Sweep the Earth

I heard the most amazing, powerful talk this afternoon at BYU Education Week by Elder Bednar. Wow. It was a poignant talk directing members of the church to use the internet and social media as often as we can in a positive and uplifting way, to sweep the earth as with a flood. We need to share the goodness. 

Elder Bednar spoke on four main points that all LDS members should remember as we immerse ourselves in the social media world. 

1. Be authentic (trustworthy) and consistent. 
2. Edify and uplift. Be courageous and bold, but not overbearing. 
3. Respect intellectual property. LDS.org and recently opened a media library filled with usable quotes, pictures and videos that we can use. 
4. Be wise and Vigilant. Protect yourself and your family. 

"What has been accomplished thus far in this dispensation

 communicating gospel messages through social media 

channels is a good beginning—but only a small trickle. I now

 extend to you the invitation to help transform the trickle into 

a flood. 

Beginning at this place on this day, I exhort you to sweep 

the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth

—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—

and literally sweep the earth as with a flood."

While sharing bits of our faith and testimonies with other members of the church "we can sweep the earth as with a flood" that edify and uplift other people around the world. Always aware of the possibilities and pitfalls of the use of the internet and social media sites. Doesn't this get you excited! Doesn't this motivate you to do more, to be better!

I'm on Facebook, Twitter Pinterest and Instagram. I try never to be negative about anything (I have broken this rule once or twice in the past 8 years...). I hardly ever speak on my religious views, if I do I'm re-posting/re tweeting/blogging about something else someone said. This talk has lit a fire over my bum to use these great media sites and share my thoughts, feelings and testimony.  "The Doors to the world are literally opened wide" for all of us to take advantage of. Quoting Elder M. Russell Ballard, "digital technologies should be servants not masters."

Remember at Easter time when the LDS church put out the video "Because of Him" and all of a sudden social media was filled with #BecauseOfHim hash tags with added testimonials and pictures?  It was awesome. A little earlier than that the church posted out there #DidYouThinkToPray with pictures that all started with "I pray when..." That too was incredibly powerful. 

All the brethren have a Facebook account, did you know that? Elder Ballard, Elder Holland and Elder Bednar are all on Twitter. How cool is that! Add these brethren to your accounts so you can often see uplifting, inspirational updates from them. 

The talk in its entirety has not yet been published in a video form, but you can read his talk HERE. 

“Try to imagine the impact we can have as hundreds of thousands and millions of members of the Lord’s restored Church contribute in seemingly small ways to the rising floodwaters. May our many small, individual efforts produce a rainfall of righteousness and truth that gradually swells a multitude of streams and rivers —and ultimately becomes a flood that sweeps the earth.”

I challenge each and everyone of you to take Elder Bednar's message to heart and add your water to make the flood stronger.