Mormon Country

Fife, Austin E.; Stegner, Wallace

doi:10.2307/1495667

Cited by 1 publication

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“…As Arrington explains, “… the construction of water ditches was as much a part of the Mormon religion as water baptism” (1958, p. 26). This radical egalitarian experiment was at odds with the individualistic ethos that otherwise pervaded the American West (Stegner, 2003). As Flores states, the early church had in the United Order “the democratic and communal impulses valued by environmentalists, and the centralization and support necessary to carry out a land ethic program” (Flores, 1983, p. 336).…”

Section: Ecotheology Put Into Practice In the Early Churchmentioning

confidence: 99%

From eco‐theology to eco‐skepticism: How American Latter‐day Saint environmental perspectives changed over time, and how they may change again

Hahne

2023

WIREs Climate Change

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Modern American members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‐day Saints (aka LDS or Mormons) are among the most environmentally skeptical American groups, but it has not always been this way. The church has an exceptionally robust eco‐theology. In the 19th century, it espoused a strong “ethic of stewardship.” The review focuses on the story of how and why this shift from eco‐theology to eco‐skepticism occurred, shedding light on how theology, wider culture, and other forces can influence value creation, and how these changing values can transform the environmental attitudes and behaviors of an entire people. LDS eco‐theology shares some principles in common with some other Christian faiths, but also includes a number of unique or unusual beliefs and egalitarian/agrarian practices. In the early church (19th century), eco‐theology contributed to a value system which prioritized creation care. However, early LDS community land practices did not necessarily live up to these ideals and the local environment suffered serious consequences. Then, with an influx of external influences, including a growing population of non‐LDS frontiersmen, Latter‐day Saint values shifted away from creation care and egalitarianism and toward individualism and capitalism. Church leaders stopped regularly preaching about the earth's value, instead focusing on individual salvation. Environmental action antipathy and climate skepticism became the norm. This volte‐face demonstrates both how theology can influence values and actions, and the inverse.This article is categorized under: The Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Sociology/Anthropology of Climate Knowledge Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Perceptions of Climate Change

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Section: Ecotheology Put Into Practice In the Early Churchmentioning

confidence: 99%

From eco‐theology to eco‐skepticism: How American Latter‐day Saint environmental perspectives changed over time, and how they may change again

Hahne

2023

WIREs Climate Change

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Mormon Country

Cited by 1 publication

References 0 publications

From eco‐theology to eco‐skepticism: How American Latter‐day Saint environmental perspectives changed over time, and how they may change again

From eco‐theology to eco‐skepticism: How American Latter‐day Saint environmental perspectives changed over time, and how they may change again

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