+ WEEK THREE REFLECTION POST

This week's post was inspired by the general conference talks we were assigned to read for class. I came across this picture from Pinterest a while back...

(click here to see where the image i pinned was linked from)

I printed it off and hung it up on my bulletin board at work. I LOVED it. But do you want to my first thought (after thinking about how much I loved that counsel) was, "Did Elder Christofferson really say that? That kind of doesn't sound like something he would say but...." (BUT I FOUND IT ON THE INTERNET SO IT MUST BE RIGHT, RIGHT? ;) And I kept telling myself, "I need to Google that quote and see what talk it came from," but I never got around to it. 

Last week I opened "Of Things That Matter Most" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf (from October 2012 General Conference) and was pleasantly surprised when I read,

"May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God’s creations, ponder the truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally. Learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you—as His precious daughter or son with divine potential."

I laughed. I obviously remembered the quote and the image upon reading "May I suggest that you reduce the rush..." 

I am glad I am finally aware of who actually said that quote. In class we have talked about the need for US to be the fact checkers. I was ok not being 100% sure who said the quote on Pinterest, but I for sure would have double checked it if I was going to use it in a sacrament meeting talk. 

But why?

Shouldn't I be concerned about what I read on the Internet upon reading it, not just when I want to use it for something? 

I think the answer is yes and no. 

There is so much information on the Internet, and I don't think I could possibly double check everything I read, or pin or see on the Internet. But I do think that I need to double check my sources when I plan on sharing something with others, or I am trying to educate myself. This was a good reminder of how important it is to be aware of the media I am consuming and the influence it can have on me and my life.

On another note, I really liked the TED talk we watched in class, "Why videos go viral" by Kevin Allocca. Anything we put on the Internet could really become the next big thing. I think that is why it is so important that we are being "fact checkers" and that we are making sure that things we are posting on the Internet are true and come from a credible source. 

Last year Elder Bednar spoke about the need for the content we post on the Internet to be genuine and to share goodness in what we post. Katie Couric also echoed that message in the interviews we watched with her. 

I am glad that we are being counseled more and more to be wise about the things that we post and share on the Internet. The Internet and social media can be a great source of light if are willing to use it for good and be our own personal fact checkers.