Using our Time Wisely: Prophets Counsel on Limiting our Media Time

President Hinckley, BYU Speeches, 16 October 1990

We are constantly reminded that there is cause for alarm in our nation. It is shocking to read, for instance, that illiteracy is on the rise. ...One of the reasons for this condition lies in the way in which so many spend much of their time. I deplore the terrible waste of the intellectual resources of so many people of this nation who devote countless hours watching mindless drivel.

In the Wall Street Journal was a column written by the former editor of the Chicago Tribune. He wrote of certain aspects of television and then asked:

What is the mystery...about a society that has the manners of a rock band, the morals of a soap opera, the decision-making ability of the Simpsons and wants to pay for government with Visa and American Express? Why should we be surprised that our underlying culture is constructed from the ratings-based, give-them-what-they-want, remote-controlled, quick-zap world of commercial television? [Jim Squires, “Television’s Civil War,” Wall Street Journal, 8 October 1990, p. 10]

To you I say, don’t be a couch potato. Be a man or a woman with a mind and a will and a bit of discipline, with a zest for learning.

Elder M. Russell Ballard, “Be Strong in the Lord,” Ensign, July 2004.

“One of the ways Satan lessens your effectiveness and weakens your spiritual strength is by encouraging you to spend large blocks of your time doing things that matter very little. I speak of such things as sitting for hours on end watching television or videos, playing video games night in and night out, surfing the Internet, or devoting huge blocks of time to sports, games, or other recreational activities.

“Don’t misunderstand me. These activities are not wrong in and of themselves (unless, of course, you are watching salacious programs or seeking out pornographic images on the Internet). Games, sports, recreational activities, and even television can be relaxing and rejuvenating, especially in times when you are under stress or heavily scheduled. You need activities that help you to unwind and rest your minds. It is healthy to go onto the soccer field or the basketball court and participate in vigorous physical activity.

“But I speak of letting things get out of balance. It is not watching television, but watching television hour after hour, night after night. Does not that qualify as idling away your time? What will you say to the Lord when He asks what you have done with the precious gift of life and time? Surely you will not feel comfortable telling Him that you were able to pass the 100,000-point level in a challenging video game.

“One devastating effect of idling away our time is that it deflects us from focusing on the things that matter most. Too many people are willing to sit back and let life just happen to them. It takes time to develop the attributes that will help you to be a well-balanced person.”

COUNSEL TO YOUTH

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Rise Up, O Men of God,” Oct. 2016

Young men, rise up and discipline yourself to take advantage of educational opportunities. Your education will strengthen your service in the Church.”

Gordon B. Hinckley “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth” Ensign, Jan. 2001

You are moving into the most competitive age the world has ever known. All around you is competition. You need all the education you can get. Sacrifice a car; sacrifice anything that is needed to be sacrificed to qualify yourselves to do the work of the world. That world will in large measure pay you what it thinks you are worth, and your worth will increase as you gain education and proficiency in your chosen field.

You belong to a church that teaches the importance of education. You have a mandate from the Lord to educate your minds and your hearts and your hands.

                 

 “We cannot waste time entertaining ourselves when we have the chance to read or to listen to whatever will help us learn what is true and useful. Henry B. Eyring

Elder M. Russell Ballard “Raising the Greatest Generation of Missionaries,” 2003 BYU Women’s Conference

1. Limit the amount of time spent playing computer or electronic games. How many kills or baskets or points one can score in a minute with a computer game will have zero effect on children’s ability to be a good missionary and may, in fact, dull their senses, emotions, and receptivity to the Spirit.
2. Limit the time watching television, and go to movies, and watch videos. And beware—be fully aware of what our youth are watching on all kinds of media.
3.  Accepting responsibility for decisions and master self-control.

4.         Learn not to waste time. Focus on things that matter most, such as how to serve and find joy in putting the happiness of others ahead of our own.

“Of the time that is allotted to man here on the earth there is none to lose or to waste. After suitable rest and relaxation there is not a day, hour or minute that we should spend in idleness, but every minute of every day of our lives we should strive to improve our minds and to increase the faith of the holy Gospel.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, 290)

Elder David R. Bednar, “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn,” October 2011

It is no coincidence that FamilySearch and other tools have come forth at a time when young people are so familiar with a wide range of information and communication technologies. Your fingers have been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord—not just to communicate quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of salvation.

As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives.

Young people increasingly need to be learners who act and thereby receive additional light and knowledge by the power of the Holy Ghost—and not merely passive students who primarily are acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26).

You will count your many blessings as young people devote more time to family history work and temple service and less time to video games, surfing the Internet, and Facebooking. 

President Spencer W. Kimball, “On Cheating Yourself,” New Era, April 1972

I have interviewed many young men for missions, and I have asked them this question: “What were your grades in high school or college?” A little embarrassed, many have answered, “Oh, about a C average.” I have then asked, “Was that the best you could do?” And almost without exception their answers have been, “No, I was capable of better work. I fooled around and wasted my time quite a bit.” Such young men then realize that they have cheated themselves. 

Book of Mormon Theme: Taking a Direct Path Through the Wilderness of Life

As we go through life, there are so many choices to make. I try to weigh my options and make a well-thought-out decision, but I have learned for myself that the scripture in Isaiah  55:8-9, is one of the most important principles to remember:

Isaiah 55: 8 For my ^athoughts are not ^byour thoughts, neither are your ^cways my ^dways, saith the Lord.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ^aways ^bhigher 

than your ways, and my ^cthoughts than your thoughts.

So this is what I think is one of the important related scriptural themes:  When we receive and follow promptings from the Holy Ghost we will take a more direct course in our lives and we do not suffer so much “in the wilderness.”  It is found throughout the scriptures including the stories of Lehi and his family and the story of the Jaredites:

 Read in Alma 37:40-42 where he talks about the Liahona:

40 And it did work for them according to their ^afaith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by ^asmall means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were ^bslothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

THEME: He points out that “they forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased and they did not progress in their journey; therefore they tarried in the wilderness or did not travel a direct course. 

·      Lehi’s family didn't have to be in the wilderness for 8 years!  (See 1 Nephi 17:4)

So again, this is what I think is one of the important scriptural themes:  When we receive and follow promptings from the Holy Ghost we will take a more direct course in our lives and not suffer so much “in the wilderness.” 

Here is an example from my “Journal of Spiritual Promptings” that illustrates what I have learned:

12/17/2011  I was remembering tonight that a year ago this fall I was applying at BYU.  I had the application all filled out and called our executive secretary to set up my appointment with the bishop for my ecclesiastical endorsement, which was the final step in the application process.  As soon as I hung up the phone I had a very negative feeling.  I called him back and canceled my appointment and decided it must not have been the right time to start back to BYU.  I didn’t know why, but I knew it wasn’t the right time. Tonight as I remembered the incident, I realized that if I had continued with my application to BYU last year then I would have been starting classes two weeks after our daughter’s accident.

[Our oldest daughter, Tricia, and her family were traveling to Utah for our son’s wedding when they were in a car accident. Their 3-year old daughter was killed, and our daughter was in ICU with a broken back, punctured lung, and shattered knee. After 10 days in the hospital, we had a hospital bed and a wheel chair brought into our home and I took care of her and her other 2 girls while her husband returned to work. I wouldn’t have been able to attend BYU that semester.]

Here is an earlier example, also from my journal:

3/2/2007  Now that all of the kids are in school, I have been working towards going back to school at BYU to finish my bachelor’s degree. I have spent a lot of time researching majors and careers and how much they would pay and be flexible.  My application is officially turned in at BYU and I should hear back any time.   I was really excited when I decided to do the Marriage, Family and Human Development major because they are all classes about parenting and families.  I would be a social worker.  I went down to campus yesterday and talked with a MFHD counselor and declared that as my major.  But after I walked out of the office I felt that it wasn’t the right major for me.

[I worked on some general online classes, but it took more months of research and time before I chose to major in Family History-Genealogy. I now have only 4 classes left to graduate and I love this major; so grateful for the prompting that redirected the direction I was taking.]

In looking back on these two experiences, I think of how much harder things would have been if I hadn't listened to the promptings. The Holy Ghost gives us promptings that make our lives easier. Especially if we are in tune enough to hear them.

A few of the other scriptures in the Book of Mormon which I feel really fits this theme include:

   Ether 2:5

And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness. , yea, into that quarter where never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel.

 Ether 3:3

Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us.

[The whole story of the Brother of Jared and his family’s journey in the wilderness is a parable of life.]

Mosiah 2:36

And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved.

Mosiah 1:16-17

And the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him.

Therefore, as they were unfaithful they did not prosper nor progress in their journey.

I have pages in my journal filled with similar experiences of how the Holy Ghost blessed me to take a better path. I can’t put into words what great blessings I have received and how much these blessings help me feel how much my Heavenly Father loves me.