Climate Change

In the past few years, there has been a lot of debates and arguments over climate change.  There seems to be only two sides and both sides seem to be yelling at the top of their lungs about how they are right and the other side is wrong. 

On the left side are the liberals who say we humans are single handily destroying the world and they seem to have a view that we should worship the environment and put the environment over the needs of man.

On the right side are the conservatives who deny that climate change is happening and that we can do everything and anything that we want to the environment because it does not matter. They feel we can abuse and use it up for our profit and to get gain. They think the liberals have made up the idea of climate change to get power and gain control of the country.

I am here to say that both viewpoints are wrong.  Both views do not acknowledge God’s hand in the world. God created this world for our use and benefit.

D&C59:16-21

16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;

 17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

 18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

 19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

 20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.

 21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.

God knew what He was doing when He created the earth. He did not mess up and not realize how we would use the earth’s natural resources.  He did not miscalculate nor forgot how many of his children are coming to this earth.  Heavenly Father is a God of order.  He planned out the course of this earth.  He knows what needs to be done and how it will happen to bring about His work. 

  D&C 104:17 For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.

Scientists say that the result of the climate change is going to be more extreme weather.  Below are some of the impacts that are currently visible throughout the U.S. and will continue to affect these regions, according to the Third National Climate Assessment Report , released by the U.S. Global Change Research Program:

Northeast. Heat waves, heavy downpours, and sea level rise pose growing challenges to many aspects of life in the Northeast. Infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and ecosystems will be increasingly compromised. Many states and cities are beginning to incorporate climate change into their planning.

Northwest. Changes in the timing of stream flow reduce water supplies for competing demands. Sea level rise, erosion, inundation, risks to infrastructure, and increasing ocean acidity pose major threats. Increasing wildfire, insect outbreaks, and tree diseases are causing widespread tree die-off.

Southeast. Sea level rise poses widespread and continuing threats to the region’s economy and environment. Extreme heat will affect health, energy, agriculture, and more. Decreased water availability will have economic and environmental impacts.

Midwest. Extreme heat, heavy downpours, and flooding will affect infrastructure, health, agriculture, forestry, transportation, air and water quality, and more. Climate change will also exacerbate a range of risks to the Great Lakes.

Southwest. Increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks, all linked to climate change, have increased wildfires. Declining water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, health impacts in cities due to heat, and flooding and erosion in coastal areas are additional concerns. 

I know that God created this world for us to live on and to use. As a perfect and infallible Being, He is in control here. I believe that there is climate change happening.  But it is not because man is knowingly or unknowingly destroying the environment.  But it is due to God’s will.  We are living in the Later-days.  These are the final days before the Millennium. The fullness of the gospel has been brought to the earth and we are to share it through out the world.  The Doctrine and Covenants tell us what happens after we share the gospel and the world will not listen nor repent:

D&C 88: 88-91

88 And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people.

 89 For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.

 90 And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.

 91 And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.

And in Isaiah it says the following will happen in the days before Christ’s second coming:

Isaiah29: 6

6 Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Also, the entire world is going to go through a lot of changes at the start of the Millennium to get back its paradisiacal glory.  The earth is going to go back to the state that it was in at the time of the Garden of Eden.  Here are what two modern prophets had to say about that:

“The great change which shall come when Christ our Savior begins his Millennial reign, is to be a restoration to the conditions which prevailed before the fall of man. The tenth article of faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches us that Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed, or restored, and receive its paradisiacal glory when that day comes.“This new heaven and earth which will come into existence when our Lord comes to reign, is this same earth with its heavens renewed or restored to its primitive condition and beauty. Everything is to be brought back as nearly as it is possible to its position as it was in the beginning. The mountains, we are informed, are to be thrown down, the valleys are to be exalted, and ‘the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided.’” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Restoration of All Things, 294–95).  

“Having restored the earth to the same glorious state in which it first existed; leveling the mountains, exalting the valleys, smoothing the rough places, making the deserts fruitful, and bringing all the continents and islands together, causing the curse to be taken off, that it shall no longer produce noxious weeds, and thorns, and thistles; the next thing is to regulate and restore the brute creation to their former state of peace and glory, causing all enmity to cease from off the earth. . . .Thus, having cleansed the earth, and glorified it with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea, and having poured out his Spirit upon all flesh, both man and beast becoming perfectly harmless, as they were in the beginning, and feeding on vegetable food only, while nothing is left to hurt or destroy in all the vast creation,” – President John Taylor, The Government of God, pp.114-15

The climate change we are seeing now and the earthquakes and storms mentioned above probably are precursors to the final change that will happen at the beginning of the Millennium.  All of this has been foretold and is apart of God’s plan.

Now I am not saying that we can trash the earth or our actions don't matter. This earth is a gift from God for us to use and like all gifts from God we will be judged on how we use it.

D&C104: 12-15

12 That every man may give an account unto me of the stewardship which is appointed unto him.

 13 For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.

 14 I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.

 15 And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.

Bottom Line, We need to acknowledge God’s hand in all things.  This includes any and all changes in the environment.  Anything that man has done or will do has been accounted for in God’s plan for the earth and us.  But we will be held accountable if we knowingly and willingly neglect His gift for us.