I’m amazed that there are currently 101 Home Storage Centers in the United States and Canada. Thankfully I will still be able to gather some of my food storage from these centers. I have always appreciated the efficiency of this wonderful resource and the friendly volunteer service missionaries that are there to assist me.
As I watched our U.S. government shutdown last night, it made me think of the warning and counsel we have been given by our church leaders to be more self-reliant and prepared for possible job loss. This is an example of how food storage and a financial reserve can help us. There is much more we can each do to improve for troubled times like these. I think back to the warning President Gordon B. Hinckley gave to the men in a priesthood meeting in 2005 in his talk entitled, “If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear.”
May you each have hope in your hearts as you face this challenging time. I pray that those of you who have entered a time of job loss will be blessed for your faithfulness to the commandments. As we move forward in faith, we will be blessed. I know this to be true, because I have seen it in my own life.