SALT LAKE CITY — Nov. 19, 2025— In his first public address as an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Gérald Caussé singled out Great Salt Lake as a critical concern for Utah’s future, and emphasized that the LDS Church intends to be part of the solution.
“The declining levels of the Great Salt Lake pose significant risks to our community’s health, ecosystems, and economy,” Caussé said in his speech at Brigham Young University on Friday, Nov. 14. “I reaffirm the Church’s support for sustainable, long-term solutions to address this challenge.”
In 2023, the Church donated water shares equivalent to more than 20,000 acre-feet of water, delivered annually and in perpetuity, to Great Salt Lake through the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust. The agreement marked the largest single water donation in Utah’s history. Then, in September of this year, the Church announced another donation—a 10-year lease of up to 7,400 acre-feet of water annually.
Caussé noted that the Church is also updating its facilities in arid and semi-arid climates around the world, through landscaping with native plants and installing smart irrigation systems. The initiatives are expected to save 500 million gallons of water annually.
The water-saving efforts of Utah’s largest religious institution come at a critical moment: Great Salt Lake hovers near historic lows, threatening air quality, ecosystems, and billions of dollars in economic activity. Scientists warn that without urgent action, the lake risks crossing irreversible thresholds—threatening the same kind of collapse that has devastated communities near drying saline lakes worldwide.
Recently, Utah leaders signaled a turning point in its commitment to restore the lake. In September, state lawmakers announced the Great Salt Lake 2034 Charter, a $200 million public-private partnership to restore Great Salt Lake by the 2034 Winter Olympics. Though a major step forward, independent economic analysis estimates a full lake rescue will cost between $2-5 billion over the next decade. Meeting this challenge will require fundamental shifts in water use by farmers, cities, and industry.
“This is Utah’s inflection point,” said Ben Abbott, a BYU ecologist and executive director of Grow the Flow. “If we rise to the challenge together, Utah can pioneer the world’s first saline lake rescue.”
Caussé’s remarks highlight the growing role of faith communities in statewide efforts to restore Great Salt Lake. With its headquarters in Salt Lake City and significant membership throughout the region, the Church’s continued engagement will play an influential part in building public support and accelerating efforts to secure the lake’s long-term recovery.
“We acknowledge the numerous complexities surrounding the future of the Great Salt Lake,” Caussé said, “and stand ready to be a part of the solution alongside all our diverse community stakeholders.”
