Create

This week I have just been in awe of the media!
I am doing an internship this semester, and unexpectedly,
I've had the opportunity to do a lot of graphic creation and design.
This is definitely not my area of expertise...
But as I've learned to use different programs like Illustrator and Acrobat,
I've been amazed by all the resources we have to create.

My husband is a filmmaker.
He is an amazing artist, and his work is uplifting and inspiring.
I love that because of the media and technology,
He is able to do something he loves and is passionate about.

As President Uchtdorf says,
It is an inherent human gift to create.
I'm so grateful for the media available in our world--
that gives us greater opportunity and capacity to do what we were made to do.

Bednar's Wisdom

I was so touched by the Mormon Message we watched in class.
I had never heard Elder Bednar speak about media and his words were so powerful.

This last weekend, my family went to St. George.
There is this new scrabble game app that my mom loves called "Words with Friends".
Many of us downloaded the game so we could all challenge each other.
Throughout the weekend, we continuously played the game...
On the drive home, I noticed that there was a lot more playing than talking going on.
It was a Sunday morning, we were driving early so we could be home in time for church--
I realized that I had only read half a chapter in the Book of Mormon,
But I had managed to play 5 rounds of the game during the 4 hour car ride.

Elder Bednar's talk really hit home for me.
I loved his two questions,
"Does it invite or impede the Holy Ghost?"
"Does it enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve?"

I realized that I would have to answer no to both those questions after this weekend.
I, first off, forfeited the companionship of the spirit,
and secondly, forfeited the opportunity to build greater relationships with my family.

Starting today, I'll frequently ask myself Elder Bednar's questions,
and start living my life accordingly.

Think Twice America

I was listening to a podcast by Michael Medved the other day.
He reported that the average American watches 4 hours a day of television...
And unfortunately we don't have a news business, but a " bad news business"
Since over 70% of news content highlights crime, sickness and natural disasters.
Michael believes that the affects of watching too much TV include:
negativity and pessimism,
short-term attention span,
emphasis on the superficial/material
and loneliness.

I think based on the popular content consumed today, this evaluation is true.
However, it doesn't have to be!
As Americans, we need to be more conscious of our media consumption.
Great programs that offer education, perspective, positivity and enrichment are available.
We just need to seek them out.
I'm grateful for this class because it has helped me to see all both sides of the media coin.
I know that our lives are what we make of them, as is our use of media.

A Digital World

This morning I got up to start doing my homework...
My laptop battery life was at 7%.
I started searching frantically for my charger,
Finally realizing that I had left it at the internship office.
I thought it wouldn't be a big deal,
Maybe I'd just go pick it up the next day?
After I studied my scriptures,
I went to do my homework and realized there was absolutely NOTHING
for me to do with no computer.
I didn't want to start writing my essay on real paper,
Because I knew it would take twice as long and I'd have to retype the whole thing later.
I couldn't even do my readings since I needed learning suite to find out what they were.

It's amazing how much of our lives exists inside of technology.
I'm grateful for the productivity and efficiency it brings to my education.
I know that our learning is enhanced and advanced if we choose to embrace its benefits,
And minimize its distractions.
Yay for the media!