For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

[Excerpted from Heal the Earth: A Restoration Imperative, Adult Reunion Resource, Herald House, p. 8]

God’s world is a gift of love and grace. Earth’s living organisms, both human and nonhuman, breathe in this gift of life from God the loving Creator. To refer to all things as “creation” immediately implies a divine point of reference: a Creator. Christian faith holds that creation in all its beauty, wonder, power, diversity, vulnerability, and mystery is an icon of the living God. Divine Spirit works unceasingly to create, sustain, and redeem all living things and guide them toward the wholeness of peace. God invites human beings to care for each other and all of nature. This call for us to be stewards of creation is fundamentally a call to love what God has generously created.

Creation is the good gift of God, whose eternal triune being is communal. Therefore, creation as a whole reflects in its vast web of relationships the relational, communal nature of God. Human beings, like all other animals, plants, and organisms are part of this larger, interrelated whole. We are all creatures which, among other things, means we depend on each other for existence. Alike and different from other creatures we share the same needs for air to breathe, water to drink, food to nourish, and resources for shelter. Each organism is unique and lives out its own special role within the whole of creation. At the same time, because all living things depend on each other, mutuality is at the heart of the good creation. We should not be surprised by this truth, since according to the doctrine of the Trinity, reciprocity is the essence of God’s own life.

How will we as Community of Christ contribute to the healing of Earth? How will we address the difficult ecological challenges before us?

Prayer Phrase

“In his hand is the life of every living thing” (Job 12:10).

Trees

Watch the trees outside your window for a few moments. Close your eyes and meditate on Alma’s words about seeds and trees. If you were to plant and grow the Word of God in your heart, what tree might symbolically represent this process? Imagine a seed as it grows into a tree of life and blessing. Ask God to show you how to begin (see Alma 16:152–173).

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.