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After a long day of work, Yale Layton was exhausted and stressed. But he didn’t take a rest right away. Instead, he turned on his computer and started writing an entry for his blog.
“I like to write about things I see and give updates on my life through my blog,” said Layton who is currently working as a law extern in Hong Kong where he served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints five years ago. “It is a good way to keep in touch with friends and family, while at the same time allowing me to share experiences with them.”
Returning to Hong Kong brought back Layton’s pleasant mission experiences which were expressed in his recent blog entries. Not only did that allow others a glimpse into his life, but his testimony of the gospel is also shared among those readers who aren’t members of the Church.
This is exactly what Elder M. Russell Ballard wants us to do when using the Internet:
“Far too many people have a poor understanding of the Church because most of the information they hear about us is from news media reports that are often driven by controversies,” he said. “With new technological tools, you can further the work of the Lord by joining the ongoing conversation about the Church” (Ensign, July 2008, 58–63).
Unlike the traditional printing press which was mostly dominated by the government and journalists, the modern media allows every one to express their social and political commentary through the Internet. Elder Ballard said as Latter-day Saints, we can make a difference for the Church by using these tools to let our voices be heard. Here are some suggestions to share the gospel online:
-Create your own blog, or comment on other blogs that are of interest to you.
-Share your perspective in the “comments” section of online news stories about the Church.
-Create videos that illustrate aspects of your membership in the Church and post them on video sharing sites like YouTube.
-Share materials from Church Web sites by email and on the Internet. There are also things to avoid and to be kept in mind:
- You’re speaking as an individual member of the Church, sharing personal perspectives. Don’t leave an impression that you are speaking officially for the Church. It’s your own experiences that will be insightful and interesting.
- Remember that “a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). It almost never helps to argue or contend with others regarding your beliefs or to become defensive or belligerent. Just share your stories in a kind and gentle way, remembering that not everyone will agree with what you say—and that’s okay. Remember to respect others and their opinions.
- Be friendly and polite, even if you comment anonymously. Act like you would if you were talking to your next door neighbor. How you comment may be just as important as what you say.
- What helps the most are thoughtful and measured voices that explain the Church and what it’s like to be a member.
- Be relevant. Discuss the gospel where it’s the topic of conversation. Be cautious about trying to force a conversation about gospel topics.
- Everything you say or write could be on the Internet forever. Remember you’re always on the record.
July 23, 2008 |
