OCR Text |
Show BEING A MORMON ENVIRONMENTALIST Its history is steeped in stewardship of the land, but in the 2Ist Century is such a title an oxymoron? By Alexandra L. Woodruff Prologue When Stiles came to the shocking conclusion that he should publish a "Good News" issue of the Zephyr, we decided an article examining the LDS Church’s relationship to the environmental movement might fit right into the issue’s theme. With the help of the everoptimistic Dr. Richard Ingebretsen (see interview on page 20), I contacted LDS general authority Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, who spoke encouragingly on this topic at the University of Utah in April. I scheduled an interview and began preparing questions. But when I called a week beforehand to confirm the appointment, I learned that Elder Featherstone would be unable to do the interview; Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had chosen to participate instead. I was passed on to the media department and submitted a formal request, but after weeks of calling, the Oaks interview remained in doubt. July is Brigham traditionally vacation month nation. We account for 2-percent of the world’s population, yet we consume over 85-percent of the earth’s resources. George Handley, an assistant professor of humanities at Brigham Young University, studies eco-theology and Mormonism says he would church’s involvement, but says it wouldn’t be a panacea for the problem. for church authorities and it is not exactly clear wd the I have resubmitted my request for the interview, even if it happens after this issue’s deadline. Although the church officials are not currently willing to continue this dialogue, the church was able to put me in contact with some devout Mormons whose faith inspires a bit more on environmental issues. Church leaders may not vocalize their stand on environmental preservation and many members even say they don’t need to; the scriptures and teachings already exist and simply need to be brought to light again. They actually prefer their church to stay out of the politics of the environment. Still the potential power of the church and its members is When a country needs humanitarian aid after a natural disaster or during a war, the But I also think it is not going to do anyone any good to sit around and wait for institutional action of an explicitly political kind. That draws us away from focusing on the fact that solving the environmental crisis is a matter of changing our hearts and our living patterns...all of us. We don’t have an environmental crisis on our bheae hands simply because the Mormon Church, or other institutions do or do not make institutional choices; we have a crisis because we as a collective society of various individuals and groups have misplaced our values. We have to start taking individual and local responsibility," said Handley. Handley says the original Mormon pioneers were taught to conserve and live within their means. their concern for the natural world. They use Christian and LDS scriptures to justify their commitment to preservation. welcome "Of course it could and would be effective if it threw its considerable influence around se preached ona regular basis the importance of using resources very ei George Handley interview was not approved. daunting. Taking responsibility Living in Utah we often forget that it is not just this state that contributes to environmental destruction. The United States is the world’s largest over-consumptive Now, there is debate as to what changed their attitudes. Was it th ing of the | railroad? Or endured physical struggles that implemented a culture of taming nature? Right now capitalism and economic exploitation seem to drive us away from taking care of the land we live on. “Most of our lifestyles are styles are so far removed from the production of food and the dispersal of our waste that we don’t really even have any idea what we do to the land. Our society is driven by commodification. This is something Brigham Young preached vehemently against. He didn’t think water should be members fill food storage warehouses and volunteer their time to prepare disaster relief. commodified. In the early 80s, when-there was talk of developing the MX "There were land issues that he fought against," Handley explains. "Brigham Young preached on a regular basis the importance of using resources very conservatively. They certainly wanted the church to grow in numbers, but he did not see that necessarily went missile in. Utah, the church came out against it. The project died soon after. Imagine what the LDS Church could accomplish if it became an advocate of environmental protection. Food...Rugs...and...Pottery (made at home) pe | RIVERSIDE PLUMBING & HEATING —— = 4 : 366 N. 500 W. * MOAB « 259-8324 Residential - Commercial - Sales Installation - Drain Cleaning | COMPLETE LINE OF PLUMBING FIXTURES Kohler - Grohe - Mansfield Ejer - Moen - Delta - Sterling - Price Pfister HOT WATER HEATERS - GARBAGE DISPOSALS WHIRLPOOL BATHS - SPAS COW CANYON TRADING POST Bluff. Utah 435.672.2208 cowcanyn@sanjuan.net GOOD NEWS FROM OZZIE NELSON! Remember the Good News '50s when you could still get fair reliable service at a decent price? When your wife was at home baking cookies and the kids weren't in jail? When you could get a plumber to show up on time? Well, | can't help you with your wife and kids, but | can help you with the plumber part. “Where the hell is Harriet? |