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M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E

Fun Family 72-Hour Kits
By C.S. Bezas

In his book Prophetic Statements on Food Storage for Latter-day Saints, author Neil H. Leash said,

It has always been a source of puzzlement that any discussion of future events, given to us prophetically, seems to be received by so many Saints as information which they need not be overly concerned about; that somehow it applies to others, even to another generation (141).

He continues,

As a group, we seem willing to speak up in church classes and clearly discuss how Heavenly Father's people have stumbled in the past, and we often expound on what his children may experience in the future. We confess feeling perplexed that Israel could be instructed so clearly by the Lord, and yet be so unwilling to modify their behavior in order to obtain the blessings (Ibid.).

It is true; prophets through the ages have admonished God's children to be safe — physically and spiritually. Hopefully this week's FHE lesson will help a little in this. Not only will we be better prepared for sudden emergencies after this week's Family Home Evening, we'll have fun doing it!

FHE Fun

Opening Song: #256 "As Zion's Youth in Latter Days"

Opening Prayer: By invitation.

Devotional: This is a great time for individuals to spontaneously share personal, favorite scriptures found during the week.

Activity: Items needed:

blindfold
a series of chairs (eventually to be mixed up in the room)
a favorite family dessert or goody
a clean pillowcase for every family member

Ask for a volunteer. Explain that you will blindfold him. He is to listen to your voice to avoid injury from the obstacles you will place quietly before him in the room. Explain that there is a treat waiting for the volunteer on the other end of the obstacle course. When the child is ready, blindfold him and with your voice instruct him how to move safely through the obstacle course to where the treat is waiting. Allow him to remove the blindfold once he is safely "home."

Ask for other volunteers to process the scenario. What does the treat spiritually symbolize? What does the blindfold spiritually symbolize? What do the chairs spiritually symbolize? How are the prophets like a loving parent's voice?

Spiritual Thought: Read the following two quotes:

Thought #1. “We are blessed to live in a time when the priesthood keys are on the earth. We are blessed to know where to look and how to listen for the voice that will fulfill the promise of the Lord that He will gather us to safety" (Elder Henry B. Eyring, "Finding Safety in Counsel," Ensign, May 1997, 26).

Thought #2. "It has been asked ... how many of us would have jeered ... at ... the sight of Noah building his ark. Presumably the laughter ... continued until it began to rain — and kept raining! How wet some people must have been before Noah's ark suddenly seemed the only sane act" (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, For the Power is in Them, p 20).

Activity: Explain that prophets have always taught God's children to be prepared. There are many ways to be prepared. Ask the family for ideas. Then explain that the family is going to play a game. It's called, "I'm Prepared!"

Pass out a clean pillowcase to each family member.
Set a timer for five minutes.
Explain that there is a pretend emergency and they have five minutes to find the things that matter most to them. They must meet you at the front door when the timer goes off with what they will need to live on for the next three days. Everything else will have been destroyed because of the pretend emergency.
Start the timer and let them race off to fill their pillowcases.

When the family returns to the front door, compliment them on arriving. They've "saved" themselves by fleeing to safety in time. Then return with the group to the family room. Invite each one to display their three-days-of-living "saved" in the pillowcase.

Once all sharing is finished, ask them the following questions:

How well did you eat during those three days (in other words, did anyone remember to put food in their packs)?
How thirsty were you (in other words, did anyone put drinks in their packs)?
Did you have proof of I.D. in your packs and an out-of-state contact number, in case you lost consciousness and relatives needed to be called?
Did you have clothes to last three days?
Did you have scriptures to comfort you?
Did you have an additional comfort item (such as a book, toys, journal, or some treasured item)?
Did you have a first-aid kit to help you if hurt?
Did you have pet needs for any pet that went with you?

Ask the group if there are any other items that would have been helpful or desired for a 72-hour kit. Discuss why.

Finally, allow them five minutes to make adjustments to their "packs." They have now accomplished what many families never do — a healthy start on personalized 72-hour kits. After FHE is over, transfer each person's items into individual, old satchel bags or backpacks. Store them near an exit in the home. During the coming weeks you can make modifications to them, but at least you now have a start. You just never know when you might need these very important 72-hour kits!

Closing Thoughts:Bear your testimony that as we hearken to the prophets, their words will help us arrive in safety at our destinations. Invite your family to make use of online resources of the prophets' words, such as LDS.org's recordings of General Conferences. Remind the kids that the obstacle course during the beginning of FHE represented unexpected emergencies. But when we're willing to prepare as the prophets teach us to, we'll be able to get to safety! And the blessings the Lord has waiting for us will be even better than the yummy treats of tonight.

Closing Song: #57 "We're Not Ashamed to Own Our Lord. (Enjoy visiting the website to learn this powerful hymn, so that your family may benefit thereby. This hymn is a great one to learn. It is short and quite memorable.)

Closing Prayer:By invitation.

Refreshments: A great refreshment idea would be a power food bar of some sort, similar to something you would store in a 72-hour kit. Why not read from additional reading resource linked below while chowing on the refreshments!

Summary

We are blessed when we are prepared. Elder James E. Faust once warned:

It is my testimony that we are facing difficult times. We must be courageously obedient. My witness is that we will be called upon to prove our spiritual stamina, for the days ahead will be filled with affliction and difficulty. But with the assuring comfort of a personal relationship with God, we will be given a calming courage. From Divine so near we will receive the quiet assurance ("That We Might Know Thee," Ensign, Jan 1999, pp 2-4).

By helping our children see how quickly we can put together a 72-hour kit, we are teaching them swift obedience to wise counsel. This so easily can translate into obedience in other areas, especially in spiritual and emergency preparedness matters. Children who have been raised in thus manner will have the strength to face the days ahead, with resiliency that will see them through to even meeting the Lord Himself!