UT Drought Bad Enough That The Mormon Church Will Boldly Limit Watering Of Church Lawns, Landscaping

[hatrack]

In case you were wondering, 6/22/2022 Drought Monitor for the state:



The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday that it is trying harder to conserve water amid Utah's ongoing, devastating drought. Just about the entire state is experiencing severe drought conditions, with more than 80% at the "extreme" level.

The Church is influential in Utah, and a pledge to conserve could prompt its members to rethink their own water use. Church leaders have not always swayed members from conservative cultural norms like opposition to COVID vaccines and immigration.

Mormon reluctance on environmental action has been linked to the faith's conservative political ties. But the politics of environmentalism are rapidly changing in Utah, with Republican lawmakers increasingly supporting policy solutions to drought and pollution.

The Church has been criticized for maintaining expansive, lush lawns at some of its places of worship, which are ubiquitous in the arid mountain west. Church authorities historically have not been as vocal as other faith leaders on environmental issues, and polling by The Salt Lake Tribune and Hinckley Institute of Politics shows that many members have resisted calls to action on climate change.

EDIT

https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2022/06/23/lds-church-water-conservation-drought