"What we have experienced in the past was all foretold, and the end is not yet," President Hinckley said. "Just as there have been calamities in the past, we expect more in the future. What do we do?

"Someone has said it was not raining when Noah built the ark. But he built it, and the rains came.

"The Lord has said, 'If ye are prepared ye shall not fear' (D&C 38:30).

"The primary preparation is also set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants, wherein it says, 'Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come. (D&C 87:8).' "

The LDS Church believes in modern scripture and revelation, in addition to the Bible. The LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants reaffirms the idea of very strong earthquakes in the last days before Christ's second coming.

For example, D&C 88:87 states, "The earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man. . . ." And D&C 45:33 mentions quakes in diverse places in the last days.

President Hinckley also said at the last General Conference:

"How portentous are the words of revelation found in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants concerning the calamities that should befall after the testimonies of the elders. The Lord says:

"For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.

"And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.

"And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people" (D&C 88:89—91).

How interesting are descriptions of the tsunami and the recent hurricanes in terms of the language of this revelation, which says, "The voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds."

The LDS Church has no policy on where members of the church should live.

President Hinckley has stressed living worthily, though.

"We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for his protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect his help if we are unwilling to keep his commandments."

Also, at the most recent conference, he also stressed that church members should do all they can to be physically safe and prepared.