If you don’t know Asperger’s is a form of functional autism characterized by the person’s rather lacking social skills, and a completely different view of the world, one often encompassed within the self and having all too little to do with those other folks around the Asperger’s person. The type often does well alone, and does not function with any great success in groups. In fact most find the social structure required of humans following each other in their ways and habits to be mostly a distraction. cheers, and thank the oddballs for your comfortable existance.

If you get involved in CERT, you will immediately have a non-denominational source for discussing preparedness with your neighbors. It hardly touches the topics of food storage, but focuses primarily on being a first responder for disasters in your area. Helping your neighborhood look out for each other in all areas (including food storage and security) is a natural evolution of this program.

There are just too many people in this small vicinity for chaos to not ensue.

Here are some stories from my life:

I had a friend that said if anyone came to his house to take his food storage, he would just add them to it. (He was dead serious).

Another man said that his neighbor indicated he would always be nice to a Mormon neighbor because if the SHTF, he knows where he can go for food.

A Sunday school teacher going over a lesson on food storage talked about providing for others. His position was that the year’s supply of food commandment was not just for your family to eat for a year, but for your family and many neighbors to eat for a month. I don’t recall seeing that in the manual.

In the book “Coming of the Lord”, Lund describes conditions when the United States is no more. It reminded me of Katrina, except it will be like that all over the place. But his admonition/advice/command is to stay with the stakes of Zion. There you will find protection.

I have often wondered about this for the same reasons that have been brought up here. Geography, protection, etc. How can a large group be effective if spread out over a large geographic area? There needs to be some kind of perimeter. If there is no fuel supply, we will not be able to get around as easily. We need to stick together geographically as well as spiritually.

So how will the stakes provide safety when pretty much anywhere outside of Utah, a stake covers such a large geographic area that it would annul such group strength.

The answer is simple.

I don’t know.

So instead, I keep my mind on another piece of advice from a wisened friend. “The Lord wants you to stand in Holy places so that when He’s about to strike with lightning, you won’t get hit.”

I’ve often wondered about how to keep my family safe when we live in a world where pregnant women are being cut open to steal babies from. How do you deal with an issue like food storage with moral dilemmas such as the ones presented here?

We just keep trying, thinking, hoping, and preparing. We keep praying that the Lord will provide an obvious answer as the situations present themselves.

Very true. But living in paradise comes with a price tag, in more ways than one I suppose. :)

To your general point, though, what’s a person to do who already lives in an unprepared neighborhood? What’s an obedient Mormon to do living in relative isolation amongst a bunch of people who have no similar patterns and principles?

It’s a tough decision. Do you open your home and share what you’ve done with others in order to encourage them to do the same? Or do you keep tight-lipped, fearful of what others around you might do if they were aware of your preparations?

It’s gambling, really. But each person has to do what feels most comfortable for them. What I do is try and identify people who are open to learning and anxious to prepare themselves, and then I’m willing to share with them what I’ve done. I don’t go advertising my supplies door-to-door, that’s for sure. But once people have demonstrated a willingness to put in some effort, I’ll gladly bring them inside and help them wherever I can.

I think that too many people think that they’ll simply hide what they’ve prepared and, if necessary, defend their stockpile with their corresponding cache of weaponry. While in certain circumstances this may very well be necessary, I think that in most cases we have failed in true preparedness if we buy some goods and then top it off with a few guns.

After all, provident living is more about how we’re living now than it is about how we fare during an emergency. If we are truly living provident lives, it will be (for better or for worse) relatively easy for others to notice our different purchasing habits, eating habits, lifestyle, etc. “Peculiar people” stand out, whether they like it or not.

I know of several people who have decided to move to a location that is more conducive to this lifestyle and mentality. When buying homes, they research their neighbors as much as they do their floor plan, looking for the right environment in which to surround themselves.

But we need not rely on our neighbors alone. You can make plans with friends and family who live a short distance away and agree on a specific rallying point to which everybody will go with their (mobile) supplies in case of an emergency. Many people will decide this location ahead of time and store extra supplies there, so that when they arrive everything is ready to go. So whether or not you know your neighbors, you can open your home to trusted individuals after an emergency so that you’ve got a good group to work with. Strength in numbers, ya know.

I’ll just have to figure out how to convince them of the importance.

For those that are LDS, you might consider working through your ward’s preparedness committee. Organize a relevant activity, put the word out with fliers, and invite your neighbors. Or do a cul-de-sac cookoff with only food storage items and invite those who live near you. Or start a group buy and pass out fliers w/ info in order to help people get their own preparedness gear. Start your own neighborhood email list where you can discuss these other relevant issues. Etc…

Not that I’m selfish, but my brother’s neighbor was already threatened that they’d come to her house and go after her food storage in an emergency.

I’ve heard of many such stories. I’ve been told this myself. It’s a startling trend, but one we need to be aware of. In one survival handbook, the author somewhat sarcastically recommends that the reader only need prepare with a rifle and a directory of the local Mormon congregation. So, it’s not an isolated occurrence or an infrequent thought. It’s too easy for people to think that they’ll simply rely on others for their support. In this entitlement culture, I would venture to guess that the majority of people actually think that others will always provide for them whatever they need and desire. Stark reality will set in sooner or later. When that happens, again, we need to be ready. Having large numbers on your side to help defend your supplies and your lives will be crucial. Not having anybody on your side makes you easy prey.

Until then, I’m hesitant to show our neighbors what we have done. Not that I’m selfish, but my brother’s neighbor was already threatened that they’d come to her house and go after her food storage in an emergency. Nice guy. He even hinted that he’d come with a gun. I couldn’t believe it when I heard it, but it is true.