LDS Church unveils ‘green' meetinghouse

[armedtotheteeth]

"We're working very hard to try and find ways to conserve the precious resources, help with clean air and use those kind of practices that are environmentally responsible," said Bishop H. David Burton, the Church's presiding bishop.

Some features are aimed at changing behavior: bike racks to encourage less driving, preferred parking for energy-efficient vehicles, and computerized displays to show churchgoers their minute-by-minute energy use.

"We want to be responsible members of the community as well, and I'm talking about the community of man -- mankind throughout the world," Burton said.

Read full article: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=10549368

Fighting that global warming!

But in seriousness, the Solar panels will be great for emergencies!

[shadow]

But in seriousness, the Solar panels will be great for emergencies!

It'll be great when the utility companies collapse, including cities.

[oneClimbs]

I can stand the preferred parking for green vehicles. There's a Fresh & Easy by my home and I often park in the preferred parking with my Trailblazer and let it idle while my wife picks up a few things. I like to rev the engine when hippies walk by.

I'm waiting for someone to confront me so I can tell them about how it's a "hydrocarbon-powered vehicle" and see what their reaction is.

[Geeswell]

wow i feel a bit guilty atm. I'm one of those who respects recycling and not really for pollution, however i feel that the "go green" agenda is a pollution. i'm so sick of hearing about it.

I have to say im so surprised at the preferred parking bit. what is that all about!? it seems so silly to me.

this is probly why i need to repent

[Squally]

So this proves it, the church is now subtly hinting that global warming is true! (Or maybe Algore is currently taking the missionary discussions...... and the missionaries are trying to persuade him to join by letting him know about the preferred parking he will recieve each sunday as a "special" member.)

In 2009 algore did meet with our prophet for a special unscheduled meeting about a week before conference, maybe he shared some of his green insights.

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religio ... quote]Gore meets with LDS leaders to discuss climate change
The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | April 3, 2009 | Judy Fayhs

Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 8:20:56 AM by Alex Murphy

Al Gore met Thursday with LDS Church leaders in Salt Lake City.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former U.S. vice president requested the dinner time meeting to discuss climate change and its solutions, sources said.

Gore had a brief courtesy visit with President Thomas S. Monson before talking with other church leaders.

Gore did not make a public appearance or speak with reporters.

Church spokesman Scott Trotter called it "a cordial meeting" attended by Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder Quentin L. Cook and other members of the church's Public Affairs Committee.

Gore "gave a 30-minute presentation and expressed his concerns about CO2 emissions, which was followed by several minutes of questions and answers," said Trotter.

While many Christians have begun treating global warming as a moral issue, Mormon Church leaders have opted against addressing climate protection with their 13 million members. A church spokesman said three years ago, "The church has not taken a position on this issue, and I don't expect any new developments in the near future."

Then, last Saturday, church officials participated in the worldwide "Earth Hour" campaign to draw attention to climate change. The Salt Lake Temple's outside lights were darkened for an hour along with those in 88 countries and more than 4,000 cities.

"Prudent stewardship and wise use of resources are principles that church leaders have emphasized throughout the history of the church," Trotter said in announcing the LDS involvement. "The church encourages its members to join with their fellow citizens in supporting worthy programs that will make their communities better places to live and raise their families."

Raising awareness about climate change has been Gore's most public role since serving as vice president to President Bill Clinton and an unsuccessful 2000 presidential campaign.

He won an Academy Award for his documentary on the global climate crisis, "An Inconvenient Truth," in 2006. Along with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Gore won the peace prize the following year.

Rob Gillies, Utah's state climatologist, called the Gore meeting "very heartening."

"It's very fulfilling to see someone like Al Gore having an open dialogue with leaders of the church," he said.

Byron Daynes, a political scientist at church-owned Brigham Young University, called it "a good sign." A scholar of the American presidency and the environment, he said it is valuable for leaders to discuss "a major problem we all have."

"It's a good time for any[one] to be hearing this message --- and certainly those in charge of 13 million people," Daynes added.

He had no comment on the likelihood that Gore's visit would shift the church's stance on climate change.

But he concluded, "We'll hear about it in [LDS General] Conference, if it makes any difference or not."[/quote]

[will]

I have to say im so surprised at the preferred parking bit. what is that all about!? it seems so silly to me.

this is probly why i need to repent

Repent if you need too..... I'll speak my mind.

preferred parking for energy-efficient vehicles

How much does one cost? ohh--- thats right Lets push That Old Grandma to the back of the Bus, or the Struggling Family with 6 children to the end of the parking lot, Why don't we just establish parking areas according to income, or better yet have those that have Green Vehicles reserved seats in the Chapel. Are we Not all equal? I guess not. This is not right. The Church is true. However, I doubt some of the people within.

[Squally]

preferred parking for energy-efficient vehicles

How much does one cost? ohh--- thats right Lets push That Old Grandma to the back of the Bus, or the Struggling Family with 6 children to the end of the parking lot, Why don't we just establish parking areas according to income, or better yet have those that have Green Vehicles reserved seats in the Chapel. Are we Not all equal? I guess not. This is not right. The Church is true. However, I doubt some of the people within.

You make a valid point!! Peculiar people sometimes..... Maybe we tread into babylon, thus getting tangled in outward appearances/ public relations/ social science/ marketing strategies research/ consumer research/ public opinion/ image etc. etc. Green is getting popular now. Almost like a religion unto itself. "Hurt no green thing"...

[Nan]

Actually you could make the argument that you are more green than they are being with 8 people in a suburban instead of driving 8 cars that are supposedly green.

[will]

preferred parking for energy-efficient vehicles

Monetary preference is a stumbling block for those seeking the eternal truth of equality.
If they ever implement this at our Chapel or Stake center, I would paint my Vehicle Green and park there anyway.

[armedtotheteeth]

Monetary preference is a stumbling block for those seeking the eternal truth of equality.
If they ever implement this at our Chapel or Stake center, I would paint my Vehicle Green and park there anyway.

Don't paint it, just park there!

[Fiannan]

Well, the greenest of the greens are the FLDS and the Amish.

[pjbrownie]

Nothing wrong with being green. Using green to implement socialist agendas of Gadiantons? That's what I have a problem with.

[Zowieink]

Well if we're going to sell parking spaces to the "green" group, we should also sell the pews. I think a brass plaque with the family's name might raise added income for the Church to be able to pay for the upgrades to these buildings. Perhaps sell the closer parking spaces, too.

Seriously, the cost for this is equal to 2 meetinghouses in 3rd world countries. What is the most sad is the the systems are not working, they are breaking down. One such meeting house (won't mention where, but there are only a couple built so far) has been unuseable for the two weeks its been open...not a/c, power grid being shut off by the computer programs (on 30 min, off 1 hour, on again 30 min, off 2 hours). The bugs haven't been worked out yet.

I think its a good thing being self-sufficient, but not for the "world" to praise and adore and give lip service to the Church. We don't need that nor pandering to the hippy, greenie liberal side. In one stake it has cause a vocal and reactionary division within the stake, generally running down the liberal/conservative lines. The stake president has voiced he "grave" concerns to the Brethren. Some of the members are out and out furious about the Church using their sacred funds for what they see as a "boondoggle", especially since the systems keep breaking down. The libral side is digging in their heals and blatantly parking their Prius or hybrid car right at the entrances so the everyone knows that they are "green". The stake is coming under a nasty attack by Satan, who I think is using this to his own advantage.

And in the end, will these systems work when power grids go down? An electrician who is working on one of the new ones said that it would be great if it worked independently of the grid, but it doesn't. The whole system is set up to "sell or buy" from the grid...not self-sufficiency.

Our tithing dollars at work

[jimmy k]

Did the Lord not know that there would be emissions from automobiles and factories and various other types of so called pollution. These things are a need to keep the world functioning. I do not beleive that they are the cause of global warming. The Lord is in full control of the elements and at this time as in other times he is using them to chastise the nations. A few years ago when the global warming saga was at it's peak we had a good old fashioned canadian winter, the most snow and cold weather we have had in years.

[singyourwayhome]

Jules, I thought the same thing as you when I heard of the 'green' meetinghouses. We've been looking into what, if anything, to have for backup power. I saw that and thought "Ah-ha! They're thinking this way too!....."

[M249Gunner]

I can stand the preferred parking for green vehicles. There's a Fresh & Easy by my home and I often park in the preferred parking with my Trailblazer and let it idle while my wife picks up a few things. I like to rev the engine when hippies walk by.

I'm waiting for someone to confront me so I can tell them about how it's a "hydrocarbon-powered vehicle" and see what their reaction is.

That's great Steve! That made me laugh.

I think if the church implemented the stupid greenie parking arrangement at my chapel, I would stop parking in the shade at the far corner of the parking lot with my 12 passenger van and park it in the greenie lots. If confronted, I would make the very valid argument that Zowieink brought up. What complete and utterly nonsensical political correctness. I hope common sense will rule the day before this happens at a church near me.

[Neil Rucker]

I'm all for being responsible stewards of earth. But going green is the act of consuming less which means lowering your living standard and even making the the US economy that much worse. The green movement is also the same as the pro depopulation movement, they are one in the same. Less people = Green. How small is your carbon foot print when your dead?

TED TURNER: We’re too many people. That’s why we have global warming. We have global warming because too many people are using too much stuff. If there were less people, they’d be using less stuff.

TED TURNER: A total population of 250-300 million people, a 95% decline from present levels, would be ideal.