Lesson 177—Taking Charge of Technology: Being Deliberate in Our Choices Concerning Technology
“Lesson 177—Taking Charge of Technology: Being Deliberate in Our Choices Concerning Technology,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Taking Charge of Technology,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 177: For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices
Taking Charge of Technology
Being Deliberate in Our Choices Concerning Technology
We are blessed to live in a time with much technology. Our use of technology can help us grow closer to Jesus Christ and help His work move forward. But it can also lead us away from Him. This lesson can help students apply safeguards to take charge of their technology use.
Possible Learning Activities
Technology use
Read Joseph Smith—History 1:46, looking for the warning Moroni gave Joseph Smith about the gold plates.
How would Satan try to get Joseph Smith to misuse the gold plates?
How did Joseph Smith use the gold plates for good?
How can we use technology for good?
In what ways might teenagers feel tempted to misuse technology?
How are you using technology in ways the Lord would want you to?
Inspired guidance
When students have finished studying, invite them to share what they learned. This could be done as a class or by pairing students with someone who studied a different section. After students teach one another, consider inviting them to practice one or both of the following skills to help them use technology safely. For additional help, you may want to direct students to the resource “Taking Charge of Technology,” found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Planning ahead can help us take charge of technology
To help students apply what they learn, help them practice the following skill:
Define: Making a plan about how we will use technology can help us be anxiously engaged in doing good and not idle away our time. Seek Heavenly Father’s help when making a plan.
Model: Provide a model for students by inviting them to think of ways they can use technology successfully. You could do this by asking:
What are some ways you could plan ahead to take charge of your technology use?
Some possible answers are:
Consider how Heavenly Father wants you to use technology.
Have a purpose before you use technology (for example, contacting a friend on your phone).
Set daily time limits for technology use.
Establish device-free places, like your bedroom and the bathroom.
Charge your phone in a family station at night, away from your bed.
Use filters that block inappropriate or unsafe content.
Why do you think having a plan could make a difference?
Practice: Invite students to seek Heavenly Father’s help to make a plan for how they will take charge of their technology use.
Consider asking if any students would be willing to share their plan with the class.
Pausing can help us take charge of technology
To help students understand what to do when they encounter inappropriate media, the following skill may be useful:
Define: When we encounter inappropriate media, we can pause and take a break from using technology.
Model: Provide a model for students by sharing the following three steps that can help them pause and take a break from technology when they encounter inappropriate media. You could also direct students to the resource “Taking Charge of Technology” for more help with this.
Call it out: When you see content that’s inappropriate or that makes you feel bad, lonely, or uncomfortable, you can say, “This doesn’t feel right.” These feelings could be promptings from the Holy Ghost.
Make a better choice: You can turn off the device or silence notifications. You can go outside or move to another room, without a device. You can think of Jesus Christ or recall a favorite scripture to invite the Holy Ghost to be with you.
Connect with someone: You can talk to a friend or family member about how you’re feeling. You can pray to Heavenly Father.
Practice: Invite students to think of ways they can pause and take a break when they encounter inappropriate media.
If students would like, they can share their ideas with the class.
Share what you learned
What is something you learned from this lesson that you do not want to forget?
Conclude with your testimony that the Lord can help us use technology safely and wisely.