Emergency Fund

Emergency Fund

1. Three months worth of minimum expenses in local currency (U.S. dollars). 
1. All in small bills or coins in your possession. (Nickels and pre-1982 pennies can actually be worth more than face value in metal content.) 
2. Nine months of minimum expenses in 'junk' silver dimes in your possession. (Precious Metals Post)

Love,

Ben

Food Storage

How to 'get' your food storage.
Curious how your preparations compare to others'? Take this 2-minute survey about your preparedness and at the end see the combined results of all contributors.

Long-term Storage

1. Enter your information in the Food Storage Calculator and print it. (You will need to download a copy for yourself first.)
2. Print Cannery price list from providentliving.org. 
3. Go to ksl.com's food storage listings and buy what you can from there.
4. Go to your local stores that may have the best prices and record the prices. For me that is Costco, Winco, and Walmart. At the last store, purchase the food they have the best price on (don't forget to compare cannery price as well from price list). 
5. Go to the cannery and purchase everything there that is the best price (801-785-0997, 940 W Center Lindon, open Tue and Thu from 9am-7pm). They have several items that can be purchased already canned. The rest of the food you buy there, you will can there. Also buy cans/lids/oxypacks etc. and check out a canner for the rest of the bulk food you have or will buy at the other stores and will can at home. You can't bring in your own food into the cannery to can there.
6. Go home and put away your new food. 
7. Go back to the other stores that had better prices and buy the bulk food.
8. Can the food at home and put it away. Make it a family project!
9. Return the canner. Lindon cannery allows you to check out the canner from Tue to Thu or Thu to Tue. Tue and Thu are the only days they are open.

Three-month Supply

Flesh out food storage with 3-month supply. This is the stuff you already buy at the grocery store, chili, canned vegetables, ketchup, soup, baking supplies, etc. 

72-hour Kit
What would you need to have to 'bug out' for three days or more?

Love,

Ben

Please comment if you have suggestions. 

Gold, Silver, and Other Precious Metals

Purpose
Document how to invest in precious metals.

What to Purchase
Gold and/or silver. The ratio is up to you.

Purchase gold in the form of coins minted by a government. Do not pay more than say a 10% premium over gold content for numismatic (collectors) or semi-numismatic coins.

'Old' US Gold, 1933, St. Gaudens, Double Eagle

Purchase silver either as 'junk' silver (1964 or earlier US issue dimes, quarters, half-dollars, or silver dollars) or silver coins minted by a government, or silver rounds minted by a private mint. I recommend junk dimes for the precious metals portion of your emergency fund.

'Junk' Silver Quarters and Dimes

How/Where to Purchase

1. Go online to check prices and timing (if desired). Check prices at some of the places listed at  inflation.us/bullion-seller-reviews/. I like Provident Metals for selection and pricing. For market timing, I like the interactive chart at  www.kitco.com/charts.
2. Decide how much of what you want to buy. And how much it will cost (there is no tax).
3. Go to your bank and withdraw the amount of money you will need. If you withdraw more than $10,000 per day you have to fill out government paperwork, so stay under that amount. The reason for cash purchases is to limit paper trails.
4. Check your classifieds for good deals locally. The place to go in UT is www.ksl.com.
5. Go to your local coin shop and buy what you want with cash. At some limit there is government paperwork the coin shop will have to submit, so stay under that limit. The limit is currently greater than $5k. To find a US Mint coin dealer go to www.usmint.gov. Check your yellow pages for other coin shops. In Orem our coin shops (in order of my preference) are:
1. Anderson Stamp and Coin, 214 N University Ave, Provo, UT; 801-375-7645. I like the owner and his prices.
2. Rust Coin & Gift, 1774 N University Parkway #52, Provo, UT (Brigham's Landing on Freedom Blvd.); 801-377-1574. I like the selection.
3. American Coin, 1170 S State, Orem, UT (In back of HUR Jewelers store); 801-235-9090. They seem to be primarily numismatic.

Where/How to Store

Keep a detailed record of what you have purchased. Keep the precious metals in your possession. Hide them in or around your house or some other location you have reasonable long-term control of. For outside storage, find or make a waterproof container and do some midnight gardening. You can have an excuse to go digging such as sprinklers, planting a plant, etc. Do it when others will not notice. Make a map. Hide the map. Make a copy of the map and give it to your most trusted friend. Do not label it with anything to tie it to the property where your treasure is buried.

Richard Maybury has put together some You Tube videos that cover some similar material to this blog. http://www.youtube.com/user/RichardMaybury#p/u/14/K5qrKVASvEw.   Part 4 of Maybury's videos on precious metals covers storage.

Love,
Ben

As always, please comment if you have something to add.
(Updated 1/26/12)

Don't Take My Word for It

Please use any and all of my materials as motivation to follow the council of a prophet of God, Harold B. Lee, as stated in October conference 1972:

One more matter: There are among us many loose writings predicting the calamities which are about to overtake us. Some of these have been publicized as though they were necessary to wake up the world to the horrors about to overtake us. Many of these are from sources upon which there cannot be unquestioned reliance.

Are you priesthood bearers aware of the fact that we need no such publications to be forewarned, if we were only conversant with what the scriptures have already spoken to us in plainness?

Let me give you the sure word of prophecy on which you should rely for your guide instead of these strange sources which may have great political implications.

Read the 24th chapter of Matthew—particularly that inspired version as contained in the Pearl of Great Price. (JS—M 1.)

Then read the 45th section of the Doctrine and Covenants where the Lord, not man, has documented the signs of the times. [D&C 45]

Now turn to section 101 and section 133 of the Doctrine and Covenants and hear the step-by-step recounting of events leading up to the coming of the Savior. [D&C 101; D&C 133]

Finally, turn to the promises the Lord makes to those who keep the commandments when these judgments descend upon the wicked, as set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 38. [D&C 38]

Brethren, these are some of the writings with which you should concern yourselves, rather than commentaries that may come from those whose information may not be the most reliable and whose motives may be subject to question. And may I say, parenthetically, most of such writers are not handicapped by having any authentic information on their writings.

Some other scriptures that are also helpful are: 1 Nephi 13, 14, 22; 2 Nephi 1, 6, 26-30; Alma 10, 37; Helaman 11, 13; 3 Nephi 6, 16, 20, 21; Mormon 6, 8, 9; Ether 4, 9, 11; Articles of Faith 10;  D&C 29, 63, 64, 76, 77, 84, 88, 97, 105, 109,; Isaiah 11, 28, 29, 66; Ezekiel 28, 39, 48; Daniel 7; II Thessalonians 2; and Revelation 8, 9, 11-13, 16, 17, 20. (These are primarily from Duane S Crowther's books "Prophecy Key to the Future" and " Inspired Prophetic warnings," both excellent.


In addition, here are some talks, lessons, and videos:

1. "Stand Independent Above All Other Creatures" by Bruce R. McConkie.
2. "Prepare Ye" by Ezra Taft Benson.
3. "Prepare for the Days of Tribulation" by Ezra Taft Benson.
4. "If Ye are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear" by L. Tom Perry.
5. "Lay Up in Store" by Keith B. McMullin.
6. "Family Home Storage and Finances" Lesson.
7. "Fruitful in the Land of My Affliction" Lesson from Old Testament.
8. "To Be Learned is Good If..." by Boyd K. Packer, October 1992 General Conference.

Here are some videos. 

Dallin H. Oaks:

A Member:



Love,
Ben

What I am Telling my Kin-A Voice of Warning

This is an email I sent to my family a bit ago. I now publish it to the world here.

Brothers and Sisters,

I love you. Because I love you, I am sending you this communication. 

I have come to a crossroads in my life. I am faced with the decision: "Do I believe what I have been learning, or not?" When posed in this manner, the answer to this question can only be YES! With this decision comes a call for action on my part. This is why you are receiving this email.  Let me back up and explain my position.

In August of last year, I decided to change my career from manufacturing engineering to personal financial coaching. This launched me into an educational phase to enable me to be able to perform in my newly chosen profession. Some of this training has been formal (BYU personal finance class and mentor/coaching programs) but much of it has been personal, self-study. I took this route because there does not exist a program that would prepare me to do what I want to do the way I want to do it. This opened my studies up to general literature, both secular and religious. Rather than try to regurgitate what I have learned, and come to believe, I will summarize some my findings:

Secular:

Upon attempting to understand how this economy and even society that we have created works, I come to the following conclusions:

1. We are heading for a collapse of our entire economy. It will likely be driven by a collapse of the US dollar, in part due to our national debt. I cannot predict the future and am not privy to the workings of the upper echelons (who are creating our future, to an extent). However, I believe the time between now and the entire collapse of the US economy will be measured in weeks or months, not years. It could happen any day, and could happen overnight. At least it could be set in motion over night. 
2. There will be blood running in the streets of America. This thing will get ugly. This is a black swan event unlike any other in the history of this nation.
3. There is no way to avoid what is coming.

It goes on and on. I can refer you to books and resources ad nauseam. Numerous people in the know are attempting to warn us, in spite of the general media seemingly overlooking reality. We need to heed their warnings. For a sampling of some of the web activity that I feel is applicable, please see my twitter profilehttp://twitter.com/#!/BenPack. 

Spiritual:

Let me start this one with a quote by President Benson from April conference 1980 (here is the whole talk: "Benson~Prepare for the Days of Tribulation"):

Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.

Until a few weeks ago, I am afraid I would have to have classified myself squarely in the group who are "not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord." I had no idea what had been prophesied regarding the future of this great nation. My studies in this area have primarily been from "Prophecy, Key to the Future" and "Inspired Prophetic Warnings" both by Duane S. Crowther. I am in the midst of reading the latter now (both readily available on Amazon.com). The primary sources he uses are the Doctrine & Covenants, Book of Mormon, Journal of Discourses (JD), and History of the Church (HC). The Bible also finds its way in, both old and new testaments, but not as much as the others. I am now much more acquainted with the revelations of the Lord and I BELIEVE THEM. For brevity's sake here is my synopsis of some of the revelations:

1. We are heading for a collapse of our entire economy and political system.  Exact timing has not been prophesied other than repeated council in the early days of the church that "the time is nigh at hand." 
2. Tribulation: earthquakes, thunderings-great noise, lightnings, tempests, waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds, fire, pestilence, famine, bloodshed, cities sinking in the earth, desolating sickness or scourge, plagues, hail storm that destroys the crops of the earth.
3. There will be blood running in the streets of America. This thing will get ugly. This is worthy of a quotation. Upon rereading this quote in preparing this email, I wept in anticipation of what is to come of the people of this great nation. Per Joseph Smith:

I saw men hunting the lives of their own sons, and brother murdering brother, women killing their own daughters, and daughters seeking the lives of their mothers. I saw armies arrayed against armies. I saw blood, desolation, fires. The Son of man has said that the mother shall be against the daughters, and the daughter against the mother. These things are at our doors. They will follow the Saints of God from city to city. Satan will rage, and the spirit of the devil is now enraged. I know not how soon these things will take place; but with a view of them, shall I cry peace? No; I will lift up my voice and testify of them. How long you will have good crops, and the famine be kept off, I do not know; when the fig tree leaves, know then that the summer is nigh at hand.

HC 3:391 or JD 6:239-240. 

4. There is one way for us as a nation to avert or at least delay this disaster. It is for us, as a nation, to turn to the Lord and become righteous, including our government. Unfortunately, my faith in this happening is nonexistent.

It goes on and on. The Doctrine and Covenants and Book of Mormon are laden with prophecies describing what WILL happen in the future. Is the future now? No, why not? I believe it is here and deserves our careful consideration. 

What does this mean to you and me?

We must turn to the only people on this earth that can help us navigate through this. Once again I quote from President Benson's talk "Prepare for the Days of Tribulation."

The counsel from Church authorities has been consistent over the years and is well summarized in these words:

“First, and above and beyond everything else, let us live righteously. …

“Let us avoid debt as we would avoid a plague; where we are now in debt, let us get out of debt; if not today, then tomorrow.

“Let us straitly and strictly live within our incomes, and save a little.

“Let every head of every household see to it that he has on hand enough food and clothing, and, where possible, fuel also, for at least a year ahead. You of small means put your money in foodstuffs and wearing apparel, not in stocks and bonds; you of large means will think you know how to care for yourselves, but I may venture to suggest that you do not speculate. Let every head of every household aim to own his own home, free from mortgage. Let every man who has a garden spot, garden it; every man who owns a farm, farm it.” (President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., in Conference Report, Apr. 1937, p. 26.)

 We must do everything in our power to heed this council. It starts with living righteously. I believe that regardless of our activity level (or even if we are not members), we can all turn to God. We must all start from where we now are and we can all do better than we are now doing.  

Some of the actions that I have taken in recent weeks and am taking now are:

1. Striving to repent, live righteously, and put my own house in order by:
2. Putting together a serious food/fuel/clothing storage. The counsel is for 'at least a year ahead' not 'up to a year ahead'.
3. Putting together a serious garden and home preservation capabilities.
4. Buying rabbits, bees, and goats (to provide meat, milk, and honey). Some of these I will keep at my parents farm.
5. Possibly buying a hunting rifle-deer frequently come down and leave evidence of having been on my lawn in the winter.
6. Pulling out all of my investment $$ and, as soon as I have enough, paying off my house. Until then I plan to put my savings into real assets and avoid the dollar (this includes avoiding bonds, most stocks, and even real estate aside from my own home). Probably this will be precious metals. I am still in the process of learning how, why, and where to do this.
7. I am warning my neighbors (starting with my family).
8. I am continuing to study and learn.
9. I am living it my way-no keeping up with the Joneses either in worldly pursuits or religious traditions.
10. Fervent and frequent prayer.

Do not follow my council on this because I am telling you this. I am not in a position to give investment advice. Everything in this document I present as my opinion. You must dig for yourself and seek to find out what is right for you and your family. It is possible that we will pull through this this time and put off the inevitable until a future collapse, or it is possible that the collapse will take years to play out. Certainly there is a lot to transpire per prophecies by the leaders of the Church, but I fear it will occur much more quickly than we imagine.

Hopefully you receive this in 'mildness and meekness,' but in all seriousness too. D&C 38:41 states: "And let your ^apreaching be the ^bwarning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in ^cmeekness."  I have great faith in all of you, my extended family. I know there is not a bad person in the bunch! If what I have presented elicits feelings of fear, perhaps preparations are in order.  We are warned that many within the Church will fall away during the persecutions and tribulations that are coming. May we all begin today to prepare for the days of tribulation that lie ahead. As we are prepared, may we look forward with anticipation to the events that will necessarily transpire prior to the coming of our Lord and Savior in glory and greatness is my prayer.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

P.S. 

Please feel free to forward this to anyone you feel may benefit from it.

Love,

Ben