(6/7/99)
"Abraham Lincoln is reputed to have made this statement while walking with a friend under the stars at night: 'I can understand,' he said, 'how one looking down from the heavens on the earth and witnessing the perversity of men might be an atheist but I cannot understand how anyone looking up into the heavens at night could say there is no God.' The earth is beautiful. It is only when it is despoiled by the hand of man that it becomes ugly." — Stephen L. Richards, "Where Is Wisdom", p. 215

(6/8/99)
"I would like to see our children taught to respect tree life as they do bird life and animal life and human life. All are parts of the great creation of our Father and none of the workmanship of His hands should we presume to tamper with, wreck or destroy, except as our needs may justify or our intelligence suggest as necessary for the welfare of those concerned." — George Q. Cannon, "Juvenile Instructor", 34:264-66, May 1, 1899

(6/9/99)
"In the world in which we now live, that love of neighbor finds expression not only in Christian acts of charity and kindness to those in need, but in a larger sense includes a sacred regard for the environment in which all men as neighbors across the earth must live." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "A Unique and Wonderful University," BYU 1988-89 Devotional and Fireside Speeches, October 11, 1988, p. 51

(6/10/99)
"Nephi and Zenos who clearly understood that Christ is the creator and father of the earth, added this marvelous insight as to why his creation reacted so violently to the crucifixion. This was earth's God being crucified, this was creation's benefactor, this was 'the God of nature' suffering on the cross, and nature would not receive that injustice passively. It reacted in global groaning and sorrow. It reacted in convulsion and outrage and mourning." — Jeffrey R. Holland, "Christ and the New Covenant", p. 43-44

(6/6/99)
"This earth, after wading through all the corruptions of men, being cursed for his sake, and not permitted to shed forth its full luster and glory, must yet take its proper place in God's creations; be purified from that corruption under which it has groaned for ages, and become a fit place for redeemed men, angels, and God to dwell upon." — John Taylor, "Government of God", p. 82

9/21/09
“We saw sharp-toothed mountains, snow-covered but blue, stretching left into the distance, and to the right off into infinity. At intervals, giant peaks, crowned with a lenticular cloud denoting high winds and turbulence ahead, rose up to 23,000 feet above us, and we could see the pass beneath us. God’s creations had never been grander or more majestic, with a sense of mystery that made us aware of our own puny limitations. We had been somewhat arrogant, feeling that we had conquered the length of the hemisphere, but suddenly we recognized that we needed to humble ourselves before our Creator and acknowledge that it was he who had allowed us to view his works and that we should be grateful and worship him. The mountains spread out before us like an infinite wonder and we knew there was no end to his greatness. I have never fully recovered from that humbling experience. My copilot was equally subdued. We continued our journey in silence, silently praising the Lord for the privilege of witnessing his true artistry.” - Robert E. Wells, “The Mount and the Master,” p. 13