Science & Religion

Severe calamities are predicted to come as part of the last days by the Lord’s prophets. Many scientists predict using computer climate models that the increase in carbon dioxide emissions from man’s use of fossil fuels will destabilize the climate. Other scientists assert that these models are untrustworthy because they already have predicted calamities that have not come to pass. The actual temperature data does not support the theory of imminent catastrophic climate change.[1] 

More importantly, there are many examples that God has the last word in controlling the climate including the settlement of the pioneers in the Salt Lake valley and Joseph in Egypt. When the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon plates comes forth revealing all things “unto the end of the earth,” (2 Nephi 27:11) the Lord’s control of the climate will also certainly be revealed.

Nephi’s Commentary on the World Situation as the Book of Mormon Comes Forth

The Book of Mormon, the most correct book on earth in its current preliminary state, also includes sealed portions yet to be revealed

 

The prophet Nephi prophesied concerning our day and strongly links man’s wickedness to last-days calamities. He identifies these destructions as coming from the Lord of Hosts. These calamities come when people become “fully ripe in iniquity” and will resemble the predictions coming from the theory of human-caused climate change.[2]

“But, behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles-yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations-”

“And when that day shall come they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire.” [3]

“For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity.” (2 Nephi 27:1-2, 4-5)

Unlike chapter 29 in Isaiah, the source chapter for Nephi’s commentary, Nephi again and again emphasizes in this chapter the power of the full content of the Book of Mormon plates including the superlative sealed portion.[4]

“And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth.” (2 Nephi 27:11)

Nephi also saw in vision the full details of the prophesied events of the last days. (1 Nephi 14:19-30) So, when that great day comes when we receive the full content of the Book of Mormon, the sealed portions then added to the unsealed portions we now have, how will the theories that have been proposed to explain modern calamities hold up?

At that time will we realize that all these last-days events are ultimately controlled by God? Then will we recognize this series of great and marvelous events that prepared for the return of Jesus Christ to reign personally upon the earth? This world is then to be “renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory?” (Articles of Faith 10)

 Moroni was commanded to seal up the account of the Brother of Jared’s vision that also contained a record of all things “even unto the ends of the earth.” (Ether 3:25)[5]

This chart shows the contents of the unsealed part of the golden plates. Nephi emphasized in Second Nephi chapter 27 the even more powerful content of the sealed portion, comprising the majority of the plates. They will come forth and “reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof.” (2 Nephi 27:10)[6]

Is the Greatest Threat to Life on Earth Carbon Dioxide Emissions?

Is the greatest threat to our planet breaking the commandments of God forcing the Lord to withhold blessings and send calamities, or is the greatest threat to the planet the greenhouse gas waste products of modern civilization? Is man caused global warming legitimate or have these theories already been discredited because of failed predictions of catastrophic climate change?

In the episode entitled “The World Set Free” from the new Cosmos series on the wonders of the universe, astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson articulates the theory that increases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the industrial age will destabilize the earth’s climate. If these emissions are not reversed, he believes that our world will end up with the same fate as the lifeless, oceanless inferno which is the planet Venus.[7]

The carbon dioxide atmosphere of Venus makes it the hottest planet in the solar system.[8]

Dr. Tyson states:

“Venus and Earth started out with about the same amount of carbon. But the two worlds were propelled along radically different paths. And carbon was the decisive element in both stories. On Venus, it’s almost all in the form of gas: carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Most of the carbon on Earth has been stored for eons in solid vaults of carbonate rock like this one, part of a chain that forms the celebrated White Cliffs of Dover right on the English channel.”

Dr. Tyson then explains how microscopic algae and other plant life capture this carbon dioxide and leave behind limestone and forests. Other natural processes, described as the carbon cycle, move this crucial element away from being concentrated in the atmosphere.[9] “As a result, only a trace amount was left as a gas in Earth’s atmosphere, not even three-hundredths of one percent. Think of it, fewer than three molecules out of every 10,000. And yet, it makes a critical difference between a barren wasteland and a garden of life on Earth.”

The crucial element carbon moves between the atmosphere, the biosphere, the lithosphere and the ocean.

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[10]

Dr. Tyson then asserts this increasing level of carbon dioxide to be the major threat to the earth:

“If we didn’t have any carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, the Earth would just be a great big snowball and we wouldn’t be here. So a little greenhouse effect is a good thing. But a big one can destabilize the climate and wreck our way of life. Too bad carbon dioxide is an invisible gas. Maybe if we could see it. If we could see all that carbon dioxide, then we would overcome the denial and grasp the magnitude of our impact on the atmosphere.”

The newest Boeing airliner, the 787 dash 9, is the most energy efficient in its class. The miracle of air travel and air freight has unfolded mostly during the post-World-War-II era and has been part of the unprecedented prosperity and progress of the modern era. This plane is only possible due to the high density energy stored in jet fuel derived from petroleum. Eight percent of petroleum for transportation is used for air travel.[11]

Dr. Tyson continues:

“The evidence that the world is getting warmer is all around us. The world is warmer than it was in the 19^th century. It’s been calculated a few degrees rise in the earth’s temperature would melt the polar ice caps. [then quoting Carl Sagan:] We are releasing vast quantities of carbon dioxide, increasing the greenhouse effect. It may not take much to destabilize the Earth’s climate, to convert this heaven, our only home in the cosmos, into a kind of hell.'”[12]

The Other Side of the Scientific Argument: Carbon Dioxide Increase is Beneficial

These arguments for human-caused climate change via carbon dioxide emissions seem quite persuasive and have much support worldwide. Believing that the results are indeed catastrophic, people like Dr. Tyson then propose that emergency worldwide regulations are required to try to save the planet from becoming like Venus. The governmental power to control world energy use will doubtless be a tyrannical government that will destroy freedom and prosperity, be a corrupt combination of government and industry and not actually solve the problems it was set out to solve.[13]

Among our most grievous “sins” presumed to cause the catastrophe would be the internal combustion engine, jet airplanes and powering the modern world with energy from oil and coal. These culprits are taken directly from the list of “modern marvels” that we take for granted as being a part of modern life.

There are many scientists, however, who dispute the catastrophic predictions of the main climate change/global warming theory or that mankind’s actions are a major cause. They assert that the effect of more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will be more plants, forests and abundant food with only moderate increases in global temperatures.[14]

Many highly credentialed scientists believe that a slightly warmer earth is very appropriate as the earth emerges from the little ice age (1300-1870) and heads toward the next ice age, and that this warming cycle would have likely happened completely independent of the rise in carbon dioxide levels.[15] Earlier periods in the history of the earth have had carbon dioxide levels much higher than current or predicted levels, including in the age of the dinosaurs.[16] And, fortunately, the earth in those earlier ages did not spiral into becoming a twin of the “hot enough to melt lead” planet Venus that Dr. Tyson and others fear may happen today.

“We need our leaves. They need carbon dioxide. Cuddly carbon keeps koalas and all animals alive”[17]

Is Climate Change Theory Really “Settled Science?”

To me, the claim that human caused global warming/climate change is “settled science” is a ridiculous assertion. This is a complex scientific theory based on computer models trying to approximate reality. This theory needs very precise worldwide temperature measurements over a significant period of time and uses mathematical algorithms that have existed only a few years. These theories implemented in these models presume to predict the actual climate of the earth centuries from now.

Adding to what I think are already presumptuous predictions, this theory also depends on no Divine interventions in the climate. Even a casual reading of last day prophesies describes a God who is a very active Participant in the climatic history of the world.

Here are a few graphs to consider.

Figure 1 shows the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 1900 to 2010 using NASA data, which does seem to be correlated with our increased use of fossil fuels.[18]

Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere (parts per million).

Figure 2 shows the probable levels of carbon dioxide during various historical ages of earth’s history including the age of the dinosaurs which had much higher levels of carbon dioxide than today. In fact, if carbon dioxide levels get down below 150 ppm levels, as occurred during the height of the last ice age, plant life experiences what is called “carbon starvation.”

Our recent carbon dioxide levels (280 390 ppm) are shown in the second entry in the bar graph groupings. Note the Jurassic era with an average carbon dioxide level of almost 2,000 ppm and the Cambrian with an average of almost 6,000 ppm. The “carbon starvation” level from the last ice age maximum is shown as the first entry in the graph at about 150 parts per million.[19]

Figure 3 shows global temperature readings during the last 17 years which have resulted in little or no increase in temperatures even though carbon dioxide levels have been rapidly increasing. This temperature measurement uses the five principle global temperature datasets collected by satellites plus appropriate smoothing algorithms.[20]

 

Flat temperature readings in last 17 years in spite of dramatic carbon dioxide increases. The computer models predicted extreme temperature increases to go with the carbon dioxide increases.This data refutes that prediction.

US and Europe Shrinking, China and India Exploding

Figures 4 and 5 zero in on world-wide and country specific carbon dioxide emissions. Figure 4 shows that world carbon dioxide emission levels have gone from 18.4 to 32.6 billion tons in the short period from 1980 to 2011. That is a 77% increase. Figure 5 shows individual countries and areas. China and India dramatically rise while the US and Europe have been static and are now decreasing.

The US and Europe went from 52% of worldwide emissions in 1980 to only 30% of total emissions in 2011.

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  On the other hand, China and India went from 9% of worldwide emissions in 1980 to a whopping 32% of worldwide totals in 2011.[21]

Consider the last several years of emissions during which there has been no increase in temperature. World carbon dioxide emissions were 23.0 billion tons in 1997 and 32.6 billion tons in 2011, a dramatic 42% increase (See slope of curve in Figure 4). The models predicted dramatic increases in temperature, but the temperatures were flat. Using the scientific method, the theory would then be declared false and would need to be redone since the predictions failed.

This data proves the increase of carbon dioxide believed to be from human activity to not be the dominant factor in creating global warming. And, looking at the data from the US and Europe compared with China and India further underscores the futility of the US and Europe binding themselves into horrendous energy reductions as they are doing. The US and Europe carbon dioxide emissions totaled 10.1 billion tons in 1997 and 9.8 billion tons in 2011, a 3% decrease. China and India totaled 4.0 billion tons in 1997 and 10.4 billion tons in 2011, a 260% increase.

Climate models predicted a significant temperature increase to accompany the dramatic rise in carbon dioxide emissions in the 1997 to 2011 period. Instead, the temperature reading remained flat.

Carbon dioxide levels by major countries during the 1980-2011 period.

Figure 6 shows recent warming and cooling periods in the last century. These periods seem to be happening independent of the rise in carbon dioxide levels illustrated in Figure 1.

Warming and cooling periods during the 1900’s using Pacific Decadal Oscillation data.[22]

Figure 7 shows longer range climate variations in the last two thousand years. These fluctuations are certainly unrelated to human energy use which was minimal during the medieval warming period or the little ice age. It should be apparent from this graph that there are many more factors that affect earth’s climate than just carbon dioxide levels and that carbon dioxide’s effect on the climate certainly is overridden by some of these more highly weighted factors. And, of course, ultimately God has the “highest weighted” vote of all regarding the climate, doubtless using His knowledge of natural laws.

2000 years of global temperatures show warming and cooling periods that are certainly not human caused.[23]

The predictions of extreme global warming which should be happening right now have not come to pass as shown in the graph of the last 17 years. Using the scientific method, that would mean that the theory has been proven false and needs to be withdrawn and reformulated.

One would expect the proponents of global warming to be relieved that their catastrophic predictions have not come to pass and that other factors than just carbon dioxide levels seem to have a dominant role in determining the climate.

Yet, for some reason they are not happy about it and claim that in spite of failed predictions their theories are still true. That approach is not using the scientific method.

“The Los Angeles Airport’s Going to be Underwater”

A scientific theory cannot be proven true. However, specific predictions made using that theory can be verified as correct and there can be greater confidence that the theory might be true. Or, if the predictions fail, the theory is proven false. It can be withdrawn and a new theory formulated and again tested for validity.

It is almost comical to watch theories of climate change being used to make “off the wall” predictions that are clearly false. Serious scientists take great care in making predictions that they are confident are correct and can be clearly measured and proved. Predicting something that when checked turns out to be completely false will destroy the scientist’s credibility.

If a politician preempts the scientist’s role and makes faulty predictions, the scientist ought to completely disavow that politician’s statements and along with the press shame the politician to quit interfering in scientific research by making “scare tactic” predictions.

Recently, some scientists have proposed that the Amundsen Sea glaciers in Antarctica will melt over the next several centuries raising the sea levels as much as four feet.[24] Keep in mind that when the Sun and the Moon both line up, a “king tide” can rise up to 6.7 feet in Santa Cruz, California. In the Bay of Fundy in Canada, the difference between high and low tide is almost 54 feet.[25]

Recent research has suggested that significant melting is occurring in this part of the Antarctic ice sheet.[26]

Rising sea levels are given as a reason to enact extreme controls on energy to try to stop climate change. Current data shows a slight sea level rise at about one or two millimeters per year or less than an inch in ten years. This has been happening since the climate warmed as the earth began to come out of the Little Ice Age in the late 19^th century.[27]

Now comes the clearly false prediction. After hearing about the research theorizing evidence of melting glaciers in Antarctica, Governor Jerry Brown of California proclaimed:

“‘If that happens, the Los Angeles airport’s going to be underwater, So is the San Francisco airport.’ Also underwater, he added, would be the San Onofre nuclear power plant.”[28]

This composite photo is from 75 takeoffs of the 1,500 takeoffs each day at the busy Los Angeles International airport.[29]

The Los Angeles (LAX) airport is 125 feet above sea level. The San Francisco (SFO) airport is 13 feet above sea level. The San Onofre nuclear power plant is 30 feet above sea level.[30] Even in the extreme case of four feet rise in sea levels centuries from now, if the glacier melting theories end up being correct, these predictions cannot come true.  The simple math just doesn’t add up. It reminds me of Chicken Little yelling “the sky is falling!” or in this case “the sea is rising!”

In the Los Angeles Times article, two twitter feeds were sent out, both of which are completely false.

1.”Jerry Brown: Los Angeles airport’s going to be under water’ if sea levels rise as scientists predict.”

2.

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“Brown says rising sea levels could submerge LAX & SFO, cost Calif billions to build new airports.”

What a strange combination of scientific research and politics. What an interesting scenario where obviously false hyperbole is passed off as true and accepted by the reporting media without scrutiny. How could it be possible to create reasonable energy control laws and regulations in such an atmosphere that dismisses the scientific method and critical reasoning?

Tempering the Climate in the Rocky Mountains

The miraculous adjustments in climate that happened as the saints arrived in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains were recently explained in general conference by Elder Kevin R. Duncan.[31]

“The winter of 1848 was difficult and challenging for the pioneer settlers in the

Salt Lake Valley. During the summer of 1847, Brigham Young had declared that

the Saints had finally reached their destination. This is the right place,’ said

Brigham Young, who had been shown in a vision where the Saints were to be established.”

“And yet, the winter of 1848 had been extremely harsh. The winter had been so cold that some people’s feet had been badly frozen. A spirit of uneasiness began to descend upon the Saints. Some Church members declared that they would not build their homes in the valley. They wanted to remain in their wagons, for they were sure that Church leadership would herald them on to some better location.

“They had brought seeds and fruit plants, but they dared not waste them by planting in the barren desert wasteland. Jim Bridger, a well-known explorer of the time, told Brigham Young he would give a thousand dollars for the first bushel of corn raised in the Salt Lake Valley because, he said, it could not be done.

Famous mountain man Jim Bridger confidently bet a thousand dollars for a bushel of corn grown in the Salt Lake valley. He was familiar with the harsh climate of the valley including early summer hard freezes that ruined crops.[32]

“To complicate matters, gold had just been discovered in California. Some Church members envisioned that life would be simpler and more abundant if they were to move on to California in search of riches and a better climate.

 

Recently succeeding Joseph Smith as prophet, Brigham Young led the saints to the Salt Lake valley and proclaimed it to be the place for the saints to stay in spite of the cold climate.[33]“Under this cloud of discontent, Brigham Young addressed the members of the Church. He declared:

“‘[This valley] is the place God has appointed for His people. We have been kicked out of the frying-pan into the fire, out of the fire into the middle of the floor, and here we are and here we will stay. God has shown me that this is the spot to locate His people, and here is where they will prosper; He will temper the elements for the good of His Saints; He will rebuke the frost and the sterility of the soil, and the land shall become fruitful. Brethren, go, now, and plant your seeds.'”

“In addition to promising these blessings, President Young declared that the Salt Lake Valley would become known as a highway to the nations. Kings and emperors would visit the land. Best of all, a temple to the Lord would be erected.

 “These were remarkable promises. Many Church members had faith in Brigham Young’s prophecies, while others remained skeptical and left for what they assumed would be a better life. Yet history has shown that every prophecy Brigham Young declared has come to pass. The valley did blossom and produce. The Saints prospered.”

Without this miraculous intervention that tempered the harsh. cold climate, the saints’ attempt to colonize the mountain west would doubtless have failed. This is a modern example that God and His angels are ultimately in control of the climate and the weather and that He is actively involved in this and other factors that affect the history of this world, so crucial to the eternal progress of His children.

“What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh”[34]

The Lord had promised Abraham and his descendants that they would possess the fertile land of Canaan, right at the crossroads of the ancient world. But, with Jacob approaching old age, he and his family and their servants comprised only a few hundred souls. How could the Lord’s promise possibly be fulfilled? The inhabitants of the land of Canaan were numerous and powerful. How could the Israelites become a great nation and obtain this land of promise?

The Lord sent a dream to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Miraculous circumstances enabled Joseph who had been sold as a slave into Egypt to come before Pharaoh and interpret the dream. The Lord was about to turn upside down the nations of the world through seven years of plenty followed by seven years of severe famine. Joseph proposed a solution: “Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:33)

The book of Jasher, referenced but not included in the Bible, gives more details of the miraculous events that made Joseph absolute ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.[35]

The Lord brought to pass miraculous events that brought Joseph, a Hebrew slave in an Egyptian prison, before the mighty Pharaoh. By interpreting Pharaoh’s dream and otherwise proving himself, Joseph became the absolute ruler of Egypt, second to Pharaoh.[36]After Joseph interpreted the dream and proposed a solution, the Book of Jasher indicated that he prophesied two events that were to happen on that day.He prophesied that Pharaoh’s wife would bear a son and that the two-year-old crown prince would be found dead. Both events would happen, Joseph said, on that very day.

“And [Joseph] said unto the king, This shall be a sign for thee respecting all my words, that they are true and that my advice is good for thee. [He then relates the two prophesies.] and those signs which Joseph had spoken unto the king came to pass on that day. And the queen bare a son on that day and the king heard the glad tidings about his son, and he rejoiced [and] the king’s servants found the first born son of the king fallen dead upon the ground. and they told the king that his first born son had died; then the king knew that all Joseph’s words that he had spoken were correct, and the king was consoled for his [dead] son by the child that was born to him on that day as Joseph had spoken.

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” (Jasher 48:62-66)

Pharaoh was now convinced that Joseph was the man to save them from the mighty famine. But his advisors were not so sure.

“And all the officers answered the king and said, But surely it is written in the laws of Egypt, and it should not be violated, that no man shall reign over Egypt, nor be the second to the king, but one who has knowledge in all the [seventy] languages of the sons of men. Now therefore our lord and king, behold this Hebrew man can only speak the Hebrew language, and how then can he be over us the second under government, a man who not even knoweth our language?”

That very night, Joseph, who had been put back in the dungeon, was awakened by an angel, who “taught him all the languages of man in that night.” He was then recalled to the palace.

“And the king came forth and ascended the steps of the throne, and Joseph spoke unto the king in all languages, and Joseph went up to him and spoke unto the king until he arrived before the king in the seventieth step, and he sat before the king. And the king greatly rejoiced on account of Joseph, and all the king’s officers rejoiced greatly with the king when they heard all the words of Joseph. And the thing seemed good in the sight of the king and the officers, to appoint Joseph to be second to the king over the whole land of Egypt” (Jasher 49:9-10, 14, 17-19)

Thus the Lord, through this massive shift in the climate and inspiring Joseph as he came before Pharaoh, changed the course of the alignment of nations and the history of the world. He prepared the way for Israel to later emerge from Egypt as a powerful nation of about two or three million people who, under Moses and Joshua, did receive the land of Canaan for their inheritance. God and his angels ultimately control the climatic cycles of this earth which He created and organized. God employs this crucial power “to bring about his great and eternal purposes” (Alma 37:7)

More examples could be given of God’s control of the climate from the histories of Elijah, Nephi the son of Helaman and many others.[37] Compared with the power of God, man’s power is described in modern revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants. “As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.” (D&C 121:33)

Modern Inventions and Prosperity are a Blessing

The pouring out of divine knowledge and intelligence upon the earth since the restoration of the gospel is truly miraculous to contemplate. In less than 200 years, inventions and discoveries have enabled an unheard of prosperity and progress throughout the earth.

Modern prophets and apostles have explained God’s hand in all these things.[38]

Speaking of the means that will enable the gospel to go into all the world, President Spencer W. Kimball declared: “I believe that the Lord is anxious to put into our hands inventions of which we laymen have hardly had a glimpse.”[39]

 

President Spencer W. Kimball’s inspired leadership fostered increased use of modern inventions to “lengthen our stride” as a Church.[40] Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, describing this, “the greatest of all dispensations” explained:

“Add the miracle of the computer, which helps us document our family histories and perform saving ordinances for our dead. Add modern transportation, which allows General Authorities to circle the globe and personally bear witness of the Lord to all the Saints in all the lands. Add all the elements of education, science, technology, communication, transportation, medicine, nutrition, and revelation that surround us, and we begin to realize what the angel Moroni meant when he said repeatedly to the boy prophet Joseph Smith, quoting the Old Testament prophet Joel, that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit upon “all flesh” and that all humankind would be blessed by the light coming in all fields of endeavor as part of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (Joel 2:28′ Joseph Smith-History 1:41)[41]

 

The Intel 4004, released in 1971, was the first microprocessor, a computer processor with 2,300 transistors on a single silicon chip.[42]

 

 

 

The 1993 Intel Pentium chip contained 3.1 million transistors and enabled the individual computers and servers that were used to create the world wide web and the internet, requiring enormous amounts of reliable electricity.[43]

 Addressing the work to redeem all of our Father’s children, Elder Boyd K. Packer proclaimed:

“When the servants of the Lord determine to do as He commands, we move ahead.As we proceed, we are joined at the crossroads by those who have been prepared to help us. They come with skills and abilities precisely suited to our needs. And, we find provisions; information, inventions, help of various kinds, set along the way waiting for us to take them up. It is though someone knew we would be traveling that way. We see the invisible hand of the Almighty providing for us. For instance, inventions in the fields of travel and communication have come along just as we were ready for them The airplane did not come as an accidental discovery to wicked men who were groveling to conquer one another.Revelation was involved. It came precisely when we could use it to move across the world to restore the Gospel When we are ready, there will be revealed whatever we need-we will find it waiting at the crossroads.”[44]

Certainly, the prophets also have also counseled that these inventions have problems and perils, but the feeling many get from the man-caused global warming/climate change theory proponents is one of terrible gloom and doom coming directly from some of the greatest scientific inventions and breakthroughs of all time.

The use of fossil fuels that has enabled the miraculous modern world is deemed to cause imminent catastrophe.I see that view as being out of touch with the words of the prophets and apostles and that the “earth is [still] full; there is enough and to spare.

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” (D&C 104:17) This optimistic view should, of course, be tempered with the Lord’s exhortation to be wise stewards and that these things should “be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.” (D&C 59:20)[45]

This is the D11 model, the largest of Caterpillar Tractor’s bulldozer products.This 770 horsepower, 100 ton machine, runs on diesel fuel. Diesel fuel powers the world’s construction, road building, railroads, trucking and mining operations. A good example is the D11 bulldozers that work at the Kennecott copper mine in Utah.[46]

 “I the Lord, Knowing the Calamity which should Come “

As more signs, wonders and calamities predicted in the Book of Revelation and other scriptures come upon the earth before the Second Coming, to what will we attribute them? If man’s actions are believed to trigger these calamities, will we recognize the hand of God in these judgments coming because of our breaking the commandments of God, or will we attribute the calamities to the truck we drive, the number of children we have or the coal-fired electrical plant we may have failed to shut down?

“Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. (D&C 1:17, 37)

Appendix: Nuggets for Discussion

Scriptural prophesies indicate that God will change the earth and its climate significantly during the events of the last days leading up to the Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Coming.

There is a cause and effect between breaking the commandments of God and calamities when people become “fully ripe in iniquity.” (2 Nephi 28:16)

There has indeed been a significant increase in carbon dioxide levels in the past century. To date, the effects of those increases have been limited to a moderate beneficial increase in temperature.

Earlier ages of the earth had much higher level of carbon dioxide without catastrophic global warming.

The Medieval Warming Period and the Little Ice Age illustrate that factors other than carbon dioxide levels also affect the climate.

Now that the US and Europe are decreasing their carbon footprints, China and India continue to increase their carbon footprints dramatically.

With China’s huge increase in its energy consumption in the past decade, will the US and Europe’s extreme regulations to lower their carbon footprints make any difference at all in global carbon dioxide levels?

Using the scientific method, when predictions using a theory do not come to pass, as has occurred with current climate models, shouldn’t the theory that has failed be withdrawn and reworked?

Isn’t the government/industry alliance that taxes, regulates and promotes energy use to prevent global warming more dangerous than the government/industry combination that currently provides fossil fuel energy to the world?

Shouldn’t the press fact check “off the wall” climate change predictions so the public and our legislative bodies can avoid making key legislative and regulatory decisions based on faulty assumptions?

The Mormon pioneers were able to prosper in the Salt Lake valley because the climate was moderated and food could then be successfully grown.

The Lord made important changes in the climate of the earth during the days of Joseph who was sold into Egypt.

The great inventions and discoveries of the modern era have come as a result of the Lord pouring out His Spirit upon the world and are associated with the Restoration of the Gospel. When used for good they are a great benefit to the world.

Even as the saints in ancient America looked forward to the signs of the Lord’s birth, death and resurrection, latter-day saints and other Christians look forward today to the signs that will result in the Lord’s Second Coming.

“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.” (Articles of Faith 1:10)

 

Click here for footnotes #1-23 

Click here for footnoes  #24 – 46