Living Essentials is a series dedicated to providing information to enrich and simplify life. This introductory volume portrays real-life stories of people across the United States who have successfully implemented the small and simple things--the essentials--into everyday life.

DISK ONE

Emergency Preparedness: An Introduction
An LDS congregation in Manhattan survived the events of September 11, 2001 and a family in Maine endured a crippling ice storm in 1998 because of careful preparation. Families in Los Angeles hope to be able to do the same next time an earthquake hits their area through an emergency response plan and food storage. These inspiring stories are coupled with expert advice on how to prepare for emergencies and how to build and utilize your food storage.

Employment: An Introduction
It is often difficult to get employment but even tougher to keep it. Two unemployed families share their stories about surviving for months without income and a health-care professional explains how to increase marketability through continued education. This episode also features expert advice on how to improve your chances of getting a job and what is expected of you once you have it.

Resource Management: An Introduction
Provident resource management is more than just saving for a rainy day-it's a whole approach to life that is modest, wise, and generous. This episode follows three families who have found creative ways to manage their resources. It also contains expert advice on items such as budgeting, saving and investing.

DISK TWO

Social & Emotional Strength: An Introduction
This episode features the stories of three families who have found ways to improve their social and emotional strength in spite of the immense challenges life has dealt them. Human relations specialist and counselors also share expert advice on how to understand and improve one's social and emotional well being.

Education & Literacy: An Introduction
Lifelong education can occur in any setting or at any stage in life. Follow the stories of exceptional people who discovered a love for continual learning despite financial, time and language constraints and improved their standard of living. Experts also share advice on how to best take advantage of all educational opportunities.

Physical Health: An Introduction
This episode features three families who have enriched their every day lives through consistent focus on fitness and nutrition. Health specialists further explain the mechanics of why and how we can maintain a healthy lifestyle.