Cool Thought: Online Social Media--In the Beginning

I'm trying to remember when I first used social media. Of course, I remember way back in the day using AOL chat and MSN chat rooms, man how things have changed since then. I really got into social media in high school through a site call garageband.com. The site was different back then, but I use to review music and get free music and interact with bands and other fans of music. I think it really was a head of its time.

Previous to the mish I didn't really get involved with anything beyond what I mentioned above. It's amazing how things can change in a short two year span. When I got home Myspace was all the rage; so much so, my local Stake President already had held a fireside warning parents about the potential dangers of said social media (I'm fighting the urge to put a 'haha' at the end of that sentence, I actually audibly chuckled when thinking about that fireside). Chuckles aside, the Stake President had a good point, that while such media could be used as a useful tool, it could also be used for ill. I hopped on the Myspace bandwagon mostly because all my friends had and I wanted to keep in-touch with them. By the time I came to BYU everyone was on Facebook so I transitioned accordingly.

Social media for me has been a place to keep up with friends, get info on new friends, and just a fun place to share info about myself. In reflecting on other opportunities social media presents, namely sharing the Gospel, I have to think there is a lot of opportunity there. I have over the years come across blog posts that misrepresented the Restored Gospel and added loving correction as appropriate. While in some ways its easier to share the Gospel over the internet, its also very difficult.

It's nice to have someones' questions or comments clearly defined on a webpage. Their is no question as to what they wrote. On the other hand, not being in person, its difficult to really understand what their perception and intent is. Many times, the people we walk away from on our missions, those that aren't "hungering and thirsting after righteousness" who "set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion," who "Seek… to counsel the Lord, but [don't] take counsel from his hand," these people seem to have a monopoly on internet discussion boards. Initially, I am prone to avoid such discussions, but the problem is that those that are hungering and thirsting after righteousness also go to those discussion boards and are fed, but not with the bread of life. To that latter group, I have an obligation and an opportunity to raise my "fingers," or so to speak, as a "defender of the faith" and "join the conversation" as Elder Ballard said, and take advantage of a great missionary opportunity.