Elder Gérald Caussé said Friday that preserving and caring for the earth and God’s children is “an expression of love for our Creator and a reflection of our sincere gratitude to Him.”
The newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke about caring for God’s creations from the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, to hundreds gathered for two separate conferences — one on environmental stewardship and the other on stewardship to care for those in need.
Elder Caussé’s invitation to those present was simple.
“It is an invitation to act,” the Bordeaux, France native said. “As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have a sacred duty to keep the flame of God’s love burning in our hearts and to let its light shine within our communities. The Lord asks us to be aware of the broader world around us — something more possible than ever in our connected age — while remaining grounded and actively engaged in the places where we live and serve.”
He spoke about some of the Church’s environmental sustainability priorities. For example, in the realm of renewable energy, it has over 800 facilities producing on-site solar power. These projects are in 45 countries, and at least 100 more projects are approved for construction. He also noted that BYU–Hawaii is almost done with a solar microgrid that will power the entire campus, the nearby Laie Temple and the Polynesian Cultural Center.
In addition to reducing waste and saving sacred tithing funds, this focus on renewable energy improves access to education and healthy living for many people, the Apostle said.
“For example, in many developing nations, the Church’s growing use of solar power, combined with backup batteries and satellite internet, allows our meetinghouses to transform into virtual classrooms throughout the week,” he said. “BYU–Pathway, which is expected to reach 100,000 enrolled students this year, is growing rapidly thanks in part to this technology, as are self-reliance classes that teach such things as financial literacy, how to start new businesses, good health practices, and proper nutrition.”
Elder Caussé also noted the Church’s focus on avoiding material waste. In addition to the extensive paper recycling that occurs at the flagship print center in Salt Lake City, the Church operates dozens of Deseret Industries thrift stores, where the recycling and sale of donated goods create work-training opportunities for thousands of people who face barriers to employment.
Also, throughout the U.S. and Canada, all the faith’s electronic waste is diverted from landfills and either donated or disassembled and recycled.
“In fact,” he said, “many used computers end up in the homes of BYU–Pathway students in Africa, thus helping remove barriers to gaining an education.”
The Apostle also spoke of the Church’s water conservation efforts. One example of this is the announcement earlier this year that the Church would install smart controllers at over 3,000 meetinghouses across what is known as the “pioneer corridor” of the Western United States, including Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Nevada, Wyoming, and Montana. The Church is accelerating the installation of these systems, with nearly 1,800 scheduled by year’s end.
He also noted the Church’s efforts to protect the Great Salt Lake. In September, the Church announced another transaction with the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust that will deliver more water to the lake — a 10-year lease of up to 7,400 acre-feet of water annually.
“We are grateful for the tireless efforts of so many who apply their skills, talents, ingenuity, creativity and other means to tackle such a complex problem — including those here at BYU and other Church employees,” Elder Caussé said. “We acknowledge the numerous complexities surrounding the future of the Great Salt Lake and stand ready to be a part of the solution alongside all our diverse community stakeholders.”
In addition to conserving water, the Church focuses on helping people access clean water. One example is in Kiribati, where since 2022 the Church and its humanitarian collaborators have built five solar-powered desalination plants that provide sustainable water systems for some 6,000 residents to help reduce infant mortality.
“Area leadership intends to help construct 10 more across the country,” Elder Caussé said. “This is truly lifesaving work.”
The speech, planned weeks in advance, was not the first time Elder Caussé or his General Authority and General Officer colleagues had spoken on this important topic.
In 2023, for example, Elder Caussé and President D. Todd Christofferson of the First Presidency spoke about caring for the earth at a conference in Brazil.
“In all aspects of our earthly stewardships, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ will be a sure guide, and surely we will do real good in the world,” Elder Christofferson said. He also taught that “we should use our earthly blessings to minister to the temporal and spiritual needs of others in a way that enables them to come to know and serve God and eventually inherit eternal life.”
Later that same year in Abu Dhabi, Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said caring for the earth requires everyone to play their part.
“A unified effort — where governments, faith and community leaders, media, industry, scholars and families work together — is the way to achieve the noble goal of revitalizing the earth and the greater human family. May we accept this as a sacred charge,” Elder Kearon said.
Earlier this year, Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson taught young adults around the world to “recognize the connection between caring for the earth and caring for our neighbor. In caring for the earth, beautifying our local environment and helping our communities become more sustainable, we are acting as wise stewards of the earth to bless the lives of our neighbors.”
As he concluded his address at BYU on Friday, Elder Caussé taught that disciples of Christ are “called to honor and care for His creations and to bless our families, strengthen our communities and lift those around us with love.”
“I testify,” he continued, “that God and His Son, Jesus Christ, live and love us perfectly,” he said. “They created this earth as part of a divine plan to bless us eternally. As we follow Them and serve faithfully, we will find true and everlasting joy.”
Read Elder Caussé’s full speech: “Caring for God’s Creations.”
To learn more, visit Environmental Sustainability in Church Operations.