Sunday, May 27, 2018

Of social media and other things


Social media can be like the dog that bites the hand that feeds it. There is a young girl who used to live in our ward until they split it. We are well acquainted with the family. 

She happened to post a photo of her in a dress she wore to prom. One would think that something this innocuous would not make the national news. Lo and behold it did. 
                     

"When 42,000 people hate your prom dress."


We have become a nation and a world of people who take offense at almost anything that does not agree with their thinking. The blessing of instant communication that we now have has, as most things in life, a positive, a neutral and a negative aspect. 

When I was growing up what happened in the next state or often in the next city did not come to our attention. 

Now if someone has a bad day and posts it on social media every one in the world with access to a smart phone or a computer will know and can make a remark. 

Many of these remarks may be appropriate, but the opportunity is there for cyber bullying or inappropriate or hurtful remarks. 

The movie "Bambi" has a little rabbit named Thumper who makes an inappropriate remark. His mother responded, "Thumper, what did your father say?" Thumper responded, " If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin’ at all."

We have freedom of speech and can express our opinion. Christ admonished us to be careful about the words we use, because we will be held accountable for every idle word. The Luther translation renders it unnützlich or not useful. Most people do not realize that they will be held accountable before the judgment bar of God for everything they say. That is a sobering thought!

We need to model our speech after that of our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus. When we are in their presence we will be most uncomfortable if we use inappropriate language and conversation. 

As my parents would say,” Watch your language."

Grandpa reminds you to remember what Thumper's father told him. 

Love,

Grandpa


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