Why Blog?

Daniel’s Mission

The most useful aspect of this blog is that I can get the news of Daniel’s missionary experiences out to family and friends. A blog is an efficient way of distributing his emails and sharing his photographs, along with the ability for visitors to share comments. So this blog will be publishing at least until October 2010 which is when Daniel comes home from Mongolia. Maybe then I will take a break from blogging.

Elder Ballard

With new technological tools, you can further the work of the Lord by joining the ongoing conversation about the Church:

Now, may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration. 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. You can download videos from Church and other appropriate sites, including newsroom.lds.org, and send them to your friends. You can write to media sites on the Internet that report on the Church and voice your views as to the accuracy of the reports. This, of course, requires that you understand the basic principles of the gospel. It is essential that you are able to offer a clear and correct witness of gospel truths. It is also important that you and the people to whom you testify understand that you do not speak for the Church as a whole. You speak as one member—but you testify of the truths you have come to know.

Far too many people have a poor understanding of the Church because most of the information they hear about us is from news media reports that are often driven by controversies. Too much attention to controversy has a negative impact on peoples’ perceptions of what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints really is. (M. Russell Ballard, “Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet,” Ensign, Jul 2008, 58–63. See also BYU-Hawaii Speech)

Elder Hales

Answering our accusers in the Savior’s way:

Experience shows that seasons of negative publicity about the Church can help accomplish the Lord’s purposes. In 1983 the First Presidency wrote to Church leaders, “Opposition may be in itself an opportunity. Among the continuing challenges faced by our missionaries is a lack of interest in religious matters and in our message. These criticisms create … interest in the Church. … This provides an opportunity [for members] to present the truth to those whose attention is thus directed toward us.” (First Presidency letter, Dec. 1, 1983)

We can take advantage of such opportunities in many ways: a kind letter to the editor, a conversation with a friend, a comment on a blog, or a reassuring word to one who has made a disparaging comment. We can answer with love those who have been influenced by misinformation and prejudice—who are “kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12). I assure you that to answer our accusers in this way is never weakness. It is Christian courage in action. (Robert D. Hales, “Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 72–75)

Professor Holzapfel

For his religion class this semester, BYU professor Richard Holzapfel changed his usual scripture log assignment to an online blogging assignment where students write their thoughts and feelings on gospel subjects. From LDS Living:

I read Elder Ballard’s call for members of the Church to engage in the online dialogue about the Church this past summer [Ensign, July 2008]. It hit me. We can continue doing missionary work in Provo and at BYU because “The world is our campus,” and the world is alive online. The Church Web site is important, however, people will more likely listen to real, flesh and blood members than the official Web site.

After we discussed it a little in class, I realized that blogging can actually be a pretty effective way to get ideas and opinions out there, and in the context of this assignment, increase the amount of pro-Mormon material on the Web.

Check out Richard Holzapfel’s blog.

Newsroom Blog

Even the Church has a blog.

The Public Affairs Department announced the launch of the Newsroom Blog 18 August 2009. The purpose of this blog is to supplement the Newsroom Web site with additional stories from the Church that may not lend themselves to a news release, and to provide additional context and background on stories that appear in the news media.

Finding and Sharing the Gospel Online

The October 2009 Ensign has a very positive article (PDF version is here) about blogging online. It covers blogging about the Church in everyday life; creating blogs about full-time missionaries; using other online forums; sharing your testimony online; being a blogging missionary; and blog saftey and courtesy. See also Guidelines and Helps for Latter-day Saints Participating in Online Conversations About the Church.