As I was pa rousing around on Twitter this morning, I found this lovely gem that was re-tweeted by @LDSchurch: "Owning a Smartphone Does Not Make You Smart, but Using It Wisely Can."
In Brother Randall L. Ridd's April 2014 General Conference talk (Priesthood session) entitled, "The Choice Generation," he offers four principles to help us - "the choice generation" - educate our desires and guide our use of technology. How perfect of a topic is this for SFL 358: Media, Family, and Human Development?
Do we understand and know who we are? Do we know that we are "valiant and influential [we are] in persuading others to follow Christ? I remember my mother admonishing me each day as I left for school: "Remember who you are!" Why is it important to know who we are in regards to using social media? Brother Bird gives this answer: As you have the Spirit with you, you will be inspired "to make correct choices as you use the Internet and throughout your life."
Principle number two:
How long do we go before we recharge our cellphones/laptops/tablets/etc? Do they work properly when we don't recharge them? Why, then, do we allow ourselves to not charge ourselves (spiritually and physically)? Brother Ridd says this about charging our phones - and ourselves!: "Every time you plug in your phone, use it as a reminder to ask yourself if you have plugged in to the most important source of spiritual power...Many of us immediately stop whatever we are doing to read a text message—should we not place even more importance on messages from the Lord? Neglecting to connect to this power should be unthinkable to us." If we neglect to charge our electronic devices, they become useless to us; have we ever thought about charging (or not charging) our testimonies??
Principle number three:Remember this quote from the beginning?! How often do we do dumb things with our phones or other electronic devices? Do we ever waste time? Or aimlessly pa rouse just for "something to do?" Technology can be a major distraction in our lives, and take us away from what is of most importance. This is another gem of a quote used in this talk: "Be where you are when you are there." In what ways have you been (or might this be) difficult to do? Is it really too demanding for us to give our full attention to a class, driving, or a friend? Our brains were not made to multitask. How can we better manage our multitasking, and focus on things that matter most? for heaven's sake - just because we own a smartphone does not mean we are smart! Do you think that technology is creating more multiasker's? If so, in what ways? "Smart" devices cannot make our brains do what they were not created to do, but is there a way to stop this trend in society?
Principle number four:I kind of blogged about this earlier, so I won't spend much time with this. "The divine purpose of technology is to hasten the work of salvation." We know how to use the technology, so why don't we always (or ever) use it for its intended purpose? Have you ever thought about how much of an influence we have via the Internet and social media? I don't usually, because I get distracted with apps, and games, and "communicating" with my "friends."
The point is - we are chosen! We are chosen to help in this great work. The Lord trusts us; but He doesn't just trust, "He trusts you to make the right choices." We are choice, and we must therefore act that way. As my grandmother always said, "Actions speak louder than words." So what are we really doing on the Internet and with social media?
Challenge: Read this talk (even though it is summarized in detail here)! Also, read other messages from The Friend, New Era, or Ensign magazines, or share a message about media every day! We all could use some uplifting, so why not jump on the #MediaService bandwagon?
Oh, and here is the link for the talk I referenced if you are interested in watching, listening, or reading it: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-choice-generation?lang=eng
Wow! First off - your blog is really cute! Second, loved this post. I loved the phrase "Smartphones don't make you smart." That is the truth. I have a roommate who does not have one and sometimes she will make comments about them. And really...seeing her with her phone and the rest of my roommates and I with our phones...we all waste a lot of time. I also loved the phrase, "Be where you are when you are there." It is so true. So much of the time, we check out of the presence to live in "cyber space" or whatever you want to call it. And thank you for the reminder of this weekend - in my stake conference we talked about the same thing - how the purpose of technology is to hasten the work of salvation! So true! I had never thought about it until this weekend...and than forget. So thank you for the reminder! We must use it! Sorry this was long, but thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you, Kristi!! Read my first blog and you will see that it took FOREVER for me to figure out..
DeleteAnd thanks again! I am glad you enjoyed this one; I won't lie, I had fun writing it.
Isn't it mind boggling how attached to our devices we are? I notice it with myself recently, and probably because of this whole media blog thing. But we really need to re-train ourselves on how to actually be with people, or be where we are when we are there. Crazy how the world has changed how we interact (or don't) with those around us!
Thank you for your comments!!
Thank you so much for sharing! This is such a great talk, and such a great blog post about this talk. It is good for all of us to evaluate how we use our smart phones. We should turn our main smart phone use into sharing the gospel with others!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, and thank YOU for your comment, Kristiann. It is crazy to look at media and technological devices and see the positives and negatives they provide. So how will we choose to use them??
DeleteLove this! I don't have a smart phone yet, but I hope to get one in the next six months. This is a good reminder of how I will need to use it wisely.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shaundi! Be careful when you jump on the Smartphone bandwagon! It is a crazy ride, but don't let it become who you are. Some of us just get too caught up with all that Smart-devices provide, but we need to not become consumed by them or lost without them.
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