Lest one thinks being environmentally-conscious is only a "liberal" idea, the Church recently announced a pilot program where the roofs of new chapels are fitted with solar panels. In announcing the program, Bishop H. David Burton of the Presiding Bishopric stated, “for decades we have looked for innovative ways to use natural resources in our meetinghouses that reflect our commitment as wise stewards of God’s creations.” Furthermore, the Church has indicated their estimation that this program will save money in the long run, proving that being environmentally conscious is also in our economic interest. In addition to the solar panels, the new earth-friendly design includes, "high efficiency heating and cooling system that can interface with the solar power equipment, landscaping designs and plumbing fixtures that cut water use by more than 50 percent, and Low-E Solarban 70 windows that block 78 percent of the sun’s heat energy. "
I've always felt that being good stewards of the environment was a Christian duty, and particularly an LDS duty. I recall one particular conservative friend from BYU who would always point to Doctrine and Covenants Section 59, verses 18-20 as evidence that humans could do whatever they wanted to the earth and to support his belief that environmental protection laws were not appropriate. The funny thing is that verse 20 states that our use of the earth must be done "with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion," a point my conservative friend conveniently glossed over.
In speaking about our stewardship over our planet, President Gordon B. Hinckley once stated, "This earth is [God's] creation. When we make it ugly, we offend Him."
4 comments:
We are the only Christian religious system which believes that the earth itself has a spirit. As such, it's incumbent on us to be less wasteful and be wise stewards of what the Lord has given us.
James
Amen to that brother!
I heard two republican members, both sadly of some authority in my ward ranting about the 'global warming hoax', and downplaying the environmental issues.
I at one point was thinking of actually going into green technology, and still might at some point. So took offense at this, but I don't like to get caught up in arguments so I just let it pass..
But I totally believe that God worked hard to make this earth, and he considers it attempted murder of his creation when we add to its destruction. I can't see how we as members of God's true church can believe that he doesn't take offense when we pollute the world, and take no heed to the damage we're doing.
Makes me mad when people are so blind, and can't see what's right in front of them. I mean it doesn't just affect the earth, all the pollutants also negatively affect our health world-wide, causing rises in Cancer, asthma, and other ailments..
Global warming has caused the ice in Greenland to shift about 2-3 feet in the past two years. Revealing some interesting archeological finds.
A chunk of ice the size of texas broke off of antartica, yet people still can't see.
I'm afraid that the day people realize the truth, it'll be one day too late. I wouldn't doubt if we're already too late to stop global warming from causing either an extinction level event, or at the very least a near-extinction level event.
Patrick- thanks again for the comment. Yeah- it's ridiculous how members will pontificate about their political views in church, treating those views as though they were church doctrine. There should be absolutely no tolerance of members venting their political views in sacred church meetings. More often than not, I've observed church members substituting the philosophies of men mingled with scripture for their lack of factual knowledge on any given issue. That is definitely true with some members' bloviations against environmental issues. I truly don't understand how we, as Christians, who believe that God created the earth and entrusted us with its care, could totally write off any concern about the environment. Sen. Orrin Hatch once suggested that those who are concerned about environmental issues may be abusing drugs. And yet the people from the Great State of Utah continue to elect that man!
Global warming is a serious issue and most of those who rail against it haven't bothered to read any primary sources on the science behind it. They'd rather rely on Fox News reports, Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck for their "information" on global warming. It's truly sad. As you point out, there is plenty of evidence of this monumental problem, yet so many of us choose to be blind. I did do a post on global warming under the tag climate change, in which I summarized the global warming statements of the most important and relevant scientific bodies in the U.S.
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