Honoring Mother Earth

Honoring and Protecting our Mother Earth

The earth is our Mother, and the indigenous all over the world are bound by a sacred duty to honor, protect, and defend her. James Mooney is committed to this mission.

Supporting the preservation of lakes, streams, and waterways, James stood with hundreds of environmentalists to protect Utah Lake, a sacred body of water to the Timpanogos Nation. James continues to support and stand with those who take action to preserve our Mother Earth.

Read more about Saving Utah Lake

Read more about the power of prayer in protecting sacred lands.

Utah Lake islands project is rejected by state officials

October 27, 2022

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands has formally rejected a controversial proposal to clean up Utah Lake by dredging it and building islands and bridges on it.

In a formal decision released Thursday, the state division blocked the proposal from moving forward. The formal record of decision, obtained by FOX 13 News, found the proposal would "not pass constitutional muster and be detrimental to the citizens of the state of Utah."

"Earlier this year, a state lawmaker told FOX 13 News he was considering a bill to rename Utah Lake to “Lake Timpanogos,” in honor of the Timpanogos tribe that settled here before Mormon pioneers moved in. Rep. Brady Brammer, R-Highland, said it was also his hope a new name would erase a stigma of mistreatment surrounding the lake."

BYU Green Week 2026

BYU Green Week Winter 2026, hosted by the BYU Sustainability Office from March 29 through April 3, was organized to celebrate campus sustainability and invite students, faculty, and the broader community into hands-on environmental stewardship rooted in faith. Rather than publishing a formal mission statement for the week, the Sustainability Office expressed its purpose through the lineup of events itself, which wove together service, learning, worship, and community-building.

The week opened with a prayer and optional fast for the Great Salt Lake, framing stewardship as a spiritual practice and drawing attention to the lake's critical decline. From there, the focus shifted to tangible service and skill-building: a "Mulch and Mingle" trail beautification project near LaVell Edwards Stadium, and a Mapathon in the Wilkinson Student Center where participants learned mapping skills to support vulnerable communities. A Community Night showcased campus and local partners working on sustainability, with awards and entertainment meant to make involvement feel accessible and celebratory.

The vision side of the week came through most clearly in the Disciple-Steward Lecture, an annual talk connecting sustainability and faith, delivered in 2026 by BYU biology professor and science communications expert Dr. Jamie Jensen. The framing of "disciple-steward" reflects BYU's broader approach to sustainability as discipleship, treating care for the earth as part of religious responsibility rather than a separate civic concern. The week closed with a student-run Stuff Swap, turning everyday consumption habits into a practical exercise in reuse.

Taken together, the purpose of Green Week 2026 was to celebrate sustainability progress on campus while giving people concrete ways to participate, and the vision was to frame environmental stewardship as a faith-rooted, community-oriented daily practice, in line with the Sustainability Office's broader mission.