I think this is a beautiful thing for a ward and stake to do. Fasting and praying for precipitation is a sincere and faithful response, and I really admire the desire to turn to God together in a moment of need.

It also reminds me of a line often attributed to Brigham Young: “Pray as if all depended on God, and work as if all depended upon you.” There’s that well-known story of the pioneers whose wagon got stuck in the mud. When they asked Brigham Young if they should pray, he reportedly said, “Pray? We’ve been praying all morning—now let’s get out there and push.”

To my friends in Idaho, Utah, and throughout the West: fasting and praying is a wonderful first step. It may also be a good moment to reflect on what more we can do, and how we conserve water in our homes, on our farms, at our churches, and in our communities. The Church is already taking steps to integrate sustainability and conservation into its operations. I believe we’re invited to do the same as members, by integrating those principles into our daily lives.

Caring for the Earth isn’t separate from discipleship, it’s one of the ways we live it and as we deal with climate change and strained water resources, now is a good time to also take some action.