Scientific consensus appears to overwhelmingly accept that drastic change is required to halt and repair damage to our atmosphere, oceans and forests. Now, before some of you jump on me over nits in the details of global warming or Seaspiracy, I'm not here to grind any political axes or stake out new ground on sustainability per se. I'm not an expert -- I'm just a fellow human sharing this planet with all the rest of you. But I am watching with great interest as society introduces innovative solutions to combat the rising risk of permanent, possibly catastrophic, global climate change.
Consider, for instance, Beyond Meat (BYND), which sold about $400 million in plant-based meat substitutes last year. Beyond aims to permanently impact the >$1 trillion global meat industry with a product that resembles the taste and texture of meat, but without the environmental impact of meat and eventually at a ~50% lower cost per pound for consumers. BYND is valued at $10 billion today. I've tried all of the Beyond products and have to say, it's really close. Not perfect, but definitely promising, and this is very, very early days. I don't think we'll ever go backward; it's a question of what pace going forward. Probably, like history, things will crawl and then leap. Anyhow, it's intriguing to wonder where meat substitutes will be in 10 years? 20 years? 50 years? If sustainability is an inevitable human imperative, then in what year will meat substitute sales exceed sales of actual meat?
If scientific analysis is to be trusted, reducing the number of animals raised for slaughter is a critical element to curbing climate change. I don't know if this is a panacea, but the notion that cow farts and cow burps are a leading cause of global warming seems to have gelled among leading minds. Bill Gates, for one, as you can watch in this enjoyable taste testing with Mark Rober (who happens to be an active Mormon, by the way).
I'm just thinking about the future and wondering out loud:
Could the Word of Wisdom be shifted toward a "sustainable Earth revelation?" How likely is it that someday, say in the year 2033 or 2045, an articulate Apostle will deliver the long-awaited talk that connects our "glorious and beautiful" earth to the Word of Wisdom?
Below, I offer a few data points.
1. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... nservation
While the church's entry on conservation does not (yet?) deal with topics like global warming or reducing meat consumption, it does embrace the potential for future sustainability practices the society may embrace.
2. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... 9?lang=engThe fulness of the earth is to be used with wisdom and restraint.
Section 89 offers a few lines of text which I suspect could be back-dated into a sort of "sustainability revelation." Give it a try by re-reading the verses dealing with meat consumption with an eye on key words that hearken to sustainability. I've highlighted some of them in bold.
The church has historically read the WoW in terms of benefits to "man" or "mankind." But why not allow it to be a metaphor for the home of mankind, i.e. the Earth itself?10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
A step further, knowing the power of parallelomania and faith-promotion by insinuation and implied dot connecting, I can envision a thoughtful Q15 member in the future pointing to verse 18 and observing an ancient connection to the temple ceremony. Before man was formed, the Earth was made. This creation motif is central to the plan of salvation and the temple ceremony. After the creation, as we know, Jehovah and Elohim marvel that the world they've made is "glorious and beautiful." Is it a stretch to think that doctrinal consensus will eventually be asserted that the Word of Wisdom in Section 89, by advising toward sparing use of animals for meat, Jehovah intended to sustain the glorious and beautiful earth as much as to offer health advice for the Saints?
