LDS Teachings
Watch the following
clips:
Read the following
articles:
“Protecting the family: Mormon teachings about the mass
media” (through online course reserve)
Thoughts and
reflections:
The article, “Protecting the family: Mormon teachings about
the mass media,” suggests the Church has used three particular strategies to
instruct, warn, and counsel members about the media. These include: 1)
discouraging the viewing or reading of certain types or genre of media (e.g.
soap operas, etc.), 2) using General conference to warn about certain types of
media effects, and 3) presenting specific guidelines for media use (what
content to avoid, how to use social media, etc.).
I want back about your experiences growing up. How did your
parents or guardians incorporate these strategies into their own instruction to
you? Did you have family conversations about media and what was the nature of
these conversations?
I think the Brethren have given some powerful instruction
from the pulpit. I’ve included two of my favorite talks in this assignment. One
is a 2005 conference talk from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. It is addressed to the
sisters of the Church (but the men can learn a great deal from this as well)
and points out how the media can impact the sisters’ self-concept. He gives
counsel and a warning. Watch the clip:
Here’s one of my favorite quotes from the talk (“To Young
Women,” October 2005 General Conference):
“Frankly, the world
has been brutal with you in this regard. You are bombarded in movies,
television, fashion magazines, and advertisements with the message that looks
are everything! The pitch is, ‘If your looks are good enough, your life will be
glamorous and you will be happy and popular.’ That kind of pressure is immense
in the teenage years, to say nothing of later womanhood. In too many cases too
much is being done to the human body to meet just such a fictional (to say
nothing of superficial) standard….I see women [including young
women] . . . pulling this up and tucking that back. It’s
like a slippery slope. [You can't get off of it.] . . . It’s
really insane . . . what society is doing to women."
I would love to hear the sisters’ reaction to this talk and
quote. More importantly, I wonder what you might want the brethren in the class
to understand and take away from this talk as well. Here’s a chance for you to
teach.
Next, I’ve included the wonder CES talk by Elder Bednar,
“Things as they really are.” Please watch the clip:
Next, read the talk from Elder Ballard on how to use social
media to spread the Gospel:
Now, I want you think deeply about these messages and
address some of the following questions. Are the media inherently evil? Can
they be used for both good and bad? How do we find a balance in our lives? Is
it an issue of content? Control? Access? Time management or time waste? Think
deeply before responding. What are the important things that you take away from
these clips and readings?
Today’s Blog
Please watch and view the clips and readings for the
assignment (from “LDS Teachings”). 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? This weekend is general
conference. Please watch conference and listen to any references to media or
social media (these could be direct or indirect references). Please summarize
them. How do we use our agency to respond and learn here?
Finally, if you were asked to teach a Sunday School/Relief Society/Priesthood
lesson the media, what would you teach? What key points or principles would you
try to convey?
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