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Contrary to a published report, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not closing its food production canneries and is not limiting the variety of goods that are available to church members for consumption and storage.
"Over time, we will be reducing the number of facilities where the packaging of dry goods occurs," LDS spokeswoman Ruth Todd said Monday. Even then, she added, the church's "home storage centers will offer the same or additional commodities in pre-packaged form, at no additional cost."
The statement comes as a result of questions from a number of different media sources following a blog post asserting that "LDS canneries east of the Mississippi will no longer be canning any food at their facilities beginning June 27, 2013."
That, Todd said, is not accurate.
"The church is not closing canneries and is not limiting the variety of goods available to church members," she said. The only thing being reduced over time is the number of locations at which members can purchase bulk foods and can them themselves.
There are currently more than 100 LDS home storage centers across the United States and Canada at which church members can obtain food items for personal and family use. The home storage centers are part of the church's massive welfare program that includes canneries, meat-packing facilities, thrift stores, farms, ranches and storage facilities for food. Latter-day Saints are encouraged by church leaders to keep a three-month supply of food on hand in case of physical, natural and economic emergencies as part of the LDS practice of self-reliance.
“Self-reliance is a product of our work and undergirds all other welfare practices," LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson said. "It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being.”

Image courtesy of Marks Daily Apple

• Beans: This is my favorite because this food also has fiber.  You can substitute cup for cup for the fat required in a recipe.  If you are cooking a light colored food, used cooked light colored beans.  The same is true for bakin dark baked goods, used dark cooked beans.  You may be surprised at how moist your baked goods will be.  Beans are also very economical as a substitute as oils and fats are much more costly pound-for-pound.
• Applesauce:  Many folks use this as a substitution ( 1:1 ratio).  The caution here is to watch your baking temperature as it can scorch or burn and leave an after-taste.  Also, some sources caution you from using more than 1 Cup of Applesauce per recipe that you are preparing.  
• Shredded Zucchini:  This is great in muffins, breads, and chocolate treats as it provides a great deal of moisture.
• Pureed Pumpkin:  Have you ever had leftover canned pumpkin and wondered what to do with it?  You can substitute  it for fat. Your food will take on the color and flavor of  pumpkin...but who doesn't love a chocolate chip pumpkin cookie?
• Dairy:  This was a surprise to me.  You can substitute yogurt (preferably Greek yogurt as it is strained and does not have excess liquid) or cottage Cheese (use half of the required fat called for).  These are good in pastries and biscuits but can add a 'rubbery' texture.  Ricotta Cheese reportedly can be used in some recipes 1:1.  
• Baby Food:  Specifically carrots, pears and prunes.  This is a good way to take care of left over purees that you may have in the refrigerator.
• Banana:  Mashed Banana can be used 1:1. 
• Tofu:  Silken Tofu reportedly can be used (use only 1/2 the amount called for).

Try to experiment with one or more of these options in your when baking your next yummy treat or food.  

• Each apartment that had housed 6 students will now house 12 missionaries as bunk beds will be installed.
• The large parking lot in the back will have temporary building for feed the missionaries.  
• There has been some talk/reporting that some of the buildings will be remodeled to make classrooms available.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.....his wonders to perform...

Image courtesy of offgridsurvival.com

Image courtesy of offgridsurvival.com

Image courtesy of Ebay

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2- 4 mil plastic sheeting

Duct tape

Scissors (to cut the plastic sheeting)

Utility knife

First aid kit

Two week supply of non-perishable food

Paper plates and eating utensils

Can opener

Bottled drinking water (your water barrel will not likely be accessible from your safe room)

Flash Light with a hand crank or extra batteries

Baby items (diapers, formula, wipes)

Pet items (food, potty pads, kitty litter, poo bags)

Wind Up/Battery Radio

Phone that does not require power

Cell phone and charger

Medications

Extra pair of glasses and/or contact lens & solution

Emergency Phone Numbers

Candles/Camping Lanterns

Lighters and Matches

Garbage bags & ties

Comfort items (toilet paper, personal wipes, Kleenex)

Entertainment items (paperback books, Sudoku, crossword puzzles, playing cards)

Paper, pens, pencils

Emergency telephone numbers

Think about it!

• A "T" leg with 2 stakes are included to ensure the unit stays stable in windy conditions.
• Three racks are included to be used for Dehydration or from layered cooking (like cookie sheets).  Also a roll of Parchment paper is provided for dehydrating.
• 2 Dark Round Enamel Pans that stack if you wish. Each pan has a different lid, one dark and one clear. 
• 2 Bread pans
• One Multi-Fuel Water Pasteurizing Indicator (WAPI).  More about this cool little device later.

(I am leaving this photo in its original size so that you can read the fine print....)

Church Secures Use of Additional Buildings for Missionary Training

SALT LAKE CITY — 

To better accommodate the recent increase in new missionaries, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is expanding its missionary training operations by securing the use of additional buildings near the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC).

Missionaries will occupy the Raintree Commons apartments at 1849 North 200 West, and portions of the BYU-owned Wyview Park apartments at 146 West 1940 North in Provo, Utah. This temporary arrangement is one of the many ways the Church is accommodating more missionaries entering into missionary service around the world. 

“We are grateful for all those who have chosen missionary service,” said Elder David F. Evans, executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department. “Regardless of where they are trained, missionaries will have a rich and inspiring experience that prepares them for their labors in their assigned missions.”

Approximately 2,000 missionaries will occupy the facilities as early as May 2013. English-language missionaries and those learning foreign languages will be trained there.

Missionaries housed at the Raintree Commons and the Wyview Park apartments will eat, exercise and attend classes and worship services on-site. Additional temporary structures will be installed nearby to provide services to missionaries. All missionaries being trained in Provo will still have opportunities to attend the Provo Temple.

Updated Missionary FAQ

• How many missionaries does the Church have serving currently?
  64,373

• What is the average number of missionaries being called per week now?
  1,400 per week since 1 January 2013

• What is the current percentage of Elders/Sisters being called?
  For calls made since 1 January 2013, 57% are elders, 36% are sisters, and 7% are seniors.
• What are the plans currently for expansion of the Provo MTC?
  We are currently reviewing options with the city and neighbors that would approximately double the capacity of the Provo MTC. These plans are not yet finalized.
• Are there plans to expand the Provo Temple to accommodate increased numbers of missionaries?
  No

***********************************************

Soooooo, what do the students think?  Well, with social media it's easy to see and very quickly. Comments such as these are being posted:

• One student wrote that she is looking for a big box to live out of since she is being forced to move and will soon be homeless.
• Others are saying that they should still have use of the pool and hot tub because the missionaries won't need them.
• Another suggested that the ward blow the budget on an end-of-the-year party within the next month.
• Most are saying how very, very sad they are that they will all be moving.  Essentially, they are loosing their sense of 'family' in our little ward.  

For me personally (at the moment), I am mourning this change as well because I love, love, love these young people.  It has been my privilege and honor to serve with them. What a tender mercy this calling has been for me.

On the flip side, after thinking about this for a few hours, I can see the divine wisdom in this inspired choice.  The campus' of both of these apartment buildings are rather isolated. Raintree itself really does have a central commons area and the  apartment buildings surround it keeping all the occupants close together. The missionaries could quickly and easily move from one building to the other despite the weather.  Geographically, the roads, river, and business buildings keep this area uniquely isolated to itself.  The parking for Raintree only has 2 entrances and could easily be taken down to one to keep the campus isolated from well wishers or interested parties.

I remember when President Spencer W Kimball coined the phrase "Constancy amid Change".  This announcement is perfectly suited for this phrase.  In the last days, the missionary work really must expand and fill the whole earth.  Since the announcement was made by President Monson during the October General Conference, we have had nearly 17 young sisters either receive their mission call, leave for the MTC (one left yesterday), or are in the process of putting their papers in. Imagine this expanded missionary activity in every YSA ward in our valley and the worldwide impact it is having.  My husband and I joked that perhaps one of our own Young Single Adults  might end up right back in the apartment they just left, however they would been transformed into  a missionary this time.  For me personally, I just get to see this change up close and personally.

I will miss my Young Single Adults.....May the Lord Bless them all.....until we meet again.  

*************

PS:  There is now an official site for those who are displaced. If you know of openings in the Provo area, please feel free to post them here:  https://www.facebook.com/RaintreeRefugeeFoundationRrf

• This is a delightful treat that is very simple to make.
• I used Food Storage Staples exclusively to make these treats.
• I think that the next time I make these,  I will take a little more time with the chocolate.   I may even use the microwave to melt it again intermittently as the Peanut Butter centers are so cold that the chocolate set up quickly in the bowl.

• Light weight:  You could take it camping with you
• Easy to clean
• Very sharp blades....be very careful when cleaning them.
• Does not take big 'muscles' to operate
• Small enough to fit in a drawer.

So, consider it!

• The Minky Fabric is very heavy
• The Flannel has 'tooth' to hold the 3 fabrics together somewhat.  If you wanted very little sliding you could strategically tack the fabrics together.
• The least expensive Minky fabric I found was on-line.  So check out all of your options.
• I made another blanket with a silk ruffle instead of the trim.  It was just as cute.
• You need LOTS OF PINS to hold this 'unit together.  You will not get even seams without it.
• It is so soft!  Your little ones will love it!

Try it!

I just thought you might like to know!

Image courtesy of Southern Living Yankee

• With the exception of the Cheeses, I had everything in my pantry to make this.  The cheese could be easily stored and frozen.  The container was just over $6.00. I figure that I used about $3.00 worth to make this double batch.  So, the out-of-pocket expense to feed 20+ YSA's...about $3.00 (plus the cost of the produce...which was minimal).  I had the rest in my storage.  Using your Food Storage Staples saves you money!
• The Flavor was reminiscent of the Olive Garden Salad, no complaints there.
• I also used the recipe for the Olive Garden Salad Mix, also from the CopyKat site.  The only challenge in gathering these ingredients were the peppers.
• 
  

Give it a try!

See what you can do to make your kitchen easier to function in!

Going Powerless!

Here is the result!

This was the "before" picture of my # 10 cans.  Again, just a big mess!  To get one can down, I had to move, slide, transfer, a can or cans from one pile to the other.  Because of this, I had no real idea what I had up there for sure.

Here is the "after".  I don't know if you can readily see, but I used shelving to separate and provide 'shelves' for the cans.  They are also categorized (Meats, Vegetables, Fruits, Special items etc).  I can easily slide cans in and out as I need them.

I used these large stacking shelves with foldable legs. If you look at the 'after' pictures, you can see that they easily clear the height of the #10 cans.  I could get 6 cans under one (as the legs could flare) and 5 on the top of the shelf.  (I did not purchase these at the Dollar store, but I most likely purchased them at a Big Box Store a few months ago...I just don't remember).

One very big and expensive lesson to take away from all of this is the amount of  food I had to throw away.  I had duplicate cans of items open, I had expired items stored up high on that shelf.  I threw away quite a few things.  Instead of putting the contents of the #10 can into jars and sealing them with my Food Saver attachment, I just quickly put the cans away and always thought that I would get to dry sealing with my Food Saver at a later time.  Well, it's later and it was too late for a significant amount of food.

I am now allowing space for jars on this top of this shelf of this picture so that I can safely store the contents of open #10 cans in sealed jars.  Things like Egg Powder etc will be put into jars and will be sealed with my Food Saver.  Also, you can see that I am using a Lazy-Susan device in the corner to make sure that I can see and access items easily.

I used another shelf to house 4 bins. Three of the bins hold Cheese-making, Pickling, and Canning supplies. The other 2 bins stacked together are extra's for when I need to add something else...which we all knows will happen.

I used to store these heavy Canners on the top shelf.  I won't elaborate on how challenging it was to get them down every time I was going to can something.  Having them on the floor makes so much more sense!

I also cut down on the number of buckets I am keeping in my Pantry. Right now, there are only four. They contain wheat, flour, sugar, and rice. Also, each bucket has a Mylar liner and a Gamma Lid to cut down on the possibility of little 'friends' trying to live in my food as these buckets can let light shine through.

Here is a view of the finished product, including my step stool that helps me easily access...anything!  I just love looking in my Pantry now.  I have had it this way for a few days to make sure that it is working for me.  I love to "see red" now because I can also find anything I need!

Not bad for a few bucks!

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

4 Lift up thine eyes round about  and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from afar, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

(Isaiah 60: 3-4)

This really is....the 'good stuff'!