Some Thoughts on Media
My daughter is too young to
receive a great deal of media exposure other than what my husband and I present
to her in the home. But as I go out into
the world with her I see that media seeps into our lives in ways that I
as a parent cannot control. I believe
media is a powerful and useful tool, but I also see its
destructive abilities. As I seek to
raise my daughter to live in the world, but not of the world this has led to a
great deal of consideration on my part of what I feel is and is not appropriate
in media. This has also led me to the ponder how I as a parent teach my child to make righteous choices in the media around her.
Through my considering I feel the
first step in teaching my daughter the appropriate use of media is in helping
her realize what her eternal desires and goals are. Our Father in Heaven has given us the
opportunity for exaltation, the chance to be like Him. It is my responsibility to help my daughter understand
this and teach her to live her life so that she may achieve it. If she has an earnest desire to stand pure in
the presence of God then my job as a parent will have just become that much
easier because she will understand and want to keep herself in situations that
allow her to feel the Spirit and that keep her pure in thought and deed.
Giving my daughter a foundation in
the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ then also allows me to give her
guidance in the world of media. The
reality of the matter is to be fully protected in choosing media my daughter
will need to be a worthy and close companion of the Spirit, also known as the
Holy Ghost. It is through the Holy Ghost
that we are able to receive witnesses of truth. At eight years old my daughter will have the
opportunity open up to her to be baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints and thus be eligible to receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost. This will allow her to
always have the Holy Ghost with her to guide her so long as she is worthy. What a great protection for my daughter in
the world of media! For the Strength of
Youth says, “Satan uses media to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil
look normal, humorous, or exciting.”
With Satan able to use the media as a tool to confuse, I have to teach
my daughter to keep the Spirit with her to help her discern what is truly right
and wrong.
The Holy Ghost is able to teach
us, but we also have to do our part to seek learning and knowledge. So what can I do as a parent to teach my
daughter how to seek out righteous media?
I can begin by being actively involved now in teaching what media is
appropriate to participate in. I play a
major role especially in my daughter’s earlier years where I am the one really
introducing things to her. She trusts me
in what media I introduce into our home.
She sees my actions and uses them as guidelines for her own. That makes what I do as a parent a huge
responsibility.
Realizing the responsibility I
have to lead my daughter in righteous living, specifically in the choice of
media, I think frequently upon a quote from Elder Quentin L. Cook. He says. “Parents must have the courage to
filter or monitor Internet access, television, movies, and music. Parents must have the courage to say no,
defend truth, and bear powerful testimony.
Your children need to know that you have faith in the Savior, love your
Heavenly Father, and sustain the leaders of the Church.” As I fulfill the direction given in this
quote I feel successful in the guidance I give and the choices I make in media
not only for my daughter but also for myself.
