"A few years ago, Elder Jeffery R. Holland shared his feeling about the deep rooted faith of pioneers who pushed toward the Salt Lake Valley even after the deaths of the children. He said, 'They didn't do that for a program, they didn't do it for a social activity, they did because the faith of the gospel of Jesus Christ was in their soul, it was in the marrow of their bones.' He concluded with these thought provoking words: 'If we can keep that in our families and in the Church, maybe a lot of other things start to take care of themselves. Maybe a lot of other less-needed things sort of fall out of the wagon. I'm told those handcarts could only hold so much. Just as our ancestors had to choose what they took, maybe the 21st century will drive us to decide, what can we put in our handcart?"
In modern times, this era of materialism, what is in our handcart? If we put everything in we perceive as meaningful, could we pull the cart or would we be like some pioneers who had to leave their cherished possessions on the trail because they had too much "stuff"?
One of the most essential items in our handcart should be our 72-hour kit. We don't need everything in the cupboard to survive for a few days in the event of an emergency. Our 72-hour kits should be up to date, accessible and ready to go. We can temporarily meet our physical needs with a little preparation.
Our handcart must also include some spiritual preparation. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges but a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value."
Your 24-hour kit includes the gospel essentials and should be used and renewed every 24 hours:
- Daily prayer and study
- Stand in holy places
- Invite the spirit into your home and daily activities
- Partake of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and invite others to partake of His gift
