Elder Ballard Told Graduates To "use The Internet"

[Heather]

Today Elder Ballard spoke at BYU Hawaii and told graduates to "use the Internet -- including blogs and other forms of 'new media' -- to contribute to a national conversation about the Church."

Church leaders "can't answer every question, satisfy every inquiry and respond to every inaccuracy that exists."

"Students should consider sharing their views on blogs, responding to online news reports and using the 'new media' in other ways."

He mentions blogging, podcasts, and social networking including Facebook.

He gives the example of a blogger who does missionary work every day and talks about it on his blog. He talks about members who have "recorded and posted their testimonies of the Restoration, the teachings of the Book of Mormon, and other gospel subjects on popular video-sharing sites."

He said we should share our stories with non-members and use "words that they will understand." Sound familiar? :)

"Now, to you who are graduating today, along with the other students at this wonderful university, may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet, particularly the New Media, to share

the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration. Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you

know to be true. You can download videos from Church and other appropriate sites, including Newsroom at LDS.org, and send them to your friends. You can write to media sites on the Internet that report on the Church, and voice your views as to the accuracy of the reports. "

Elder Ballard's Talk

[Moksha]

I would imagine these young Mormons may begin this challenge by issuing some strong exhortations on My Space and perhaps Zwinky. Who knows, maybe they will eventually find forums as MAD, LDSTalk and Beliefnet.

[a-train]

See, I knew I was inspired to come to this forum!

-a-train

[Palerider]

See, I knew I was inspired to come to this forum!

-a-train

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....we are on the cutting edge

[pam]

Kind of different point of view compared to a few years ago where it was said the internet was a pool of iniquity.

It's not the internet that is bad...it's the people behind the computer screens in a lot of cases.

[a-train]

We had a GA describe the internet as a pool of iniquity?

-a-train

[Heather]

I think a lot of people interpreted the Brethren telling us that Wards and Stakes should not be running their own websites, as an all encompassing admonishment that "the Internet is bad." That definitely was an action the Brethren needed to take, as people were posting pictures and contact information for their Wards on websites with no security. We all know about evil that is on the Internet, yet if used wisely, the Internet can be a great place for building knowledge and developing friendships.

I really liked that Elder Ballard said to use terms that friends of other faiths would know, such as the word "Mormon." We all know that it's not the correct name for our faith, but is a word that we are known by. In Alma Chapter 18, King Lamoni uses the term "Great Spirit." Ammon teaches King Lamoni by using King Lamoni's terms, and then teaching him the correct name.

26 And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a aGreat Spirit?

27 And he said, Yea.

28 And Ammon said: This is God.

I like that the Church has taken the led on reaching others on terms they would be more familiar with by developing http://www.mormons.org

[Canuck Mormon]

Using the Internet is a great way to get information out there. That's why a lot of "anti" groups use it. My personal internet use has to have increased 10 fold in the past few years. It's good to see that church leaders are recognising this and encouraging people to use it.

[Moksha]

I think a lot of people interpreted the Brethren telling us that Wards and Stakes should not be running their own websites, as an all encompassing admonishment that "the Internet is bad." That definitely was an action the Brethren needed to take, as people were posting pictures and contact information for their Wards on websites with no security. We all know about evil that is on the Internet, yet if used wisely, the Internet can be a great place for building knowledge and developing friendships.

A well designed ward website might actually attract potential members.

[Canuck Mormon]

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I think a lot of people interpreted the Brethren telling us that Wards and Stakes should not be running their own websites, as an all encompassing admonishment that "the Internet is bad." That definitely was an action the Brethren needed to take, as people were posting pictures and contact information for their Wards on websites with no security. We all know about evil that is on the Internet, yet if used wisely, the Internet can be a great place for building knowledge and developing friendships.

A well designed ward website might actually attract potential members.

You can find your ward website through lds.org

Non-members can find what ward they would attend at mormon.org.

Why duplicate sites?

[Heather]

I agree that well designed Church oriented websites would attract visitors, and be a great thing to have on the internet, but I think that Ward information should be done through the Church websites.