Props to the Church! I'm stoked for City Creek.

Do we really need to accept the praise from these people. Would I trust the Opinion of people that believe in Global Warming.

Yes, but if the Sierra Club is happy, we must be doing something wrong.

Wow, I have goosebumps! This just means sooo much!!! I can't believe it. The SIERRA CLUB!!! Gee whillakers..... What's the world coming to? Mormons and Sierra Clubists. Who would've thunk it. I'm verclempt.

I'd rather not have an endorsement from the leftist-wackos from the Sierra Club.

Thanks, SLC'er. Now, let the antis begin. Certainly positive press about the LDS church has got to get the antis excited. I can't wait to hear their brilliant comments.

As a 30 year plus member of the Church and an activist in the Sierra Club, I was pleased to see the comment by the Church spokesman that the "green" values fully align with Church principles. Those of you in Utah, live in some of the most beautiful land in the country. I've never understood why you take it for granted, pollute the air until Salt Lake has such poor air quality and support nearly every proposal that would destroy the remaining wilderness.

I think it's WONDERFUL that the LDS Church is willing to spend billions of dollars to clean up downtown SLC--much less for us to come up with in taxes. And if they can do it while staying "green" even better! What's not to love?

As a leftist-wacko, I can assure Bob that he will not recievce my endoresement until he earns it. The LDS Church, on the other hand, appears to have earned it. Good for them! Let us just for a moment desist from name-calling and celebrate this example of putting the principle of stewardship into action.

Well maybe there are worse groups that a person could receive congradulations from, but the Sierra Club is definitely in the top 10.

To Awesomeron, Tom, Joe from Idaho, Bob, and New Yorker,

It's a great thing when people can come together on something. As the LDS architect states in the article, stewardship of the earth is basic LDS doctrine, and you might want to catch up with your forward-moving Church, rather than stay mired in attitudes of enmity toward the Sierra Club or any other organization with whom, it turns out, your belief system actually does share something very important in common. Way to go LDS Church. Thanks, Sierra Club.

Of course it's good to be recognized by such a pro environment organization, and any other pro good living conditions org. I certainly take this opportunity to thank the Sierra Club. But I think the church is doing more than just green building, it's improving the quality of life and work and play in the downtown area, instead of watching while downtown dies. Good luck to this great development, that probably started just a little ahead of its time. I mean, just months ago we were still basking in $3/gal gas while commuting in our SUV's and heading to the suburban malls. Soon, if not already, we'll be recognizing the value of mass transit and good destinations downtown.

Good heavens. Do you people really not understand that this is a good thing? You don't have to shun outsiders who finally agree with you on something. Why can't you welcome positive change? Or does it have to come through a republican leader paid for by tax dollars for you to get on board? Give me a break. This is wonderful news. I hope the rest of Utah will follow the prophet's lead on this one and start paying attention to a sustainable life.

This is quite the situation SLC liberals find themselves in this morning. For so long they have loved to hate anything the LDS Church is associated with regardless of how worthy the cause. Now that the Sierra Club has come and endorsed citicreek, what will they do? They must choose between admitting that the LDS Church is doing a good job with Citicreek, or denounce the Sierra Club. UGGHHHH!

The Sierra Club had better not endorse the sky bridge so we can be sure we keep that great unobrstructed view of the Trax cables overhead.

perhaps some feel that they already are doing a good thing and don't need a pat on the head by an arrogant left wing self appointed gardian of the universe organization to validate them.

You know, missionaries are having a harder time getting the Mormon Church message accross.

It's comments like these that make it harder and harder to convice people Mormons are Christians.

Ever wonder why one of the biggest contributers to the Sierra Club is Saudi Arabia? Research it out if you don't believe me. Also you might sing praises everytime you fill you tank and thank the Sierra Club for the fine job they are doing! Of course rich liberals won't worry how much energy costs will they?

It's not that being pro-enviroment or green is bad, it's just the hypocritical way the Sierra Club goes about pushing their weight around, throwing their leftist, social agenda elbows into our faces.

I live in the Sacramento area of California, and recently went on a nature hike led by a man conducting Environmental Science Merit Badge for a group of Boy Scouts. One of the parents who came along to give rides for the boys was a specialist in native plants, and so on. It was amazing to be with these two men as they would focus so much on non-indigenous or non-native species and how much damage they have done in California. We read here almost daily of the havoc of some fish, plant, or bug that is taking over and destroying the environment. There are a lot of things that can be done to beautify an area, but many times those things are harmful. I think part of what the Sierra Club is saying is that what the LDS Church is doing is not harmful to the area or to the environment. We don't need the Sierra Club to tell us this, it just shows they have taken notice, and that is good.

I really could care less about the opinion of the Sierra Club - except that as another person stated here - if THEY're happy, we must be doing something wrong.

I'm just going to roll my eyes at some of you crazy anti-environmentalists. Everyone else should know they don't speak for the majority of Mormon's as observed by the award itself.

Is he laughing because he is happy also about the Salt Lake makeover? Can ACLU approval be far behind?
Blessed Day!

No one is throwing anyones agenda into anyone's face. Did you read the actual report?? There was nothing hypocritical about it. It was beautiful, uplifting and highlighted churches all over the country - from every state - that are taking environmental stewardship seriously and told briefly what each group is doing. This is a great day for Mormon environmentalists everywhere.

After reading the comments this morning, it isn't the liberals who are having a difficult time accepting the praise shown the LDS church. In fact, it seems to be the exact opposite.

I'm guessing that the Sierra Club naysayers have never attended one Sierra Club meeting, never read one Sierra Club magazine, and really only acquired their opinion of the Sierra Club based on some biased media reporting. Meanwhile, our members clean up lakes and rivers, sponsor outdoor treks and family adventures, and work to ensure that clean air and water remain accessible for everyone. If that is a "liberal agenda" then what is a "conservative" one?

THANK YOU LDS CHURCH! For a leadership i have always respected (even as a die hard democrat/flaming/nazi feminist) to step up and help move this country in the right direction. Environmental issues should not be only left issues, they should global issues. It is so satisfying to see the LDS church leaders agknowledging this by building green, hopefully the rest of the members will follow...

To: SLC Liberals @8:13-It was a wonderful situation that I found myself in this morning (actually, the Sierra Club article came out yesterday). I am extremely well pleased that the City Creek project is getting the national recognition it deserves. Thanks Sierra Club.

Robert Oh, is right. On exchanges last night, I observed how hard it is for the missionaries to get the message across. Let's get rid of these negative and hateful attitudes. You might not agree with different opinions, but that does not mean you can disrespect them.

What an uplifting article! The only thing that will please the wing nuts is when Salt Lake gets reported for having one of the dirtiest air problems in the country, or having spent nuclear waste stored in the next county. GO read the writing on President Kimball on being good stewards of the earth and it falls right in line with Sierra Club values.

Finally.
The LDS church general authorities taking a stand on things green. (A very liberal concept)
Nothing at all wrong (except in the skewed eyes of those nasty Limbaughites) with being a "tree-hugger"

What a nice commendation from a well-respected environmental group. I want to raise my voice to let the world know that not all LDS are anti-environmentalist. Those who talk about flaming liberals and left wing wackos do not speak for the Church nor its membership. This recognition from the Sierra Club does have meaning for a great number of us. Congratulations to our leadership for demonstrating the LDS commitment to one of Christ's creations, the earth in which we are meant to grow and learn.

The Sierra Club's praise has been earned by the Church, but the motivation for the church in doing City Creek is not to please the environmentalist Sierra Club. Its all about keeping the temple square downtown area up-scale and avoiding the fate of old American cities--crime.

We should NOT, however, underestimate the damage that powerful leaders of the Sierra Club (not the rank & file conservationist members) are doing to the HUMAN environment, by limiting our freedom to own and use property, by restricting economic development, and most importantly, by preventing energy from being extracted all over the country.

The Sierra Club is destroying our economy as we speak. They and their allies have caused the energy crisis we are currently experiencing.

God commanded Adam to dress the garden, not cut down all the vegetation, sell the topsoil, mine the rocks then build a mall on top.

If you really read what modern day prophets have said, you'll find a lot of concern for environmental issues and a lot of concern that the LDS people are in danger from excessive materialism.

If you are a conservative without a single liberal opinion or a liberal without a single conservative opinion, then you probably aren't thinking for yourself. I am a conservative and a conservationist and find that position very congruent. I mean the two words even have the same root.

Props to the church, they do so many things so well.

I think that to many things have been put in classes (liberal, conservative, democrat, republican). Although a strong conservative and republican because of the protection of families, I see the republican party corrupt. It's just choosing the less evil. It's an early principle in the church that we are to take care of ourselves as well as this planet that God has gifted. Though the praise from the Sierra Club may feel dirty, better to ignore than to hate. Just because we are living the principles we should (and receiving praise for it) doesn't mean we have to submit to immoral beliefs of those more liberal in their thinking. Actually, the Lord has taught us to care for the earth since adam.

I've yet to hear a clear, concise and intelligent response to the simple question:
If you are a conservative - what is it you think you are conserving?

Although I do not agree with overbearing enviormental legislation, and I think oil drilling should be expanded, I also feel that people should not wantonly waste resources.

The problem is not protecting the enviroment, but extremism. Doctrine and Covenants 89 counsels moderation in all things. I think some of the anti-Sierra Club radicals need to figure out if they see Rush Limbaugh or Thomas S. Monson as God's living oracle, and if it is the first they are clearly in the wrong church.

The Church is setting an excellent example for its members of the following principle: follow gospel principles, not political platforms. This article is one example, as is the Church's encouraging words on the immigration issue to exercise compassion. Too many people ask "What would Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh do" rather than "What would Jesus do?" It's good to see that our Church leaders are asking the latter question, and I hope that more members of the Church will do the same.

As a Mormon myself, I'm embarrassed to see these hate based writings from people who clearly assoiciate their strong political opinions with Mormonism. Hey people, take it elsewhere.

This article happens to be about complimenting an ambitious downtown renewal project. The praise is appreciated and spot on.

The LDS Conference Centre opened in April 2000 while Al Gore was still Vice-President. The roof of the CC has native trees to the east, native shrubs and grasses to the west, and a pool and creek down the middle of the roof.

Keeping the temperature down in the core of any large city is very difficult, in part because of a lack of vegetation. Someone went to a lot of trouble and expense to be an environmentally friendly citizen.

If you were to walk around that building and count the number of trees on that city block, there are probably more trees there now than when the pioneers first arrived.

The pulpit inside the CC is made out of black walnut, apparently all from a tree that President Hinckley planted. To produce that much useable wood, that tree would've had to have been planted decades ago.

I would have a hard time believing that someone could claim to be in touch with heaven but not be in harmony with our earthly environment. The LDS leadership not only did not diappoint me, but I was and still am impressed. If only now the rest of us could catch up.

This is a good thing. I'm proud to be a member of the LDS Church and I have always wondered where the "I can do whatever I want to the earth because it's mine" attitude, that so many of my brothers and sisters seem to have, came from. From the begining we have been taught to be good stewards over all that we possess and not to abuse or needlessly waste anything.

I do not agree with much of the politics or policies of the Sierra Club, but to blame them for the energy crisis is short sighted and foolish.

The energy crisis is a result of failing to realise that non-renewable resources are also limited in supply. Sure we could band-aid the problem by tearing up the entire planet and scouring it for every ounce of fossil fuels, but that is short sighted, selfish, and destructive. The fact is that we have the technology and resources right now to solve this problem for ourselves and for generations to come.

We as a people need to suck it up and deal with the real problem. Fossil Fuels are a 20th century technology, it's time to move to the future.

"Those who feel no reverence for the creations and the divine attributes of God likely will have little appreciation for other sacred things. Such a lack of veneration for God's creations may diminish until a person becomes totally insensitive to the feelings of others." M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, April 1988.

The proof is in the posts here. The hateful bigots and their anti-environment ideology are deafening and the voice of the righteous is silenced.

"It is not likely that someone who does not love his neighbor will be concerned with his adverse impact on the environment...The outward expressions of irreverence for life and for fellowmen often take the form of heedless pollution of both air and water. But are these not expressions of the inner man? You are among those who must undertake the task of alerting mankind to problems with regards to his physical environment...If we are merely transients in an unexplainable world, we will act more as tourists than residents! Men born into this planet are stewards." - Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 643-644

I agree with President Benson and call on immoral conservatives to repent of their anti-environment ideology. May God have mercy on you!

How wonderful to read environmentally-related citations from:
M. Russell Ballard & Ezra Taft Benson!

Unfortunately here is another quote from a man quite popular with Utahns (for all the wrong reasons):

"I'm tired of the tree-huggers and environmental wackos who are brainwashed by Al Gore." - Rush Limbaugh (Utah is Limbaugh's largest listening audience)

I am glad to see the Church doing great things to help SLC. They always have things so nice and pretty for all to enjoy. I do have a proplem with the Sierra Club and how they want to close down many areas so that we can't have access to many of our lands. In Congress a current bill is HR 1919 labled Red Rock Utah. This will creat a wilderness area. he sc is in step with United Nations to controll where people live, work and play.Creating a wilderness area cuts of access to trails,ATV riding and destroying our lifestyle if we like being outdoors. This is the 1st of a big plan. its called the Travel Management Plan. The 2nd is the Wilderness Area. The 3rd is the World Heritage Site. This is when the United Nations get control like they are at the Grand Canyon.I dont have room here to site web sites you can get this Info. from, but you in Utah are losing your state to groups like the Sierra ClubI am not a wacko Right Winger % I believe that we are stewards of the land as individuals.

My last post somehow was not put on here. But let me say that my politics is very much influenced by my knowledge of the Gospel. I believe in being good stewards of the Earth. As LDS members, I believe we have a greater knowledge and appreciation of Gods creations. And I think it's wonderful that the LDS church is taking the lead in building a great downtown that will benefit all of the Salt Lake Metro.

But I belive that ultra left-wing organizations like the Sierra Club have no interest in actually protecting the environment. They push the myth of global warming in a effort to erode our freedoms. Remember the myth a few years ago of the ozone hole? That didn't work for them so they had to come up with something new. In ten years they'll probably have something even newer to try to scare us with.

But

Calling conservatives evil and immoral is not appropriate. The earth and creation is a human issue, not bound to any politics. It is something we can all unite on to improve our surroundings and communities in which we live. The two quotes you shared from Benson and Ballard are excellent.

Ben,

"We should NOT, however, underestimate the damage that powerful leaders of the Sierra Club (not the rank & file conservationist members) are doing to the HUMAN environment, by limiting our freedom to own and use property, by restricting economic development, and most importantly, by preventing energy from being extracted all over the country."

We are stewards and not owners of the earth for it is a living soul and all the souls in it from human to animal and plant must be protected. The Sierra Club isn't attempting to restrict anyone from owning property but those place emphasis on property rights also see us as nothing more than property. It seems that this issue really comes down to money and greed with you people. You see the EARTH as a NATURAL RESOURCE FOR YOU TO OWN even though you are not the owner of the earth that God has created. Those who think that we should be able to extract energy from the earth wantonly are in error and are disagreeing with the scriptures and teachings of the prophets.

In fact, instead of extracting more resources they suggest we conserve and use mass transit, etc.

i'm sure that the church is doing good things and being stewards in this matter, but i too would prefer not to be praised by the sierra club. in my opinion they are fanatical in their environmental beliefs. to be fanatical and try to overcome other's agency with what kind of light bulbs we can use, whether people can control the use of their own land etc. is not compatible with church teachings. there is a difference between being a good steward and trying to make everyone else do what you want for whatever reason. i think we all in the church know who does things that way.

Green and LDS,

"I want to raise my voice to let the world know that not all LDS are anti-environmentalist. Those who talk about flaming liberals and left wing wackos do not speak for the Church nor its membership. This recognition from the Sierra Club does have meaning for a great number of us."

It means a lot to those of us who chose to heed the counsels of the prophets and abide by the precepts set forth in scripture. Those who are offended by this endorsement or want the Church to reject it are intent on proclaiming the gospel of Satan. It is our duty as righteous men and women to stand up and to warn the world about problems with our environment.

"Congratulations to our leadership for demonstrating the LDS commitment to one of Christ's creations, the earth in which we are meant to grow and learn."

It has always been so since Joseph Smith until now and those who choose not to follow living prophets preferring the immoral and unrighteous teachings of such men as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and George W. Bush will be held accountable for their sins on Judgment Day.

nice try sierra club butno accolades from earth aware person, the city throughits own plans as usual to more beautification itself independent of any influence from any such group sorry to say sierra does not deserve the much talk about incident no credit deserve to this club.

another enviro-quote: "How wonderful to read environmentally-related citations:"

Here are more:

Now, brothers and sisters, we have launched a clean up campaign. We are a throw-away people. Trash piles grow faster than population by far. Now we ask you to clean up your homes and your farms. "Man is the keeper of the land, and not its possessor." - Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign Nov. 1974

"It is terribly important that we preserve and improve the great natural resources with which the God of heaven has so richly blessed us, that we may not follow the experience of other nations that have come and gone because of the mismanagement of their natural and God-given resources." - Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 645.

"The instructions to Adam and Eve about the Garden Earth, by the way, have not been rescinded. They were, and we are, to dress it - not destroy it. They were to take good care of it instead of abusing it...If we have no concern for the generations to follow, the means are at hand to tear up the terrain much more than was ever possible anciently." - Neal A. Maxwell, That Ye May Believe, p. 75

Again, thank you for posting the Ballard and Benson Quotes.

Unfortunately you felt it necessary to put them under the heading "Conservatives are evil and immoral".

Blanket statements like that simply prove that you are no different than the people you are trying to argue against, you are just standing on the other side of the fence.