The Sacred Grove and LDS environmental ethics

Parrot created several narrow trails in order to not trample too much of the grove. A parking lot nearby was also moved several blocks away in order to maintain the quiet spiritual feel.

"The most important thing Parrot did was nothing," Brown said. "He stopped members from raking and cleaning the understory and allowed the much-needed leaves, branches and logs to accumulate on the starving sacred soil. Of his method Parrot told Mormon Times jokingly, 'It (took) an amazing amount of work to make it look as if I didn't do anything.'"

Brown concluded his presentation by expressing the global significance that religious forests, such as the Sacred Grove, can have.

"Forests provide not only spiritual inspiration but also represent a host of other values increasingly important to the conservation community such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity habitat, soil protection, water protection, clean air, medicine, food, fodder, sustainable sources of lumber and recreation," Brown said.

More information compiled by Brown can be viewed at the website Our Mother's Keeper.

Email: spetersen@deseretnews.com