Called to serve - as a CYBER Missionary?

[Jenamarie]

Originally Posted by KosherXMorg

Called to serve him, heavenly king of e-bay
Chosen ere to google for his name
In Blogs and Groups we tell the Father's story
Across the net his love proclaim.

That's actually pretty catchy.

[justamere10]

Originally Posted by KosherXMorg

Called to serve him, heavenly king of e-bay
Chosen ere to google for his name
In Blogs and Groups we tell the Father's story
Across the net his love proclaim.

Good one.

[lds9999]

Originally Posted by KosherXMorg

Elder Ballard's recent advice I suspect will lead to problems. Your going to get these young bucks on the net heeding the call and they are going to be met with things they have never heard or thought of. I think the counsel might have some bad repercussions.

I wouldn't fully agree with this. Of course there will always a be a few who that might happen to. But for the most part, these "young bucks" are already the Internet super-users who spend hours a day on Facebook, on Youtube, and on the Internet in general. They are already met with things they have never heard or thought of--encouraging them to blog about their faith and join the discussion will not add a lot fuel to the fire.

If the Internet has had a negative impact on the Church thus far, I personally believe that will start to change. First, more positive content is being put up constantly, including answers to every "anti-Mormon" claim I've come across. Second, the younger generation (the super-users I've mentioned) are more skilled at researching on the Internet and will be able to find the answers to the issues.

The most important thing I've learned during my time online is that for every issue or question you have about gospel doctrine, Church history, etc., there are many faithful, smart Latter-day Saints who have also spent time thinking about it and can help share what they have found in their research and thinking. There are answers--just be willing to find it.

Every Latter-day Saint, in this Internet age, needs to understand that.

[Hemidakota]

Agreed....though, it is time for the church to have representatives to act in the name of the church on cyber-space.

Moska, you need to add some mustard to that tuna.

[Slim]

As a recent "newbie" to the online blogging of fellow church members, I say be careful what you ask for. There are MANY members of the church without a sound testimony, and some of these discussion boards bring up many questions and problems to members. Its a little disappointing when having been in the church my whole life (over 30 years) I can go online and learn things I had no idea about. The recent posting of the handbook of instructions (i had no idea male sterilization was against policy), or postings about the Spaulding papers. In my opinion, its opening up a huge can of worms.

[Hemidakota]

But in the end, that can of worms can be a testimonial builder.

[justamere10]

Originally Posted by Slim

As a recent "newbie" to the online blogging of fellow church members, I say be careful what you ask for. There are MANY members of the church without a sound testimony, and some of these discussion boards bring up many questions and problems to members. Its a little disappointing when having been in the church my whole life (over 30 years) I can go online and learn things I had no idea about. The recent posting of the handbook of instructions (i had no idea male sterilization was against policy), or postings about the Spaulding papers. In my opinion, its opening up a huge can of worms.

The 'worms' were released a long time ago.

In my opinion the sage scriptural advice to not cast one's pearls before swine does not apply in the cyber world. The pearls are already cast, all over the Internet!

There's little that happens even inside our temples that cannot be found on the Net. I think it's time for LDS Cyber Missionaries to boldly, respectfully, and accurately comment on everything except those things we learn in the temple that we are told not to speak of. I think it's a time for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to be out. That way people can decide for themselves where they fit in, make valid choices, and take eternal consequences justly mete.

Those who don't yet have an unshakeable testimony of the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by His Church urgently need to do some serious fasting and praying to get that, or they're going to be left behind as our world moves towards a separation of the righteous from the wicked.

It may not be long before we start to see mighty miracles wrought that could deceive and lead astray even the very elect. We MUST have our own burning unshakeable personal testimony that God lives and Jesus is the Christ and that they speak to God's Anointed on earth in our time!

And we MUST follow those Anointed Ones, the Senior Brethren of the LDS Church, as they guide and lead us into battles this world has never before seen. I think we are on the eve of or even in the frantic final days before our Savior's glorious Second Coming.

It's OUR watch, brothers and sisters, Cyber Missionaries may lead the charge...

That's how I see it.

[justamere10]

Originally Posted by Hemidakota

Agreed....though, it is time for the church to have representatives to act in the name of the church on cyber-space.

Moska, you need to add some mustard to that tuna.

Count me in. Er, hold the mustard...

[lds9999]

My "mission field" on the Internet is primarily Youtube. So I'm excited to see this article:

Meridian Magazine :: Arts: New Film on Extending the Priesthood to Worthy Men of Every Race

[justamere10]

Originally Posted by lds9999

My "mission field" on the Internet is primarily Youtube. So I'm excited to see this article:

Meridian Magazine :: Arts: New Film on Extending the Priesthood to Worthy Men of Every Race

If the Church ever does start officially calling "Cyber Missionaries" or at least leaders and organizers of unofficial Cyber Missionaries, there won't be any problem finding people who have already by the Spirit found where they fit in best. It seems that "mission fields" are already spontaneously growing out of Elder Ballard's 'call'. Must be a good seed...

Maybe a whole lot of us have been kind of 'sleeping' already prepared but waiting to be awakened by the Brethren??

Do you have any comments on that notion?