MEdia
The media and technology surrounding us today can be overwhelming. It comes from all different sides and can often be difficult to discern fact from fiction. The gospel is now the most accessible it has ever been; missionary work is being done through Facebook, twitter, and Instagram. However, those sites contain other information that is not uplifting or edifying. I feel that in order to balance the benefits of technology and the media, such as family history work and missionary work, it is necessary to know and recognize the evil as well. When these two aspects can be balanced against each other and recognized for what they are, I feel that technology and media are blessings from our Heavenly Father to increase communication and awareness of His gospel.
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"Satan wants to control your agency so he can control what you become. He knows that one of the best ways to do this is by trapping you with addictive behavior. Your choices determine whether technology will empower you or enslave you."
Randall L. Ridd, April 2014 General Conference, Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-choice-generation?lang=eng&query=technology
Randall L. Ridd, April 2014 General Conference, Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-choice-generation?lang=eng&query=technology
"The divine purpose of technology is to hasten the work of salvation. As members of the choice generation, you understand technology. Use it to accelerate your progress toward perfection. Because you have been given much, you too must give (see “Because I Have Been Given Much,” Hymns, no. 219). The Lord expects you to use these great tools to take His work to the next level, to share the gospel in ways that are beyond my generation’s wildest imagination. Where generations past influenced their neighbors and their town, you have the power through the Internet and social media to reach beyond borders and influence the whole world."
Randall L. Ridd, April 2014 General Conference, Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-choice-generation?lang=eng&query=technology
Randall L. Ridd, April 2014 General Conference, Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-choice-generation?lang=eng&query=technology
"Technology has blessed us with many new innovations to spread the message of the gospel through satellite systems, our own network Web site, television, radio, as well as the written text in our magazines and newspaper. All of these add to our delivery systems, which greatly increase our ability to receive the messages that are delivered."
L. Tom Perry, April 2000 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/04/thou-shalt-give-heed-unto-all-his-words?lang=eng&query=technology#watch=video
L. Tom Perry, April 2000 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/04/thou-shalt-give-heed-unto-all-his-words?lang=eng&query=technology#watch=video
"One challenge remains the same from the time of King Benjamin to the time of President Grant to today—that is, the challenge of each individual and family, through personal and collective study, to internalize the messages of the gospel of our Lord and Savior. Salvation is not in facilities or technology, but in the word. Only in the power of the word will it impact our lives and help us to live closer to our Father in Heaven."
L. Tom Perry, April 2000 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/04/thou-shalt-give-heed-unto-all-his-words?lang=eng&query=technology#watch=video
L. Tom Perry, April 2000 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/04/thou-shalt-give-heed-unto-all-his-words?lang=eng&query=technology#watch=video
"Parents and leaders, you will stand all amazed at how rapidly your children and the youth of the Church become highly skilled with these tools. In fact, you will learn valuable lessons from these young people about effectively using these resources. The youth can offer much to older individuals who are uncomfortable with or intimidated by technology or are unfamiliar with FamilySearch. You also will count your many blessings as young people devote more time to family history work and temple service and less time to video games, surfing the Internet, and Facebooking."
David A. Bednar, October 2011 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn?lang=eng&query=technology#watch=video
David A. Bednar, October 2011 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn?lang=eng&query=technology#watch=video
"The leadership of the Church has issued a clarion call to the rising generation to lead the way in the use of technology to experience the spirit of Elijah, to search out their ancestors, and to perform temple ordinances for them. Much of the heavy lifting in hastening the work of salvation for both the living and the dead will be done by you young people."
Quentin L. Cook, April 2014 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/roots-and-branches?lang=eng&query=technology
Quentin L. Cook, April 2014 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/roots-and-branches?lang=eng&query=technology
"We finally have the doctrine, the temples, and the technology for families to accomplish this glorious work of salvation. I suggest one way this might be done. Families could hold a “Family Tree Gathering.” This should be a recurring effort. Everyone would bring existing family histories, stories, and photos, including cherished possessions of grandparents and parents. Our young people are excited to learn about the lives of family members—where they came from and how they lived. Many have had their hearts turned to the fathers. They love the stories and photos, and they have the technological expertise to scan and upload these stories and photos to Family Tree and connect source documents with ancestors to preserve these for all time."
Quentin L. Cook, April 2014 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/roots-and-branches?lang=eng&query=technology
Quentin L. Cook, April 2014 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/roots-and-branches?lang=eng&query=technology
"Depending on how technology is used, these advances can be a blessing or a deterrent. Technology, when understood and used for righteous purposes, need not be a threat but rather an enhancement to spiritual communication."
Richard G. Scott, April 2013 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/for-peace-at-home?lang=eng&query=technology
Richard G. Scott, April 2013 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/for-peace-at-home?lang=eng&query=technology
"Be wise in how you embrace technology. Mark important scriptures on your device and refer back to them frequently. If you young people would review a verse of scripture as often as some of you send text messages, you could soon have hundreds of passages of scripture memorized. Those passages would prove to be a powerful source of inspiration and guidance by the Holy Ghost in times of need."
Richard G. Scott, April 2013 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/for-peace-at-home?lang=eng&query=technology
Richard G. Scott, April 2013 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/for-peace-at-home?lang=eng&query=technology
"We need to raise our voices with other concerned citizens throughout the world in opposition to current trends. We need to tell the sponsors of offensive media that we have had enough. We need to support programs and products that are positive and uplifting. Joining together with neighbors and friends who share our concerns, we can send a clear message to those responsible."
M. Russell Ballard, October 2003 General Conference, Saturday Morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2003/10/let-our-voices-be-heard?lang=eng&query=media
M. Russell Ballard, October 2003 General Conference, Saturday Morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2003/10/let-our-voices-be-heard?lang=eng&query=media