Conference tecrus::mormonism

RE: < Note 114.0 by WORDS::ST_THOMAS "St Tee" >


I assume you are asking "how much wheat, water, etc. equals 'one
year's supply.'" 

Aside from the replies that may appear here, and the many excellent
programs presented by local Church units (we had a 'preparedness fair' 
at the Billerica, MA Ward last week), there are companies that specialize 
in not only selling you your supplies, but also consulting with you on 
what you may need.

The LDS bookstore near the Washington DC Temple is owned by a company that 
actually had its beginnings in the food storage business. They still 
are active in this area. They sell single items and packages of things 
meant to last for various periods and geared for various-sized families. 

Amusingly enough, their biggest package deal is geared for an entire
family of four for one full year. It costs a bundle, and probably
arrives in its own eighteen-wheeler, but it's an opportunity for those
of us who don't have the time/energy/motivation to do it on our own to
just write a check and be done! ;-) 

There is lots of expert help available in this area. If anyone wants
to know the address for that LDS bookstore, let me know and I'll send
it to you. 

/kevin 

    I have this booklet at home put out by the Church.  It is called
    Home Production and Storage, or something like that.  The booklet
    outlines the different methods of food storage, and also a very
    detailed list of the items (description, quantity, etc.).  It
    discusses various inventory methods, also, to keep track of what
    you have.
    
    I meant to look for the booklet last night so that I could give
    you a more accurate title.  But I forgot to look - oh well!! 
    
    Where did I get this booklet, you may be asking?  I got it from
    the ward library as a free handout.  (I'm into those freebies!!)
    
    Let me know if you're interested in something like this.  If so,
    I'll get you the actual publication title and number. 
                                    
    Tamara
    

    Kevin:
    
    I *finally* have the title and number to that publication I
    told you about!!  
    
    NAME OF PUBLICATION:  Essentials of Home Production & Storage
    
    NUMBER:  PGWE1125  8/80  200M  Printed in U.S. **
    
    ** This is everything written in the bottom right corner on the
       back cover.
    
    I'm assuming that the "8/80" means that it was published in August
    of 1980 - which makes the publication "older".  However, all the
    principles discussed are still appropriate and have not been out-
    dated.
    
    Hope this helps, Kevin!
    
    Tamara
    

The Church Welfare department has organized an amateur radio network to
provide emergency communications for the welfare system during times when
telephone communications are not available.  If any of you know of hams in
your ward, please tell them about this radio network and ask them to
contact the following address with a request for membership forms.

    Mercury Amateur Radio Association
    C/O Ken Babcock, N7IMK
    LDS Welfare Dept., 8th Floor
    50 E. North Temple Street
    Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 U.S.A.

World-wide radio nets are being established via HF and local nets via VHF.

Allen W7RCP

From M.I.T. Technology Review, August/September, 1988:

Three Mexican scientists are pushing a nutrition idea they say is at least
450 years old: protein-rich tortilla flour made from the carcasses of
insects.  According to Pedro Valle and Julieta Ramos Elordoy of the
Eutonomous University of Mexico and Javier Cordoba of the Institute of
Agricultural Research, the regular diet of Aztec emperors included more
than 100 insect species.

With 40 percent of Mexico's 95 million people suffering from malnutrition,
Elordoy says insect protein could quadruple the nutritive intake of average
diets.  For example, a pound of white ants or termites has 47 percent more
food value than a pound of beef and 50 percent more than lentils or
soybeans.  Fly carcasses are 76 percent protein, followed by bedbugs (71
percent), grasshoppers (75 percent), and black beetles (68 percent).  The
researchers admit that insect-based foods face consumer resistance.

 -- VNS news

    Yuk!

    Sounds pretty efficient.  Topping off with the right types of insects
    could even obviate the need to brush/pick your teeth afterwards.
    Gag!  Hope it doesn't come to this.
    
    Steve

Food storage as it is is usually no day at the beach.
Given a choice between bugs and 1001 ways of preparing 
dehydrated zucchini sticks, I'm not sure which I'd choose.

;-)

/kevin

    
    Hey waiter! There's a fly in my soup!
    
    ;)
    
    

    
    This idea bothers me, not just because of the insects, but because
    everyone thinks that if it's protein it's gotta be good for you.
    
    For instance, NutraSweet.  It is a combination of proteins that
    is found naturally in the human brain.  It tends to be a mood
    changer and some doctors feel that it is harmful to certain organs
    in the body.
    
    Another problem is disease.  It's hard enough now to keep meats
    relatively germ free, but with the billions of bugs we would have
    to cultivate the problem gets extremely difficult.  The eating
    habits of flies... yuk!
    
    I'd choose zuccini every time.
    
    			Tom

    
          I am not a Mormon, but I am very interested in reason for
    food storage. Why do you do it? Also where in southern N.H. can
    I get books or information on setting up my own storage? While
    I was growing up I had a good friend whose parents were "Right-
    off-the-boat" (as he called it) and they had a large storge area
    in their basement with everything you would want for a year. I
    thought that this was a European trait, but while in high school
    I met a kid who was Mormon. He showed me his familys storage area.
    I was impressed at the canisters of whole grain and the equipment
    that went along with it all. 
    
           Now that I am married, have a son and another on the way.
    I would like to create such a store house of food and clothing in
    my own basement. If there ever is a major war or world-wide economic
    collapse I want to ensure my familys welfare. I would greatly
    appreciate any help!
               
                                        Randy Caswell
                                    

Re: 114.10 by Randy Caswell

  Hi, and welcome.  You ask a very good question.

>          I am not a Mormon, but I am very interested in reason for
>    food storage. Why do you do it? 
  
  And you give part of the answer yourself.

>    If there ever is a major war or world-wide economic
>    collapse I want to ensure my familys welfare.
   
  By the way, it wouldn't even take a world-wide economic collapse to
  jeopardize your family's welfare.  In 1985 I was laid-off from my job
  in Salt Lake.  Within a few weeks, I was lucky enough to have landed
  a job with DEC here in Mass., but in the meantime it was quite a comfort
  knowing that the scarce cash available wasn't required to be used for
  food.  During that time we lived on our food storage and our money lasted
  until we were settled here in Massachusetts and able to get back "on our
  feet."  Also, remember hurricane Gloria?  It didn't turn out to be a real
  big thing, but of course the predictions were scary to a lot of people.
  My wife went to our neighborhood Iandoli's market and was quite surprised
  at the "panic" taking place--no bread on the shelves, no bottled water or
  milk.  Again, it was comforting to have been prepared for such an emergency.
  Think of the havoc that could be caused by something like a trucker's strike.
  Even if it were relatively short, say, a month or so, there would be a lot
  of hungry people.

  As "Mormons", we believe we are literally living in the last days before the
  second coming of Jesus Christ, as is evidenced by the official name of the
  church:  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  The Bible (as well
  as the other works which we regard as scripture) contains prophecies of many
  tribulations, natural and man-made disasters, and generally perilous times.
  The program of food storage has been given to the church as *one way* to
  help the members of the church to be *temporally* prepared for the trying
  times ahead (and those not so far ahead).  This is one reason for the plan.

  Another goal of the food storage program is to help individuals and families
  to learn to become self reliant, self sufficient, independent (pick your
  favorite term).  Sure, I could have gone to my parents for help when I was
  laid-off--I'm not against that philosophically, nor do I have a "pride" issue
  about that--I know they would have been glad to help, and they even offered
  to.  The point is that because we (my wife and kids and I) were prepared, we
  didn't *have* to turn to *anyone* else (family, church, or government) for
  aid.

  Those are my subjective insights as to why the church promotes and encourages
  the program.  Others will most probably share their views also.

  As far as southern N.H. resources for food storage info, I've not a clue.
  It's really easy getting information in Utah.  My wife was walking
  through the lobby of the church headquarters building in Salt Lake one day
  on her way to an appointment.  She stopped to ask a woman at a computer
  terminal for directions.  She had a little time and the woman started talking
  to her about food storage--she asked how many people were in the family, how
  old the children were, etc., and then she handed my wife a computer printout
  of the yearly requirements for our family of things such as flour, rice,
  beans, wheat, salt, sugar, potatoes, canned goods, etc.  Amazing.  I think we
  have some information on things like this at home.  If you have interest, I'd
  be glad to get it and post it in here.

  Thanks for your question,
    
  Dave  

Re: 114.10 by Randy Caswell

Hi!

I'll be in Washington DC next week, where there is a good
LDS bookstore. They undoubtedly have books, manuals, etc. on
getting started in food storage.

If you want, I'll be happy to peruse the available books
on the subject and find you one that discusses the fun-
damentals, like getting started, essential items, reasons
for doing it, etc.

In any event, if any of the readers of this conference know of 
such books and can provide a recommendation, such info would 
be good to post here.

/kevin

    
    I had a food storage business in Hudson, NH two years ago - I could
    have really helped you then! |;)
    
    I have two suggestions:
    
    	Call the nearest Mormon chapel (look in phone book under Church
    of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) on a Thursday evening and
    ask for the Relief Society President. Tell whoever answers the phone
    that you are a 'non-member'. That will get a quicker response. |;)
    She will usually know if anyone is currently selling 'food storage'.
    Mormon wards and stakes regularly compile large orders and get a
    truckload shipped in and welcome anyone to participate.
    
    	Also, there's a place on Brown Avenue in Manchester whose name
    escapes me but it sells food in bulk quantities at good prices.
    It's near the Sear's service center and has a red and white
    checkerboard pattern on the building. Oh yeah - it's called C.S
    Woods.
    
    The Church puts out an excellent booklet on food storage. I'll bet
    a 'non-member' could get it for free from that Releif Society
    President. I'll bet that she would be willing to have two young
    men deliver it to you also.
    
    |;)

   
  Disclaimer:  The Church as an organization  does not support or condone
	       the use of the church organizations and facilities for
	       commercial purposes, including the selling of food storage
	       supplies.  

  That aside, individual members may or may not know where, how, etc. and
  be willing to give their opinions/knowledge/fancies/theories.  

  Just remember, the church is not connected with anybodies business and is not
  responsible for individuals and their dealings/holdings.

  Whew!

 Chad

Randy Caswell has asked me to follow up my previous response with
further information.  All of the info for this reply comes from a
booklet published by the church entitled "Essentials of Home Production
and Storage" (mentioned by Tamara Dull in .2 and .3)  It may be ordered
through your local church library or directly from church headquarters at:

		Church Publications
		50 East North Temple St.
		Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

The publication number is PGWE1125.  Tamara said the booklet was free.


 C O N T E N T S
-----------------
Page
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1  Personal and Family Preparedness
1     Essentials of Home Production and Storage
1     Standards for Home Production and Storage
2  Home Production
2     Gardening
4     Food Preservation
5     Production of Nonfood Items
6  Home Storage
7     Three Categories of Home Storage
7     Water Storage
7     First Aid Supplies
8     Clothing
8     Fuel and Light
8     Suggestions for Storage
9     Buying and Selling Storage Items
9  Conclusion
10 Summary of Home Production and Storage
12 Recipes
16 Publications
19 Inventory Methods
28 Index
----------------------------------------------------------------------

There are basically three categories of home storage:  Basic storage,
emergency storage, and expanded storage.  Before I cover what the
booklet says, let me put in a quote also in the booklet by Harold B. 
Lee.  In a welfare agricultural meeting on 1 October 1966, he said:

	"We have never laid down an exact formula for what anybody
	should store....Perhaps if we think not in terms of a year's
	supply of what we ordinarily would use, and think more in
	terms of what it would take to keep us alive in case we
	didn't have anything else to eat, that last would be very
	easy to put in storage for a year...If you think in terms
	of that kind of annual storage rather than a whole year's
	supply of everything that you are accustomed to eat which,
	in most cases, is utterly impossible for the average family,
	I think we will come nearer to what President Clark advised
	us way back in 1937."

BASIC STORAGE
-------------

Food for one year such as:
   Grains (wheat, rice, corn, or other cereal grains)--300 lbs/person
   Nonfat dry milk--75 lbs/person
   Sugar or honey--60 lbs/person
   Salt--5 lbs/person
   Fat or oil--20 lbs/person
   Dried legumes--60 lbs/person
   Garden seeds

   The above amounts are estimated for an average adult.  They supply
   2300 calories per day.  Also, fresh taro, sweet potato, pigs, chickens,
   fish.

Water
   Two-week supply--14 gal./person (7 gal. for drinking, 7 for other uses)

Bedding, clothing, medical supplies, and fuel (if possible, at least enough
for cooking--coal, wood, matches, candles)


EMERGENCY STORAGE (easily accessible and in portable container)
-----------------

Food
   Three-day supply of food requiring no refrigeration or cooking, such
   as canned tuna fish or pork and beans--1/2 lb/person
   Nonfat dry milk--1/2 lb/person
   Graham crackers--1 lb/person
   Dried fruit--1 lb/person
   Canned orange or tomato juice--46 oz/person
   Peanut butter--1/2 lb/person
This supplies daily 2100 calories and essential nutrients.

Water
   1 gal./person

Bedding
   Blanket
   Cloth sheet
   Plastic sheet

Clothing
   One change for each person

Personal supplies and medication
   Toiletries
   First aid supplies
   Cleaning supplies (also, tetanus immunizations every 5 to 10 years)

Fuel and light
   Matches
   Candle
   Battery-powered light
   Signal flare

Equipment
   Can opener, dishpan, dishes, utensils, ax, shovel, bucket,
   battery-powered radio, paper, pencil

Infant needs
   If applicable

Personal documents
   Scriptures, genealogy records, legal documents (will, insurance
   policies, contracts, passports, birth certificates, etc.)

Money
   Cash


EXPANDED STORAGE (I will cover the food portion only)
----------------

Foods
   Foods to give greater variety and nutrition, such as meats and cheese,
   and fruits and vegetables
   Miscellaneous:  Baking powder, yeast, jello, spices, soups, canned and
   bottled foods, freeze-dried foods, canned meats, butter, vegetable oil


Special care should be taken to ensure that spoilage of the stored supply
is avoided.  One way to help along these lines is to rotate the supply of
those items which may degrade over time (wheat, if kept dry and insect-free,
will last virtually forever, but most other products should be eaten and
replaced within a reasonable time frame--most food producers are aware of
the shelf life capabilities of their products).

PUBLICATIONS
------------

The booklet has a section listing publications and the addresses to send
for them.  I will post them later--this reply is long enough.  Here is a
count of the publications and the categories under which they are listed 
in the booklet:

Commercial Publications                        7
Magazines                                      5
Land-Grant University and USDA Publications   56 (categorized below) 
      Beekeeping                               3
      Canning                                  9
      Drying                                   4
      Freezing                                 9
      Home Gardening                          13
      Insect Control                           6
      Pruning                                  4
      Safety                                   1
      Storage                                  5
      Water                                    2


One final thing: Randy asked for addresses for food and equipment suppliers.
I'm afraid I have no information on these things.  We had a wheat grinder at
our house when I was growing up, but I can't remember the manufacturer at 
this time.  As for other equipment and supplies, anyone out there have any
good information?  It seems that maybe a magazine like "Mother Earth News"
might have info (I haven't seen that mag lately--is it still being published?).
Another good place to look might be the neighborhood health-food store.
However, whatever info may be subsequently added to this note, the following
disclaimer applies, quoted here from page 9 of the booklet:

	Reminder to leaders:  Merchandising activities not related to
	the exempt purposes of the Church are not to be conducted by
	stakes, wards, or quorums.  Stakes, wards, and quorums are not
	to be involved in purchasing and selling items such as food,
	storage containers, or nonreligious books. (See General Handbook
	of Instructions, number 21 [1976], pp. 107-108.)  If individuals
	or groups wish to form independent organizations to obtain group
	discounts on home storage items, they may do so.  These independent
	groups should abide by local laws and should not be identified
	with the church.

That should do it for now.

Dave
                                             

    If you are doing food storage and have young kids, one thing to
    keep in mind is that some kids will not try new foods very easily,
    even when they are hungry.  If your family is not used to eating
    certain foods then storing them for use when they are needed is
    a waste of time and money.  You are better off storing what your
    family normally uses.
    
    Another thing to keep in mind is you must rotate all foods to have
    a useful food when you are in need of it.  This includes dehydrated
    foods, whose life is somewhere around ten years if I remember
    correctly.
    
    And don't forget that if you ever do need your storage for survival
    it will be nice to have things that are considered treats to help
    you make it through the difficult times.  I would think a diet of
    wheat and milk etc would cause most of us to give up after a while.
    ;)

From:	GILROY::"lds-request" 21-OCT-1989 18:38:14.70
To:	gilroy::lds 
CC:	[email protected] 
Subj:	Loma Prieta Quake:  Eye-witness account of LDS efforts at the Epicenter 

At 5:04pm, October 17, 1989, a 7.0 earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area
with an epicenter about 5 miles south of Highway 17 and Summit Road in the
Santa Cruz Mountains along the Santa Clara County border with Santa Cruz County.
Major damage was suffered by residents all along Summit Road, although damage
appears to be somewhat selective.  Damage assessment is pending by the American
Red Cross.  Significant damage was suffered in Santa Cruz City, Boulder Creek,
and other Peninsula Cities.  The damage to San Francisco and Oakland was 
severe in that it affected the most people directly.  The total damage is still
unknown, and earth movement along the fault is still apparent.  Several large
fissures have opened and slides have occurred along unstable slopes and canyon
roadways.  Many bridges are damaged but have been made passable (with one very
large exception).
The LDS Church response was quick at some levels and deliberate at other levels.
At 5:05pm, the LDS Emergency Radio Response System was activated in the South
Bay Area through the Mercury Amateur Radio Association, despite instantaneous 
loss of power and telephone service throughout the South Bay Region.  (Power
was cut deliberately by service providers and telephones were immediately jammed
though most were undamaged.)  Through the ERRS and local ham operators in and
out of the Church, the site of the quake was quickly located.  New media prov
provided eyewitness reports to the region through broadcast radio and television
LDS ham radio operators were dispatched throughout the Peninsula and the South
Bay to assess building damage, if any, in the region covered by the South Bay
ERRS group. There was no communication with Santa Cruz Stake except through a
Los Gatos ham who was able to contact ward members through a local telephone excha
exchange.  Several Santa Cruz exchanges were knocked out.  Phone service r
fortunately was available throughout most of the Bay Area in local exchanges.
By dark, many of the wards and stakes having ham operators were organized to
handle information exchange.  A ham operator was designated to handle calls
to Elder Parley Livingston, recently released Regional Rep in the San Francisco
Region, and he was fed information as gathered from ward bishops and stake 
presidents who could be contacted.  Livingston was in an area where he could not
call out but he could receive calls, during those first hours.  The same was
true of many of the other leaders in the area.  Many of the leaders were at
work or out of town, and so were not contacted.
It was quickly determined that the damage in most of the South Bay was slight,
but all communication and transportation to Santa Cruz was cut off.
By about 7:00, word was received that the Branch President of the Alma Branch
narrowly missed being trapped in his house as it collapsed.  His wife and
daughter barely escaped injury as they were in the second story of the house
when it fell on the first story and slipped a few feet down the hill.  Next
door a neighbor saved herself by grabbing a water pipe as the house slipped
out from under her down a hill.  Only minor injuries were sustained and little
structural damage was suffered by many of the other hill neighbors.
The Branch President remained at his house without telephone throughout the
night in a trailer home and storage shed, after checking on his 50 families.
Roads were barely passable to due slides and cracks.
The new Alma Meetinghouse, about five miles (20 minutes) south of the Branch
President's propery and two miles south of highway 17 on Summit Road was damaged
as the two slabs of the foundation separated and the water heater pipes broke.
Power was knocked out and not restored until Thursday afternoon the 19th.
The meetinghouse is located a few miles north of the epicenter and is surrounded
on both east and west sides by fissures.  The structure was otherwise relatively
safe and apparently undamaged. (Reports received from Boulder Creek are that
the meetinghouse of a similar "Aspen" Phase 1 & 2 design lost its overhead 
lights in the chapel but was otherwise structurally sound...Minor injuries were
suffered by some church members, but there was no loss of life.  Reports remain
sketchy.
On Wednesday October 18, Elder Leo Haney, Regional Welfare Representative, made
contact with the leaders in Santa Cruz and went into the area accompanied by
a cellular telephone and a ham radio operator from the ERRS (called the Mercury
South Bay Group).  The emergency services coordinator in Sacramento Keith 
Crandall and Bishop Victor L. Brown, Jr. were also involved in the communication
loop.  A spearhead trailer was dispatched to the East San Jose Stake Center
as a contingency.  The Branch President advised Elder Haney of the needs of 
members, as road crews from the counties worked on roads, PG&E worked on power
and the Red Cross set up shelters for the general population.  A shelter was
set up at the Los Gatos Stake Center by the Red Cross as soon as it was cleaned
up (Los Gatos chapel).  The chandeliers had fallen.
Wednesday night, Elder Haney organized a work crew of volunteers from San Jose
Stake, San Jose East Stake and the Mercury Group.  The Mercury Group offered its
expertise in tactical communications, since many of the phones were out, pa
particularly at the intended work sites.  At least four homes of members were
so severely damaged that they had to move out.  The crews were set up to assist
in the major stabilization problems.  (The remaining members indicated they
needed little or no outside help, though help was offered.)  The number of
affected homes in the region is still not known,although a cursory survey ind
indicated that most were not severely damaged.  A great deal depended on l
location and contruction.
Thursday, October 19, Elder Haney with Elder Brown and others took a crew of
25 via caravan to the Alma Chapel.  A contractor working with Haney inspected
all severely affected buildings, and crews were put to work immediately. 
A VHF base station was set up by the Mercury Group at the Chapel, where there
was a working telephone, and communication "shadows" were assigned to each
VIP or work party (There were four operators on site and others monitoring
and acting as gofers at distances of up to 10 miles in the Santa Clara Valley)
The base station had a phone patch capability through a VHF repeater station
operated by the Mercury Group in the East San Jose Stake Center.  The repeater
extended the range of the base station from line of sight to the work parties to
60 miles from South San Francisco to Gilroy.  Resources could and were called
in as far away as Sacramento through this setup.  The base station served as
communication relay between leaders and as a dispatcher for services, as well
as clearinghouse center for health and welfare inquiries and messages received
at the meetinghouse.  At dark, the crews were released, and the Haney group
moved on to the Santa Cruz Stake Center for a meeting with all Bishops.  The
Bishops advised that they required no assistance at that time for their members.
The Alma Branch was of course the exception.  The results of the meeting were
relayed to the Mercury Group and to the heads of the stake work parties.  That
night, the Mercury Group held an on-air meeting to recount results, arrange
tactical communication schedules for two work shifts and to advise "shadows" of 
on conditions and needs.
As an aside, the power was restored to the chapel late in the afternoon, al
allowing the base crews to shut off generators and disconnect the car battery
running the main radio.  The base station antenna was run up the flag pole in
front of the chapel for the duration of the relief effort.
On Friday October 20, a fresh crew was sent to the mountain to assist the
ward members.  One member of the Mercury Group installed telephones at the
Branch President's storage shed and at the mobile home brought in to house
the family of another member house was destroyed.  In addition to salvaging
vehicles slipping across fissures and assisting in general cleanup, the work
crews installed water tanks, primed water pumps, packed furniture to move to
storage, received donated supplies redirected from the Red Cross Shelter
next door to the Meetinghouse, brought in tarps and covered damged homes and belo
belongings against the expected major storm of Saturday afternoon.  Services
of the crews were also offered and received by neighbors.  Channel 4 television
news has visited the area, and KCBS radio, through a personal friend of one of
the families which lost its home, is also expected to do a story.  KGO radio has
also received and broadcast eyewitness accounts of the efforts of the disaster
relief crews of the Church.
Saturday October 21 is expected to be more of the same.  The area is bracing
for rain and possible flooding.  Several VIPs are expected in the area, and a
skeleton crew will be on hand in the event of immediate needs and to handle 
cleanup.
Work crews are being arranged through Elder Leo Haney of the San Jose East
Stake (who can be contacted through Welfare Services).  Local resources appear
to be adequate, but there are a number of families who have really suffered
financially due to property destruction.  Offers of direct or indirect
assistance are probably best directed through Welfare Services, as the Branch
President is fully occupied with immediate personal needs, and yet is going
out of his way to help his neighbors. He plans to visit families in the region
personally to offer and distribute supplies donated to the clearinghouse at the
chapel, even as others are moving his furniture and the furniture of others in
destroyed homes into portable storage containers which have been brought into
the chapel parking lot.  He has a great sense of humor and sensitivity for the
needs of the members.  He has insisted that there be services Sunday so people
can meet and at least talk out what has happened to them.  He has posted a
handwritten sign on the foyer door:  

                     SHORT MEETING SCHEDULE SUNDAY
                           DRESS:  CASUAL
                          SHOWERS: OPTIONAL

If you are looking for unsung heroes, please note the President of the Alma
Branch of the Santa Cruz Stake:  Al Nelson.

----------------------------
Ken Allen, San Francisco Region Emergency Communication Coordinator, 
Mercury Amateur Radio Association (MARA South Bay Group) WB6BCV

Even though such stories are so obviously heroic and uniquely
inspiring, they no longer amaze me. Perhaps it's me, but I have come
to expect the heroic and inspiring "works" of members. Time after time,
the Church has risen to the occasion; the leaders leading and the rest of
us responding, no matter how daunting the circumstances; ordinary, unsung
members just living what they have been taught, despite overwhelming
adversity. 

Those who scorn "organized" religion should think about what organized
religion can do: to alleviate suffering, to feed the hungry, to clothe
the naked, to soothe the anguish of the afflicted, all in obvious
furtherance of the will of the Lord. 

I knew such a story was surely unfolding, and I was awaiting hearing
about the actual facts. Thanks, Allen, for sharing that info. 

/kevin