We must save Great Salt Lake with mighty faith and works

This morning, I joined with religious leaders from across Utah to demonstrate solidarity and support our political leaders in taking dramatic action to save Great Salt Lake.

The interfaith crew gathers before the press conference. Photo by Marc Coles-Ritchie of the Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance (MESA).

I've participated in a fair number of rallies and press conferences, but this felt different. Like usual for February, The Capitol was abuzz with legislative activities and booths in the rotunda. It was boomy and hard to hear, but the messages moved my body and soul. We weren't complaining about the failure of the legislature to take next steps. We weren't railing against the shortsightedness that afflicts us all. We were coming together in communion and love. Here are the notes I used when addressing the crowd.

Rios Pachecho of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation kicks off the interfaith press conference. Photo by Alexis Perno, Great Salt Lake Collaborative.

Ben Abbott’s statement on faith and the Great Salt Lake, February 16, 2023

I was asked yesterday why religious groups were wading into the Great Salt Lake crisis. Don’t we already have enough people working on this issue? There are many answers to that question, but here are three reasons I think saving Great Salt Lake is a religious matter.

 

First, the consequences of losing the lake are absolutely biblical in proportion. This threat is on par with an Old Testament plague or a civilization-ending period of pride in the Book of Mormon. Either we bring our behavior into alignment with God’s natural laws, or we suffer the consequences. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

 

Second, our treatment of God’s creation isn’t just a question of natural resources, economy, or even survival. Environmental stewardship is an indicator of our spiritual health. Have we understood Christ’s commandment to love God and our neighbor? Our Heavenly Father has been absolutely clear on this topic:

“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. I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine. And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine. But it must needs be done in mine own way.” (D&C 104)

And what is God’s way? To use the gifts of the Earth “with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion” (D&C 59) for the purpose of blessing the poor and lifting up the vulnerable people and creatures we are responsible for.

 

Third, we need spiritual healing on this issue because we are so divided and fearful. This crisis is coming to a head at a moment of unprecedented anxiety, suspicion, and even hatred of one another. We are in desperate need healing and reconciliation. Imagine what we could do, if we could set aside our suspicion and resentment? Our efforts have been hobbled by uncharitable assumptions and pride. We are divided on every side. Urban-rural, believing-skeptical, public-legislature. United in our commitment to honor God and care for our neighbor, we could pluck out the toxic seeds that are at the root of this problem and so many of the issues harming our society today.

 

For now, I believe we still haven't come to grips with how serious and immediate this threat is. Many think it is just another short-term challenge, one issue among hundreds that we need to eventually address. That is not the case. People have lived here for 20,000 years. Longer than the lake itself. Will we be the generation that breaks the chain? That drops the ball? That sells our birthright? If we kill the lake, what will we say to our ancestors and our descendants when we meet them at the throne of God? 

 

The Great Salt Lake is ours, like these banners say, but we are also of the Great Salt Lake.

 

No one has succeeded in what we are trying to do. What we call success in the field of lake saving is slowing the decline. The Aral Sea, Lake Urmia, Mar Chiquita, Lop Noor, Lake Chad. The list goes on. It is a terrifying prospect, and great courage and vision are needed. 

But for now, have faith. Turn away from the fear, because "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1)

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

On the steps of the rotunda.

Speaker list:

• Deeda Seed, Center for Biological Diversity, Press Conference Facilitator
• Rios Pacheco, Northwestern Shoshone spiritual leader
• Rev. Monica Dobbins - Assistant Minister, First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
• Rev. Chelsey Page - Associate Minister, Holladay United Church of Christ
• Rev. AJ Bush - Lead Pastor, First United Methodist Church
• Rachel Lauritzen - Board Chair, Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance
• Ben Abbott - LDS Church member and scientist

I'll add links to the other statements as I find them.

Terry Tempest Williams offered her prayers and guidance on next steps. 

For more detail, Alexis Perno wrote this piece for the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, Kade Garner covered the event here for ABC4, and Rev. Monica made this live recording.