“The Internet is a new source of information that offers tremendous opportunities as well as another potential—becoming addicted. … Worldly influences enter our homes in new shapes and forms to challenge our resolve to use our time wisely and for the Lord’s purposes.”
Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “A Year of Jubilee,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 76.
I have realized that I spend WAY too much time on the computer...email, facebook, surfing the web... Then a talk by Elder David A. Bednar has been in the back of my mind for the last few weeks. It is entitled
"Things as They Really Are." He talks about the harmful and potential spiritually deadening uses of the internet, video games, online gaming, texting (though texting is not the internet, it can still have the same effects if we allow it to take up much of our time and take us away from things that are important...harmful media, pictures and messages can be sent via text just as easily as they can be via email), etc. He gives apostolic warning if we misuse these things or do not turn away from them. Then, the next Sunday at church, our high councilman talked about the Atonement and challenged us to look at our lives and get rid of anything that prohibits the Spirit from always being with us. The question that comes to my mind after spending a large portion of my time on facebook, email, or texting has been, "how much could have gotten done if I hadn't had my butt on the couch chatting and surfing?" I think the internet can be used for productive and useful means, however, I know it can also make us apathetic, lazy, and addicted if we allow it to take up our time from things that should take priority, such as family time, putting our homes in order, reading and studying the scriptures, etc. I've had some experiences with chatting that caused me to realize how dangerous it can be. I've had people say things to me that immediately took away the Spirit, I've had people tempt me to do things outside of my standards when they know full well what my standards are, people I don't even know who talk to me about things they should not be talking to a complete stranger about that also cause me to turn my thoughts to places where they should not be going at all. Harmful influences are only a click away...they are literally at our fingertips, and if we are not careful, we will be sucked in, we will justify that "it's o.k. to do this and take care of something more important later" only to find ourselves continuing the habit and watching our time slide away so fast that it is gone.
My co-teacher told me that the week before General Conference, her ward took part in a media "fast." They were encouraged to only use media in the home if absolutely necessary. This week, I am doing a media "fast." No facebook, no online chatting, and only email and text when absolutely necessary. I remember being challenged by an institute teacher that if we question a principle, commandment, standard, or doctrine, test it for ourselves...do what is asked of us and see if we notice a difference in our lives...that is what I am doing this week. Though I fully KNOW that the internet can be harmful to our spiritual, emotional and mental well-being if not used wisely, not only because of the content that can be viewed, but because of the time it can take away from things that should take priority; I am going to put this standard we've been given to the test...I WANT to feel the difference, so I can share with others my experience in taking something out of my life that is potentially harmful if I am not careful in how I use it. How will my thoughts change? How different will my treatment of others be? How much will I accomplish of the things that should take precedence over things that are not important? How much more will I feel the Spirit throughout the day? How much more will I recognize the "tender mercies" placed in my path? How will my attitude towards certain circumstances change? How much more knowledge will I gain as I spend my time with good books, music, my family and friends (who are within driving distance), and in the service of others?
Below are some church magazine articles, including Elder Bednar's talk about the harmful effects of the internet, and suggestions on how we can use these things more productively and effeciently to avoid the addiction of "wasting time" and being taken away from things that should take priority. I'll see how it goes and check back in next week! It's going to be tough...I am already tempted to get on facebook, take a few quizzes, chat with friends, post updates, I want to see who I will bump into online...but I need to do this. I want to learn to use my time more wisely, to "grow in Spirit," and I think the time I spend on the computer is something that keeps me from doing so.
Things As They Really Are by David A. BednarTangled in the WebWhat's Your Media Diet?Keep Texting from Taking Over"If we do not make good choices, the media can devastate our families and pull our children away from the narrow gospel path. In the virtual reality and the perceived reality of large and small screens, family-destructive viewpoints and behavior are regularly portrayed as pleasurable, as stylish, as exciting, and as normal. Often media's most devastating attacks on family are not direct or frontal or openly immoral. Intelligent evil is too cunning for that, knowing that most people still profess belief in family and in traditional values. Rather the attacks are subtle and amoral—issues of right and wrong don't even come up. Immorality and sexual innuendo are everywhere, causing some to believe that because everyone is doing it, it must be all right. This pernicious evil is not out in the street somewhere; it is coming right into our homes, right into the heart of our families"
("Let Our Voices Be Heard," Ensign, Nov. 2003, 16–17).
