The Best Thing You Can Do To Help Mormons on YouTube.com

Heather · #1 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 07:38 PM

Please email this message on to your family and friends. Our LDS faith is under attack, and we need your help.

For those of you who have flagged the video created by the Mormon hate group which is at the top of YouTube's search results for Mormon, I thank you, and say: Welcome to the Conversation.

Flagging these awful videos is a Good way to help remove lies about our faith on the Internet. However, let me tell you the Best way to shine the light on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are going to shine the light on the Lord's work. We are going to help those who want to know what we believe, find it. On a daily basis I receive messages from people who are appalled by what we believe, because what they see online about Mormons is appalling. Please help me change that.

Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest. Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time. D&C 71:7-10

Did you know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a YouTube.com account? I don't think you do. Do you know why I think that? Because over two weeks ago the Church uploaded this amazing video with Elder Nelson discussing the new website, http://JesusChrist.lds.org. With approximately 13 million LDS members, why does that video only have 500 views? View it here: YouTube - New Web Site Focuses on Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ

Did you know that Elder Ballard has instructed Church members to get online, write a blog, use new media, and join the conversation? You can view a portion of his talk here: YouTube - Elder Ballard Invites Mormons to Join Internet Conversation

It only takes a few minutes to join YouTube.com, create a blog, and put a video from the Church on your personal page. Each time the Church's videos are viewed, they move up the list. It's so simple that even my mom can do it, and if she can do it, you no longer have an excuse.

I have created a video that will walk you through setting up an account on YouTube.com and LDS.net, where you can start a blog, upload YouTube videos to it, and share your testimony. You can view the video here:

YouTube - Support Mormon LDS Videos Online

I've also written out the steps below so you have them on hand.
Thank you for your time and willingness to help in this effort. Every small thing you do WILL make a difference.

Get a YouTube account:

Go to YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
On the top right, click the link for "Sign Up."
On the right-side column, fill out the form under "Create Your YouTube Account." Fill out the information and then click "Sign Up."
Go to your email account and open the email from YouTube Service. Click on the link in that email to "Confirm your email."
The link will take you to YouTube.com and you will be logged in with your account. If when you go to YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. and you do not see your username at the top right, click on the link "Log In" and enter your username and password to sign on.

Support Good Videos

Visit one of the links I listed below and click on a video. Underneath the video, you will see a heart and a link for "Favorite." Click this link and it will be added to your favorite videos. This is a great way for you to keep track of the videos that you like, plus visitors to your page can click on your favorite link and see all of your favorite videos.
Underneath the favorite link, you will see "Rate" and five stars next to it. Please rate the video by clicking on the appropriate star. If you place your mouse on the 5th star, all the stars will turn red. Click the 5th star to give an "Awesome" rating.
If comments have been allowed for the video, please leave a comment for the person who created/uploaded it. Make your comments unique and applicable to the video. Encourage and thank those who are creating and uploading these great videos. Some videos do no not allow comments, and some times you will need to wait for your comments to be approved by the member.
Helpful Tip: Pick a great video, like this one: YouTube - Mormon Myths and Reality and make it your home page. Now every time you go online, you are supporting the Church's video about Mormon Myths and Reality.

Links to some the Best YouTube Channels.
The LDS Church's videos (YouTube - LDSPublicAffairs's Channel)
Fair LDS (YouTube - fairldsorg's Channel)
lds9999 (YouTube - lds9999's Channel)
SethAdamSmith (http://www.youtube.com/user/SethAdamSmithl)
belivingldsmormon (YouTube - believingldsmormon's Channel)
More Good Foundation (YouTube - moregoodfoundation's Channel)
StillSmallVoices (YouTube - StillSmallVoices's Channel)
1Nephi (YouTube - 1Nephi's Channel)
MormonDefenders (YouTube - MormonDefenders's Channel)

Get a Blog and Share Your Testimony
There are several places online where you can create a blog and join the conversation. I think the easiest place to do this is at LDS Mormon Network: LDS Mormon Chat, Forums, Beliefs, Blogs, because all of your tools are in one place, and there is a large community there to support you.

Go to LDS Mormon Network: LDS Mormon Chat, Forums, Beliefs, Blogs and click on SignUp
Fill out the information on the form and submit it.
Go to your email account and open the email from LDS.Net. Click on the link in that email to "Confirm your email."
The link will take you to LDS.net and you can sign in with your username and password. This will take you to "My Account" page
Click on profile settings. You can now fill out information about yourself, and you can also embed a video.

How to embed a video on your LDS.net Page

View the video you want on YouTube.com. On the right side you will see a box that has the author, "About This Video" and then you will see "Embed."
Left click in the Embed box where it stays "object width="425" height="35 This will select all the code. Now you can right click and select "Copy" or use Ctrl + C to copy it.
Go back to your profile settings on LDS.net, and page the code into "My video" box
Helpful Tip: When someone views the YouTube video on your page, it will give a view to their video on the YouTube site. They only have to start this video to count the view.
If you have any questions, please post a message in the "How to Forums" 'How do I' Questions Forum - LDS.net - LDS Mormon Forums and someone will answer you right away.
Advance users – To have the video automatically start when someone visits your page, you can remove both object and param tags and add &autoplay=1 after the URL in the embed tag.

focus · #2 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 09:28 PM

Excellent post....well said.

WillowTheWhisp · #3 (**permalink**) 03-15-2008, 04:00 AM

I'm a little bit concerned about copyright for what we can put on the net if it's something produced by the church. I've had it rammed into me that we can't even photocopy hymns to teach the children or teach the choir so I just want to be careful that I don't do anything I shouldn't.

Heather · #4 (**permalink**) 03-15-2008, 09:12 AM

This is a bit different than you taking a video produced by the Church and uploading it to your YouTube account. The Church has allowed you to embed these videos on other sites. If they didn't want you to do this, they would turn that feature off. I'm not sure why you had people telling you not to copy the hymns. Right on the website it says that's fine.

Copyright Guidelines
Music in Church publications such as Hymns and the Children's Songbook may be copied for noncommercial Church or home use if it (1) bears a copyright notice indicating that it is owned by the Church or Intellectual Reserve, Inc. (IRI) or (2) includes instructions that allow such duplication. Each copy should include any existing copyright notice.

FigBearingThistle · #5 (**permalink**) 03-15-2008, 12:44 PM

When I saw this video about a year ago, I was concerned. But no longer. Attacks like this are essential to our vibrancy and growth as a Church and the strength of our member's faith.

As for new investigators, the Lord said "My sheep hear my voice".

The video has been there on YouTube for over a year, with over a million hits. It is likely to stay. But our comments are always helpful as you indicated.

Heather · #6 (**permalink**) 03-15-2008, 01:31 PM

Actually I doubt the comments on that video are going to do much. You post it one day, and the next day they're off the list. What would be effective is follow the outline of the first post and support the true and accurate videos, so that when someone searches about Mormons, at least they can find the correct information.

Gaea · #7 (**permalink**) 03-16-2008, 07:44 AM

You Can Not Classify A Documentary As A Potential To Proving IF, Or IF Not The Church Is True. What If They Found Proof That Your Church Is True.

The Basic Facts, You Fear That Maybe They Can Be Seen As Right, Thus You Fear The Content Of The Documentary.

It Is Most Likely That You Should Investigate Thier Aligations First, Before You Judge them As Working The Evil Causes.

Gaea · #8 (**permalink**) 03-16-2008, 07:50 AM

It Is A Big fact That In Order To Maintain Faith, You Must Not Fear Persicution. Thus Instead Of Worrying. Post Your Own video On You tube, And Prove Them Wrong.

Its No Good, Writing In A Forum To Members Of The Church, The Fact Is Most People That See The Film Are Non Members. So The Only way Of Discrediting The Publisher Of The Video Is To Prove Them Wrong.

If Your Able To Prove Them Wrong With Factual evidence Then There Crediblity Will Faid.

Heather · #9 (**permalink**) 03-16-2008, 10:16 AM

Yes, that's exactly what the first post is telling members to do. They don't need to upload their own videos, per say, as there are already videos there that state what we believe in. But Members can have their say by supporting videos that actually state what we believe in, so those videos can be found as easily as the videos full of lies and having the intent to mislead.

Rico · #10 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 05:31 AM

Embedding videos is so easy, you don't even need to sign up. Just copy the embed code and put it into your blog. There are even forums where you can post videos as well.