Abstract

Increasingly, environmentalists have focused on Judeo-Christian tradition as the cause of Western culture's ecological crisis. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the charges against Judeo-Christian tradition and to show how the revealed doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provide possible solutions to environmental challenges. The resulting Latter-day Saint environmental paradigm will be superimposed on selected Mormon literature to determine how effectively the doctrines taught by Church authorities filtered into popular Mormon culture.

Despite the inspired teachings of Latter-day Saint prophets, Mormons remain unimpressive in their environmental practices. My research will show that while Church environmental doctrines did indeed filter into popular Mormon culture, outside influences and disillusionment with Church authority gradually moved Church members toward more traditional Judeo-Christian environmental attitudes. However, contemporary Mormon literature suggests an increased awareness of and renewed dedication to the Latter-day Saint environmental paradigm.

Degree

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Sociology

Rights

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