Social Media

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”
(Ephesians 4:29)

Facebook : Instagram : Twitter : Snapchat : Pinterest : Youtube : Blog

I'm coming up on 10 years that I've kept and maintained this blog. Back here I wrote a post about how I came to start a blog, and then Elder Ballard just a few short weeks later in a devotional asked us to begin sharing the gospel online.

"Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you know to be true."

His words were more than coincidental and I truly felt like God was asking me to do this. So what initially began as a blog to document family stuff became a blog where I began to add more of my thoughts and experiences with the gospel. It's become what scrapbooking used to be but online. I failed miserably as a scrapbooker but have loved being able to document my life, our lives, with pictures rather quickly and share with whomever cares to read.

Honestly, my only following may be my family but if that is all I write for, it is enough. "For [I] labor diligently to write, to persuade [my] children, and also [my] brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for [I] know that it is by grace that [I am] saved, after all [I] can do." (2 Nephi 25:23) Ashlyn is quick to tell me when I haven't posted anything for awhile.

My blog was the beginning of my online presence. From there I joined the world of Facebook in 2008 and slowly added more media over the years. I'm using Facebook less frequently now that I've discovered Instagram. I have a Twitter handle but use it mainly to follow General Conference talks and elementary ed ideas. I use Youtube and Pinterest primarily as organization tools. Snapchat? Tried it once and didn't get it at all.

Lately I've been thinking about social media, how I use it, and my persona that is being projected to the world. I love how I can stay connected with family and friends but is what I'm sharing good? Does it uplift? Is it authentic? Does it build relationships? 

I was posting this picture of Erik the other day on Instagram and hovered over the box to also have it post to Facebook. To check or not to check? I rationalized that I have family members who are not on Instagram but are on Facebook so what the hey and I checked the box despite my uneasy feelings. He had received his ACT score of a 34 several weeks prior which put him above the threshold he needed to get a scholarship. He and I headed to the USU open house where they awarded him a 4-year, full tuition and I was excited to share the good news.

After making the post, I just didn't feel comfortable despite all the congratulations that came in. A week later I read a friend's blog entry about keeping it real. She basically laid out for the world that in the last 5 years they've lost their main source of income, had to sell their home, found out she has a debilitating disease, and that her kids aren't getting straight A's and scholarships.

Ouch!

Honestly, I know that was not aimed at me but it really has made me reflect on why I post what I post. What is the purpose and intent? Is it to make me look good and have everyone give shout outs with thumbs up and hearts of love?

I read a story years ago about a meeting where a general authority was visiting. The stake president was speaking about his family and going on how all his children had served missions and married in the temple . . . yada yada. The general authority gets up afterwards and kindly rebukes the stake president, "President, please don't burden the rest of us with your successes." (I tried in vain to find where I have heard/read this story and had no success.)

Heaven forbid anyone should feel worse about themselves after reading something I've shared. We live in a society of instant everything. Most people generate a quick response to an email or text or post and immediately hit send without rereading or rethinking what it is they have written. I've thought through a few questions to keep in mind before sharing anything online.

1. What's my motive?
2. Am I boasting or sharing?
3. Will it edify and uplift?
4. How will others feel?
5. Could this be hurtful?
6. Is it kind?
7. How would I feel about this post in 5 years or 10 years?

I want to continue to document my family's life. What a treasure trove I've amassed over the past 10 years. I want to continue to uplift and motivate and share goodness with my little part of the social media world. However, I want to be more authentic about why I'm doing it. I hope to never burden others by drawing attention toward myself but rather I want to multiply the goodness in the world by being more cognizant of my reasons for participating in this vast online world.