Most of us need to be liked and accepted by others. We may enjoy meeting different people, whose background and attitudes are vastly different from our own, but we tend to feel more comfortable around those who share our assumptions and general backgrounds. There really does not seem to be much truth to the old saying that “opposites attract.” A number of psychologists have expressed this idea in the theory of the looking glass self, the theory that one’s self-concept is significantly affected by what one imagines others think of him or her. If they appear to approve of you, then you value yourself, and vice-versa. If someone you like and /or respect gives you a compliment and at that moment you are asked to rate yourself on a scale of one to ten, your stock will probably be higher than usual. To be a human being means to possess a feeling of inferiority which constantly presses towards its own conquest. The paths to victory are as different in a thousand ways as the chosen goals of perfection. The greater the feeling of inferiority that has been experienced, the more powerful is the urge to conquest and the more violent the emotional agitation. However, meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations. We must never neglect the patient’s own use of his or her symptoms. The science of the mind can only have for its proper goal the understanding of human nature by every human being, and through its use, brings peace to every human soul. #RandolphHarris 1 of 11

We share a common concern for the environment and a common desire to draw others unto the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The human soul and the environment are interconnected, each affects and influences the other. Therefore, there is an inherent complexity of human interaction with the environment. Our approach to the environment must be prudent, realistic, balanced, and consist with the needs of the Earth and of the current and future generations. It cannot be reasonably disputed that we depend on this Earth to sustain life, and the quality of the Earth and its environment will directly affect the quality of our life—and that of future generations. We understand who we are, the purpose of our existence, and the reason the Earth was created—and we have to keep these things in mind. If we do our conduct will rise to a higher, nobler level, and that is where religion and faith plays a major role. If we have to point to one single challenge facing humanity, a problem which virtually all others are tied, it would have to be population growth. We currently are trapped in a destructive cycle of our own making. Human population size has skyrocketed as we have increased our ability to produce food surpluses. As population size increases, more and more land is converted to crops, pasture, and building sites, providing more opportunities for yet more people. #RandolphHarris 2 of 11

God desires that humankind progress, improve, and receive eternal reward—and the Lord created this Earth for that purpose.  Additionally, through medical advances of the twentieth century, we have reduced mortality at both ends of the life cycle. Thus, fewer people die in childhood, and having survived to adulthood, they live longer than ever before. The World average life expectancy is 69 years (may be higher or lower depending on country). Although these medical advances are unquestionably good for individuals (who has not benefited from medical technology?), it is also clear that there are significant detrimental consequences to the species and to the planet. Population size, if left unchecked, increases exponentially, that is, as a function of some perfect, like compound interest on a bank account. Currently, human population increases Worldwide at an annual rate of about 1.8 percent. Although this figure may not seem too startling at first, it deserves some examination. It is also useful to discuss double time, or the amount of time it takes for population size to double. God explained in practical terms why he created this World for his children to live on as mortal being and those who choose to follow and serve God in this life upon this Earth will have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. #RandolphHarris 3 of 11

The creation of this Earth affords us the opportunity to choose to seek and someday receive all that God offers. However, one cannot, and should not be forced to follow God; indeed, real growth and development in an individual occurs only when one has the opportunity to choose for him or herself. Nonetheless, scientists estimate that around 10,000 years ago, only about 5 million people inhabited the Earth (not even half as many as life in Los Angeles County today). By A.D. 1650, there were perhaps 500 million, and by 1800, 1 billion. In other words, between 10,000 years ago and A.D. 1650 (a period of 9,650 years), population size doubled 71 times. On average, then, the doubling time, for population increase, between 10,000 years ago and 1650 was about 1,287 years. However, from 1650 to 1800, the population doubled again, which means that doubling time had been reduced to 150 years. And in 37 years between 1950 and 1987, World population doubled from 2 billion to 4 billion. Dates and associated population estimates up to the present are as follows: mid-1800s, 1 billion; 1930, 2 billion; mid-1960s, 3 billion; mid-1980s, 4 billion; 2000, 6 billion, and in 2018, 7.6 billion. To state this issue in terms we can appreciate, we add 1 billion people to the World’s population approximately every 11 years. That comes out to 90 to 95 million every year and roughly a quarter of a million every day! #RandolphHarris 4 of 11

The rate of growth is not equally distributed among all nations. Although the World’s rate of increase has ranged from 1.7 to 2.1 percent since the 1950s, it is the developing countries that share most of the burden (not to be interpreted as blame). During the 1980s, the population of Kenya grew at a rate of a little over 4 percent per year, while India added a million per month, and 36,000 babies were born every day in Latin American. Fortunately, by the end of the twentieth century, rates of human population growth began to decline. Moreover, by 2000, the replacement rate of 2.1 children per female required for population size to stabilize had been achieved in all western European countries, Thailand, and the nonimmigrant populations of the United States. The decrease in family size Worldwide is attributed to several factors, including the shift to a global economy, the migration of rural populations to urban centers with concomitant shifts in employment from agriculture to manufacturing and service sectors, and, at least in some countries, the increasing empowerment of women that has meant better education, increased opportunities in the workplace, and access to family planning. However, by the year 2020, human numbers could approach 10 billion. Japan is pretty much the only nation experiencing a population decline, which is leading to better education and employment opportunities, higher pay and more places to live. #RandolphHarris 5 of 11

The Earth was created to provide a place for the children of God to be tested, to learn and gain necessary experience in a place where they would have the opportunity to choose whether they will, or will not, do all things that the Lord commands. Once the process of the creation of this Earth was completed, God was pleased. He was pleased, for he saw that this Earth would serve his purpose for his children. God’s plan was—and is that his children come to this Earth through marriage between a man and a woman, who are to procreate, form a family, and tech children to choose the good part in a World with real moral choices and consequences. The Lord created the Earth to be inhabited; and he created his children that they should possess it. Men and women are not ere interlopers or a side-show on this Earth; rather, they and the children they bring into this World are central to its propose. However, we believe that God has commanded that the Earth and all things thereon be utilized responsibly to abundantly sustain the human family. We are just stewards of this Earth, God owns everything. So, how we care for the Earth, how we utilize and share in its bounty, and how we treat all life that has been provided for our benefit and use is part of our test in mortality. When God gave us dominion over everything, it was not without boundaries or limits. #RandolphHarris 6 of 11

God intends human’s dominion to be a righteous dominion, meaning one that is guided, curbed, and enlightened by the doctrine of his gospel—a gospel defined by God’s love for us and our love for him and his works. The unbridled, voracious consumer is not consistent with God’s plan of happiness, which calls for humility, gratitude, and mutual respect. In other words, as stewards over the Earth and all life thereon, we are to gratefully make use of that which the Lord has provided, avoid wasting life and resources, and use the bounty of the Earth to care for the less affluent. Yes, the Lord gave to men and women agency, or the capacity to choose; however, we must bear in mind that he cares deeply for all life and especially for his children, and will hold us accountable for what we choose to do (or not do) with the bounties of his creation. “It pleases God that he has given all these things unto humans,” report Doctrine and Covenants 59.20. Humankind is promised that if we choose to follow the Lord and judiciously use the resources of the Earth with thanksgiving and respect, the fullness of the Earth would be ours, and that Good things would come of the Earth, and would benefit humans and strengthen the body and enliven the soul. #RandolphHarris 7 of 11

The United Nations plan to control population growth is to emphasize women’s education, health, and rights throughout the World, but it still has met with stiff resistance from religious groups (primarily the United States) opposed to abortion and contraception. The United Nations goal is admirable and ambitions, but achieving it will be a formidable task. Although the average number of live births per woman has declined, it will still be next to impossible to prevent huge population increases in the next century. Bear in mind that approximately half of all people currently living in the developing World are less than 15 years old. These young people have not reproduced yet, but they will. The concern is can we continue forever to make technological changes sufficient to feed ever-growing numbers of humans? Is there enough land to support an endless demand for housing, crop cultivation, and grazing? Is there enough water? We probably can develop technologies to meet our species’ increasing needs for a while. However, can we do so and still meet the requirements of thousands of undomesticated species? The answer for the immediate future is: probably not. For the long term, without major changes in human population growth, the answer is: absolutely not. And that is one of the reasons people are in an uproar about unlawful immigration. #RandolphHarris 8 of 11

With resources being scarce and prices climbing, people are concerned how will they afford to live? They are worried that their culture will be replaced. The massive problems facing our planet reflect an adaptive strategy gone awry. Indeed, it would seem that we no longer enjoy a harmonious relationship with culture. Instead, culture has come the environment in which we live, and every day that environment becomes increasingly hostile. All we need to do is examine the very air we breathe and look at the traffic on the roads to realize that we have overstepped our limits. However, it was intended by God that all creatures should be happy in their several elements. All forms of life have great value in the eyes of God, for they are his production, and will be blessed by his redeeming power. If there is any real chance of reversing current trends, everyone will have to sacrifice. In the developing World, family planning must universally be adopted to halt population expansion. Large, single-family dwellings are luxuries many enjoy, and it would be a good idea to buy property while it is still available. We must also encourage our children to conform and get educations so they can afford the expensive cost of living in their countries. Our two feet have carried us not only across the plains of Africa, but also onto the polar caps, the ocean floor, and even across the surface of the Moon! #RandolphHarris 9 of 11

God cares and gives humankind a dominant role on this Earth as evidence that humankind is special, a little lower than Angels. Surely, if we can accomplish so much in so short a time, we can act responsibly to preserve our home and the wonderous creatures who share it with us.  Not only did God create a beautiful World of mountains, valleys, rivers, streams, seas, Sunsets, and Sunrises, but he also adorned it with plant and animal life. And the scriptures inform us that each form of plant and animal life has a spirit. God created all things spiritually, before they were naturally upon the Earth. Out of the ground God made every tree grow naturally, that is it pleasant to the sight of humans, and it also became a living soul. God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air, and they are living souls. Since both planet and animal life are living souls, they are capable of experiencing happiness as they fulfill the measure of their creation. Yes, we have been provided this beautiful and bountiful World, teeming with life and resources to bless and strengthen and enliven humankind, and we are to use them joyfully—but we must do so as careful, grateful stewards over God’s handiwork. We are to use these resources with judgment, gratitude, prudence, and with an eye to bless our fellow man and woman and those of future generation, and in that way help the Lord accomplish his purpose to help humankind. #RandolphHarris 10 of 11

In the mind of God there is no such a thing as dividing spiritual from temporal, or temporal from spiritual; for they are one in the Lord. God wants to help us progress, improve, and receive his blessings in time and eternity. Even if you do not believe in God, he wants to help you and he loves you. However, suffocating selfishness of humankind makes God sad. This Earth is God’s creation. When we make it ugly, we offend the Lord. Faith and religion should have the capacity to stretch, enlarge, and change the human soul beyond self, and to inspire love of God and his creations, to think of others, and to consider the needs of future generations, even to the point of relinquishing personal desires. We need that soul-stretching, for the state of the human soul will directly impact the condition and health of the environment—which, in turn affect the quality of life. Religion can change how we will treat the Earth and all things thereon. As the human soul is changed, the environment is better cared for. The doctrine and commandments of God lead us beyond the suffocating, self-limiting weight of selfishness, the blinding press of self-gratification or aggrandizement. Keep your valley pure, keep your towns as pure as you possibly can, keep your hearts pure. It is not our privilege to waste the Lord’s substance. #RandolphHarris 11 of 11