Light and Truth in Social Media

My daughter came to me upset by a post she read on social media about Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s speech this week to the faculty of Brigham Young University. She has empathy for and wants to support those who are LGBTQ+ and this post criticized Elder Holland and emphasized parts of his speech which seemed to speak out against LGBTQ+ members and those who support them. I want to share with you what I’ve learned as I’ve pondered, prayed, and studied about this experience and how we can discern light and truth in social media.

Go to the source

My daughter and I listened to all of Elder Holland’s talk. I heard the parts of the speech that were used in the social media post, and I heard other parts that showed Elder Holland’s great love and empathy for those who are LGBTQ+. Elder Holland said, “Let me go no farther before declaring unequivocally my love and that of my Brethren for those who live with this same-sex challenge and so much complexity that goes with it. Too often the world has been unkind, in many instances crushingly cruel, to these our brothers and sisters. Like many of you, we have spent hours with them, and wept and prayed and wept again in an effort to offer love and hope while keeping the gospel strong and the obedience to commandments evident in every individual life” (The Second Half of the Second Century). Read the entire source and ponder the whole of the content.

Discern the intention of the post

One of my scripture study questions this week was, “How do I have clear thinking?” When I read posts that criticize the church and church leaders, my thoughts start racing and my head is full of confusion and darkness and I wonder if this church I’m a part of is the correct way to follow Jesus Christ. I don’t like that confusion, that darkness. “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one,” (Doctrine & Covenants 93:36-37). Light dispels darkness. Light is from Jesus Christ. In the account of Amlici in Alma 2, we learn that, “[Amlici] being a very cunning man, yea, a wise man as to the wisdom of the world,” drew away many of the people after him and “it was his intent to destroy the church of God” (Alma 2:1-2, 4). Amlici used his skills and wisdom to create contention and confusion. Ask yourself with a post, is the intention to draw me closer to Jesus Christ and my neighbors or to draw me away from Jesus Christ and my neighbors? Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke at Education Week about conflict and contention. He said, “Conflict is inevitable. Contention is a choice. Contention is one way people choose to respond to conflict…we can choose a better way. … Let us emulate the gentle Christ. And we do that through learning to love God and reaching out to bless others,” (Five Messages That All of God’s Children Need to Hear).

Connect with individuals

Instead of engaging on social media and getting worked up about posts and injustices, connect with people in real life. Talk. Discuss ideas. Listen. Ask if you are being supportive in the way that person needs. You can do the most good in the lives of others as you interact directly.

Create uplifting posts

Elder David A. Bednar has encouraged us to “sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth, messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy, and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood,” (Apostle Offers Counsel About Social Media). Use Elder Bednar’s tips to create your own posts of light and truth and follow his suggestions in reverse to analyze the posts of others. Is the content trustworthy and constructive? Does the message uplift? Is the opinion overbearing?

Work to receive personal revelation

Personal revelation is the way to know if you are following Jesus Christ and if you are following leaders who follow Jesus Christ. When you have questions and you will, know that your loving Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ want to communicate with you. They want to show you how you can love and serve them and others. Learning how to and increasing your ability to receive revelation is work, but work that is necessary. Choose to do the work to receive revelation through studying the scriptures, asking questions in prayer, recording your answers, and acting on the revelation you receive.

Jesus Christ is the true light

Jesus Christ is “the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (Doctrine & Covenants 93:2). Now more than ever with all the information we receive, we need to be able to discern between that which invites light and truth and that which invites contention and dissension. Then we need to choose light. We need to choose to follow Jesus Christ.

One thought on “Light and Truth in Social Media

  • Thank you for this clear positive faith filled response to Elder Holland’s message. Thanks for a reminder about our responsibility to do our part to seek light and truth and follow the Savior.

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