General Conference Preparation #5

 

For more than a decade, Church leaders have counseled us to use the Internet to share the gospel. The first talk I remember having an impact on me was given by Elder Ballard at the BYU-H commencement in December 2006.
“[M]ay I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet to share the gospel and explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration. … Talk honestly and sincerely about the impact the gospel has had in your life, about how it has helped you overcome weakness or challenges and helped define your values. The audiences for these … may often be small, but the cumulative effect of thousands of such stories can be great. The combined effort is certainly worth the outcome if but a few are influenced by your words of faith and love of God and His Son, Jesus Christ.” (M. Russell Ballard, "Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet")
Elder Bednar’s talk during the 2014 Education Week shifted things even further for me:
“A technology known as social media is evolving in our day and playing an increasingly important role in hastening the work of salvation. … I believe the time has come for us as disciples of Christ to use these inspired tools. …
“As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I invoke this blessing upon you: … that you may increase in your capacity to use these inspired tools appropriately, and that you may receive inspiration and guidance about the role you should play in helping to sweep the earth as with a flood of truth and righteousness. As you press forward in this holy work, I promise you will be blessed in mortality in the individual, specific, and necessary ways that will prepare you for eternity.” (David A. Bednar, "Sweep the Earth as with a Flood")
We have been encouraged to use our social media accounts to invite others to participate in General Conference with us. In addition to viewing Conference, we are encouraged to participate via social media through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, blogs, and any other social media platform we use by using the recommended hashtags, memes, short videos, and by sharing a simple truth from conference and explaining why it makes us happy. There are so many different ways to use these “inspired tools” as we participate in conference. How are you going to use social media to help “sweep the earth with a flood of truth and righteousness” this weekend?

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