Early LDS prophets had some environmental consciousness

May 27, 2008

Mormon Times has an interesting article about how you might consider Joseph Smith and Brigham Young environmentally conscious:

Though they can’t be accurately labeled “environmentalists,” two early LDS Church leaders shared theological concepts about nature that set them apart from most religious leaders of the time.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founder Joseph Smith, and to a greater extent, his successor, Brigham Young, taught that God created earth, plants and animals not simply for the use of man but as entities with souls.