Using the Internet for Good

The internet is an amazing thing. Elder M. Russell Ballard said: "The Internet allows everyone to be a publisher, to have his or her voice heard, and it is revolutionizing society. Before the Internet there were great barriers to printing. It took money, power, influence, and a great amount of time to publish. But today, because of the emergence of what some call “new media,” made possible by the Internet, many of those barriers have been removed. New media consists of tools on the Internet that make it possible for nearly anyone to publish or broadcast to either a large or a niche audience... The emergence of new media is facilitating a worldwide conversation on almost every subject, including religion, and nearly everyone can participate. This modern equivalent of the printing press is not reserved only for the elite." 

As he said, the Internet is not only reserved for the elite but it is for anyone who wants to use it. The internet is a powerful tool and i can be used for good or bad. Before the internet came around there were certain people who could publish things and that was their job. It took much longer to get information. Learning news or getting messages from long distances could take weeks or months. Now we all have the power to do it in seconds with the click of a button. Because we have this great blessing we have a great responsibility to use it well. We need to make sure that we only look at and post good and uplifting things. Not degrading or downright evil things that are on the internet. 

Elder M. Russell Ballard also said: "As you participate in this conversation and utilize the tools of new media, remember who you are—Latter-day Saints. Remember, as the proverb states, that “a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). And remember that contention is of the devil (see 3 Nephi 11:29). There is no need to argue or contend with others regarding our beliefs. There is no need to become defensive or belligerent. Our position is solid; the Church is true."  

If we do these things we will help make the internet a better place as we stay true to our standards and  do what is right. We shouldn't argue with people, but we should say what we believe and turn the other cheek and be strong. There will be people on the internet that won’t do these things and use the internet to try to hurt others, but we can choose not to be those people. As M. Russell Ballard said, "There is no need to become defensive or belligerent. Our position is solid; the Church is true." 

M. Russell Ballard's talk: 

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/07/sharing-the-gospel-using-the-internet?lang=eng&query=sharing+gospel+using+internet