The Rev. Goldsmith also says Christ's metaphorical advice about building a house on a solid foundation (Matthew 7:24-27) may apply in a literal sense, too.

The Rev. Mike Gray, senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, says "to bloom where you are planted" on life is solid advice.

"What's good for one person isn't good for another," he said.

Any occupation or location you choose to live in probably includes some physical risk and accidents. Natural disasters can seemingly happen anywhere at any time.

"Life on a beach — there's an inherent risk there," the Rev. Gray said. "You have to make practical decisions."

He believes most of all we should live where God wants us to live or leads us to live.

"Live fully to be a blessing to others," he said.

Common sense is important, but the Rev. Gray says there is plenty of foolishness in the world. too.

Richard Wolf, an elder in the North Salt Lake congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, says his faith doesn't have any directives on living in disaster-prone areas.

"It's a personal decision," he said.

Still, there may be a need for the good word to be preached in disaster-prone regions.

Regarding earthquakes, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that "literal and figurative quakings of the Earth are mentioned a number of times in the Bible."

Information from the Witnesses' "Revelation: Its Grand Climax at Hand" book states:

"Since 1914, with earth's population exploding into the thousands of millions, literal temblors have contributed significantly to the distress of our times. Nevertheless, even though they fulfill prophecy, these earthquakes have been natural, physical disasters. They are preliminary to the great symbolic quake of Revelation 6:12. This, indeed, comes as the devastating finale to a series of advance tremors that shake Satan's human earth system of things to its foundations."

This book also states:

"In a similar way, when the great earthquake strikes, this entire world system will be engulfed in the despair of total darkness. . . . Our entire globe will shake under a 'great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.' "

Although literal quakes may occur in the last days, Witnesses are cautioned that the Book of Revelation is presented in signs and symbolism. Jehovah's Witnesses stress finding true peace and security in the last days by building up their faith in a study of God's word and living his commandments.

President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints addressed the theme of "If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear" extensively during the priesthood session of the church's October 2005 General Conference.