Join the Conversation

I've been thinking about blogging for some time now. Of course, Diahan started blogging many moons ago and I admit to being a nag about it - I always wanted her to write more. Rightly, she would say, "Well, why don't you, too?" I never had any really good rejoinder other than "I know you are but what am I?" My conscience really took a blow last December when I heard of Elder Russell M. Ballard's talk at BYU-Hawaii. (He is one of the twelve apostles in our church.)

The gist of his address was the complexity of today's media compared to when he was growing up; that how the internet has changed the paradigm so dramatically, there are thousands more voices in a once staid medium. The wonderful result is that everybody is getting his/her say, but also that a lot more incorrect things are being said - especially about the Mormons. His challenge was to join the global conversation, to define ourselves rather than letting others do it for us. Here is the money quote:

Now, to you who are graduating today and all other faithful members of the Church, as you graduate from this wonderful university, may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet, particularly the New Media, to share the gospel and to explain in simple, 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.

I love that blogs are a way to keep family in contact with what our kids are doing or a forum for random thoughts and photos. These things, in their very essence, are showing who we are. Diahan and I frequently talk at length on how the restored gospel of Jesus Christ has completely defined our lives. It shades, fills, consumes our many perspectives and behaviors. As an extension, we hope blogging will be just a reflection of that (which is to say - how poorly we are doing).

The only reason this topic has even come to mind was because of our sacrament meeting last Sunday and today. Both were experiences to be treasured and shared. And considering Elder Ballard's talk, it is certainly fitting to be shared here. So, I defer to Diahan.