Alma 50 Never Stop Making Preparations

Yesterday, Monday, October 29^th, a devastating hurricane named “Sandy” came on shore near New York City.  The storm surge was 13 feet, far above anything the city had ever experienced before.  The New York University Hospital’s back-up generator failed.  Twenty babies in ICU, many on respirators, had to be evacuated along with all the other patients in the hospital.  Each baby was cradled in the arms of a doctor while a nurse administered air through a mechanical device.  They walked each baby down nine flights of stairs to awaiting vehicles and accompanied them to other hospitals.  This is only one story of many that we will hear about the heroism of the people affected by this storm. 

In Alma 50, Mormon tells us that “Moroni did not stop making preparations for war….”  He prepared strongholds “against the coming of their enemies….”  As the result of his fortifications, his people were kept safe and became stronger and more confident.  Mormon states, “…thus we see how merciful and just are all the dealings of the Lord, to the fulfilling of all his words unto the children of men; yea, we can behold that his words are verified….”

Even though the University Hospital had put in place a back-up plan, we learned that the plan did not include contingencies that were sufficient for the severity of the storm.  Dear family, we need to make a plan with adequate contingencies for the coming days.  Let us begin today to prepare ourselves and our homes with needed supplies and fortifications both spiritual and temporal.  We must do as Moroni and “not stop making preparations.”

 The resulting joy experienced by the people of his time is described by Mormon: “But behold there never was a happier time among the people….”