Difference between revisions of "Caring for the Earth"

Latest revision as of 20:34, 13 March 2025

In a revelation to Joseph Smith in 1834, the Lord said, "For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves."[1] One of the important things our Heavenly Father wants us to recognize and act upon is caring for the resources, or the fulness, that the earth provides.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seeks to follow President Nelson's prophetic counsel through responsible management of its global operations, which includes meetinghouses, temples, fleets, farms, and welfare and educational facilities. Many programs have been in progress for decades. Others were developed more recently, as new technologies and opportunities have become available.

To guide sustainability efforts across its wide range of operations, the Church has identified several major priorities, including the following:

Solar panels on a Church meetinghouse in Mexico

Adopt renewable energy. The Church has had on-site solar systems since 1986; as of November 2024, over 750 Church-owned buildings produce on-site solar power, including meetinghouses, temples, schools and warehouses. Hundreds more buildings participate in utility-led programs to pay for electricity from renewable sources. In addition, a handful of meetinghouses and temples use geothermal energy to regulate heating and cooling.

Improve energy efficiency. Operating highly efficient and well-insulated buildings has been a long-standing goal of the Church for many years. Recent improvements include the installation of LEDs for lighting, smart controls for heating, cooling and irrigation, and battery storage where local electricity grids are not reliable.

Conserve water, based on ecological needs and resources. In regions with limited water resources, the Church is reducing usage through smart irrigation controls, reduction of underused lawns and retrofitting properties with other water-wise landscaping (also known as xeric landscaping or dry gardens). In coordination with public stakeholders, the Church has also donated tens of thousands of water shares to help protect Utah’s Great Salt Lake in the United States.

Aerial view of waterwise landscape at the Red Cliffs Utah Temple

Reduce, reuse and recycle to avoid material waste. The Church strives to source materials through sustainable supply chains, as well as divert as much waste as possible from landfills. (For a list of notable initiatives, see this article.)

Reduce transportation emissions. The Church has adopted high fuel-efficiency standards for its global vehicle fleet, used by facility managers, missionaries and other workers. Bicycle shelters are provided in select locations where member ridership warrants it. EV chargers are installed at a handful of temples and meetinghouses where they are locally mandated or where the chargers are considered a strategic opportunity.

Practice the sustainable design, development and construction of our buildings. As the Church builds beautiful temples and other facilities, it is mindful of the materials, site selection and methods needed to support their long-term operations and maintenance in an environmentally sound manner. In more rural areas, maintaining sustainability often involves using smaller and more localized designs, which require less energy.

Practice sustainable agriculture and ranching in the Church’s welfare and investment farms around the globe. This includes the use of cover crops; crop rotation; no-till and reduced-till farming; grazing management; precision technologies to reduce water, waste and chemical use; and other practices that support long-term land productivity and help reduce negative environmental impacts.

Adapt to climate risks and improve resiliency, especially in implementing relevant humanitarian projects and facility maintenance standards. The accelerating frequency of extreme climate events disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable populations who do not have the resources to adapt to more volatile conditions or recover from long-term damages. For decades, the Church has frequently participated in projects to beautify and fortify local communities. Those projects range from sponsoring urban gardens to reducing erosion with tree planting. Furthermore, in partnership with accredited nongovernmental organizations, the Church contributes significantly to global initiatives on food security, energy independence and clean-water access—all of which have important environmental considerations.

Source: Church Newsroom, "Environmental Sustainability in Church Operations"

The Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints works under the direction of the First Presidency to oversee the temporal affairs — or physical aspects — of the Church. This responsibility includes managing tithing and fast offerings, humanitarian aid, welfare and self-reliance programs, building and maintaining meetinghouses and temples, and producing and distributing gospel resources, such as scriptures and hymnbooks.[2] Each of them have spoken about our sacred duty to care for the earth.

Presiding Bishopric being interviewed outside the Layton Utah Temple. Bishop Waddell, left; Bishop Caussé, center; Bishop Budge, right

Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé said, "The work of creation is not an end in itself. It is an integral part of God’s plan for His children. Its purpose is to provide the setting in which men and women may be tested, exercise their agency, find joy, and learn and progress so that they may one day return to the presence of their Creator and inherit eternal life.

These wonderful creations were prepared entirely for our benefit and are living proof of the love the Creator has for His children. The Lord declared, “Yea, all things which come of the earth . . . are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart.”

However, the divine gift of the Creation does not come without duties and responsibilities. These duties are best described by the concept of stewardship. In gospel terms, the word stewardship designates a sacred spiritual or temporal responsibility to take care of something that belongs to God for which we are accountable.[3]

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, said regarding the Church's water-wise management, "As President Russell M. Nelson stated in his general conference address in October 2021 regarding the Salt Lake City temple renovations, 'It is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures—perhaps measures we have never taken before—to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.' We are grateful for President Nelson’s wise and optimistic call for continuous improvement in our spiritual lives and believe his words can be a clear guide for our efforts to be wise stewards as well."[4]

Bishop L. Todd Budge, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, said, "If we act as good stewards, there are plenty of resources for the needs of our brothers and sisters around the globe, but not in excess and not to hoard from the poor. Bishop Gérald Caussé, the Presiding Bishop of our Church, elevates the care of humanity as the culmination of this endeavor: “Our stewardship over God’s creations also includes, at its pinnacle, a sacred duty to love, respect, and care for all human beings with whom we share the earth. Learning stewardship takes time. Over the years the Church has worked to improve its environmental impact. We take seriously our moral obligation to take care of the earth and be good neighbors and collaborators in society. We have previously and are currently engaged in numerous efforts to be wise stewards of the earth." [5]

External Links

• Russell M. Nelson, “The Creation,” April 2000 General Conference
• Church Newsroom, "Environmental Sustainability in Church Operations"
• Church Newsroom, "Church to Complete Water Conservation Project in 2025"
• Church News, "Church’s environmental sustainability efforts show a love for the earth and God’s children"
• Church News podcast, "Episode 223: Church’s sustainability manager on the sacred responsibility to care for the earth"
• Church Newsroom, "The Divine Gift of Creation: Our Sacred Duty to Care for the Earth," by Bishop L. Todd Budge
• Church News, "A Perspective from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," by Bishop W. Christopher Waddell
• Church News, "Church reducing water usage by billions of gallons; Bishop Waddell outlines Latter-day Saint water conservation efforts"
• Church Newsroom, "Church-Affiliated Ranch Balances Agriculture and Conservation in Central Florida"
• Church Newsroom, "Righteous Dominion and Compassion for the Earth," by Elder Marcus B. Nash
• Church Newsroom, "Latter-day Saints and Environment," by Elder Patrick Kearon
• Church Newsroom, "Honoring the Creator," by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

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