Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship (LDSES)

Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship publishes a Ward Sustainability Guide, which is a sustainability and conservation resource for Latter-day Saints around the globe. The Guide includes lesson material that faith leaders can use to educate themselves and their congregations about the intersection of faith and earth stewardship. Created in 2022, the Sustainability Guide largely omits references to climate change. This project will address that deficiency by incorporating climate science content into the Guide, and actively promote science-based lessons for Latter-day Saint congregation leaders around the globe.

Content additions will include:

• Actionable recommendations for mitigating and adapting to climate change, with references to climate-related scientific articles
• Ecotheological addresses and guidance from trusted faith leaders
• Commentaries from guest appearances on the LDSES Holy Earth podcast

New content will frame climate change mitigation as an act of faith discipleship, particularly as it impacts highly vulnerable populations, touching on the following.

• Faith guidance from scripture and church leaders, encouraging care for the Earth
• Connecting with church members’ values to encourage Earth stewardship
• Practical, high-impact actions congregations can take to mitigate climate change

With input from the project’s content advisors, the project managers and LDSES leadership will generate brief, accessible lessons linking faith, community, and climate science, on topics such as:

• The trajectory of climate change, as it is currently understood
• Climate change myths and facts
• Statements from church leaders about the value of scientific knowledge

Project managers and content advisors represent a range of academic disciplines, including the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to provide an interdisciplinary perspective. In addition, the content advisors have studied and reflected on the connections between Latter-day Saint theology, science, and Earth stewardship.

The Guide will be promoted through LDSES in-person events and our 2027 Fall Forum. Guide content will also be promoted through digital platforms, including the LDSES website, newsletters, the Holy Earth podcast, and social media platforms. LDSES partners will also participate in content promotion, including the Church, Brigham Young University and a variety of non-profits.