Stewardship of the Earth

Doomsday predictions regarding the Earth and its inhabitants have surfaced periodically over the past centuries but never more frequently than now. Al Gore’s recent Nobel Prize winning documentary concerning global warming demonstrates that these predictions are capturing widespread public attention. But are these predictions so different from the early doomsday predictions of Thomas Malthus who mistakenly wrote that the exponentially growing human population would someday be supportable by the agricultural industry? In the face of all these opposing opinions and predictions, what should we be concerned about and what is our responsibility to this Earth?

Personally, I find it hard to believe many of the doom filled prognostications, but that does not mean that I disregard my responsibility to the environment. In fact, my concern for the environment is the reason I do not believe the predictions. In the models developed by many researchers starting with Malthus humans are portrayed as mindless and increasingly destructive. Population, pollution and other trends are modeled exponentially and not in an adaptive manner. I am not an expert in the environmental literature but I would venture a guess that man’s capacity to adapt to and resolve problems is underestimated. Look at all the measures that have been taken in recent years to reduce and eliminate vehicle pollution with hybrid cars and additional legislation on fuel mileage.

Because of our divinely given ability to adapt and change, to act rather than be acted upon (2 Nephi 2:14), I do believe that each human has a responsibility to alter any destructive actions. Ezra Taft Benson said that, “Surely you can see the inconsistency in the individual who insists that we be good stewards and not pollute our environment, and yet who is unscrupulous in his personal life. Again, physical and spiritual laws are interrelated. Pollution of one's environment and moral impurity both rest on a life-style which partakes of a philosophy of "eat, drink, and be merry"-gouge and grab now, without regard to the consequences. Both violate the spirit of stewardship for which we will stand accountable.” I’m not sure I understand fully the doctrine of stewardship but I do know that how we treat what God has given us plays a big role in determining how we are rewarded in the next life. As with the parable of the talents in the New Testament, those who use and care for what they are given are given more, whereas the stewardship is removed from those who misuse it.

I love how President Benson puts everything into perspective. When asked why the Church concerns itself so much with the behavior of the individual while there are tragedies occurring on much larger scales his reply reveals the real answer to the ills of society: “The laws of God give emphasis to the improvement of the individual as the only real way to bring about improvement in society. Until we focus on basic principles, little progress will be made.” Progress in the areas of pollution and disregard for the environment need to begin to be resolved on a personal level. “While the resources of our planet are both perishable and renewable, time cannot be recycled. Self-centered, pleasure-seeking people will not only plunder our environment much more rapidly, but they will be less concerned about the needs of their fellow human beings” (Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson)

As stated in Doctrine and Covenants 104:17, “the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare.” God knows how much the inhabitants of the earth need but how we use what He has given us is vital to our temporal and spiritual salvation.