“I should like to address a few remarks to those who ask, ‘Do I share with my neighbors who have not followed the counsel? And what about the nonmembers who do not have a year’s supply? Do we have to share with them?’ No, we don’t have to share—we get to share! Let us not be concerned about silly thoughts of whether we would share or not. Of course we would share! What would Jesus do? I could not possibly eat food and see my neighbors starving. And if you starve after sharing, ‘greater love hath no man than this …’ (John 15:13.) Vaughn J. Featherstone, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, Oct. 1976, 31–32
6 comments:
I so agree, but you have said it so perfectly, that I have goosebumps!
Awesome...Thank you!
I totally see that point... but I once recieved counsel when I asked this question... and here was the response I recieved...
" Would I be willing to take sustenance from my own family members to provide for those who were in need... who did not follow the counsel of the leaders to prepare?? And if so.. which family member would go without so that they could partake...."
I make it a personal goal for my family storage to be enough to support my immediate family here AS WELL as my Bishop. WHat my bishop asks for and does with ... is up to him.. as long as I have enough to provide for him should he need it....
Like I said I totally agree with your point here.. but there IS a flip to it.. food for thought... =)
Years ago when working at one of the church canneries as a cannery operator, this came up. I joked around saying that I would "go shopping" for new furniture and barter, since I saw a lot of ward members buying stuff like that and then couldn't afford food storage. As the conversation continued a wise and knowing leader asked me, "What would you do if you forbidden to share your food wither those who had not filled their lamps?" He knew me well and watched me tear up at the thought. h just old me that was what he thought that was what I would do. Think about it, what a nightmare if we were forbidden to share? I know we should just follow our bretheren's counsel and not worry about the "what ifs". We will be blessed in faithfulness!
I love this blog, thanks so much for all you do to share with us.
Very insightful message, and I appreciate the comments as well. There is definitely a lot of "gray" area here, and I believe most of these questions will be answered for us when the times comes for us to rely upon our food storage.
However, I will add that I too have heard the counsel given from church leaders that we are to prepare for us and for our family members, not our neighbors. The Lord will care for those who have heard the counsel and prepared themselves.
If we share, I believe it will be with those who have not yet received the light of Christ and not with those who have received the light and turned it away.
In the end, if we have listened to the brethren in preparing our food storage we will also be inspired to use it as the Lord and His leaders direct.
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