Stewardship and the Creation: LDS Perspectives on the Environment

by George B. Handley (Editor), Terry B. Ball (Editor), Steven L. Peck (Editor)

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have much to contribute in meeting the increasing challenges of environmental degradation. To foster conversation and to improve our practices of earthly stewardship, the editors have gathered, in one volume, a wide variety of views on these important issues. Selected from an interdisciplinary symposium at Brigham Young University, the essays are intended to inspire members to consider carefully the nature of their own stewardship in caring for God's creations as well as to create dialogue and find common ground with those of other persuasions.

This compilation demonstrates that Latter-day Saint scriptures and teachings provide a consistent picture of human beings as stewards accountable before God for the use and care of His creations. The book reaffirms and develops further what previous examinations of our theology and history have repeatedly demonstrated: our religion offers a vital perspective on, and a foundation for, effective environmental stewardship that encompasses the best impulses of both liberal generosity and conservative restraint.

204 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2006

About the author

A Professor of Interdisciplinary Humanities at Brigham Young University, George B. Handley's creative writing, literary criticism, and civic engagement focus on the intersection between religion, literature, and the environment.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I could hardly read this book fast enough--it was absolutely fascinating! A series of essays that came out of a symposium held at BYU in 2004, it illuminated areas in which the Church and its members are doing good for the earth and its inhabitants (eco-justice and social justice), and plenty of areas where we have forgotten the teachings of early Church leaders like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, or allowed other concerns to override the application of such doctrines that pertain to our responsibility for the stewardship of creation. I have a copy I am willing to lend to anyone who promises to read it and give it back to me. (Or you can order it from the BYU bookstore for ten bucks.) I think everyone in the Church should read it, and hope it will enjoy an audience beyond the Church as well. Our doctrines about the Lord's creation not only should encourage us to act for the good of the biosphere, they also contribute much to the ongoing dialogue among other faithful adherents to principles of eco-justice. It is in everyone's best interest to learn about and understand these doctrines and principles.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book of professional essays written by various LDS scholars who have a background, or at least a knowledge, in Environmental issues.
It took me the first couple of essays to get back into this kind of reading again. (It been since I was in the Environmental Geography program at the U of U,back in the late 1990's and early 2000's since I've done this kind of reading.)
It was a great experience reading this issue again. I loved getting to know more of a church and church member view on the environment. I had never thought of the subject in quite that context before. It reminded me of the reason I was in the Environmental Geography program to begin with.

[Karen Duvall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is not in print anymore, I was lucky to find a copy at my local public library. (It's also available for free to read online.) So many wonderful essays and perspectives. I wish we all could read it -- in fact, I do wish this could be updated with some more current essays and maybe dialogues on recent talks by church leaders on the matter as well. I heard of this through a new podcast called, "Holy Earth" put on by LDS Stewardship and The Nature Conservancy.

[Semi-Academic Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

For an expanded perspective on economics, including human and environmental "capital", I found most interesting the chapter/essay titled Environmental Stewardship and Economic Prosperity, by Donald L. Adolphson, professor at the Romney Institute of Public Management at BYU. This is what I rate with five stars. The rest of this book I have not had the desire to read as of yet.

Why have this book on less obvious GoodReads shelves?
The relation between our human resources and environmental resources, as explored in this essay, informs my educational philosophy. A correct relationship with our environment, I perceive, can help in our health and healing. The essay, itself, caused a paradigm shift in the way I see our human, financial, and environmental economy; the essay, written creatively, also seems to have enhanced my creative approach.