Adelaide Latter-day Saint Leaders Support Multi-Faith Environmental Stewardship Gathering

Representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with other faith leaders on 13 October at St John’s Anglican Church in Adelaide in a service as part of a worldwide effort to bring people of faith together to encourage wise stewardship of our environments.

The service, organised by the Multi-faith Association of South Australia and Religions for Peace Australia, was hosted by the Reverend Peter Balabanski, Anglican Parish Priest, with speakers from Sikh, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist religious groups.

Adolf Johansson, president of the Australia Adelaide Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attended with his wife, Martha Johansson. President Johansson spoke to the group about his and his wife’s connection to the Pacific Islands, their service, and the need to accept our custodian responsibility to look after the environment.

All of the speakers lit a candle as a show of unified commitment to action.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints works with Pacific island communities and other organisations to identify ways to care for the environment as well as to bless individuals and families.

Over the last few years, the Church has brought clean water to dozens of villages; set up many community vegetable gardens including hydroponic gardens on islands where arable land is scarce; and installed solar panels on Church buildings’ roofs, among other humanitarian and environmentally-respectful projects.

The Church’s Newsroom website states: “All humankind are stewards over the earth and should gratefully use what God has given, avoid wasting life and resources and use the bounty of the earth to care for the poor and the needy. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that God created the earth to provide a place for the human family to learn, progress and improve. God first created the earth and all living things spiritually, and all living things have great worth in His eyes. One of the Church's most sacred religious ceremonies includes a portrayal of the loving care taken by God in creating this earth as a place for learning, experience and joy. The earth and all things on it should be used responsibly to sustain the human family. However, all are stewards — not owners — over this earth and its bounty and will be accountable before God for what they do with His creations.”

Read more here.