It look’s like the Course
Reserve materials are still unavailable, so I have given you new links for this
assignment. Please read “LDS Teachings” and then watching the following clips:
Can you summarize what the
Church teaches about the media? What are the basic instructions that have been
given to the members of the Church? I am particularly interested in your
thoughts on the talks by Elder Bednar and Elder Holland. What do they suggest
about media use? Appropriate versus inappropriate use? If you were going to use
these materials to teach a Church lesson on the media, what would you
emphasize?
This is actually a subject I have to think about quite a bit. Both because I'm a journalism major and because of how surrounded I am by media.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't think the media is bad. I try to be an optimist and give people and things the benefit of the doubt. I think overall media is an amazing tool. In a mere hundred years we've gone from sending telegraphs to being able to broadcast our voices to billions of people at once. Now I don't believe it's inherently evil but I do know that people use it for bad uses. We can use media to spread messages of hope, knowledge etc. But at the same time a group such as ISIS can use it to spread hatred and fear.
I feel the most important thing we can do is to not get sucked into our media. I feel a problem our generation has it we have this need to constantly be connected. We have to be holding our phone and talking to tons of people at once, we hate feeling alone. All this technology and media is amazing, but I also feel we need to have a balance. We need to take time and really discover who we are. We can't do that if we're always tweeting and watching YouTube.
I guess I can only speak for myself and my media habits, so that's what I'll do. I know I have problems with always wanting to be connected and on the internet, it's one of my weaknesses. So I've taken steps to get away from that. Every day I take 20 minutes and practice mindfulness (it's similar to meditation) and just live in that exact moment. I also try to take moments of the day and just enjoying them, usually when I'm walking to or from campus. If I see an amazing sunrise or view I stop and enjoy it. I don't take a photo or snapchat and keep walking. I take it as the moment it is. As a journalist media is my life. It's how I'm going to be spending my time and providing a living for myself. But I also realize that it doesn't have to control my life, I can be in charge of my media usage. I've found that as I've really taken time to get away from media that I've discovered who I am. Because of this I can have a stronger presence on media, because I'm my own voice.
If I had to summarize what the church teaches about the media, I would say that the church advocates the use of media for good purposes that will encourage upright, edifying, and spiritually strengthening behavior, such as sharing uplifting messages, preaching the gospel, reading church articles, and so on. The church warns against using media as a comparative method between your life and others, creating or simulating a fake life, using media to tear others down or drive the spirit away, and so on.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't that much unlike church teachings on other topics. We are encouraged to choose friends this way, to choose spouses this way, to act this way in our personal lives, choose hobbies, jobs, schools, and clubs that will promote certain standards and avoid certain behaviors. In my mind, it's really simple to choose good ways to use media. In Elder Bednar's talk, what really stood out to me was talking specifically about newly married couples who might trade in precious time together when they could be forming a deeper emotional bond by spending time together and talking and sharing in experiences, for time used on the computer or television, focusing on digital or false illusions of their lives. This was interesting to me because we often use the example of someone trading real friends for digital friends when someone goes out with their friends and spends the whole time on their phone, but it seems so different to me inside your own house. I certainly of guilty of wasting some time that I could be spending with my husband doing less productive things like conducting rigorous google investigations about Donald Trump or the Wright Brothers. Interesting that Elder Bednar tied it back into a very physical aspect, of how we use our physical bodies.
In Elder Holland's talk, I loved that he counseled against young women using the media to tear down their self-esteem. I have friends who have suffered with self-image and often can be found reading online about "how to get a body like J-Lo" or "Beyoncé's 10 tips to a rockin bod" or something like that. While it's admirable to use the internet to better yourself and learn how to stay healthy and maybe learn a new workout, it should never be motivated by the idea to look like someone else or be "as beautiful" as someone else, but rather motivated by the idea to be your best self and be healthy. I think in general, young men in the church do a pretty good job encouraging young women to value themselves, but I would just want them to know how hard it is. Just like their bodies change, young women's do too, and if there's one thing women hate, it's feeling like they don't have control over something. Even good changes to our bodies can be the source of embarrassment and social discomfort, and everything we see all around us tells us we have to look a certain way, but especially at that age we can't do anything about it. Young men just need to be accepting and encouraging, because if you say anything negative to a sensitive adolescent girl, she will literally remember it forever.
The Church seems to have really embraced the media and the tools that come with it. The Church has even gone onto to say that technology and modern media was inspired of God and that they are gifts we should use. While modern media and technology is a blessing, the Prophets have warned us about the dangers of this technology. This is evident in Elder Cook's recent broadcast on social media, Elder Bednar's address "Things As They Really Are", and the numerous council on the dangers of pornography.
ReplyDeleteDespite these dangers, the Church has been extremely active in its digital and social media. I can't help but notice how the Church's SEO has climbed over the past few years -- especially on controversial topics in mormon history and doctrine. The Church has created amazing digital content, including sharable videos, that are perfect for sharing via social channels. Elder Ballard was clear about this point in his message "Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet."
If put in a position to teach this subject in a Sunday school lesson, I would focus on what Elder Bednar teaches. We shouldn't spend more time on the internet and in the media in the name of the gospel -- but it can be used as a tool to share genuine and authentic beliefs. The Church does a great job of helping members do this by creating content that resinates with them. I feel like there are dangers with the media -- especially social media. Not only is it often a distraction as Elder Cook describes it, it can negatively effect how we see the world. It keeps people from seeing things as they really are.
I think the church has changed its perceptions and teaching on media in the past few years. Overall, I think that the church encourages media use as long as it is not spiritually destructive or sense-dulling.
ReplyDeleteIn recent years, the church has definitely advised members to use media to share the gospel. For example, my brother is on a mission in New Jersey and he uses Facebook almost everyday. He writes posts and shares pictures with uplifting gospel messages. He told me in an email that he is really grateful he can use social media, because it lets him connect with people he otherwise wouldn’t have. My husband returned from his mission about three years ago and never used Facebook or any digital platform to share the gospel, I definitely think the church has come a long way in its use of media in recent years. In Elder Ballard’s talk he encourages members to share their testimony using technological tools. However, he warned that there “is no need to argue or contend with other regarding our beliefs…discussions focused on questioning, debating and doubting gospel principles do little to build the kingdom of God.” The media is a very useful tool, if we use it correctly.
In one of my communications classes, we discussed that as LDS journalists, it is important to bring light and truth to any piece we publish. We should not lie, use slander, and be careful of writing anything that goes against our moral beliefs. With blogs, and social media, I think it can get tricky sometimes when we try to share our beliefs because there will be people that want to tear us down because they disagree with out beliefs. If I was going to emphasize a church lesion on media, especially if I was teaching women, I would use Elder Holland’s talk. I really liked the following, “One would truly need a great and spacious makeup kit to compete with beauty as portrayed in media all around us.” Women tend look as social media as a comparison to one another and that can be damaging to one’s self image. One of the things I love about the social media the church puts out, is how real it is. Mormon messages usually show the realities of living with trials and hardships in our day. The church will never be glamorous in the eyes of the world, but its teachings are true and that is why they are broadcasted throughout media. We should use media as a helpful tool in sharing gospel rather than as a destructive digital escape.
Media has become a major part of General Conference. Our church leaders know that is is be coming an increasingly greater part of society and they are able to see the negative side effects that our technological culture could initiate. My favorite part of today’s readings and clips was when Elder Bednar said that in a world of virtual reality, it is easy to forget that, in the eternal perspective, one day we may be able to be, “Encircled in the arms of His love…it will be a real, not a virtual experience.”
ReplyDeleteBecause media is the most prevalent and easy way that satan can gain access into our lives, we must be reminded of how we can focus on the reality of eternal life without being clouded by the immediate, virtual world that is at the tip of our fingers.
The church understands the way media can be used for good or evil. We are taught that, because media is so dangerous, we must be very careful as to what types of media we consume as well as how much media we consume. Additionally, we are instructed to pay attention to our purposes of our media usage. Elder Bednar explains in his devotional address to BYU-I that our intentions for media usage are critical, asking us, “Are we using media as a way to draw close to the spirit?”
Elder Bednar reminded viewers about the importance of not idling our time, especially in a world of virtual relationships and experiences which have no importance or real benefit. He said that the internet can have a stifling and suffocating cyber influence, that is, if we let it. We must use our time wisely, even internet time. Elder Bednar also reminded viewers about the real-life relationships that can be gained with the time that is invested in a virtual world. Emotional connection with a human being is one of the critical parts of life, gaining relationships with family and making friends ultimately is one of the keys to entering into the celestial kingdom. If we squander that time in a virtual world, we are disgracing our God-given ability to love, appreciate, and accept others.
If i were using these talks as references for a church lesson, I would emphasize how to use media for the good. I would probably focus on Elder M. Russell Ballard’s talk titled Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet. I loved the way Elder Ballard talked about the ways in which we are able to use the internet to reach out to others, share our beliefs, and stand as a shining example to the masses. Because everyone has the ability to be a publisher whether it be through blogging or instagram, we, as Mormons have the ability to share and spread our beliefs. With their wise words and counsel, we can be protected. It is critical that we listen to the words of our prophets and apostles because they know best as to how satan can find access into our lives.
Dealing with media and trying to use it in a positive way without getting too wrapped up in a virtual universe is something that many of us struggle with as members of the Church who have heard talks by church leaders and are aware of its pitfalls. I'd venture to say that the church leaders like Elder Bednar and others have talked about media more as a negative influence than a positive one, and I definitely understand why. Though there is plenty of good that one can do by sharing uplifting things such as their testimonies on the internet, the destructive and immoral messages that are available online far outnumber the uplifting ones. And even the ones that are neither uplifting nor destructive and are just pointless can get us to waste hours and hours of our time looking at them without getting much anything out of it.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, it's much easier said than done to put down our phones and laptops and enjoy the real world. It's become such a habit for many people (myself included) to check social media constantly and look at my phone as soon as I become slightly bored with whatever's happening around me. Now those things aren't necessarily bad depending on the content we choose to look at, but it can easily become a problem when we distance ourselves from our family and friends in favor of virtual entertainment.
Growing up, my parents (mostly my mom) definitely were careful with which media we were exposed to and we weren't allowed to watch a lot of the movies and TV shows that my friends could, but at the same time they weren't super strict with things like smart phones and I had a TV in my bedroom when I was still pretty young. I'm grateful that they did their best to help me avoid harmful media, and I also learned a few things from them that I don't want to do with my own family.
If I were teaching a lesson in church about these things, I would probably spend an equal amount of time talking about how to use media positively and showing examples of uplifting videos and messages online, and I'd also warn, as the Prophets and Apostles have done, about the effects media can have on our lives and I'd probably give some personal examples of that as well. Basically, I'd try to teach it the way we've been taught about it in General Conference because that's the way that Heavenly Father wants it to be taught. It's difficult to get people to quit their addictions to their phones, video games, and the Internet, but each time we warn about it there's a chance that one of them will listen and change.
Most of the council given about media and the internet is to just be careful. There is information that can now spread like wildfire thanks to the internet and social media. However, this information that spreads can be both good and bad. We just be weary of the bad and then spread the good to as many people as possible. I really like in Elder Ballard's when he said, "Now some of these tools—like any tool in an unpracticed or undisciplined hand—can be dangerous". I like this because it makes the internet out to be a good, useful tool when used the right way. The internet does not have to be something that is dangerous or evil. It can be extremely helpful in spreading good things and reaching out to people. We just have to know how to use it, and I think the way we do that is to use the internet more so we become well acquainted with it and its abilities and we can reach a higher potential while using it.
ReplyDeleteWe must be careful about what we let enter into our minds and what we consider truth. Not everything on the internet is true and we need to set up a personal filter so we can decipher what is beneficial to our spiritual, mental, and emotional selves. Not only should we be careful with what we absorb off the internet, we should also be careful with what we put out on the internet. We must try to post uplifting, truthful things that will help others in their struggles. We must not post things that will discriminate other people or put them down. That will only bring sadness to their lives and to our own lives. If I was teaching this in a lesson, I would explain how useful and helpful the internet it and that people should not be afraid to use it. Then I would explain some of the dangers and how to avoid them. The internet is a wonderful invention that has changed the world. As long as it is used properly, it can make the world a better place.
The media is very powerful, and very enjoyable. We all love to get lost in a movie or song or even our news feed on various social media platforms. I think that's ok, and God intended it to be that way. However, I think it gets dangerous when we confuse that experience with reality.
ReplyDeleteI feel like we often talk about celebrities with perfect bodies and tons of money or success as a standard that is unrealistic for the average person. That's a good thing. However, we don't talk enough about the fact that the picture that the media paints is fake. We often say its unrealistic, but we don't often acknowledge lack of substance behind it.
If I were to teach a church lesson, I would emphasize that greater happiness is found living the real human experience. I love Elder Bednar's talk for illustrating this so perfectly. I also loved Elder Holland's talk for teaching us to embrace our differences. I would love to emphasize the fact that by embracing who we are as people we can truly find joy.
I think we need to preach that although escape through the media is ok, true joy will come through living in our unique reality. I feel inspired by this message because I want to really internalize the fact that my greatest potential for joy will come through accepting who I am, and using media to project that, instead of allowing the media to project an ideal "reality" on me.
In the three apostolic talks we were given, the Church’s message about media is the same: media can be used for great good or for great evil. Media, and especially the Internet, can be used for great good and is an effective tool to share and spread the Gospel in a personal and authentic way. However, as Elder Bednar warned, the Internet can cause us to disconnect from “things as they really are,” ignore important relationships, waste valuable time, and sin through viewing pornography or illegally downloading content.
ReplyDeleteElder Bednar’s story about the man playing Second Life surprised me. In my opinion, he is essentially cheating on his wife through a virtual channel. The way the story was told made it seem like he’d rather be with his “online wife” than his real one. I can see why the Church warns against media because of these extreme cases and what it can do to your real life.
I also thought that Elder Holland’s talk about beauty was interesting. It reminded me of the Dove Soap Real Beauty Campaign and a video I have seen where sketches are made of several women. The first sketch is made based on each woman’s self-description. The second sketch is made based on a description given by someone who briefly met the women. Without fail, the first sketches depicted ugly women and the second sketched depicted beautiful ones. This illustrated to me how much people self-criticize, largely due to what the media says they should look like. However, the Dove video is an example of media using to positively influence self-image.
If I were to give a Church talk on this subject, I would base most of my thoughts on Elder Ballard’s talk. I liked his positive view of new media and all of his ideas about ways to use it for good. He said, “The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ has no doubt had a powerful impact on your life. It has, in part, shaped who you are and what your future will be. Do not be afraid to share with others your experiences as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. We all have interesting stories that have influenced our identity. Sharing those stories is a nonthreatening way to talk to others. Telling those stories can help demystify the Church. You could help overcome misperceptions through your own sphere of influence, which ought to include the Internet.”
I think that we all have the potential to use media for great good and especially in sharing the Gospel with others.
Elder Bednar and Holland explain that the media can cause temptations and comparisons that can ruin one's own perspections of themselves and crucial relationships. Elder Holland warns against comparing oneself to others in the media and how we have been so fixated on what beauty is that we disregard how special we are. Towards the end of his talk he talks about reality tv shows and testifies that they are nothing close to the reality of our Father in Heaven and his love for us.
ReplyDeleteOne of the main focuses in both talks was about determining the importance of reality. Elder Bednar does an excellent job in warning of the dangers of the internet. He mentions how our bodies are what make us powerful and more powerful then the devil himself because he doesn't have one. The devil is retained from progressing because he cannot experience having a body. The Internet is a tool the devil uses get people minimize the importance of their bodies. People become addicted to video games, pornagraphy, or virtual realities that they limit themselves from progressing in this life. They ruin relationships with the people around them because they are more concerned about what is on the screen then what is surrounding them. I remember reading a story about a couple in Japn who just had a baby and they left their baby alone for so long while they played their virtual reality game where they took care of a fake family that the baby ended up dying from lack of care.
The article talked about how the internet is something that we can use for good or for bad. It states, "The Internet can be used to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and can just as easily be used to market the filth and sleaze of pornography." We have the choice and the agency to use the internet how we want to. The church advises to set precautions and be aware of the dangers it holds. Doing things in moderation is always a solution. I think we have the chance to use media for good in sharing the gospel and uplifting others. We just have to make the choice to.
Jeffrey R Holland’s talk you included is one that I love and frequent. When considering the influence of media on women’s self confidence, I am grateful that I have the church in my life. It has been the way I have defined my worth, and found confidence through my Father in Heaven. I would say that most, if not every, woman is aware of their appearance. I’m not saying that for every girl that this awareness is debilitating, consumes our every thought, or leads to disorders of sorts; however, we are both conditioned and naturally aware of our appearance. I don’t fully blame the media for this, as I said I believe its part of our nature, but I do think they latched on to this fact and have worsened the issue. As they make us believe that anything we have is just not enough, we find ourselves in a mind set of “well if I only had/was/did____, then I’d be happy.” These thoughts are horribly inaccurate and ultimately destructive.
ReplyDeleteLuckily “the truth will set you free,” as elder Bednar said, and the truth regarding self-worth is found in the church. I don’t believe that all media is inherently bad, it just has to be channeled correctly. The amount of goodness that has been spread through the media is incredible. As Elder Ballard said in his talk, we cannot simply sit on the sidelines in the media’s battle, and if we do they win. Ever since the church stepped up and started to make themselves heard in social media, they have found rapid success. It will always be a battle to be heard, but that doesn’t mean we should sit down. We finally have a mechanism to clear up falsities about the church, and I am personally glad the church is seizing the opportunity.
I think the way the Church talks about media is actually very helpful. Instead of focusing on the evils of it and trying to tell us why we shouldn't be a part of it, they just encourage us to be smart about what we are doing. They encourage us to be "christlike" in the way that we use social media. I think this is smart because it allows us to still be relatable to other people, while also being different.
ReplyDeleteI love Elder Holland and the way he presents things. He is knowledgeable in his abilities to give information. I think he is also very aware of what is going on in the world. I appreciate his ability to reach out and send a positive message to young women about who they truly are and where their divine nature should stem from. This is the kind of message that needs to be remembered when dealing with social media. It can be a real negative and harmful thing- Satan does this to all good things. But, at the same time the Church and the Apostles teach us that if used correctly, it can be used to positively influence the world. We can spread truth throughout the world in seconds, and like Elder Bednar said, "The truth will set you free." I love the Church's movements that they make with social media and I think they got involved at precisely the right time. It is really changing the world for the better and helping to spread the message of Christ and his church.
There will always be opposition, but we can take those oppositions and use them against Satan to spread the message of hope and love given to us by Christ. I am happy to see the Church being involved in the real world, while simultaneously being a strong example. It's a great example of how to be in the world but not of the world. I am proud to stand with them.
Even though technology was mostly viewed as a good thing among these talks, it can still be damaging if misused. I love the thought the CS Lewis gave. He spoke on restraining human tendencies. He said, “There is nothing to be ashamed of in enjoying your food: there would be everything to be ashamed of if half the world made food the main interest of their lives and spent their time looking at pictures of food and dribbling and smacking their lips.” Social media and technology is great; but if there is overuse, misuse or perversion of social media use, it can be destructive.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important thing to realize is that social media is just the channel by which good things can flow in and out of, it’s not the place to stay and park for happiness. Use it to move on, not to say. The time invested should be for the end goal of something real and tangible. The end goal of using social media shouldn’t be for the use of itself.
Like in the case of the Book of Mormon play, the church has always adapted well those trends and have made lemonade out of lemons. I love the statement of not being of the world, but still being in the world. This is the Lord requires us to do. In one of the talks it stated that “we cannot stand on the sidelines while others, including our critics, attempt to define what the Church teaches.” This is our charge. We are to spread the correct principles and doctrines of the church and spread the light of Christ. I know our Apostles appreciate this channel of communication. It helps God’s children know more in a faster way. Now, with every strength comes a weakness. Like Elder Bednar said, we need to watch ourselves in our thoughts, actions, words and deeds. I think we must be conscious as to how we use the internet. In one of the talks, it brought up a quote saying that “a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” It’s so easy to be very open and blunt because you’re not seeing the person on the other side receiving your message. In disputes of the church or politics, it can get sticky. I think this was a good warning for our modern day. God know the tendencies our human nature.
Elder Hollands talk really stood out to me. I think a lot of girls have self image issues and this is such a great talk that addresses such things. I loved how he made sure to tell all the women that you should be comfortable in your body because that is what God gave you. He spoke on how social media can put slanted views of how we "should" look or what the "correct" body image is when really, everyone is beautiful in their own way. Just because social media has made it goal to be the skinniest, the smartest or the prettiest, we shouldn't listen to the things of the world.
ReplyDeleteI think overall, the church likes social media. It is a way that information can get to all cracks of the world. Isn't it wonderful that we can sit in our houses and listen to conference on the radio, television, phone, or laptop? This weekend, portions of general conference will be translated into a total of 93 different languages according to the mormon news room. So, how could the church dislike social media. I think people can abuse anything for instance social media. If social media isn't used for the good of people and it is used for selfish, rude purposes, what good does that do to "love your neighbor?" But, social media can be used for wonderful things like spreading the word of the gospel. That is why some missions are allowed to have Facebook correct? To help find investigators and stay in contact with people you grew to love and serve on your mission. To answer the question, I think the church likes social media when it is used for appropriate, wholesomely things.
Essentially I view the church's stance on media that it can either be used for good or evil and it is our duty to not let it corrupt us. In Elder Holland's talk, he largely focuses on how media has created this "perfect" image that women, in particular, are meant to adhere to. He talks about how, we should not allow the media to shape our self-image and that we should be cautious in the type of media that we consume, i.e. that which would make us feel less than our divine selves and create a feeling of self-loathing. Both talks encourage the ability to separate the internet and media from our real lives, they caution us to not allow the fallacies and lies in the media to seep into how we view real life. we should not judge ourselves, others, and our lives based on the things that the media tells us.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that Elder Bednar talked about specifically was video games. I think that video games, and any other form of media should be approached just like any other hobby or past time activity, something that can be good, but has the potential to become addictive. As an artist wanting to go into video games, my opinions on the subject tends to differ from most. Video games have honestly and truly become a new art from, a new expression of self and story. They have become a new way for artists, writers, even musicians, to explore and share their craft. Now Elder Bednar specifically focuses on online gaming, which I believe to be ground on which one should be tread carefully. I agree with most of what he says on the subject, that it is very easy for one to focus more on their online life, rather than their real life. However; I know of many people personally, who are very shy, very introverted, who have an incredibly hard time making friends and fitting in, but in their online games, they have been able to find acceptance and genuine friends who care for them. I know that many of them meet and spend time with these friends outside of the game, the online game having served as the setting in which they met, but then they continue to grow their friendship in the real world. In my family, I often remember times when we would all gather together in one house with our extended family and play StarCraft, in what is referred to as a LAN party, and just enjoy each other's company bonding over this particular online game. For my immediate family, family time has always been watching movies, and it was my dad instilling in me his love of special effects and art that goes into movies, that has inspired me to pursue art in my own life. So I think that video games and all things media have great things to offer, but that there is a line to be drawn, with online gaming in particular, that just like any hobby or even sometimes with work, for those workaholics, there is the potential to become addicted and we have to careful to not become so engrossed in any one thing, that we neglect other aspects of our lives.
If I were to give a talk on the subject, I would focus finding balance with media. I think that in such a media saturated world, it is impossible to completely escape from it, and I don't think that is necessary to do so. The internet and the advancements in media have absolutely wonderful things to offer, but just like with everything good, bad things come with it as well.
Its very obvious through many talks given by church leaders that the church believes technology can be used for both good and evil. We are encouraged to share the gospel via social media and use technology to study more resources and do family history. We are also warned that technology can bring negative effects to us too; especially in regards to pornography, wasting time and unrealistic and negative expectations portrayed online. So I would say that as much as we are taught that technology can be good, overall the feeling that comes from the church that media in general is not so good. Elder Bednar and Elder Holland both make it very clear that the media and its addicting effects can cause us to discount the importance of physicality, and particularly the physical body. I agree with this in so many ways, yet I have found myself being a victim to it over and over and over and over again.
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager, I never saw how affected I was by the media, but I know see how I wanted to be thin or be shaped a certain way so that I would be “beautiful.” A lot of other things went into it, but overall, I have seen myself and many friends and family members get caught, stuck and trapped by wanting to be something they’re not. Until recently, I always thought most pornography—I don’t mean graphic pornographic films, but the occasional half-dressed women on billboards or internet ads—was only negative for males. I thought since I’m a female, it was fine to shop for swim suits or underclothing online and it wouldn’t effect me. Little did I know that all that time spent looking at models was destroying me—maybe differently than it might destroy a man, but it was still destroying me. I was constantly comparing myself to these women and wishing I looked more like them. Thinking back on my life about when I have felt most confident in my physical appearance, it was actually while I was serving a mission. Yes, I was doing the Lord’s work and yes, I had the spirit with me, and yes, I was set apart for a sacred calling. But it just barely occurred to me that I also was not shopping online or even going to the mall or seeing portrayals of women in the media pretty much at all and that had a huge effect on how I felt about my physical appearance. I was not comparing myself to unrealistic expectations the media pushes upon women so frequently. Now, I know I cannot have my head stuck in the Book of Mormon for the rest of my life—as nice as that would be—and especially with a career involving media, I will be bombarded by the media’s portrayal nearly every day of my life. But I also know how to be a more aware consumer of media and know what is reality versus fantasy.
The thing I got most out of Elder Holland’s talk was the idea that we wouldn’t dress or speak the way we do on media towards Christ. We wouldn’t downgrade ourselves trying to reflect the models on covers of magazines or actresses if Christ were right in front of us. I feel that women are especially pressured to act or dress a certain way as portrayed in the media.
ReplyDeleteI believe the Internet is generally a good thing. It gives us access to church books and scriptures. We can connect with the apostles and prophet more than ever before. We can share uplifting stories, quotes and messages. We can spread the gospel and share testimonies. We can look up information almost instantly. Technology and media has allowed us more access to anything on the web. The church promotes the use of technology when it’s being used for good. It’s unfortunate that the Internet is full of negative, degrading and offensive content. There are so many good things that can happen online. I believe that it’s a choice to follow and friend certain accounts where negative media is posted, just like when we choose to get offended. We have control over how media affects us, negatively or positively.
Elder Ballard points out that the Internet can be extremely dangerous. If one becomes too involved and attached to what is posted, there can be extremely negative consequences and belief that everything on the Internet is true. People can become so absorbed into the Internet that they eventually are addicted and can’t put their phones down. People feel that they have to participate or they’re missing out. As stated by apostles in the past, we should be in the world but not of the world. I think the same goes for media. We should be in media (being informed and involved and bringing good in) but not of the media (becoming obsessed with trends and fads that may not fit up to our standards, or giving up what we know to be true for the thing that is cool.)
I think it’s important to recognize that while the church advises us on many issues, in the words of Elder Bednar (from the link) he says “you know what is right is wrong. You have the individual responsibility to learn for yourself by study and also by faith the things you should do and not do, and the doctrinal reasons why you should or should not do those things.” One example I like is how the church has taught the Word of Wisdom to the members of the church. They have given us sufficient knowledge on the subject and given us room to use our agency. For example, (this is kind of extreme, but hopefully it gets my point across) the church does not come out with a monthly calendar with each meal we need to eat on that day. Something like that may help, but we have been given agency to choose. In the same way, the church advises us on what types of things we should avoid (excessive video games, wasting time on chatting or excessive social media use, etc.) but they do not tell us EXACTLY what things we need to avoid or what schedule we should follow. We have the ability to make choices about how we use our media, and even have the responsibility to be stewards over our own minds and bodies – weeding out the things that will hurt it, and taking advantage of technologies that will help us progress.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the main messages is just to be careful. Woven within the fabric of technology is the webbing of the adversary, who works anonymously and in the dark. Just as technology has an amazing capacity for good, it has the potential to be extremely destructive for individuals and families. I like the quote by Elder Bednar that states, “Lucifer will encourage you to misuse and minimize the importance of your physical body, he will attempt to substitute the monotony of virtual repetition for the infinite variety of God’s creations, and convince us we are merely mortal things to be acted upon instead of eternal souls blessed with moral agency to act for ourselves.” Technology ties closely to our physical and mental capacities and responsibilities. In other words, it has a direct effect on us both physically and spiritually, therefore, we need to treat it with great caution.
Recently, the church has really started to promote the usage of social media for good. Two weeks ago, I was so excited when the church announced that it had its own Snapchat account. It is great to be able to follow church media on sites that I look at throughout the day. It uplifts and leaves a feeling of happiness.
ReplyDeleteWith every good thing, there is an equivalent option for evil. Although I do not always like this concept, it allows us to act and use our agency. With agency, we can choose for ourselves how we want to use media. It is important to not take in the negative side of media into our lives. There is so much temptation to feel bad about ourselves or to not have a good image of our lives due to media. It is important to not do these things on our personal media accounts for other people. I know that I love posting pictures of the temple and adding captions with scriptures. These experiences have given me the opportunity to share the gospel with my friends who are not members of the church.
Sunday schools have improved substantially from using these media outlets. I think it allows for the doctrine to be shown without teachers adding their personal opinions to every gospel point. I am able to understand Christ's life through clips and gain a testimony of what he experienced.
Bednar's talk, though listened to before, really rang true this time around. The exhortation to live and confront REALITY, really just spoke to me as an invitation for a higher degree of freedom. As I consider who God is to me, I think of a god who has perfect and ultimate freedom and agency. I will discuss why I believe this is the case, in the paragraph below.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to teach a sunday school lesson, (which I basically am already doing haha), I would focus on the following three points:
1. It seems to me, that things around us aren’t necessarily fake, but slightly to majorly DISTORTED (hence the feelings of confusion we get from a spiritual dissonance with what is being seen and what is real) Consider a room of darkness. Though real objects can be seen or felt to some degree, the only way to really see what they look like is through light. In light, things are shown “how they really are.” God, who is light, and is surrounded by light, also has a perfect view of what Joseph Smith called "the darkest abyss” I think C.S. Lewis put it best: “You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down…. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness — they have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means — the only complete realist.” With the gospel light, we are able to see, and from there cut through the distortions appearing all around us, and like Christ, and with his help, see things as they really are.
2. Balance: I feel the way I can usually tell in my mind if something is true, is when it is balanced. I feel Holland did an amazing job at this. When speaking about body image, and the way our world and media has distorted our thoughts about it, Holland struck the middle chord, by emphasizing the importance of HEALTH. That on one side of the spectrum, there is the world’s emphasis of being a certain size or look, etc. On the other side, and equally harmful, is the idea that we don’t need to take care of our bodies, and can put them in second or last priority. Truth is right in the middle, seeing [our bodies] as they REALLY are- incredible gifts and tools from God that must not be worshipped, nor ignored.
In my opinion, a good way to sum up the Brethren’s council regarding media usage, is to keep it BALANCED, and to stay in the light. Be proud of the way you use media at all times. They aren’t saying don’t use it, and they aren’t saying use it all the time. Rather they exhort us to balance our usage, and use it for good.
3. “Agency” and “freedom”, but not "free agency”
A man who tries to run a marathon without any training, or hard work and dedication, does NOT have the same freedom to run fast or slow, like the man who did put in the effort. He only has one choice- to go slow. In the same way, we cannot expect to have freedom, if we continue to give it up to the numbing/stimulating sources that the world offers (specifically addiction of any size or type to media, sex, food, drugs/alcohol, tv, etc).
to be acted upon- I like what Philip Harrison said in a book I've been reading, "[love, happiness, humility, enjoyment, etc] is not something that just happens to us, or a destination at which we can arrive. [It] is a choice. It is not something we have, it is something we do. It is the decision we make to..."
To act- As mentioned above, these craved feelings of love, connection, excitement, etc. not only imply responsibility, but also FREEDOM. It means I can see things as they really are, both good and bad, and then make my choice.
To end my freakishly long epistle, I LOVED what Bednar says at the end of his talk, which basically says the following: “Embracing the savior and being wrapped in his arms in the last day, will be a REAL experience, not a virtual one.”
I loved listening to Elder Holland’s talk, specifically as he refers to reality television. He focuses on how media can cause insecurities by excessive comparison. It can defeat the self-esteem of people who are looking to the media as reality. Elder Holland doesn’t necessarily criticize media, but how media is interpreted by us. We must be extremely careful to take media for its lower level entertainment value and not as a representation of real life.
ReplyDeleteElder Bednar was more explicit in his description and caution. He outlines how technology, media, and social platforms can create fictional worlds that are dangerous for people to be in. He explains how excessive media and video games can have degrading and evil purposes. This seems as a common thread from the general authorities for years as the caution has been on pornography and other harmful media. The church uses media to spread the gospel almost literally to all the world. Elder Bednar further notes that we should focus on media that invites the spirit and that encourages us to love and serve.
I’ve actually had the opportunity to teach this principle to a church audience. It’s amazing the different perspectives that people have on what media is appropriate. My message has always been one of moderation. In an age of binge watching Netflix and “The church of the NFL”, it’s important to remember where our priorities are. If any type of social networking or media is taking precedence of our familial or religious responsibilities, it can have a drastic effect on relationships. Not only is it extremely important to choose the appropriate media itself, but also the time invested in it.
Before getting to deep into this topic, I would just like to point out that the Church has always adapted quickly and effectively to new technologies and media and I think that's pretty amazing. We are present all over the Internet and know how to advertise ourselves tastefully, whether it's by sending missionaries to wait outside the theater doors to catch people coming out of the Book of Mormon musical, or by creating an entire campaign of Mormon messages and spots to appear on YouTube and all over the Internet. The leaders of the church have always told us to use technology and media with purposeful moderation, and I think this is very fair considering that too much of just about anything can be a bad thing. But that doesn't mean we can't use it. In fact, the leaders of the church have encouraged us to use LDS online presence for good, and this has bled over into Mormons being talked about more in media overall. Whether these discussions are good or bad, they're gaining momentum and causing society's interest in the LDS church to increase.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Elder Holland's discussion of media's effect on young women. This is something that we've been discussing in a special topics class I'm taking this semester called women in film. It's not a secret that the media is pretty awful towards women, and objectification and sexualization of women's bodies overrules any attention given to women who are successful for other reasons than physical attractiveness. This treatment of 50% of the world's population leaves little room for girls to grow up with role models really deserving of idolization. Indeed, this phenomenon affects men too - women portrayed as important only when they're beautiful is a damaging mindset to be forced into from a young age, but it happens all the time. Elder Holland addressed this really tastefully in his talk, saying that what should determine a women's worth is not physical - it's her personality, her thoughts, her achievements, and her temperament. I loved the quote he featured from the woman who worked with models as a career, and how the women she enjoyed being around were kindhearted and had good worth ethic, etc. - things that have nothing to do with clothing size. Elder Holland's words on this topic are just one of many examples of the Church addressing the pressing issues that modern media presents.
I think the church really understands media to be a tool. In this I mean, a tool is a device absent of its own will, but one that amplifies the effects of its user’s intentions. Someone using a tool can employ it for both good and harmful effects and because of this, I think when the Church is warning us about media, they are really warning us about ourselves and our intentions, and trying to remove the scapegoat we might use to blame our problems on. I think a point that both Elder Holland and Bednar approached was our ability to remove ourselves from reality and get caught up in a media affect, instead of regarding things as how they are. The effect of this is a negative one where we continue to pour our attention into matters of vanity, and the reason for that is because that’s what is in our heart and that is what these tools have allowed us to leverage. But the church does not think negatively about media either, as it has employed social media and many forms of communication technology in order spread its message.
ReplyDeleteContinuing in the same vain, I think the idea behind what is and isn’t appropriate media use continues as a reflection of the problems in ourselves. The elders warn about image-obsessed interactions and problem of pornography, and when they do this they put the power of information technology on the front line of the discussion. But when we turn on our computers they don’t make us waste time on Facebook, we choose to do that ourselves. Because of this, there’s a bit of a child-gloves approach where they realize we are interested in shifting the blame of our problems onto other things, and because we aren’t always willing to be honest with ourselves, they put a lot of emphasis on trying to change our perspective on how we see technology, rather than pointing all the attention on us. The message that I think comes out of it is “if you can’t easily change your heart away from the superficial, and if the use of these technologies is a necessity of function in our modern age, then what we need to do is caution ourselves and understand just how dangerous our intentions can be when magnified by such an effective tool.” I think the warnings on media are indeed, much like the warnings on many other things. We are asked to choose uplifting entertainment so as to try to magnify those qualities within ourselves, rather than magnify negative qualities through negative media. We are asked to manage who we choose as friends so that these friends don’t bring out the worst in ourselves, but rather coax the best within us to come forward. All of the warnings of the church about the outside elements we take in, are warning truly pointed at our own hearts. We need to be careful about ourselves, but because we are human and prone to error, our best bet may be to try as much as possible to magnify what’s good rather than what is bad.
I absolutely love the talk by Elder Bednar called "Sweep the Earth as with a Flood." This talk has been part of my inspiration for why I am studying communications. In the talk he invites us to "sweep the earth as with a flood" with good and positive messages on the internet.
ReplyDeleteThe internet can be a tool for good or evil, it just depends on what we choose to do with it. The brethren have warned us against using it for evil, but in turn welcomes us to use the internet to share the Gospel.
I believe the internet is just another opportunity God has given us to share the Gospel. As the work of the Lord has been hastening, the internet is a great way to get a message to a wide range of people. For example, missionaries teach through Facebook, Mormon messages are available right at our finger tips, and Mormon.org is a good source for anyone to go to who is curious about who we are.
The brethren have been a very influential part as I strive to use the internet as a tool to promote good in the world. I am very careful about the messages I put out in social media. I want my identity on the internet to be the same as it is off of the internet. I am grateful for the counsel we have received from them and I hope to use the internet the way that the Lord wants me to.
I remember watching the YSA fireside with elder cook and his wife a few weeks ago. At the end his talk he spoke about media and technology. He talked about how it is a God given gift. One thing that I took from it specifically was elder cook said its more important to be Christ like on media then “real and genuine”. We should genuinely be Christ like on social media. I really liked that.
ReplyDeleteElder Holland talked about young women and how precious they are. I feel like he was referring to how girls get so caught up in what is portrayed in media about how they should look and feel about themselves. He talked about seeing yourself as a daughter of god and loving who you are. He said to be confident in you.
Holland ended by speaking of reality. Reality is not what you seen on your screen and what the media puts out there for you to see. Holland said reality is the gospel of Jesus Christ and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet.