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Share More Gospel Messages on Social Media, Elder Bednar Says

Contributed By By Sarah Jane Weaver, Church building News associate editor

Article Highlights

• Innovations and inventions such equally social media have enabled and accelerated the work of salvation.
• Members should appropriately apply these powerful tools to alluvion the world with gospel letters of truth.

"I exhort y'all to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy
—and literally to sweep the globe as with a inundation." —Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve

PROVO, UTAH

During his address at the BYU Didactics Calendar week devotional on August xix, Elderberry David A. Bednar urged Church building members to inundation the world with gospel messages of truth.

[View or read "To Sweep the Earth as with a Overflowing"]

"What has been accomplished thus far in this dispensation communicating gospel messages through social media channels is a expert beginning—but merely a small trickle," said Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. "I now extend to you lot the invitation to assist transform the trickle into a flood. Beginning at this identify on this day, I exhort y'all to sweep the world with messages filled with righteousness and truth—letters that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the globe every bit with a flood."

Elder Bednar discussed various technologies in the modernistic world and focused on three related topics: "One, the unique season in the history of the globe in which we live, even 'the dispensation of the fulness of times'; two, the inspired technological and communication innovations that have come up forth in this decisive dispensation; and three, how nosotros appropriately employ these powerful tools to advance the piece of work of conservancy in all of the world."

"The impunity of the fulness of times"

Elderberry Bednar stated that Church building members today live in a "truly distinctive" dispensation.

The Campaigner Paul declared in Ephesians i:x, "In the dispensation of the fulness of times [God will] gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; fifty-fifty in him."

Elder Bednar affirmed Latter-day Saints today are blessed to alive, learn, and serve in this dispensation.

"An important attribute of the fulness that is available to u.s. in this special season is a miraculous progression of innovations and inventions that take enabled and accelerated the work of salvation: from trains to telegraphs to radios to automobiles to airplanes to telephones to transistors to televisions to computers to satellite transmissions to the Cyberspace—and to an almost endless list of technologies and tools that bless our lives," he said. "All of these advancements are function of the Lord hastening His work in the latter days."

Elderberry David A. Bednar speaks during the annual Campus Educational activity Week at the Marriott Center at BYU, Tuesday, August 19, 2014. Photo past Michelle Tessier, Deseret News.

Messages and pictures that used to require days, weeks, and months to transport and receive at present tin can be communicated around the world in seconds, stated Elderberry Bednar.

"Nosotros thank thee, O God, for the prophets who accept taught and prepared u.s.a. for the fourth dimension in which nosotros live—and who have urged u.s. to use technological advancements to support the ongoing mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Approximately forty percentage of the Church building'south worldwide missionary force soon will be using digital devices as tools in the work of conversion, retention, and activation, he explained. "I am confident all of usa also recognize how applied science has accelerated family unit history and temple work, our private and family written report of the restored gospel, and fabricated it possible for us to learn about, see, and experience the world in remarkable ways," he said.

Social media

Applied science known as social media is evolving in and playing an increasingly important office in hastening the piece of work of salvation, Elder Bednar declared, noting that the term "social media" refers to various channels of Internet and mobile-based communication that are used to create digital communities wherein information, ideas, personal messages, and other content is shared.

Elder David A. Bednar speaks during the annual Campus Education Week at the Marriott Eye at Brigham Young University, Tuesday, August 19, 2014. Photo by Michelle Tessier, Deseret News.

Speaking of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest—and other such channels used past tens of millions of people—Elderberry Bednar said it is no coincidence that these powerful communication innovations and inventions are occurring in the impunity of the fulness of times. "Social media channels are global tools that can personally and positively impact large numbers of individuals and families," he best-selling. "And I believe the time has come up for the states as disciples of Christ to apply these inspired tools appropriately and much more than finer to testify of God the Eternal Father and His plan of happiness for His children, of His Son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior of the world, to proclaim the reality of the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days, and to accomplish the Lord's work."

Elderberry David A. Bednar speaks about the importance of social media during the almanac Campus Educational activity Calendar week at the Marriott Center at BYU, Tuesday, August 19, 2014. Photo by Michelle Tessier, Deseret News.

Elder Bednar shared several examples of gospel messages and images that accept been created by the Church building and by its members and communicated to the world through social media, including the Church building's Easter message "Considering of Him," the Church-sponsored social media effort "Did Y'all Remember To Pray" that led to some forty,000 conversations about the need for prayer, the Instagram endeavor "Book of Mormon 365," and General Authority social media accounts.

"Y'all also may have noticed that some of the Brethren now take their own Twitter accounts, including Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and me," Elder Bednar pointed out. "Additional members of the Twelve may be active on Twitter in the near future. All of the Brethren besides have their own Facebook pages on which they communicate important gospel messages.

Elder David A. Bednar shows the trailer from Meet the Mormons, a movie the Church is releasing afterward conference. The movie is one way members can share their beliefs. Photo by Michelle Tessier, Deseret News.

"Social media are helping the leaders and members of the restored Church to fulfill the Lord'southward mandate to 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature' (Mark 16:15)."

Meet the Mormons

Elderberry Bednar shared a terminal example of gospel content that can be shared through social media channels—the Church building'southward new film titled Come across the Mormons. [View the trailer.]

Elder David A. Bednar shares 1 of his own tweets during the annual Campus Education Week at the Marriott Center at BYU, Tuesday, Baronial 19, 2014. Photograph by Michelle Tessier, Deseret News.

"A few years agone, the Starting time Presidency approved the production of a feature-length movie to assist those not of our faith improve understand Latter-day Saints every bit a people," he said, noting the film was originally scheduled to exist shown in the Legacy Theater in Salt Lake City and in visitors' centers effectually the world. "Nonetheless, with the growth of the social media technologies nosotros accept discussed today, we realized that worldwide distribution of the moving-picture show was now possible through various digital channels."

Elder Bednar explained that Meet the Mormons addresses common misperceptions nigh LDS beliefs and highlights the blessings that come from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. The motion-picture show will exist released later on October general conference in several media and channels—first in select theaters in the United states and afterwards in visitors' centers and on television, Net moving picture channels, and social media channels.

Social media guidelines

Elderberry Bednar outlined several basic guidelines that should be followed as Latter-day Saints use social media to convey gospel messages.

Elder David A. Bednar speaks nearly the importance of social media during the annual Campus Education Week at the Marriott Center at BYU, Tuesday, August 19, 2014. Photograph past Michelle Tessier, Deseret News.

one. Exist authentic and consistent. "A person or production that is not accurate is false, fake, and fraudulent. Our messages should be true, honest, and accurate. We should non exaggerate, embellish, or pretend to exist someone or something we are non. Our content should be trustworthy and constructive."

Authenticity is strengthened through consistency, he emphasized. "The gospel messages you lot share volition be accepted more readily if your Christlike example is evident in the ongoing blueprint of your posts."

2. Edify and uplift. "Nosotros and our messages should seek to edify and uplift rather than argue, debate, condemn, or belittle," Elder Bednar explained.

Share the gospel with 18-carat love and business organization for others, he added. "Exist bold but not overbearing in sustaining and defending our behavior, and avert contention. As disciples our purpose should exist to use social media channels as a ways of projecting the light and truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ into a world that increasingly is dark and confused."

iii. Respect intellectual property. "We and our messages should respect the property of other people and organizations," he said. "This simply means that y'all should not create your own content using someone else's art, name, photos, music,  video, or other content without permission."

To assist members in creating uplifting gospel messages, Church leaders announced that the content in the Media Library on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, unless otherwise indicated, has been cleared for use by members without seeking permission from the Church, he explained. Even so, he emphasized members are not to apply the Church logo or otherwise advise that they are speaking for or on behalf of the Church building when they share letters online.

4. Be wise and vigilant. "Nosotros should call up that the Internet never forgets," Elder Bednar cautioned. "Anything y'all communicate through a social media channel indeed will live forever—fifty-fifty if the app or program may promise otherwise. Only say it or mail information technology if you lot desire the unabridged world to accept access to your message or picture for all fourth dimension. Be wise and vigilant in protecting yourself and those you love."

Elder Bednar said following these elementary guidelines volition enable members of the Church around the world to create and share gospel letters that will crusade the calorie-free to "polish forth out of darkness" (Mormon 8:16).

He also warned the congregation, "As well much time can exist wasted, likewise many relationships can exist harmed or destroyed, and precious patterns of righteousness can be disrupted when technology is used improperly. Nosotros should non allow even skillful applications of social media to overrule the ameliorate and best uses of our time, energy, and resources."

Sweep the earth

Michele Scott listens during the annual Campus Instruction Calendar week at the Marriott Eye at BYU, Tuesday, Aug. nineteen, 2014. Photo by Michelle Tessier, Deseret News.

Equally Elder Bednar invited members to "sweep the earth" equally with a flood with messages filled with righteousness and truth, he also asked that members "non only participate in a flash flood that rises swiftly and then recedes but as rapidly. I am non suggesting a one-fourth dimension glitzy initiative from which we quickly move on to the next task on our lengthy list of gospel things to do. We need not go social media experts or fanatics. And we do not demand to spend inordinate amounts of time creating and disseminating elaborate messages."

Quoting Elder Thousand. Russell Ballard, Elder Bednar said digital technologies should be servants and not masters. Elder Bednar then explained:

"According to our desires and circumstances, each of us can contribute consistently to the growing overflowing of truth and righteousness. …

"Endeavour to imagine the touch on nosotros can accept as hundreds of thousands and millions of members of the Lord'due south restored Church contribute in seemingly small ways to the rising floodwaters. May our many pocket-size, private efforts produce a rainfall of righteousness and truth that gradually swells a multitude of streams and rivers—and ultimately becomes a alluvion that sweeps the earth."

In endmost, Elder Bednar evoked a blessing that "you lot may come to understand more fully the spiritual significance and blessing of living in the dispensation of the fulness of times, that you may have eyes to see clearly both the possibilities and the pitfalls of the remarkable technologies that are bachelor to united states today, that you lot may increase in your chapters to use these inspired tools appropriately, and that y'all may receive the inspiration and guidance yous should virtually the role you play in helping to sweep the globe every bit with a flood of truth and righteousness."

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Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/share-more-gospel-messages-on-social-media-elder-bednar-says?lang=eng