The Misuse of Media

I love this New Era Poster showing a delicious cup of ice cream, large glob of whipped topping, a cherry on top, and a big fat cockroach. It reads, "It’s Great Except For... ...except for the bad parts. What kinds of movies and music are you feeding your mind?"

Latter-day Prophetic Counsel:
The prophets and apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach us to abstain from inappropriate media in all forms, including the Internet. In the church's Handbook for Families it states:

"The media can educate and entertain, inform and inspire. However, just as we would never think of allowing uninsulated, exposed electrical wires in our homes for our children to tamper with, we must also insulate and control our family's exposure to the potentially devastating damage, albeit potentially wonderful capabilities, of television, radio, movies, videotapes, records, audiotapes, magazines, and newspapers. As Latter-day Saints, we must be exemplary in our selection of the good and in our resistance of the evil that comes through the media" ("Helping Children Understand the Media's Influence," Ensign, Jan. 1987, 56).

Our Standard:
The Thirteenth Article of Faith, written by Joseph Smith, states:

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things" (Article of Faith 1:13).

Our Thoughts, Words and Actions:
Book of Mormon prophets have counseled us to be careful in our thoughts, words, and actions that we may be clean before our maker:

"But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not" (Mosiah 4:30).

What Should We Do?
What can we do if we find ourselves in a questionable situation? The following revelation helps answers this question:

"Have the courage to walk out of a movie or video party, turn off a computer or television, change a radio station, or put down a magazine if what is being presented does not meet Heavenly Father's standards. Do these things even if others do not. Let your friends and family know that you are committed to keeping God's standards. You have the gift of the Holy Ghost, which will give you strength and help you make good choices" (For the Strength of Youth (PDF), 17).

Standing strong in our beliefs is not always easy, but we will be rewarded with heavenly blessings. Stand firm in the faith and ye shall not fail!