Food storage

I don't know why I never noticed the situation of the Nephites in 3 Nephi Chapter 4. In Chapter 3 it talks of them gathering in Zarahemla to try to have strength in numbers and increase their ability to fend off the Gadianton robbers. In Chapter 4 it then mentions that they actually had enough supplies to subsist for seven years. Usually I would just skim over this detail, but last night it struck me that these people had to have been preparing for just such an emergency. I can imagine the prophets counseling them for years to work on their food storage, and to build up their flocks. I have to laugh at the Gadianton robbers' attempts to lay siege to the Nephites, and how they have to give up because the Nephites are well prepared and have plenty of provisions to rely on. It wouldn't surprise me if some of those Gadianton robbers weren't rather relieved to be taken prisoner- at least then they were assured of having food to eat!

This got me wondering. Would we, as a people, be prepared if we were told to pack up our food and supplies and gather to one central location and be ready to live off of those supplies for seven years? How about for even one year? Or even 3 months? I've been trying to work on my food storage, but have to admit that I would fall short of meeting that challenge. Reading about the Nephites and their courage and faithfulness gives a boost to my determination to keep plugging along and trying to build up our family's supplies. I hope the day never comes that we are called on to subsist entirely on food storage, but it sure would be nice to know that I could.