LDS and social media

Every social media site that you can think of will in all likelihood have an abundance of LDS aka Mormons actively using it. You don’t agree? Ok. Let’s consider some options:

Facebook – when I entered Mormon/Mormons into the search it came up with 25 + options LDS produced 28+ that’s not individual members but groups. And I’m working in a small iPad screen.

Twitter has a seemingly endless virtual chain of Mormons.

Pinterest is teeming in Mormons. Famous and not so famous.

They are well represented in Blog land.

On Klout. LinkedIn etc. if you know somewhere they are not please leave a comment, although I will understand if you do not because yes the moment you do they will be there.

Mormons are generally sociable people. In American terms they like to visit one with another. The women of Relief Society go out pairs as Visiting Teachers to each other.

We like to gather for many reasons. Often a Service activity will be followed by a BBQ or picnic. Dances are frequent, talent nights etc.

We rejoice, often together, in the special events of life: engagements, marriages, new babies, school graduations, mission calls and just about any other reason, if we feel we need one. As stated in the 13th Article of Faith….

13 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.

Mind you we do the serious part of life very seriously.

Social media affords us yet another way to connect.  I for one am delighted to see the practical support young mums can give each other.  They encourage each other, share experience, seek and give advice, display meals and other things they have made. Isolated in a home full of sick children they can keep in touch and feel a little less lonely. The sick and housebound are less lonely through the use of Social Media, of course that is not exclusive to Mormons.

I know of one hospital where unwell teenagers are given iPads to use, thus cutting down on social isolation, which breeds all kinds of other problems.

Here in Australia we do not yet have the membership numbers that mean we live surrounded by ward members. The geography of a Ward can be quite large. And Stakes are also much much bigger. I used to live in a Stake where my ward travelled across the State border for church. In the summer months we also crossed time zones.

Currently, both my Ward and Stake have Facebook pages. Practical as well as Church info is found on there. Where can I buy this or that? Do you want this couch? Who is the best mechanic? Even where are the best fish and chips bought from? Links to the lessons, maps to the Retreat etc  it’s a busy and active page. It helps keep us connected.

As with all these good things, we need to ask,  is there a risk?

The official church site posted these warning signs re overdoing it on social media. Used with wisdom it can bless your life.  Actually the complete article is a  must read. ‘

Keeping Safe and Balanced in a Google-YouTube-Twitter-Facebook-iEverything World

10 Signs of Digital Overload

1. Slipping away from activities with people to check e-mail or social networking sites.
2. Checking the same sites repeatedly within a short period of time.
3. Spending little time outside.
4. Finding it hard to complete a task such as writing a report without frequently breaking away to check e-mail or unrelated websites.
5. Spending little time in face-to-face interactions with friends.
6. Going online or using a digital device when you feel stressed or want to avoid an unpleasant task.
7. Family members spending most of their time at home in separate rooms interacting with screens.
8. Frequently using digital devices to entertain a child instead of talking, singing, playing, or reading with him or her.
9. Checking the computer first thing in the morning, or getting up during the night to use digital devices.
10. Spending long stretches of time surfing for content, often viewing content that is inappropriate or borderline

Remember to be cautious in your dealings on Social Media, sometimes everything or everyone is not what they seem…