LDS Freedom Forum

Just for fun, what would you do in this scenario?

You have followed the church's recommendation and you have your year's supply of food storage, a modest home, and no debts. In addition, you have 5000 dollars set aside as emergency money. You live in small town USA. Last night, you had a vision or dream, where the spirit clearly tells you that by the end of the week the trucks will stop rolling, stores will run out of food and goods, and the economy will be collapsed. You have 1 week to prepare. Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to explain what the best use for your last 5000 dollars is and what you would do with that last week of civilization.

I would give it all to the Bishop and pray for blessings
Boy, I really don't know what I would do. That is a tough question.
I suppose I would pray ferverently for an additional witness and make sure my I's are dotted.
Oh, I might phone church headquarters and let them know

I'd probably rent a fat motorhome and take the kids to Disneyland for a few days, maybe even stop by San Diego to see Mark and eat Hula Pie. I'd want my last week in Babylon to go out with a bang!

Rensai wrote:Just for fun, what would you do in this scenario?

You have followed the church's recommendation and you have your year's supply of food storage, a modest home, and no debts. In addition, you have 5000 dollars set aside as emergency money. You live in small town USA. Last night, you had a vision or dream, where the spirit clearly tells you that by the end of the week the trucks will stop rolling, stores will run out of food and goods, and the economy will be collapsed. You have 1 week to prepare. Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to explain what the best use for your last 5000 dollars is and what you would do with that last week of civilization.

1st - pray for additional guidance

As for arm of the flesh thoughts - A couple questions

Location? Anywhere east of N/S Dakota and I'd seriously consider relocating westward. In fact...anywhere outside of Alaska, Utah, Idaho, Montana, N & S Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, northern Colorado, northern Minnesota, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, northeast Nevada, and western Canada.....and I'd seriously consider relocating.

If I'm relocating...then its what can go....what has to stay....what can I acquire to help me go (fuel, vehicle, trailers, etc.). Where am I going to relocate? Close a deal on property...or at least get one started that will tie something up for a week or two? Could also look at vacation areas where there will be property available (owners out of state) like myriad places in Idaho (Coeur d'Lene, Sun Valley, Grand Teton, Stanley, McCall, etc.)....

If I'm not relocating....how's my defenses (dog, walls, hedges, iron bars over windows, solid steel doors, etc....proximity to trouble zones....relationship with neighbors)? how's my food production? other means of production (last minute acquisitions)?

Plus assistance to immediate and extended family, friends, neighbors, etc.....

buy 5k worth of twinkies!

In reality, I would get more food storage for my siblings and their families as they have not prepared at all.

I'd probably buy a trailer with solar panels and stock up on propane.

armedtotheteeth wrote:buy 5k worth of twinkies!

In reality, I would get more food storage for my siblings and their families as they have not prepared at all.

Awesome! And anybody that knows where they are better get out of my way. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Woody

Rensai wrote:Just for fun, what would you do in this scenario?

You have followed the church's recommendation and you have your year's supply of food storage, a modest home, and no debts. In addition, you have 5000 dollars set aside as emergency money. You live in small town USA. Last night, you had a vision or dream, where the spirit clearly tells you that by the end of the week the trucks will stop rolling, stores will run out of food and goods, and the economy will be collapsed. You have 1 week to prepare. Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to explain what the best use for your last 5000 dollars is and what you would do with that last week of civilization.

Tank:"What do you need? Besides a miracle."
Neo: "Guns...lots of guns..."

The Matrix

Well it does depend on a social status.

If I am all prepared for something like that, then it may be known in the community and people would want help. If I don't have firearms, I would purchase firearms. In a kind of panic like that, there's no doubt that violence would ensue. I would maybe even relocate to a desolate area far away from anyone else with my family. Go camping or something. Make myself appear as if I'm struggling as much as everyone else so that I'm not a target to come take from.

If my desire was to help people, I would take that cash and go buy more food and give it away. That's all that can be done if you want to help. Food is the #1 resource people need to survive this life.

Help other extended family members.

shadow wrote:I'd probably rent a fat motorhome and take the kids to Disneyland for a few days, maybe even stop by San Diego to see Mark and eat Hula Pie. I'd want my last week in Babylon to go out with a bang!

Well don't stop by his house, just go straight to the local Wal-Mart, apparently he spends all his time now doing the things he loves most, shopping and practicing his sweet dance moves.

Rensai wrote:Just for fun, what would you do in this scenario?

You have followed the church's recommendation and you have your year's supply of food storage, a modest home, and no debts. In addition, you have 5000 dollars set aside as emergency money. You live in small town USA. Last night, you had a vision or dream, where the spirit clearly tells you that by the end of the week the trucks will stop rolling, stores will run out of food and goods, and the economy will be collapsed. You have 1 week to prepare. Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to explain what the best use for your last 5000 dollars is and what you would do with that last week of civilization.

I would buy a boat load of these babies and and sell them to get rich fast:

Well, I've been trying to figure that out since we got our last tax refund...
after reading "How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes", I've been thinking the best use of money is to spend it on something that will enable me to produce something. Haven't come up with any great ideas, though.

We had already planted half a dozen fruit trees, tore up a huge sandbox to make it a garden, built an earth oven in the back yard, filled our landscaping with berry-producing bushes. So FOOD production is going. Any other ideas out there? Especially because I have two teenage boys who desperately need a lot more hard work. (Just don't ask their opinion about this...)

If we're talking total collapse of civilization I guess there's no point in paying some time ahead on your utility bills (not that 5k would even cover that probably) so I'd likely purchase more supplies that would fall under the "3 month" category... canned goods, etc. If there had been a better savings plan you'd definitely have more options.

I don't believe relocating at the 11th hour, 59th minute would be very wise unless you have property you are going to. Just some random, "I'm heading for North Dakota!!" doesn't seem like a great idea.

singyourwayhome wrote:Well, I've been trying to figure that out since we got our last tax refund...
after reading "How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes", I've been thinking the best use of money is to spend it on something that will enable me to produce something. Haven't come up with any great ideas, though.

We had already planted half a dozen fruit trees, tore up a huge sandbox to make it a garden, built an earth oven in the back yard, filled our landscaping with berry-producing bushes. So FOOD production is going. Any other ideas out there? Especially because I have two teenage boys who desperately need a lot more hard work. (Just don't ask their opinion about this...)

Sounds like your in pretty good shape. How about heating your home? Depending on where you live this can be important and was part of the original food storage command given by the church. Maybe take that money and pick up a good wood/coal stove then put the boys to work cutting wood.

Good suggestion. I've been playing around with that one. We have a fireplace on our main level, which is helpful but not efficient, and a pellet stove downstairs, which is only good when we have electricity. And pellets, though I've heard field corn works in a pinch.

I've wondered about putting a 1920's-style wood/coal cookstove in its place. Anybody know about the efficiency level of those? Or am I better off getting a plain-ol' flat-topped woodstove?

Kerosene space heaters are pretty inexpensive if you know how to use them safely. That and 20 gallons of kerosene could get you thru a winter, in a pinch. (You'd be wanting to stack on the quilts at night and dress warmly during the day.) You would probably want to block off most of the house and heat just the central living area.

A wood or coal burning stove might be good, but it seems like that would be quite an expense (?)

One of my favorite books is the Book of Jasher. After the 7 years of plenty ended, and the 7 years of famine began, they opened their sacks of grain [in our case it would be our food storage and other physical preparations.] the people of Egypt found vermin in their corn, but there was no vermin found in The corn of Joseph. Why was some food spoiled and others food not spoiled??? I dont know the answer. But a possible answer could be in the Jefferson quote. Liberty is a gift from God. In fact all our gifts both physical and spiritual are gifts from God. The scriptures say we should pray and ask for gifts of the Spirit. Safety is both a physical and a spiritual gift. Your Question is the same as the Rich man in the bible. H e had kept the commandments, just like those who have prepared with food storage and everything else we can think of. What Lack I Yet??? What more can I do to be safe when the disaster comes?? There is no safety in the world. There is no saftey in Babylon. Th cry is come out of Babylon. WE seek the Lords safety. There is safety in living the Laws and commandments of the Lord. there is safety in keeping the covenants. This is in fact the only True Safety. When we come out of Babylon and embrace the celestial laws, which we must do to be pure in heart or Zionlike, we will make the discovery of a life time: We are absoutely safe,--safer than we have ever been or felt before. This is one meaning of the scripture Flee to Zion For SAfety Keeping the law of consecration will keep our food from spoiling.

dennis wrote:One of my favorite books is the Book of Jasher. After the 7 years of plenty ended, and the 7 years of famine began, they opened their sacks of grain [in our case it would be our food storage and other physical preparations.] the people of Egypt found vermin in their corn, but there was no vermin found in The corn of Joseph. Why was some food spoiled and others food not spoiled??? I dont know the answer. But a possible answer could be in the Jefferson quote. Liberty is a gift from God. In fact all our gifts both physical and spiritual are gifts from God. The scriptures say we should pray and ask for gifts of the Spirit. Safety is both a physical and a spiritual gift. Your Question is the same as the Rich man in the bible. H e had kept the commandments, just like those who have prepared with food storage and everything else we can think of. What Lack I Yet??? What more can I do to be safe when the disaster comes?? There is no safety in the world. There is no saftey in Babylon. Th cry is come out of Babylon. WE seek the Lords safety. There is safety in living the Laws and commandments of the Lord. there is safety in keeping the covenants. This is in fact the only True Safety. When we come out of Babylon and embrace the celestial laws, which we must do to be pure in heart or Zionlike, we will make the discovery of a life time: We are absoutely safe,--safer than we have ever been or felt before. This is one meaning of the scripture Flee to Zion For SAfety Keeping the law of consecration will keep our food from spoiling.

Thank you for the reminder!!!

Original_Intent wrote:Kerosene space heaters are pretty inexpensive if you know how to use them safely. That and 20 gallons of kerosene could get you thru a winter, in a pinch. (You'd be wanting to stack on the quilts at night and dress warmly during the day.) You would probably want to block off most of the house and heat just the central living area.

A wood or coal burning stove might be good, but it seems like that would be quite an expense (?)

It is fairly expensive, would be about $2-3K by the time we're all done buying and setting it up properly.

The one hesitation I have with the kerosene heater is that it's a short-term solution. I'd rather have something I can rely on for years if necessary.

singyourwayhome wrote:

Original_Intent wrote:Kerosene space heaters are pretty inexpensive if you know how to use them safely. That and 20 gallons of kerosene could get you thru a winter, in a pinch. (You'd be wanting to stack on the quilts at night and dress warmly during the day.) You would probably want to block off most of the house and heat just the central living area.

A wood or coal burning stove might be good, but it seems like that would be quite an expense (?)

It is fairly expensive, would be about $2-3K by the time we're all done buying and setting it up properly.

The one hesitation I have with the kerosene heater is that it's a short-term solution. I'd rather have something I can rely on for years if necessary.

Well the positives are kerosene stores long term - maybe indefinitely(?) and also even in a pretty rudimentary society, kerosene has been available. So it must not be too difficult to refine/obtain.

But a stove would definitely be preferable if it is within your budget (which it is in the hypothetical).

It's in the budget if no cars break down soon, or if I decide against Lasik. I'm starting to get nervous about not having optometrists around....
While at BYU, when someone would ask how bad my eyesight was, I'd ask, "Well, see that Y on the mountain?
I don't."