LDS Church urges water conservation amid worsening Western drought and Great Salt Lake decline

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a Wednesday statement addressing the prolonged drought across the Western United States and the resulting critical water levels in the Great Salt Lake. The church reaffirmed a June 30 letter from its Utah Area Presidency that called on members, especially those near the lake, to consider personal water-conservation measures, framing the issue as one of stewardship.

It praised collaborative actions by government bodies, community groups, and citizens aimed at protecting the lake. Since 2015, the church has contributed nearly 30,000 acre-feet of water to the lake, making it a major donor, and has installed over 3,100 smart irrigation controllers on its Intermountain West properties, saving an estimated 500 million gallons annually. Additional initiatives include retrofitting facilities with drought-tolerant landscaping, projected to save up to 20 million gallons each year at Temple Square. The statement concluded with gratitude to divine blessings and a call for interfaith prayer and fasting for relief from environmental challenges.