I came across this meme on facebook recently. I don’t know the person who shared it, nor was there any commentary on the original post.
I was curious about what the whole verse said, so I looked it up because it didn’t really “sound” like something Nephi would have said.
A few weeks ago Millennial Star contributor Tom S. wrote an essay titled, “The Meaning of the Gay Dating Fiasco at BYU”. This prompted some good discussion among our readers, some of which didn’t believe that there are people who work for and teach at BYU that don’t fully support the church. Tom’s essay was published right about the time a new group called Keeping Faith at BYU was organized. You might have read more about the group over on My Life by GoGoGoff. So far their work has prompted a lot of discussion in the affirmative and in the negative online. But it’s a discussion we need to have about BYU.
As our own J Max Wilson shared on twitter a few days ago, “I had chosen to major in English with my eyes wide open about what I was going to encounter. But I felt bad about the students who were not expecting or prepared for their faith to be attacked at BYU. I came to BYU knowing that there would be apostate professors and students. My father had been at BYU more than a decade beforehand working on his PhD and had often told us about his apostate professors. When my own daughter was accepted to BYU last year we had a good talk about the fact that she could not assume that either her professors or her fellow students would be faithful members of the church. She started BYU knowing that some of her professors and the other students might push apostate ideas and reject the teachings and directions of the prophets and apostles.”
I think we can all agree social media is a good thing, when used the right way. I know I have been able to reconnect with lost friends, and as much as facebook makes me crazy, it is the only way I know what is going on with my family most of the time.
Despite all of the good on the internet, there are some downfalls, and pitfalls. The example I give today is about a woman named Justine Sacco. Ms. Sacco was a PR director for a firm that did humanitarian work. One day she tweeted out a “joke”, and then got on an airplane for 11 hours. During that time, her “joke,” which really wasn’t very funny, or even a joke, really, broke the internet (at least for that week), and created a public furor which left her without a job, and a ruined reputation.
To read the full story click HERE.
The author of the article interviewed Ms. Sacco and the man who created the fury surrounding her bad tweet, Sam Biddle. In an ironic twist of events, Sam Biddle had his own fury from something he said online too, and although his reputation did not suffer as much as Ms. Sacco, he still had his walk in the social media hall of shame.
After reading the article, another friend commented that these public shamings, pile-ons and furies were like the Scarlet Letter of our day. Because someone said something stupid, and thoughtless, they were branded for life, they lost their job, and their reputation was ruined. Continue reading
Elder David A. Bednar spoke yesterday at the BYU Education Week on using social media to “flood the earth” with the message of the Restored Gospel. After listening to his remarks, I felt, more than ever, the excitement of the times we are living in. We are literally watching, and taking part in the fulfillment of revelation and scripture.
Read and watch his address HERE, on LDS.org
He quoted Brigham Young, who said, “Every discovery in science and art that is really true and useful to mankind has been given by direct revelation from God, though but few acknowledge it. It has been given with a view to prepare the way for the ultimate triumph of truth, and the redemption of the earth from the power of sin and Satan.” When I think of how this has come to pass it is humbling. Things like the internet, satellite, radio, television; the ability to record and save audio and video of General Conference, all have a place in spreading the Gospel. We can send and receive messages, pictures and video instantly as well. Twenty years ago when I was a full time missionary in Bulgaria, it would take six months to get a VHS tape of one or two sessions of General Conference into the country. Now, members can watch Conference as it happens on line, and the following week in their meetinghouses as a Branch. It is truly amazing! Continue reading
You might have seen or heard of a new group on social media called Mormon Women Stand. Without hesitation I said yes when asked to be involved in the content of Mormon Women Stand. I have wanted to be involved with something like this for a long time, and I think it is a much needed voice in the cacophony of dissent that has had a lot of air time on the internet and news lately. From the feedback we’ve received in our first week of operation, there are many women out there that have wanted a group like this as well. Personally, I am so excited to share my faith and the things I believe in this way, and I am excited and grateful that Mormon Women Stand is a place where those who support the Church can gather online.
So what is Mormon Women Stand about, exactly?
Mormon Women Stand is a collaborative online effort to join like-minded female members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who share a desire to make a public stand as witnesses of Jesus Christ and in support of The Family: A Proclamation to the World. As we ‘Stand’ together, we believe it a reflection of the divine nature and power that LDS women are endowed with to influence others for good. We unequivocally sustain the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—commissioned by God and sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators and stand in support of how the Lord has delegated priesthood authority to organize and administer the gospel among all of His children.
Who are we?
The organizers of Mormon Women Stand consist of over a dozen LDS women from around the world, with varying ages, backgrounds, locations and professions who believe that women have a powerful opportunity to be a force for good both in the Church and online. Mormon Women Stand was established to invite all LDS women to stand together in a positive online community. It will be a safe haven and gathering place for women to join in doctrinally sound and uplifting gospel conversations in an atmosphere of loyalty to those who the Lord has authorized to lead His church. Mormon Women Stand will focus on positive relationships and conversations that bring women closer to Jesus Christ.
As this whirlwind of a week has passed since the group went live on Facebook, we have seen so much activity of faithful sisters and brothers joining us in standing for the Church, and our stated goals. In fact last night, we reached 3000 likes on our Facebook page. It has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am so thankful for that positive vibe. Not that we haven’t been without our detractors. We have had many good and honest questions about what we are trying to accomplish, as well as our fair share of mean remarks and comments. With any good endeavor, we should expect some push back. We’re not going to fight or debate or argue with people either, because that is not what Jesus Christ would do. We are here to STAND!
One thing I DO want to address and STRESS about Mormon Women Stand is that we are NOT against things or groups or people, but rather we are FOR the Restored Gospel and supporting each other in our faithful efforts to be Christians and Latter-day Saints. We want our supporters and even those that do not support us to know this; we are FOR standing as a witness of Jesus Christ at all times and in all places.
So, we are inviting women to STAND with us. We are still getting things going, so the content of some of our platforms is not up and running fully, but bear with us as we work out the kinks.
We can be found at:
Mormon Women Stand on Facebook
Mormon Women Stand on Pinterest
Mormon Women Stand on Instagram
Mormon Women Stand: the Website
We look forward to seeing you there!
PS, guys you’re totally welcome to come and STAND too!