Elder David A. Bednar has never been one to shy away from the power and influence of social media. As one of the youngest to be called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in recent years—he was just 52 when he was sustained in 2004 and a full decade younger than the two Apostles called before and after him—the former BYU–Idaho president seems to have a knack for connecting with younger generations. So whether his age, past experiences, or other factors have influenced his appreciation for social media, he regularly shares his views with members of the Church of how to be a missionary through these tools.
In a 2014 BYU address and in the August 2015 Ensign, Elder Bednar encouraged Latter-day Saints to embrace technology for sharing the gospel and to “flood the earth through social media.” Now, the Church has shared a reminder of this message on its Instagram account. Here are Elder Bednar’s three suggestions for sharing goodness.
1. Be authentic and consistent
“Our messages should be truthful, honest, and accurate. We should not exaggerate, embellish, or pretend to be someone or something we are not.”
2. Edify and uplift
“Our messages should seek to edify and uplift rather than argue, debate, condemn, or belittle.”
3. Be wise and vigilant
“The internet never forgets. Anything you communicate through a social media channel indeed will live forever—even if the app or program may promise otherwise. Only say it or post it if you want the entire world to have access to your message or picture for all time. Be wise and vigilant in protecting yourself and those you love.”
You can see the entire Instagram post from the Church’s Strive to Be account below.
