“How does preparedness help establish Zion?” and “How does preparedness or self-reliance or provident living (different names for the same idea) help build the Kingdom of God on the earth?”
I think we can find the answer when we look at preparedness in a higher and holier way. Preparedness helps build the Kingdom of God and establish Zion when it is viewed from the perspective that preparedness helps us be of greater service to God and become the kind of people who will be able to live with God.
Victor L. Brown, formerly of the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taught that “preparedness should be a way of provident living, an orderly approach to using the resources, gifts, and talents the Lord shares with us.”
Elder Robert D. Hales stated “When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others.”
Elder Hales also stated later “The purpose of both temporal and spiritual self-reliance is to get ourselves on higher ground so that we can lift others in need.”
Pres. Marion G. Romney taught “Without self-reliance one cannot exercise … innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there? Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves. Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse.”
Preparedness or self-reliance helps us be better servants – serving others and, thus, God (see Mosiah 2:17) and serving God by building the Church and Kingdom of God on earth.
The higher laws of preparedness are spiritual, which changes perspectives on why we should be prepared, what we should be prepared for, and who our preparedness can or should benefit. When preparedness is used to serve others, including our families, we become better people, learn to love others more, bless others, and help build Zion and the Kingdom of God on earth.
For more things to consider and links to sources for the above quotes, go to “Food Storage as a Way of Life.’ For Elder Hales’ second quote, go to “Coming Ourselves…”
