Calamities Will Happen - Are We Prepared?

I am so grateful for this message from a Prophet of God - who has warned and forewarned of calamities to come.  Are we prepared?  Have we heeded wise counsel?  Are we willing to obey even when we don't see 'afar' off?

"Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue that day they harbored such a delusion". --- Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, Prepare for the Days of Tribulation

Saints are ill-prepared

We discuss the wise and foolish in the scriptures.  Do we class ourselves among one of those groups?  Are we waiting for the bridegroom to come with our lamps trimmed and ready?  Or...do we think that we can quickly prepare as soon as we hear that He's near?

In 1980 Bishop Victor L. Brown expressed concern that far too many Saints are ill-prepared to care for themselves in difficult times, even though they have been instructed to prepare for YEARS:

He said "....we have a great concern that as a people we are far short of truly being prepared.  The heart of welfare services is....member preparedness.  ....many of our people do not have their reserves and consequently are unable to take care of their own basic needs.  ....This counsel has been given at least twice a year for all these years.  Some have followed ...and are prepared. Some, like the foolish virgins, do not have enough oil in their lamps."  Ensign May 1980