Earth Week: Mormon Style

This actually kind of makes me sad I'm not in Utah. I don't know if the LDS Church waited until Earth Week to announce their newest building but it fit in nicely. This impressive structure meets the highest standards of the U.S. Green Building Council and subsequently received a Silver rating, the highest awarded by the council.

"To make the grade, 'green' buildings must use less heat and electricity, have greater access to outside views by having windows close to where people work, be in close proximity to public transportation, and use products that are locally produced, that are recycled, or that give off fewer gasses that may affect people’s health."

"Improved lighting and indoor air quality allow customers to better use the records and be more comfortable while doing so...More natural light in work areas improves the job satisfaction for employees and missionaries. The community benefits from a well-designed building that looks good in the urban setting while having less impact on the environment."

Furthermore, the "filters in the mechanical systems eliminate allergens...The wood used comes from forests that are harvested wisely and are replanted. A center will be included in the building to collect paper, plastics and metal products to be recycled. The heating and cooling systems are efficient, thus eliminating waste. The landscaping designs and plumbing items will use less water, and the windows, blinds and insulation will preserve temperatures."

This makes me happy that my church is leading by example. Sadly, many have politicized taking care of the Earth but like many things this is not a political issue, it is a spiritual one. God gave us this Earth to take care of and by golly that is what we should be doing!

Unfortunately, many Democrats and other crazy liberals (I myself am a Consecrationalist) support taking care of the Earth so the natural reaction of many Republicans and other right wing thinkers is to attack it only because the godless left is in support of it.

Is global warming real? Perhaps. But even if it isn't all the crap were shooting into the atmosphere can't be good for us. The hazy layer settled in the mountain valleys sure isn't pretty either. The hundreds of pounds of trash each American produces each year is bad too. And how about that giant hole on the western side of the SLC valley? It ain't going anywhere, folks. This has nothing to do with your political affiliation, it has to do with God entrusting us with a planet He went great lengths to produce so stop justifying not taking care of the environment because Al Gore said you should.

Like the Book of Mormon prophet Alma, I love the Earth. When the trouble-maker Korihor asked Alma for a sign to prove there is a God Alma's response was awesome:

"All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

So, that is why I was happy to see my church leaders lead by example by demonstrating the importance of keeping the environment in mind and taking our stewardship seriously.