Technology & Internet

No, not that Cha-Cha!

Information is my business so I'm very wary of information that comes from unverifiable sources. I view it with the kind of suspicion reserved for "Get Rich Quick" and "Lose 30 pounds in 3 weeks" schemes. As an information seeker, I need to know where the information is coming from and who it is coming from. Helping others locate elusive information is a huge thrill for me. Sometimes the information needed is seemingly insignificant or of a sentimental value only. Other times, the information requested will have a major impact in the decisions people make. Whatever the reasons, I work hard to ensure that the information I provide is accurate, reliable, and valid. My sister-in-law told me the other day that I was her favorite search engine. She made my day!

Speaking of search engines, I tried a new one recently. You guessed it - it is called ChaCha. I know, I know, old news already! Be that as it may, I finally decided to try it. In case, you're even slower jumping on the bandwagon than I am, ChaCha is basically a text-message search engine. That's right - it's for your cellphone, not your PC. Did you get the part about a text-message search engine? You heard right. So if you don't speak text, you and I are probably better off sticking with Google.

ChaCha is proud of the fact that questions are answered by actual human beings rather than an automated service. Some questions can be answered in under a minute. Others can take longer than 10 minutes. You simply type the text of your question in either plain English or text lingo if you speak the language, and send it on its merry way to 242242 (ChaCha). As I was saying I was curious about this service so I decided to test it.

I sent in 4 different questions. I chose questions that I considered to be of varying difficulty levels. Three of the questions were answered within a minute. Of the three answers, two were correct and one was incorrect. The last question, the one that I expected would take the longest, was answered in just under 20 minutes. Surprisingly, the answer was correct - incomplete but correct.

My biggest reservation about ChaCha is that I've no idea who is answering my questions. The questions I sent weren't critical to me as I already knew the answers. But what if I didn't know the answer? What if I had a real question and the answer to that question would determine something important? Would I still go with ChaCha? Probably not! But this doesn't mean that ChaCha isn't useful. From what I've seen, ChaCha is great and there is certainly a place for such a service. However, for the important things, I need to know that my source is credible and reliable and in order to know that, I need to know who my source is.

When it comes to spiritual questions, isn't it great to know that there is a reliable source that we can go to? There is no greater testifier of truth than the Spirit. When it comes to questions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we can ask friends, read literature from a variety of sources, and search for information online. We can do all these things and gain a picture of what the Church believes and teaches but to have a real testimony of the truth, we need to go to the source of all truth - our Heavenly Father and His son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we pray in faith to our Heavenly Father, having a sincere desire to know, He will answer. When we receive this witness of the Spirit, we can be assured that this source is one that we can trust with our hearts, minds, and souls!

Do you dread going to a large shopping mall because you can't quite get your bearings in that monster of a maze - the parking lot? Have you ever gone to visit someone in a large hospital and felt embarrassed about not knowing which hallway takes you back to the elevator? Have you ever felt a sense of panic after making one wrong turn after another? Have you ever called your husband to guide you home?

If you answered yes, then you know exactly how frightening, frustrating, and terribly embarrassing these situations can be. According to one estimate, about 25-50 million Americans consider themselves "directionally-challenged." I didn't realize there were that many but I'm relieved to know that I'm not so strange. You see, I'm one of those 25-50 million Americans. I get hopelessly lost when I'm in an unfamiliar territory! If you hate feeling helpless and dependent as much as I do then you see what a predicament this can be.

Another directionally-challenged writer began a humorous article on her condition with this sentence; "There are some people who are so bad with directions, they couldn't find their way out of a paper bag." (Peggy J. Parks) A slight exaggeration perhaps but I completely understand where she's coming from.

So why am I writing about this today? Well, new technology has made the lives of people like me a lot easier, and we acquired this technology recently. I'm talking of course about a GPS (Global Positioning System) car navigation system. I can almost draw a line and say this was my life before GPS, and here is my life after GPS.

Before GPS, I'd gotten to the point where I'd trained my children to help me remember turns, landmarks, and street names so that we can find our way back home. When MapQuest came out, I made sure that I printed out directions both there and back, and assigned one of the kids to read the directions as we went. Before GPS, I hated to drive anywhere new or unfamiliar without my husband. Before GPS, I was a nervous wreck when I had to drive anywhere outside of my comfort zone. In fact, I avoided these kinds of trips and assignments as much as possible.

Today, I no longer feel this fear. Thanks to advanced technology like the GPS car navigation system, I no longer avoid tasks that requires me to drive to an unfamiliar neighborhood or town. Now, I just have to wait for a mobile system that can help me navigate shopping malls and hospital floors, but I can always ask a kind-looking person or even wake up a resting patient. I'd much rather have something that can help me get home.

I have another guide that helps me to get Home. This guide, a "spiritual GPS" if you will, is the Holy Ghost. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints receive the gift of the Holy Ghost after we are baptized. The gift of the Holy Ghost is a constant and sure guide unlike any other. It is with us always as long as we keep God's commandments.

What or who is the Holy Ghost? We believe that the Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, and that He is a personage of Spirit. We believe that the Godhead consists of three separate beings that are one in purpose; God, the Eternal Father, His son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost has many roles. He comforts, testifies, instructs, witness, and guides.

President James E. Faust, who served as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church until his death in 2007, referred to the gift of the Holy Ghost as a "sure compass."

The gift of the Holy Ghost is available as a sure guide, as the voice of conscience, and as a moral compass. This guiding compass is personal to each of us. It is unerring. It is unfailing. However, we must listen to it in order to steer clear of the shoals which will cause our lives to sink into unhappiness and self-doubt.

We need a sure compass because many of the standards, values, vows, and obligations which have helped us preserve our spirituality, our honor, our integrity, our worth, and our decency have little by little been assaulted and discarded.

This sure compass, the gift of the Holy Ghost is a very real force in my life. I've felt the burning witness of the Holy Ghost at various times in my life during my studies of the Scriptures and of the Church. I've felt the comforting warmth of this gift in times of sorrow. I've felt the insistent prompting of the Holy Ghost telling me that I should leave a certain place at once. And yes, there were many times when this precious gift guided me to a decision that I needed to make or a place that I needed to be. It has guided me in the direction that I've taken with my life.

Today, I am thankful for guides and compasses that help us get to where we need to go. I'm grateful for guides and tools that help us to get home. I'm eternally grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost, the sure compass and guide to help us get back Home to our Heavenly Father.

Home! Isn't that a beautiful word? Isn't it wonderful that we can all go back Home? Isn't it amazing that we have a guide that can helps us get back Home?

As the restored Church of Jesus Christ blossoms throughout the globe—now with more than 13 million members—”the faith of our fathers” has an expanded meaning. For some, it could refer to their family’s heritage in one of the hundreds of Christian faiths; for others, it could refer to Middle-Eastern, Asian, or African faiths and traditions.

I have spent most of my life in areas of the world where members of our Church are a small minority. During that time I have learned that often when people learn of the restored gospel, they are impressed by it—many even want to join the Church. But they are reluctant to disappoint their ancestors; they feel they should be true to the faith of their fathers. (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

President Uchtdorf is the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (informally known as the Mormon church). He was called to this position on February 4, 2008. He's been a General Authority of the Church since April 1994.

For many converts to the Church, President Uchtdorf's message, Faith of Our Father, sounded like a page from their personal lives. My husband is one of those converts. President Uchtdorf managed to convey so eloquently the conflicting emotions that many faithful men and women deal with as they contemplate the next step.

When my husband lost his father, he felt an even keener sense of responsibility to his mother. This sense of responsibility extended to keeping the religious traditions of his parents. Coming from a family with a long and active tradition in another Christian faith, my husband knows what it means to go against the religious traditions of our fathers. He too was asked, not once or twice, but many times, "“How can you be so unfaithful to the faith of your fathers?"

My husband is a family man in every sense of the word. He loves his family and he gives his all to us. But, he also hasn't forgotten his other family, the loving family that raised him and taught him the word of God. This sense of loyalty to parents and religious traditions didn't lessen his stature in my eyes at all. I knew that someone who'd spent his youth and early adult years using his talents to serve the Lord had a deep love for the Lord. I had faith that at the right time, he would reconcile the two - the faith of his earthly father and ancestors and the faith of our Heavenly Father.

The right time did come! By accepting the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, my husband wasn't being disloyal to his ancestors. He was simply adding on to what his ancestors had given him. The faith and religious traditions of his ancestors had given him bits and pieces of the faith of our Heavenly Father. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the restored gospel of Christ on the earth, with the same organization, the same priesthood that existed when He walked among men.

Those who've had to leave the religious traditions of their fathers to embrace the faith of our Heavenly Father know that this isn't always a painless transition. For some, it comes at a high cost such as the loss of family and loved ones. I'm deeply grateful that this didn't happen in our case for family, both immediate and extended, is very important to us. The initial hurt and anger felt by his family when he became a member of the Church has since been replaced by a growing understanding and appreciation of what the gospel means in our lives.

President Uchtdorf's message, Faith of Our Father, is now available for you to read or watch. I loved listening to this message. I appreciate the loving, personal, and respectful way President Uchtdorf spoke to us about this subject. Faith of Our Father, reminds all of us that true faith is the faith of our Heavenly Father. I invite you to ponder for yourself President Uchtdorf's powerful message about the faith of our Father.

What, then, is the faith of our fathers? Is it the religion of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents?

But what of the faith of the ancient ones before them? What of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Are they not our fathers? Are we not of the house of Israel? What of Noah and Enoch and our first parents, Adam and Eve?

What of the Savior and those disciples who followed Him?

The faith of our Father in Heaven has been consistent since the beginning of time, even from before the foundation of this world. Therefore, do we not owe our allegiance to God, our Heavenly Father?

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, “we believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost” (First Article of Faith). And “we believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Third Article of Faith). We believe in the great plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, the plan of salvation, whereby God’s children may experience mortality and return to the presence of the Father—a merciful plan established from before the foundation of this earth.

This is the plan and the faith of our Father!

Last year when I watched Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin speak during General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes known as the Mormon faith), I was struck by his determination. I marveled at his love and concern for all of us. I saw how deeply he loved the Lord. He refused to let a weakened body stop him from saying what the Spirit led him to say last October.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church. He's served in this capacity since October 9, 1986.

This year, my heart was touched again by the message that he shared in General Conference. His remarks, titled "Concern For The One," gives me hope. Hope for me and hope for those I that I love.

Being different can sometimes be very difficult. Being different can lead to problems that may cause some to stop coming to Church. Elder Wirthlin reminded all of us that the Lord meant for all of us to be different and unique. The Church doesn't teach us that we are supposed to all talk, look, and act the same. He continued:

The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are different in some degree, yet each has his own beautiful sound that adds depth and richness to the whole.

This variety of creation itself is a testament of how the Lord values all His children. He does not esteem one flesh above another, but He “inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; . . . all are alike unto God." (2 Nephi 26:33)

Sometimes we become weary. We feel as if we're asked to do or to give too much. Some feel as if they don't have anything to contribute, that others are better, more knowledgeable and talented. Sometimes, we are weary of those who are weary! We judge others and find them wanting. Elder Wirthlin's message to all of us is simple and straightforward - the Lord, the Church needs every single one of us, the weak and the strong. He reminded us that we are commanded in D&C 81:5 to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” He warned us to be mindful of the fact that "sometimes those who start out the slowest go the farthest." Being a naturally impatient person, I needed to hear this part of Elder Wirthlin's message. I'm grateful to be so lovingly reminded that my Heavenly Father is very patient with me and I need to try and be likewise.

To those who've wavered because they've made mistakes, Elder Wirthlin reminded us that we have all made mistakes. He pointed out that except for the Lord, every single person that has walked this earth, is human and imperfect. Others have wavered because they were offended. Elder Wirthlin asked that we put those feelings aside, and fill our hearts with love instead.

I loved the way Elder Wirthlin painted a picture for all of us when he said that the entrance to our meetinghouses do not have signs that read,"Restricted Entrance-Perfect People Only." It is exactly because we are all so imperfect that we need the Lord's Church so much. It is because we make mistakes that we need the redeeming gift that only He can give us. When I go to Church, I am comforted by the knowledge that I'll be fellowshipping with others like me; imperfect, but striving each day to be just a little better, a little more like Jesus in our actions and thoughts.

Elder Wirthlin 's message of hope touched me on so many levels. Perhaps, it resonated so much with me because at one time or another, I felt some of these very same things. Perhaps, his message speaks to me because a few that are dear to my heart are in these situations today. Perhaps, my soul recognized a message that I needed to hear because I wasn't very compassionate when someone else needed my strength.

Friends, this wonderful message, Concern for the One, is available for you to read or listen to now. You too can feel the love our Heavenly Father has for each of us through the words and teachings of modern day apostles like Elder Wirthlin. I invite you to come and experience for yourself the joy that comes when "mortal, imperfect men, women, and children meet together in brotherhood and charity, striving to become better people, to learn of the Spirit, and to lend encouragement and support to others."

...For Mormons, General Conference is an exciting time when large numbers gather to hear sermons, sacred music and news. But the most satisfying, profound and exhilarating thoughts and feelings of inspiration come when one person receives an answer to a serious personal question or is reassured by a connectedness to God and others. (LDS Newsroom)

Our family joined millions of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Saints (informally known as Mormons) this past weekend for General Conference. Some were able to be present at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City for this wonderful event. Many more watched the live broadcast in select Church meetinghouses around the country and around the world. My family participated from home.

For us, General Conference this past week was an amazing emotional experience. We laughed and we cried. We were inspired, uplifted and motivated. Questions were answered. More importantly, we felt loved. We felt again how much our Heavenly Father cares for us. In the next few posts, I'd like to share just a few of our inspirational experiences, those "Aha" moments, from this latest General Conference.

Watching General Conference from home has many advantages: you don't have to drive somewhere else, the kitchen is just a few steps away if one needs a drink, and everyone can have their pick of the best and most comfortable seats in the house. On the other hand, participating from home means dealing with some distractions: frequent visits to the kitchen or bathroom, the overly comfortable seats can lull some family members to sleep rather than pay attention, and there is a tendency to do other things while watching General Conference. Because we were aware of these distractions from past experiences, we were able to minimize them significantly. As a result we were able to fully enjoy the spirit of General Conference.

Participating in the Solemn Assembly made the sustaining of our newly called Prophet and leaders profoundly personal. From our living room, we each raised our hands, and stood up to show our love and support for our leaders. At first, our sons thought it was odd to participate in such a manner. After all, we were at home and there was no one else there to see us. They giggled nervously the first couple of times we raised our hands to the square. However, by the time we got to the part where we were called to stand up by quorum, and as a Church body, they were fully engaged in the sacredness of the occasion.

I know that my children will treasure what they felt during the Solemn Assembly for a long time. They saw for themselves that in the Church, their sustaining vote counts. Each of them felt special and needed. They gained a greater understanding of how important each of us is to the Lord and to His work. In that meeting, our children saw clearly how every single one of us, even little ones, matter to the Lord.

The Solemn Assembly both inspired and humbled me. I remember thinking during this solemn occasion that the Lord does love us equally regardless of our station in life or our race and color. The Solemn Assembly reminded me that no one is too simple or too insignificant for Him to know and notice.

In a couple of days, I will raise my hand and sustain the 16th called Prophet of the Lord, President Thomas S. Monson. So will millions of other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes known as Mormons) around the world. Speaking about sustaining other Church Presidents before him, President Monson offered these words in a previous General Conference; "I have been honored and pleased during my lifetime to raise my arm to the square in sustaining nine Church Presidents as their names have been read. This morning I joined you in sustaining once again our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. It is a joy and a privilege to serve by his side, along with President Faust."

This weekend, it will be my privilege to raise my hand to the square to sustain President Monson in this sacred calling. I'm looking forward to hearing this humble man speak to us for the first time during General Conference as the living Prophet of God.

The 178th General Conference of the Church is this weekend, April 5th and 6th. General Conference is held twice a year, the first weekend in April and the first weekend in October. It is held in the Conference Center located in Salt Lake City and broadcast live to Church meetinghouses around the country and around the world. Depending on the television coverage in your area you may also be able to view it live right from the comfort of your home.

Live Internet video streams will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and American Sign Language. Audio streams will also be available in many different languages.

General Conference is a time of great spiritual learning for me. I love listening to the Prophet of the Lord and other leaders of the Church as they share their unwavering testimonies of Christ. I love being taught by such faithful men and women. Each General Conference, I experience what I referred to in a previous post as a spiritual high. I leave this wonderful gathering each year with a renewed commitment to my Heavenly Father, with gratitude in my heart for my Savior, and with a profound love for my family and those around me. Each General Conference leaves me a better person than I was just a few days earlier.

I continue to be grateful for the technology that allows us to hear the Prophet's voice from whichever corner of the world we call Home. I remember a time when we didn't have such a technology. As a young girl growing up on the small South Pacific island of Samoa, listening to the Prophet of the Lord during General Conference was a privilege available only to those who could afford to travel to Salt Lake City. Today, through the wonders of technology, anyone that wishes to can hear and see the Prophet during General Conference.

President Gordon B. Hinckley (15th President and Prophet of the Church) spoke about General Conference and the technology that has made it possible for everyone to participate in this great meeting:

My brothers and sisters, what a wonderful occasion this is! I know of nothing else like it in all the world. We are gathered this morning as a great family in reverence and worship of the Lord our God. We are of one faith and one doctrine. We speak words of testimony concerning God our Eternal Father and His Beloved Son. We declare with conviction and certainty that they have restored in this last dispensation The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The great voices of radio, television, and cable are now joined by the Internet to carry our words literally to the ends of the earth. To meetinghouses scattered far and wide the satellite will beam our signal to congregations large and small. And Saints across the earth will watch in their own homes the proceedings of this great conference by means of the Internet.

Workmen have labored long and hard in preparing for this great occasion. We thank each one of them for his devoted service.

I invite you to join with us this weekend as we gather to hear a Prophet of the Lord. If you have questions about the Church, this weekend is a great time to get the answers to some of those questions. Please Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice!

Just when you think you can relax, something happens and you realize that you can never let your guard down. At least, not when it comes to the Internet and technology and your children. Take this recent example from our family.

Like many parents, we gave our teenagers cell phones so that they would have a way of reaching us (and vice versa) in case of an emergency. This was especially important to us as they had reached the age where they were driving themselves to local school events and other extracurricular activities.

Before they were given cell phones, we made sure that they understood there were certain rules that we expected them to keep. In other words, they both received the "talk." We educated them as much as possible on how to use their cell phones safely and wisely. It was quite similar to the many talks we had on Internet safety. They nodded their heads and acted as if they understood fully what we were trying to teach them. For awhile, it looked as if we were home free. They were educated users of the Internet and other technology, including cell phones.

Then one night, our 16 year old woke us up in a panic. Apparently, a 'friend' he'd been communicating with on his cell phone was having some very serious problems and had texted our son to tell him all about it. This was alarming in and of itself, but when we found out that our son had never met this 'friend' we were even more scared. Obviously, our son had forgotten one of the things we tried to teach him - never talk, text, or communicate with anyone on his cell phone or online that they haven't already met in person. Was this friend even a real friend? Was this person even a teenager like our son or someone posing as such to draw sympathy or something more from our son?

I believe that all of us learned some important lessons that evening. I learned that as a parent I need to keep talking to my kids about the perils that come with the marvels of technology. I need to remind them over and over again even when they roll their eyes and tell me "we know, Mom." Our son learned firsthand that we have rules for a reason. He learned that using technology such as the Internet and cell phones comes with responsibility. On a happier note, I was reminded that our son trusted us enough to come to us even though he knew there would probably be some consequences.

Many leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have spoken about the blessings as well as the dangers associated with technology. Elder Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave this timely counsel:

"With modern technology even your youngest brothers and sisters can be carried virtually around the world before they are old enough to ride a tricycle safely across the street. What were in my generation carefree moments of moviegoing, TV watching, and magazine reading have now, with the additional availability of VCRs, the Internet, and personal computers, become amusements fraught with genuine moral danger."

Modern technology is indeed "fraught with moral danger." This by no means takes away from the immeasurable potential technology presents for immense good in our lives. I am very grateful for the many advances in modern technology because it has blessed our lives in so many ways. However, I'm also well aware that with these benefits come many pitfalls and we must be vigilant lest the pitfalls overcome the benefits. Bottom line - don't stop talking to your kids about technology, whether it be the Internet, cell phones, or whatever the next big thing is going to be in the near future.

Yesterday's news reports about a teacher caught on tape verbally abusing her students angered and shocked many around the country. It's always disturbing when someone in a position of trust betrays that trust. When such incidents come to light, we can't help but wonder if they really are isolated incidents or if they happen more often than we realize. We become a little less trusting, a little less willing to accept things at face value.

I happen to believe that such incidents really are the exception, not the rule. I know that the majority of our teachers are decent and trustworthy. They work hard and deserve our thanks and support. Our educational system may need a little work, but there is no doubt in my mind that our teachers are among the best in the world.

Still, when it comes to education, it is nice to have options. Private school and boarding school are a couple of different options. Homeschooling is another option that most people are familiar with. Technology has facilitated the rise of yet another option in education.

Online schooling has been around for some time now, at least for a college level education. Thousands have taken advantage of this technology. Working adults and many others are finding that a college degree is within their reach with online classes. Technology has enabled learning on their terms when it comes to time and place.

Today, this choice in education is becoming increasingly available to students in Kindergarten to 12th grade. A number of virtual charter schools are now operational in several states including Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, California, and Pennsylvania. Virtual charter schools have to meet the same legal requirements as a brick and mortar public school. This includes having certified teachers and a curriculum that meets or exceeds State approved standards. The Department of Education in each State approves and monitors virtual charter schools for compliance just as they do for traditional public schools. The biggest difference between this and a traditional public school is the classroom and mode of delivery. Students who attend a virtual charter school take classes on the computer right from home.

Our family recently made the choice to embark on this new adventure. We came to this decision after a lot of thought and prayer. If you've read some of my other posts, then you know that we are a military family. Moving and starting over in a new place is a fact of life for us. Unfortunately, such a lifestyle isn't always easy on the kids. After one semester in their new schools, we knew that we had to do something. So, after the Christmas break, we discontinued their enrollment in the traditional public schools they were attending, and enrolled them in a virtual charter school.

We are very happy with the choice we made. It is the right educational choice for us at this time. Our children are happier and this has made a huge difference academically.

Virtual charter schools will not replace and should not replace traditional public schools. However, it is an excellent option if traditional schools are just not meeting the needs of our children. Technology has given us the tools to make such a choice in education possible and I (for one) am very grateful. If you want to find out if virtual charter schools are available in your state, I suggest you contact your State's Department of Education.

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)

We had the opportunity to get together as an extended family for Christmas. As expected, we had a marvelous time. We enjoyed the kind of camaraderie that comes when brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents come together. We did the kinds of things that most families do when they get together. We played and did chores together. We ate and played some more. As a family we also recommitted ourselves to be a family that serves the Lord.

Many other things became apparent during this time. It was obvious that our parents are becoming older and weaker. They are no longer the vibrant and energetic people they once were. The teenagers have developed many interests and friendships outside of the family circle. The younger kids have formed strong opinions about what they like to eat or not eat such as 'no mayonnaise on a ham sandwich.' There were also two new additions to the family since Christmas last year.

In addition to these changes and differences, it was also clear there was a distinct difference in the level of comfort that existed between the three generations of our family when it comes to modern technology. The grandparents had the most limited familiarity with modern technology. In fact, my father has never used a cellphone. He says he has absolutely no use for it and he is right. Since he doesn't need it and doesn't use it, he would have a hard time placing or receiving a call on a cellphone. The next generation (mine) displayed a varying degree of knowledge but we definitely were a lot more comfortable with modern technology than our parents. The youngest generation, our children, were clearly the most tech savvy of all of us.

This point was driven home one evening when we were all sitting around after dinner. Our teenagers got bored and decided they were going to have a texting contest. One family member was designated to read a scripture and everyone else was supposed to text it word for word to someone else in the room. Needless to say, the teenagers were super fast. I didn't dare enter the contest. If I did I wouldn't have been much of a competition to the teenagers in the room. I'm sure that if I had tried to text, the teenagers would be finished with the whole verse while I was still struggling with the first couple of words. I consider myself fairly tech savvy but texting is one thing that I just don't like to do. I have no need for it on a regular basis and so I don't do it as much.

Still, we all had fun either watching or participating in the contest. We decided that something like this would be a wonderful idea for a Family home evening if it was properly thought out and developed. Family home evening refers to a practice of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) where a special time is "set aside each week that brings family members together and strengthens their love for each other, helps them draw closer to Heavenly Father, and encourages them to live righteously." Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

Latter-day Saint families are encouraged to hold family home evenings weekly, usually on Monday nights. This provides a regular and predictable time for parents to teach values to their children and to have fun together. We invite those not of our faith to adopt this practice with their own families.

With this in mind, we started brainstorming ideas for a technology themed Family home evening night that would focus on sharing instead of competing. One of our teenagers is quite proficient at building and developing web pages. We thought we'd have him teach the whole family how to do it and together we can all contribute to a family web site. We talked about having the grandparents talk about the technology they used, such as typewriters, when they were growing up and perhaps even teaching the kids how to use it. (Of course, we'd have to find one first). Since we all live in different states and different countries, we thought it might also be fun to hold a teleconference family home evening for the whole family once or twice a year.

We also thought about having everyone take a turn to text a scripture to the extended family once a week. This will be our family scripture for the week that would be memorized by everyone. All the teenagers are experts at texting so we thought we'd have them share their tricks. Perhaps, they can even teach us the shorthand method that they use to text so fast.

Several years ago, we had videotaped these same kids when they were all under 13 doing a Christmas eve talent show for the family. When we pulled it out to watch this year, it somehow broke in the VCR. This saddened us as we realized this was a huge loss for all of us. It led to us discussing yet another wonderful project for the whole family to work on together - preserving old home movies and photographs. We could have easily saved this wonderful record of our children if we'd thought to convert it to a DVD. Modern technology has given us the tools but it is up to us to utilize them and use them to our advantage.

Technology can be divisive, but it doesn't have to be. We can look for ways to bridge the gap between generations. All of us can learn new skills and develop a working familiarity with new technologies. One of the best ways to learn new things is with your family, with those that you trust. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints value families. Mormon theology and lifestyle is family-centered. This very fact is one of the reasons why I love my Mormon Religion. I love the focus on family. I love the value that it places on the family unit especially in the kind of world that we live in today. The Mormon Religion is one of the few places that offers such a focus in a society that seems to attack and disregard this most sacred unit.

If you'd like to know more about the Mormon Religion and our stand on the family, I invite you to read this proclamation on The Family by the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles. I encourage you to also read these articles on the Family by General Authorities of the Church.

The Importance of Family

Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty

The Family

The Eternal Family

Set In Order Thy House

My husband was first exposed to Mormons as a young boy. He remembers that every Sunday his father would make it a point to always turn the TV on in time to catch the Music And The Spoken Word. Usually my husband would sit and watch the program with his father as there was little else available on Sundays for a young boy to do.

You should know a couple of things about my husband. You've probably already guessed that my husband is a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or Mormons). He grew up in a small village in American Samoa in a loving God fearing family. He also loves music, a passion he inherited from his father.

American Samoa, and the independent country of Samoa, aren't exactly awash in modern technology, even today. It was even less so in the days of my husband's boyhood. Still, his family did own one of the few TV sets in the village and so every Sunday without fail his father would change the channel to Music And The Spoken Word.

Although my father-in-law never joined the Church, his life was touched and made just a little better because of broadcasts of Music And The Spoken Word. I also know without any doubt whatsoever that this inspired broadcast planted seeds of the gospel in my husband's heart when he was a mere boy. In a wonderful message titled "Planting Seeds of Spirituality," Elder David B. Haight pointed out that "some seeds lie dormant for years; others spring forth immediately." (Elder Haight was one of the Twelve Apostles until his death in 2004). The seeds of the gospel did lie dormant for years in my husband but these seeds eventually blossomed to a firm knowledge and testimony and resulted in his conversion years later. In Alma 32:28 we read:

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your cheart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Music And The Spoken Word featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a 30 minute weekly inspirational program that touches everyone regardless of race, economic status, or religion. A live broadcast of the program begins at 9:30 a.m. (MST) every Sunday from the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Visitors to Salt Lake City are welcome to attend live broadcasts. Click here for information on how to attend a live broadcast as well as how to view a broadcast from everywhere else in the United States. You can also visit this site for additional information on radio, television, and internet video broadcasts of Music And The Spoken Word.

Music And The Spoken Word is a wonderful example of how technology is used to inspire. The weekly broadcasts of Music And The Spoken Word provides a much needed spiritual respite in a world that seems bent on using technology to manipulate, to distort, to destroy, to mislead. These broadcasts show that technology can really help to carry messages of hope and love to the four corners of the earth.

Like my husband, the broadcast has introduced many people all over the world to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From very humble beginnings this broadcast has grown to become perhaps one of the most recognizable "faces" of the Mormon Church.

The first broadcast of Music And The Spoken Word was on a hot summer afternoon in the Tabernacle on Temple Square, July 15, 1929. The announcer climbed a ladder to speak into the one and only microphone, suspended from the ceiling. He stayed perched on the ladder throughout the half-hour program. An audio engineer was alerted by telegraph when to start. Hand signals cued the announcer. He began: "From the crossroads of the West, we welcome you to a program of inspirational music and spoken word." Those words, from more than seven decades ago, still open the program.

Today Music And The Spoken Word has become the world's longest-running continuous network broadcast and is carried on more than 2,000 radio and television stations and cable systems. It has been broadcast from locations across the country and around the world.

Attending a live broadcast was one of my husband's dearest wishes when he became a member of the Church. Luckily, we were able to fulfill that wish on more than one occasion. I know that as we sat and watched the live broadcast, my husband's thoughts turned to his father. We are both grateful that the marvels of modern technology carried such a program even to a small island in the South Pacific where a young boy sat and watched with his father. I know that even though my father-in-law never joined the Church, his soul was soothed and touched by the spirit of the Music And The Spoken Word. My father-in-law passed on many years ago but his legacy of music and love of God lives on in his son. As parents, we are trying really hard to make sure that seeds of spirituality are planted firmly in the hearts of our sons and Music And The Spoken Word continues to hold an important place in our efforts.

We had a wonderful lesson in Relief Society this past Sunday. The Relief Society is the women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons. The Relief Society brings women of the Church together in the spirit of true sisterhood as we work towards common goals:

Build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and teach the doctrines of the kingdom.

Emphasize the divine worth of each sister.

Exercise charity and nurture those in need.

Strengthen and protect families.

Serve and support each sister.

Help sisters become full participants in the blessings of the priesthood.

Our lesson was based on President Gordon B. Hinckley's, (our living Prophet and the 15th President of the Church), admonition to be clean—in language, in thought, in body, in dress. This timely counsel is especially needed today in a world that is wallowing in filth. We are also commanded by the Lord to "let all things be done in cleanliness before me." (D&C 42:41)

As sisters, we discussed the immense challenges facing us as we try to combat the prevalent attitudes and culture of our society. Our children may sometimes emulate what they see paraded before them in the media and on the internet. As we all know what is paraded before them on a daily basis is not always positive or good.

How do we convince our children to be clean in everything they do when there is so much else that tells them it is okay to use improper language, it is okay to dress sloppily and provocatively, it is normal to have unclean and impure thoughts? Where do these bad thoughts come from? Can we stop them altogether from even entering our minds?

Perhaps we may not be able to stop all bad thoughts from entering our minds, but we can definitely stop them from taking hold once they enter. We don't have to entertain such thoughts or let them linger. We must banish them immediately. We know that we don't do things without first entertaining the thoughts and ideas in our minds. President Hinckley taught us that "a filthy mind expresses itself in filthy and profane language. A clean mind expresses itself in language that is positive and uplifting and in deeds that bring happiness to the heart."

Studies have shown that what we watch and what we listen to can influence our thoughts. This applies to television, movies, internet, and to video games. Video games are immensely popular with kids of all ages. My boys each have one listed on their wish list so I know there will be at least one video game under our Christmas tree this year. However, before I rush out and buy any video game I'm going to learn as much as I can about it.

A lot has been written about the violent nature of many video games. Jonathan Silverstein of ABC News published an excellent report last month titled "Ultimate Parents' Guide to Video Games." If you are a parent or a concerned citizen don't miss this article. In his report Mr. Silverstein writes about a controversial game that was released recently called "Manhunt 2." This game is a prime example of the increasing violent nature of video games. Manhunt 2 features characters that kill and torture using a variety of implements.

Video games are rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The ESRB does for the video game industry what the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) does for movies. Due to the interactive nature of video games, the rating is a little more complicated and complex. The ESRB uses the following rating system:

EC (Early Childhood), E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature), AO (Adults Only), RP (Rating Pending).

ESRB also offers important content descriptors that should further help you in determining the appropriateness for each video game.

In addition, there are a number of organizations that are leading the fight for better quality programming in the media including the video game industry. One such organization is the Parents Television Council. The web site of this organization features informative articles as well as links to current legislations and proposed bills. Pay special attention to the Violent Video Games Campaign page. If you are looking for a way to have your voice heard in this effort, this site will keep you updated about such opportunities.

Sometimes we unknowingly invite the very things that we don't want into our homes. By going out and buying a video game without researching it first, I could be contributing to bad language and violent thoughts that might be entertained by my children.
The fact that I do not like to play video games is not an excuse to be ignorant of the kinds of games that are coming into my home. Kids sometimes exchange and borrow each other's games. I need to know about those games too because what might be okay for another parent isn't necessarily going to be okay with me.

I am grateful for the discussion we had in Relief Society yesterday. It is good to be reminded that we can never let our guard down. We must always be vigilant when it comes to forces and influences that can impact our families. We need to be the ones that stand at the door and tell such influences that they aren't welcome in our homes. When it comes to video games we are the parental controls.

I am thankful for the Relief Society. The lessons that I've learned in Relief Society help me in my efforts to make my home more Christ-centered. The love and support that I feel simply by being a part of this great organization helps me to tackle my challenges and trials. If you'd like to attend a Relief Society meeting in your area please visit the Church's official web site. On the home page click on "About the Church" and then on "Meetinghouse Locator." You don't need an invitation to attend, everyone is welcome.

Be clean - in language, in thought, in body, in dress. Is this a difficult task? Sometimes. Is it doable? Yes. Is it important? Absolutely, Yes.

General Conference is a special time for most Mormons. It is a time when we get to listen and be taught by the Prophet of God, President Hinckley, and by other Leaders of the Church. General Conference is held in April and October every year.

This past October, Mormons around the world gathered again for the 177th Seminannual General Conference. For many members of the Church, General Conference is an incredible spiritual experience. For me, General Conference leaves me in a state that I describe as being on a "Spiritual high."

I've been very fortunate to be in attendance in the Conference Center a few times during General Conference. I've sat in the presence of the Prophet of God and have truly felt his Spirit. I've also participated in General Conference via satellite from a remote location. I've felt the Spirit even then. Regardless of whether I listen to the Prophet in person or through the marvels of modern technology, I've always felt the love that President Hinckley has for all of us and an assurance that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me.

A couple of years ago our family had another opportunity to attend General Conference at the Conference Center. I remember standing and singing "We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet" along with the Tabernacle Choir towards the end of the session. I'm sure everyone was focused on President Hinckley as he stood there in his usual place on the stand. The Spirit testified strongly to me that President Hinckley is a Prophet of God. I could see how moved my family was, especially our boys. I remember thinking that if only we can hold on to that Spirit for the rest of our lives our family would be just fine. I sat and offered a silent prayer that our boys will remember that feeling when they are faced with trials and tribulations.

We all know that it is practically impossible to hang on to such feelings when we are faced with the realities of life. It is hard to be on a spiritual high when the world we live in is anything but spiritual. But does this mean that we shouldn't strive for it in our lives? No! If anything this should make us try even harder to maintain or to get back that feeling of being on a Spiritual high. The fact that we'll sometimes do things that are not in keeping with being on a spiritual high should not stop us from always reaching for that feeling in our lives.

One of the things that really helps me to maintain or re-discover my spiritual high is by reading and re-reading the powerful talks and articles that are available on the Church's web site. We also have the monthly Church magazines and I do urge you to get those if you don't have them in your homes yet. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are taught to "seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom..." The Scriptures, Church Magazines, and other Church sponsored publication are prime examples of "best books." This extends to Church approved online publications and databases as well.

The online database of articles and talks gives us access to the most recent talks by the Prophet and other Church leaders. It also gives us access to the many talks and inspirational messages by previous Church leaders. At the very top of the homepage of the Church's official web site, you'll see a menu bar with the words "Search" "A to Z" and others. Click on "Search" and this will start you on your way to finding talks and articles on just about any gospel related topic you want. You can search for an article by title, by subject, or by author/speaker. You can limit your search in a number of different ways too.

I've found the practice of reading one article a day on a chosen subject to be spiritually uplifting. It helps me to deal with whatever I'm faced with that day. You may not have time to read an article every day. That's okay, don't feel as if you have to. I just happen to have the time to do that at this point in my life. I read when I'm waiting in the car to pick up our boys after school. I read when I'm sitting in front of my computer waiting for the right words to come before I write a post. I read when I can't sleep.

You may only have time to read an article every other day or once a week. Whether it is once a day or once a week, I hope that you do take advantage of this wonderful resource. There have been many times when I've found the exact thing I needed at the time by reading these articles. There have been many times when my resolve is strengthened after reading these inspired messages for our times.

I know that each of us will experience times of trials and tribulations. Some will be minor nuisances while others will be almost unbearable. It is my hope that when we do experience those times, that we will reach for those moments in our lives when we've had the Spirit testify to us about our Heavenly Father's love for each of us. I hope that we will try to remember those times when we've known in our hearts that there is a purpose to life, that our trials and tribulations are only for a moment. When those times come, and they will, remember to reach for your Spiritual High.

We've captured a lot of attention recently. We've had articles and headlines written about us not only in the United States but around the world as well. I'm referring of course to the increasing media attention that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has received. Just a couple of days ago, an article titled "Mormons on mission to educate others about faith" ran in our local paper. The title stopped me for two reasons; obviously it had something to do with the Church and the article seemed out of place in our local paper.

We live in an area that has a very small LDS population. In fact, there is only one ward in the whole county. Mormons are definitely a minority in this region so you don't usually expect to see the kind of media coverage that you'd see in other places. When used properly, media resources can be an extraordinary tool for sharing the gospel. Those who write about the Church do us a huge favor when they choose to take the time to get their facts from those who are faithful members of the Church.

The fact that the Church is growing in prominence should not be a surprise to any of us. Current events in the political circuit as well as in other arenas do bring more awareness to the Church but this isn't the only reason. The tremendous growth of the Church around the world also brings with it increasing awareness and attention.

A revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith tells us that the gospel will be taken to every corner of the earth; D&C 58:64 "For, verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth—the gospel must be preached unto every creature, with signs following them that believe." I believe that we are all witnesses to the continuing fulfillment of this revelation. It is exciting to be alive at a time where resources are so readily available that allows us to further the work that we're all charged with.

The fact that we who are members of the Church find ourselves in the public eye and under scrutiny should be a welcome change for all of us. It allows us to share the gospel in ways that weren't possible before. It allows us to portray the gospel accurately. It gives us the opportunity to answer inquiries about the Church. It allows all of us to share our testimomies and possibly change the hearts of countless people. Elder Russell M. Ballard spoke on exactly this issue during the November 2007 General Conference. He taught that those who are sincerely seeking information about the Church;

deserve clear and accurate information that comes directly from those of us who are members so that they do not have to rely on the incomplete answers, half-truths, or false statements that may come from the media or other outside voices. The many misunderstandings and false information about the Church are somewhat our own fault for not clearly explaining who we are and what we believe...Now is the time for all of us to reach out and tell others who we are.

When I read Elder Ballard's quote above, I am struck by how much of what he said applied directly to me. I have always been bothered by the volume of attacks on the Church in the media and on the Internet. I've raged against all the half-truths and downright lies that are perpetuated online by those who are out to destroy everything tha I hold sacred and dear. But, I've raged inwardly. I've kept all my brilliant arguments in support of the Church to myself. I've told myself that perhaps others will take up the cause and defend my beliefs. I've even told myself that sooner or later it will go away, they will give up, they will realize the futility of their cause.

Now I know better. Now I know that they will not go away. Satan is not going to just bow out gracefully. He is actually digging in even deeper. He is in for the long haul, well - SO WILL I. I know that I have to also do my part. I can't just rely on others to do it for me. I need to defend what I love, what I revere, what I believe.

I believe in the Lord and in his Son and our Savior Jesus Christ. I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God. I believe that he was chosen to restore the true gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth again. I believe that our Lord loves us as much today as he did in the times of the ancient prophets so he has given us modern day prophets to guide us in these latter days. I believe that Gordon B. Hinckley is the living prophet today.

Now is the Time and I am ready to tell the world who I am.

I am the mother of three, two are teenagers. I know well the challenge most parents of teenagers face everyday. Every day our teens are bombarded by extraordinarily strong forces that seem to pull them in the wrong direction. They are challenged at almost every turn. At times I feel helpless at the overwhelming task that is before me as a mother. What can one mother do to combat the evil influences that seem rampant in today’s society? What can one mother do against an onslaught of media messages that make things such as immorality and immodesty look so enticing to my teens? When I catch myself thinking like this I quickly tell myself that I can't afford to feel helpless. I can't afford to give even half an inch to anything that will take my child down the wrong path. I may not succeed one hundred percent all the time but I am going to fight it with everything I have every single time because my children and my family's eternal happiness is worth fighting for.

We’ve already talked about the dangers of the Internet and what we as parents can do to minimize this danger so let's look elsewhere.

Most parents are aware of the destructive influence of TV shows and movies that promote promiscuity and belittle beliefs in chastity. Advertisements and commercials depicting scantily clad men and women are questionable to say the very least. I fear that our young people growing up in such an environment are becoming desensitized to such images. They see it on TV, in the movies, in magazines, and other venues as well. I fear that young people are becoming so desensitized to the point that it becomes almost commonplace and normal for them to see such images.

While we may have little control over the rest of society, we can control the environment in our own homes. The wonderful thing about television sets is that they come with an 'OFF' switch. Nowadays, they even have 'Parental Controls' so that we can pre-select appropriate shows for our families to watch. It's a no-brainer but I'll mention it anyway, be sure not to tell your kids what the password is when you use the Parental Control feature of your TV.

Children do not need to be watching TV for more than a 2 or 3 hours a day. I know some parents who think that even that is generous, and that is fine too. Make sure that you approve of what they're watching. Don't just assume that because it's a kid show that it is okay. Not too long ago I sat down to watch a cartoon show with our youngest son. It was shown on a channel that is supposedly geared to children. I was shocked at how mature some of the themes were. The humor and language seemed geared more for young adults. It was definitely not appropriate for kids, not my kid anyway. I appreciate that the television and movie industry provides ratings so that we can make an educated decision as to what shows our families can watch. However, this does not take away our responsibility as parents to ensure that these shows are indeed appropriate.

IPods are the rage with teens these days. Adults too I should add. It seems as if the minute you buy one a new and improved model comes out. IPods are definitely a step up from the Walkman I used to carry around as a college student. An ipod is an amazing gadget. Depending on the model and the GB it can store hundreds and even thousands of songs. Whether or not someone would actually listen to that many songs is something I've never been able to determine. You can download audio books to an ipod and never have to lug around a cassette or CD player around anymore. You can even download a movie to an ipod. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? It is a wonderful piece of technology. I really don’t have a problem with ipods. My concern is that some of us parents of a certain age don't seem to know too much about them.

I wasn't very familiar with ipods myself until I realized that I really had no idea what my teens were listening to since I didn’t know how to operate an ipod. I consider myself fairly curious when it comes to all things related to technology but for some reason I just wasn't interested in ipods. It took a couple of hours of fiddling with it and reading everything reliable I could find about ipods but I did figure it out. I scrolled through my teen's lists of songs and found a few that I didn't think should be there and I told him as much. I checked his video file but found nothing alarming. Some may say that this amounts to an invasion of my son's privacy. I say there is such a thing as too much privacy.

When I consider the task that is before me as a mother, I am strengthened in my resolve to do my part by remembering the words of President Hinckley:

…”Not one of us, neither I nor any one of you, can become involved with such things as sleazy videotapes, suggestive television programs, debasing movies, sensual magazines, so-called 900 numbers, or the kind of filth that evidently can be picked up now on the Internet. Avoid them like the plague, for they are a serious and deadly disease… You can reach out to prevent a foolhardy decision on the part of a boy or girl. Your interest, your caring attitude, and your voice may make the difference between life and death in a very literal sense…Stand up for integrity in your business, in your profession, in your home, in the society of which you are a part.”

Ipods, cell phones, television sets, and computers are all wonderful tools but that is all they are – tools. They are not a necessity that my child has to have if it comes right down to it. We parents have a daunting task. It is a task that we must tackle head on if we are to have a fighting chance of staying ahead of everything else that is competing for our children. Technology is wonderful but you and I still have the power to put technology in its proper place. We use technology to help us, we control technology, it doesn’t control us.