Are you familiar with the story of Chicken Little? Yes, that one, where the weird little chicken runs around flapping his wings and squawking about the sky falling in?
Sometimes those who speak of weird pending events are viewed as “Chicken Littles”. I feel a little bit like a Chicken Little as I write this blog.
The I’d reported in a previous blog about a report in the Houston Chronicle on December 17, 2007. The Chronicle had described the dire situation of the world’s wheat supply.
Then in comes another newspaper reporting very similar findings – this time the paper is none other than the New York Times, in the World Business section. The headline reads, “World Food Supply Is Shrinking, U.N. Agency Warns.”
So as I blog about this, I feel a little like Chicken Little himself. Some don’t want to hear Jacques Diouf’s words, as reported by the New York Times: “a very serious risk that fewer people will be able to get food.”
What about your family? Will your family be one of those who can’t get food? If the grocery stores can’t get food in, what then? Does your family have a food supply? Could you go more than one week without the grocery store?
I remember as a small child feeling frightened when the stores closed for just 24 hours at Christmas time. Even though we had food in our kitchen, I always worried, “What if we need SOMETHING and there is no store to get it from?”
Back then, I probably didn’t need to worry. Today, I do. According to the New York Times, the U.N. has called this food crisis “unforeseen and unprecedented.” According to the Times report, there are only 8 weeks of corn reserved throughout the world! 8 Weeks!
But this is where, for Mormons (or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) differ. Prophets have foretold for a very long time that times would become difficult before Christ’s return.
Both the scriptures and also the leaders from the Mormon church have implored people not only to repent (repent simply means to turn away from harmful activities) and turn to Christ, but also to be provident and prepared for that which is to come.
Perhaps all of this is new to you. If so, please feel free to visit the Mormon church’s Provident Living website. There you will find much wisdom to help prepare your family, thus helping them during these turbulent times.
And in the meantime, just know that the Lord knew before all these food shortages hit, that they would hit. That is why he calls on prophets to warn mankind of pending events. This is why listening to the prophets is so important.
So here are three things to do:
- Visit the Provident Living website and take one step each day to increase your family’s preparedness.
- Read the prophets’ words in your own language often so that you can know what the Lord is guiding them to tell all of us.
- Read your scriptures daily so that the Lord can guide you in your life toward wise choices.
In summary, some might view news reports as found in the New York Times (and those of us who read/report on them) as Chicken Littles, running around crying about the “sky” falling in. Yet when the “sky” does fall, suddenly the words of the Littles will make much more sense.
But more importantly, and more so than newspaper reporters (who perhaps cannot get to the whole story), the Lord’s prophets DO have the whole story. And the prophets have proclaimed for years to get ready and be prepared in all things before Christ’s coming. So let’s get busy!
