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Gathering Zion's People says, Hello!
Our Vision
The vision of Gathering Zion's People is that everyone learn to live in balance with self-reliance AND increased cooperation in preparing for the future; Jesus Christ wants us to live after the manner of happiness (2nd Nephi 5:27). The Youth are the long-term future of the Lord's Kingdom.
Building New Kingdom Families
The Anxiety of the Young
Many people no matter the age, are struggling because of the economy and because of the strife occurring around the world. Too many young people are wondering if they can afford to get married and start a family, or wonder if this world will be stable enough socially, politically, and economically to sustain good family life. Imagine how a young man or young woman can add to their attractiveness as a potential marriage partner: "I have my own starter home."
What Church Leaders Can Do
Leaders can start promoting learning home-building, utility set-up and other related skills. Priests and Elders Quorums can sponsor learning activities by finding other skilled men in the ward or stake, to come instruct the young men or young adults. Ward or Stake members can also help each other during free time, or hire each other, as appropriate. It doesn't have to be just among the immigrant population.
Personal opinion -- one day an office or retail job will mean little, but lifesaving and practical skills, manufacturing, building, making, repairing, and gardening, etc. will mean everything. Working together as families and close community is important.
Hopefully one day there will be a type of "Perpetual"-ongoing, pilot-program to build LDS Zion communities, sponsored by the Church Headquarters with the members helping out as much as they can.
What Individuals and Families can do
Dads (or other relatives, kind neighbors, ministering visitors) can show their sons or other peoples' sons, any skills which could be applied to home building tasks. High schools or colleges may have courses. Libraries or online book purchasing websites are other sources. Sons and daughters can earn money. Parents can then affordably rent the starter home to their married child, or do rent-to-own.
YouTube.com and other online video sources have many people who show handyman and house-building projects.
Also, take advantage of high school, or upper educational opportunities which teach house building skills such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, roofing, painting, dry walling, and flooring, use of power tools, and possibly welding or other good skills like learning about energy alternatives (solar, well water, propane, etc.) installation of home appliances, home design/home architecture/reading blueprints and schematics. {Teens can also start learning about home or land financing [example: Construction loans] and when they get a job can start setting aside money}.
Some of these handyman classes are in-person. Lowes Home Improvement store has Do-It-Yourself (DIY) information and projects, but so does Home Depot. See Links (Buttons) immediately below this section.
Faith, FAMILY...
More Considerations
Parents who have a big enough backyard (or area to remodel an upstairs into a granny flat, or in an unfinished basement, could consider building a small home area which could serve either as a starter home for one of their young adult children, aging parents, guest cottage, or rental (depending on zoning laws and building permits allowed). The small home can be used by various children as they trade off cycling through a mission, and school or early marriage. Our recommendation is to "build small" on enough land, so that if ownership is kept, potentially home additions can be done at a later time.
Or, a young adult can choose to move to a cheaper location, even rural, if they can find work or work remotely. The big cities are having so many problems, that this might not be a bad idea. Some small towns have incentives for home-building if "you move there."
This could be planned during a child's teen years. Some parents start planning for mission and college, but because many young people are opting to skip the very expensive University and only go to community college or just start working after High School, money can be set aside for a first-home building project as well as a mission. More budget savings would be serving a mission from home so that other personal goals for future marriage can be met. Remember, having children and raising a good family means more people for the kingdom. Maybe it is wisdom -- sometimes Family comes First.
A Word to the Wise
Do Your Due-Diligence
None of these links are actual endorsements of products, real estate properties, or services. Meaning, this ownership of Gathering Zion's People is NOT in any way responsible for any outcome of doing business with any other company, person, or entity. They are just examples of popular websites out there. You must do your own research, your won due-diligence, especially when it comes to buying land from a private party or without a professional Real Estate agent. It is up to you to ask questions, and make sure you got correct answers. When it comes to land, you must understand for starters -- titled ownership, water rights, water table, mineral rights, easements, restrictions, and any other rights, when it comes to local, county, and state regulations, zoning, flood zones, earthquake zones, permits, etc., as well as features, pros and cons of the land itself.
