Applying the Old Testament to Your Life
Sharing Light and Truth through Social Media
We can use social media as a powerful tool to connect with others, offer encouragement, and share our testimony of Christ.
Have you ever become ensnared for hours by the tsunami of social media, wading through conflicts of opinions, depressing news, and exhausting comparisons and judgments that come so easily in this digital world?
Many of us have. Social media is a powerful force that, if we allow it to, can drain our time and drown us in despair. But social media’s colossal strength has the equally powerful potential to be and create good.
Consider the many opportunities that exist to use this miraculous technology to build joy and strengthen testimonies of Jesus Christ. Even when we don’t have other members near us, we can use social media to connect and bring ourselves and others to Jesus Christ. Instead of being a force of negativity, social media can become our tool to spread light and truth and our testimony of the Savior and His gospel.
How Can We Use Social Media to Come unto Christ?
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has encouraged us to “sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood (see Moses 7:59–62).”1
Learning about Job in our Come, Follow Me studies and how his friends judged him unrighteously and criticized him when he needed comfort (see Job 16:1–5; John 7:24) inspired us to think about how we could use social media to build others rather than tear them down. We decided to make our own social media plan to eliminate negativity and share positive messages and encouragement. For example, how can we be more like David, who praised God, saying, “My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long”? (Psalm 71:24).
As we share authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy gospel messages with “genuine love and concern for others”2 and “declare what he hath done for [our] soul[s]” (Psalm 66:16), He will give us His strength (see Psalm 71:16–17) and comfort us (see Psalm 71:21) as we press forward.
How Can We Make Our Time on Social Media More Peaceful?
Recently we had the privilege of spending an hour (over Zoom) with a remarkable group of young adult members of the Church from all over the world. We were so inspired by their use of social media to connect with each other, form friendships, and share the one thing they all have in common: their love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Here are some of their comments about their uplifting social media use.
Serve Others by Sharing Talents
Sharing the gospel on social media gives me opportunities to serve others, and when we serve others, it is the same as serving God (see Mosiah 2:17). I feel blessed when I serve others, and my service brings me closer to Him. Sharing the gospel on social media allows me to serve others by sharing my skills and talents and building a community for everyone to belong in. Each of us has been given talents from the Lord that we should develop and use to serve God and others.
Peerapong Kanjanasathit, Esbjerg, Denmark
Know We Are Not Alone
In these times of great uncertainty—where there are rumors of wars, many illnesses, pandemics that have been prophesied, and so on—I think it is a great idea to host and participate in social activities online. It helps us young adults feel safe and provides us the comfort we seek in knowing that we are not alone. These activities give us the opportunity to make new friends throughout the world. Through these friendships, we can find the support we need to help us stay strong and to be able to endure to the end.
Ekaterina Kosmynina, Russia
Bring People unto Christ
With all the wonders of technology at our fingertips, communicating with other people can still be difficult. People seem to be more disconnected than ever before.
It is exciting to meet people from all corners of the world on social media. Getting to know them, learning about their cultures, and hearing their conversion stories and how they still strive to follow the Savior’s teachings inspire me.
I can fulfill some of my covenants on social media by bringing people all over the world together and, more importantly, unto Christ. People sometimes forget that the true secret to happiness is to look outwardly and not inwardly. Sharing the gospel through social media has helped me reflect on my attitude—on how I serve—and I have realized what true fellowshipping is.
Sarah de Jongh, Gauteng, South Africa
The miracle of social media is that it enables us to discover ways to grow together, no matter where we live or what language we speak. When we share the light of the gospel through social media and make an effort to proclaim God’s righteousness and declare His “wondrous works” (Psalm 71:17), we can feel our Savior’s love more abundantly as we connect with others and come closer to Christ together.