KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Plant a vegetable garden.

Store food and water.

Avoid debt.

Build up savings.

Sound like a plan for these tough economic times?

It's actually the longtime teaching of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"For many years the church has taught the principle of provident living and self-reliance," said Bruce Priday, president of the Lenexa Stake and church spokesman for the Kansas City, Mo., area.

"With growing unemployment, this is becoming increasingly important," he said. "I have visited several families who lost work and were able to get through months of unemployment without having to go to the government or agencies for help because they were prepared for the emergency."

Most Mormon families practice the principle of self-reliance, he said.

Bill and Sandra Bohne, who live in rural Leavenworth County, Kan., are one example.

On their 25 acres is a yellow-sided house, an old barn, two garden plots, a fish-filled pond and about a dozen cows. Two of their four children live at home, and there are two large dogs and a small cat (who keeps the dogs in check).

The gardens have been planted with vegetables, barely visible now. But by summer they will yield tomatoes, peppers, beans, onions, greens, asparagus, watermelon, cabbage, cauliflower and other produce. And there are fruit trees.

The kitchen looks up to date with new cabinets and a cooking island. But five years ago Sandra designed it especially for canning and storage.

The burners can hold large pots, and jars fit conveniently in nearby drawers. Shelves above the sink and counters are neatly packed with jars of fruits and vegetables. Shelves under the stove hold dozens of cook books, recipes and information on gardening, canning, storage and small-scale farming.

In other compartments are pots and machines, like a juicer and a wheat grinder. A refrigerator/freezer is fitted into a wall so as not to take up space in the room.

The basement is a well-organized pantry. Shelves around the room are labeled, with the canned goods, bottles and jars arranged so that older items are in front. Large packages of toilet paper and other household necessities are piled on shelves similar to what one would find at a wholesale store.

"About four times a year, we pull out the old stuff," Sandra said. "And throughout the year, we share with the two children who are away from home, other families, community food pantries and give homemade canned goods as gifts."

Creaky steps lead up to the door of the barn. A marker on a beam reads "1901."
Inside is enough grain to last the family for a year or more. There are at least 50 45-pound buckets of wheat, which the couple bought.

"This is what you need to keep the bugs and rodents out," Bill said, tapping one of the large plastic buckets. "And we use a lot of the No. 10 cans for storing grains, sugar and dehydrated fruits and vegetables."

"There's the Bishop's Storehouse in Kansas City where you can buy staples and do dry-pack canning," he said.

Sandra said they are not survivalists, who think the worst is going to happen.

"But after Katrina, my mom and sister came and lived with us from New Orleans," she said. "We know if there's a huge natural disaster, the government will not get there in the first 48 hours."

"You can't help others if your shelves are empty," Bill said. "If I lost my job or if we had another emergency, we are prepared. Also, it's a spiritual thing because our church teaches us to provide for our family and others. If I lost my job, how would I feel if I couldn't feed my family? What does that do to my integrity if I know I can't take care of my family?"

Priday learned the lesson from his parents. He grew up in Utah where he was the youngest of eight children. The family gardened, canned and maintained a basement storage room.

"My parents grew up during the Depression," he said. "Both grew up on farms, but they were able to weather the storm because of their families' food storage programs. They never had to get any assistance."

On the Bohnes' land, the cows come to the fence when called. The family names them but is pragmatic about their function. The calves are food and income.

"It's the circle of life," said Emily Bohne, 17, "like the 'Lion King.'"

Often, the family's gifts are tied to their lifestyle. For example, one year Bill received a grape vine for Father's Day. In the summer the family makes juice, and in the winter, jelly.

"Bill has won prizes for his juice and jelly at the county fair," Sandra said proudly. "I think everybody uses the basic recipe. It's the grapes that make the difference."

Emily said she never minded the work involved in helping to tend the garden and to can.

"When you're younger, it didn't seem like a chore. I especially liked working the juicer," she said, vigorously demonstrating how to use the plunger and turn the handle on the machine.

"I thought everyone knew how to do canning. I thought it was normal and was surprised to find out that my friends at school had never done it."

The same with the friends of daughter Laura, 20. They would visit and ask if they could help.

"They thought this was a fun thing, but I didn't," Laura said with a laugh.

But now she is pleased that she knows how to do it.

The Bohnes also follow their church's teachings on finances.

"We're debt-free, the property and cars paid for," Bill said. "We also are encouraged to have a year's supply of money, clothing and fuel."

Priday said the church counsels members to avoid unnecessary debt, to use a budget and to live within their means, first starting with paying tithes and building up financial reserves.

"We are less affected by what is going on in the economy," Sandra said. "We don't have debt to worry about and don't have food to worry about.

"This lifestyle brings peace of mind."

The LDS church traces its principle of provident living to Jesus' teachings on helping others and serving the poor.

"The idea is trying to live selflessly and think about other's needs and being self-reliant and taking care of oneself, family and neighbors," Priday said.

The story is told of how Brigham Young, leading the first group of pioneers, planted gardens as they traveled across the country to what is now Salt Lake City.

"They planted gardens, knowing that other pioneers would follow them," Priday said. "And they were able to enjoy the vegetables planted by the original pioneers, and other pioneers would add to the gardens."

Many Mormon congregations and regional groups, called wards and stakes, respectively, present classes and workshops on self-reliance.

Earlier this month, Bill and Sandra organized a free workshop for the wider community called, "Living Well in Hard Times." Experts spoke on a variety of topics, such as "What to Do When Income Drops," "Dealing With Creditors," "Planning a Victory Garden," Home Food Storage" and "Domestic Animal Care."

Sandra also gives private instructions and answers questions from people who e-mail her at bohnegardens@lvnworth.com. She has taken the master gardeners course offered by Kansas State University. The couple also shows people how to put together a water purification kit.

Priday said that along with provident living, the church teaches the importance of taking care of oneself physically, emotionally and spiritually.

"If we are not taking care of ourselves physically, we are not in a position to help others," he said. "For emotional and spiritual strength, we need to exercise faith and obey the commandments, pray daily and study the Scriptures and serve others.

"If we don't have faith and are not serving others and drawing on the power of God, we are not being successful parents and disciples in serving other people."

For more on the self-reliance teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, visit www.providentliving.org.