Funny how things come about. I find myself in a hotel room in St. George, Utah, waiting to watch TV. I even had to ask for late check-out. And I had to catch a later flight out of Vegas.
Why? Elder David A. Bednar is speaking at Education Week in a few minutes. His topic? Social Media. I want to watch. Live. In real time.
As some of you might know, I have dipped my toe into the Social Media waters, you could call it a hobby. Learning what an Apostle – a prophet of God – thinks about my blog, and it’s relationship to the Kingdom, is important to me, and a great opportunity to learn.
I don’t know if he will say anything earth-shattering, or even anything we don’t already know – but I do have the responsibility to myself, my readers, and the Lord to find out if there is something I need to do differently, or better.
I do take this blog seriously. I was remanded of how much it can matter this past weekend as I began to read comments, and receive messages for people regarding the post on suicide. It was a humbling privilege to communicate with people about something so deeply personal to them.
I am the first to acknowledge that sometimes my contribution to cyberspace is goofy, at best, but I also am keenly aware that sometimes it matters in a very real way.
So, I intend on listening closely to Elder Bednar to see what is what. I don’t expect him to call me out personally, but if he tells me of anything that I need to change, or improve on, I will let you know.
Post Address thoughts:
Three main takeaways as they apply to me.
1) I am engaged in a good work. Keep going.
2) I burst into tears every time I watch the Easter video. (Link here)
3) Even though I think playing on Social Media is disrespectful while prophets are speaking, Elder Bednar is giddy about it. So I will quit teasing.
4) Had to stop and think about this statement: “Anonymity on the internet is not a license to be inauthentic.” After I gave it some thought, and received some reassurance from my insides and those who actually know me, I can calmly state that I am nothing if not authentic. If you visited with me for an hour, you would find precious little difference between MMM and me. It is simply a nom de plume – not a deception.
Watch the talk. It was fun to see his enthusiasm, and knowledge of what is going on in the digital world.
While listening to Elder Bednar, I actually thought back to your post on Chaos (June or so?) and the many people that commented on social media. It seems some of us feel we must be the only ones out there who are still holding true. Maybe as we flood the earth through social media we will not only bring others to the gospel but actually strengthen ourselves and others.
still need to listen to it, but good to have a little preview 🙂
I burst into tears with that video every time, too, even watching it this time on my iPod touch in my laundry room while folding laundry. This was such an interesting talk! It left me wondering if maybe I should be on Instagram, too. 🙂
i like you. i like your blog. thanks for doing it!! xo
Be sure to listen to the 42:26 full version.
Confirmation to keep on keeping on. Thanks for giving the recap!
AuntSue
Keep up the good work MMM
Well? Did he tell you that you need to change anything?
*reminded – while it’s possible you actually were remanded, I doubt it =)
Waiting to hear.