Media: What the Apostles and Prophets Have Said about Choosing Uplifting Media

See also:

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

In trying to make wise choices about the media our family watches, I wanted to understand what the prophets and apostles had counselled us to avoid. Notice how many of the current or recent prophets and apostles have spoken on this.

For me, the main drive for this goal was a desire to “always have His Spirit to be with us,” as explained in this quote by Elder Bednar:

The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us.

Here is the summary from the quotes below of things we should avoid in our media:

·         Immodesty

·         Immorality

·         Vulgar language

·         Profanity

·         Violence

·         Subtle ridicule of traditional values

·         Whatever tears people down or confuses gender

Pres. Russell M. Nelson, Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel, Oct. 2018

I invite you to participate in a 10-day fast from social media and from any other media that bring negative and impure thoughts to your mind. Pray to know which influences to remove during your fast.

1. For the Strength of Youth: Entertainment and Media

“Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable. …

“Have the courage to walk out of a movie or video party, turn off a computer or television, change a radio station, or put down a magazine if what is being presented does not meet Heavenly Father’s standards. Do these things even if others do not.”

2. Elder L. Tom Perry, “Choose the Right,” October 1993

“We live today in a world so full of choices.  Television offers both the good and the bad.  Very few movies are worthy of seeing because of the profanity, violence, and immortality that fill them.  Advertising is full of enticements to lead us to violate the Word of Wisdom.  Some music, with its monotonous rhythms, beats illicit thoughts into our heads.

3.     Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Unspeakable Gift,” April 2003

Brothers and sisters, do we turn away the still, small voice? Do we do things that offend the Holy Ghost? Do we allow influences into our homes that drive the Spirit from our homes? The type of entertainment that we permit into our homes will certainly have an impact on the power of the Holy Ghost. Much of the entertainment of the world is offensive to the Holy Ghost. Surely we should not watch movies or television shows that are filled with violence, vulgar language, and immorality. 

4.      David A. Bednar, “That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us,” April 2006

We should also endeavor to discern when we “withdraw [ourselves] from the Spirit of the Lord. Precisely because the promised blessing is that we may always have His Spirit to be with us, we should attend to and learn from the choices and influences that separate us from the Holy Spirit.

The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us.

5.      Elder M. Russell Ballard, “Let our Voices Be Heard,” October 2003

Most of the sitcoms, dramas, and reality shows contain immorality, violence, and subtle ridicule of traditional values and traditional families. Each year the new shows seem to get worse, pushing the envelope of what the public will accept. What comes out of Hollywood, off the Internet, and in much of today’s music creates a web of decadence that can trap our children and endanger all of us.

Family-destructive viewpoints and behavior are regularly portrayed as pleasurable, as stylish, as exciting, and as normal. Often media’s most devastating attacks on family are not direct or frontal or openly immoral. Intelligent evil is too cunning for that, knowing that most people still profess belief in family and in traditional values. Rather the attacks are subtle and amoral—issues of right and wrong don’t even come up. Immorality and sexual innuendo are everywhere, causing some to believe that because everyone is doing it, it must be all right.

When evil wants to strike out and disrupt the essence of God’s work, it attacks the family. It does so by attempting to disregard the law of chastity, to confuse gender, to desensitize violence, to make crude and blasphemous language the norm, and to make immoral and deviant behavior seem like the rule rather than the exception.

6. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “A Matter of a Few Degrees,” April 2008

Pornography, violence, intolerance, and ungodliness destroy families, marriages, and individual lives. These dangers are distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, and music, as well as the Internet. The Lord will help you to recognize and avoid those evils. It is the early recognition of danger and a clear course correction that will keep you in the light of the gospel. Minor decisions can lead to major consequences. The Lord requires not only outward acts but also your inner thoughts and feelings to be close to the spirit of the law.

7. Elder Neil L. Andersen, “It’s True, Isn’t It? Then What Else Matters?” April 2007

 Many sacrifices are quietly accomplished: returned missionaries not delaying the responsibility of finding their eternal companion; righteous women desiring children and investing their lives in rearing them in love and truth; families carefully restricting the media and Internet influences that would tarnish their spirits; husbands and wives finding more time to be in the temple together.

8. Elder Richard G. Scott, “How to Live Well Amid Increasing Evil,” April 2004

Satan skillfully manipulates the power of all types of media and communication. His success has greatly increased the extent and availability of such degrading and destructive influences worldwide. In the past some effort was required to seek out such evil. Now it saturates significant portions of virtually every corner of the world. Have you noticed how Satan works to capture the mind and emotions with flashing images, blaring music, and the stimulation of every physical sense to excess? He diligently strives to fill life with action, entertainment, and stimulation so that one cannot ponder the consequences of his tempting invitations. Think of it. Some are tempted to violate the most basic commandments of God because of seductive actions portrayed as acceptable.

9. Elder Quintin L. Cook, “Can Ye Feel So Now?” October 2012

We are all aware the culture in most of the world is not conducive to righteousness or spiritual commitment. The constant portrayal of violence and immorality in music, entertainment, art, and other media in our day-to-day culture is unprecedented. This was dramatically described by a highly respected Baptist theologian when he stated, “The spiritual immune system of an entire civilization has been wounded.”

Sexual immorality and impure thoughts violate the standard established by the Savior.¹⁷ We were warned at the beginning of this dispensation that sexual immorality would be perhaps the greatest challenge.¹⁸ Such conduct will, without repentance, cause a spiritual drought and loss of commitment. Movies, TV, and the Internet often convey degrading messages and images. 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.

10. President Thomas S. Monson, “Three Goals to Guide You,” October 2007

To an alarming extent, our children today are being educated by the media, including the Internet. In the United States, it is reported that the average child watches approximately four hours of television daily, much of the programming being filled with violence, alcohol and drug use, and sexual content. Watching movies and playing video games is in addition to the four hours. And the statistics are much the same for other developed countries.

The messages portrayed on television, in movies, and in other media are very often in direct opposition to that which we want our children to embrace and hold dear. It is our responsibility not only to teach them to be sound in spirit and doctrine but also to help them stay that way, regardless of the outside forces they may encounter. This will require much time and effort on our part—and in order to help others, we ourselves need the spiritual and moral courage to withstand the evil we see on every side.

11. “’A society that views graphic violence as entertainment … should not be surprised when senseless violence shatters the dreams of its youngest and brightest.’” Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Apr. 1994

12. “Remember, our Savior, Jesus Christ, always builds us up and never tears us down.  We should apply the power of that example in the ways we use our time, including our recreation and diversions.  Consider the themes of the books, magazines, movies, television, and music we make popular by our patronage.”  --Dallin H. Oakes, Nov 95,
    
    

13.   Another activity that can detract us from the proper way is watching television excessively or viewing improper movies. While fine productions on these media are uplifting and entertaining, we need to be very selective in choosing what we see and how much of our time such an activity deserves. Our precious time must not be diverted to the sideline attractions of vulgar language, immoral conduct, pornography, and violence. Joseph B. Wirthlin, Oct. 1990

14.  “Sadly, the effects of this great pollution are perhaps most evident in the mass media, films, television, and popular music.  Although there are some uplifting exceptions, in most areas of the mass media there seems to be a declaration of war against almost everything the majority treasures most: the family, religion, and patriotism.  Remember that anything that is not good for children is rarely good for adults.” --Joe J. Christensen, Nov 93, p. 11

15. “One of the great tragedies is that too many are watching and listening to this type of so-called entertainment.  I plead with you to leave it alone.  Stay away from any movie, video, publication, or music - regardless of its rating - where illicit behavior and expressions are a part of the action.  Have the courage to turn it off in your living room.  Throw the tapes and the publications in the garbage can, for that is where we keep garbage.” 

I know it is hard counsel we give when we say movies that are R-rated, and many with PG-13 ratings, are produced by satanic influences.  Our standards should not be dictated by the rating system.”  --H. Burke Peterson, Nov 93, p. 43

16.  Opposite from its harmful and permissive side, media offers much that is positive and productive. Television offers history channels, discovery channels, education channels. One can still find movies and TV comedies and dramas that entertain and uplift and accurately depict the consequences of right and wrong. This pernicious evil is not out in the street somewhere; it is coming right into our homes, right into the heart of our families. Elder M. Russell Ballard, “Let our Voices be Heard” 10/2003

17. “We live today in a world so full of choices.  Television offers both the good and the bad.  Very few movies are worthy of seeing because of the profanity, violence, and immortality that fill them.  Advertising is full of enticements to lead us to violate the Word of Wisdom.  Some music, with its monotonous rhythms, beats illicit thoughts into our heads.  Consider the counsel given by Pres. Spencer W. Kimball: ‘Now may I make a recommendation?  Develop discipline of self so that, more and more, you do not have to decide and redecide what you will do when you are confronted with the same tempatation time and time again.  You need only to decide some things once.  How great a blessing it is to be free of agonizing over and over again regarding a temptation.  To do such is time-consuming and very risky.’ Pres. Kimball Speaks Out.“   --L. Tom Perry, Nov 93

Elder M. Russell Ballard, When Shall These Things Be? BYU 1996

I believe you cannot watch on film people gunned down in cold blood, in living color, and not have it affect the attitudes and thoughts of some of the people who see it. I believe you cannot continually portray human sexuality as just another physical appetite that has to be satisfied—whenever and with whomever the urge strikes—without diminishing respect for God and His commandments. And I believe that the desensitizing effect of such media abuses on the hearts and souls of those who are exposed to them result in a partial fulfillment of the Savior’s statement that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12).

In order to keep the light and love of Christ burning in our hearts, we have to be careful in our choices of what we will watch and what we will read.

Dallin H. Oaks 1974 Ensign 
“Our Savior emphasized the importance of sexual purity when he taught that it was sinful for a man to look upon a woman to lust after her. That teaching leads me to say a few words about the kind of material we read and the kinds of movies and television we view. We are surrounded by the promotional literature of illicit sexual relations on the printed page and on the screen. For your own good, avoid it.

Pornographic or erotic stories and pictures are worse than filthy or polluted food. The body has defenses to rid itself of unwholesome food. With a few fatal exceptions, bad food will only make you sick, but will do no permanent harm. In contrast, a person who feasts upon filthy stories, or pornographic or erotic pictures and literature, records them in this marvelous retrieval system we call a brain. The brain won’t forget this filth. Once recorded it will always remain subject to recall, flashing its perverted images across your mind and drawing you away from the wholesome things in life.”

Brigham Young University President Dallin H. Oaks, from President’s Assembly speech, September 6, 1973


THE ETERNAL NATURE OF THE LAW OF CHASTITY by Elder Gene R. Cook 1989 - Ricks College, See the section on "Select Wholesome Music:

How many of you have heard of Mick Jagger? I think almost everyone has as he is one of the most famous rock stars in the world. Well, you might be surprised to know that I had about 2-1/2 hours with him on an airplane and it was quite an experience. I’m going to relate part of that to you to try to illustrate this important point about selecting wholesome music.

After we visited back and forth a minute or two about what we were doing and all, I finally said something like, “You know, Mick, I have a question for you that I’d like you to answer for me.” He said, “Well, I’ll be glad to try.” Then I said to him, “I have opportunity to be with young people in many different places around the world, and some of them have told me that the kind of music you and others like you sing has no effect on them, that it’s okay, and that it doesn’t affect them adversely in any way. Then other young people have told me very honestly that your kind of music has a real effect on them for evil and that it affects them in a very bad way.

You’ve been in this business for a long time, Mick. I’d like to know your opinion. What do you think is the impact of your music on the young people?” This is a direct quote, brothers and sisters. He said, “Our music is calculated to drive the kids to sex.” Those were his exact words.