Caring for this earth is important. It is best done through liberty and property rights not control. It is best done through the use of technology and having faith in mankind's ability to solve any problem through the use of freedom.
Aaron SmithAugust 7, 2025
The earth has one purpose: to be a testing ground for God's children in mortality. Without God's children on it, earth would have no divine purpose at all. It will one day be resurrected and celestialized, after the mortal period has ended. The earth has already been saved by God's plan and His Son's Atonement.
Yes, we are to be wise and responsible stewards of all that God gives us. Let us never cross the line into thinking that our purpose is to save the earth, or worse, to worship it, as is the case with many extremists. Our purpose is much greater than anything that extreme environmentalists promote.
SygAugust 7, 2025
Glad this is being discussed. And to answer a question posted by Mark, I don't know the Church's answer, but artificial grass comes with its on environmental impact.
Soil is a natural carbon store. Especially if plants are growing in it, slowly taking carbon from the atmosphere and putting it back into the plants and the ground. Removing a large area of planting that is actively locking carbon into the ground releases that locked carbon back into the atmosphere.
Artificial grass creates a large carbon footprint during a journey that includes the manufacturing, transportation and installation of the product. Replacing soil with sand to create a stable bed for artificial grass releases more carbon dioxide stored in the earth. Artificial grass is more likely to cause surface run off after significant rainfall which may contribute to flooding. Artificial grass is made from polyethylene: polypropylene or nylon (polyamide), and fragments from this material can make their way into the soil, and beyond, in the form of microplastic pollution. The shelf life for artificial grass is estimated to be 10-20 years and the product is difficult to reuse. Although it can be recycled, this is not easy and can only be done at specialist plants after a specific cleaning process. Artificial grass is not totally maintenance free. It still needs to be cleaned of litter and moss growth, potentially replacing mowing with vacuuming. We lose the tactile and sensory benefits of real grass. Children are able to sit and play on a soft lawn, make a daisy or dandelion chain, and pluck a blade of grass to whistle with. Artificial grass alternatives, such as natural bark chips, are easy to maintain and provide a softer surface than artificial grass and reduce the possibilities of friction burns.
JP GayanAugust 7, 2025
The move to solar in Hawaii and other places is primarily financial. Electricity rates in Hawaii are almost double what they are in California, which is already one of the most expensive places for electricity. The environmental benefit is just a nice side bonus.
ColinAugust 7, 2025
I didn’t realize the Church was doing so much in this area, but it’s great. The whole question of environmental stewardship is one of those things that challenges us: will our loyalties be with our politics, or with the Church? For some people, that’s a tough call, and these days there are more and more issues like that (same-sex marriage, immigration, rule of law, etc.).
MarkAugust 7, 2025
Good article. I have a question. If our church wants to conserve water, then why not install artificial grass at all ward buildings, temples, and all church buildings that have grass?
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Sylvia AllenAugust 9, 2025
Caring for this earth is important. It is best done through liberty and property rights not control. It is best done through the use of technology and having faith in mankind's ability to solve any problem through the use of freedom.
Aaron SmithAugust 7, 2025
The earth has one purpose: to be a testing ground for God's children in mortality. Without God's children on it, earth would have no divine purpose at all. It will one day be resurrected and celestialized, after the mortal period has ended. The earth has already been saved by God's plan and His Son's Atonement. Yes, we are to be wise and responsible stewards of all that God gives us. Let us never cross the line into thinking that our purpose is to save the earth, or worse, to worship it, as is the case with many extremists. Our purpose is much greater than anything that extreme environmentalists promote.
SygAugust 7, 2025
Glad this is being discussed. And to answer a question posted by Mark, I don't know the Church's answer, but artificial grass comes with its on environmental impact. Soil is a natural carbon store. Especially if plants are growing in it, slowly taking carbon from the atmosphere and putting it back into the plants and the ground. Removing a large area of planting that is actively locking carbon into the ground releases that locked carbon back into the atmosphere. Artificial grass creates a large carbon footprint during a journey that includes the manufacturing, transportation and installation of the product. Replacing soil with sand to create a stable bed for artificial grass releases more carbon dioxide stored in the earth. Artificial grass is more likely to cause surface run off after significant rainfall which may contribute to flooding. Artificial grass is made from polyethylene: polypropylene or nylon (polyamide), and fragments from this material can make their way into the soil, and beyond, in the form of microplastic pollution. The shelf life for artificial grass is estimated to be 10-20 years and the product is difficult to reuse. Although it can be recycled, this is not easy and can only be done at specialist plants after a specific cleaning process. Artificial grass is not totally maintenance free. It still needs to be cleaned of litter and moss growth, potentially replacing mowing with vacuuming. We lose the tactile and sensory benefits of real grass. Children are able to sit and play on a soft lawn, make a daisy or dandelion chain, and pluck a blade of grass to whistle with. Artificial grass alternatives, such as natural bark chips, are easy to maintain and provide a softer surface than artificial grass and reduce the possibilities of friction burns.
JP GayanAugust 7, 2025
The move to solar in Hawaii and other places is primarily financial. Electricity rates in Hawaii are almost double what they are in California, which is already one of the most expensive places for electricity. The environmental benefit is just a nice side bonus.
ColinAugust 7, 2025
I didn’t realize the Church was doing so much in this area, but it’s great. The whole question of environmental stewardship is one of those things that challenges us: will our loyalties be with our politics, or with the Church? For some people, that’s a tough call, and these days there are more and more issues like that (same-sex marriage, immigration, rule of law, etc.).
MarkAugust 7, 2025
Good article. I have a question. If our church wants to conserve water, then why not install artificial grass at all ward buildings, temples, and all church buildings that have grass?
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