Elder David A. Bednar gave a talk about six years ago called, “Things as They Really Are.” In it, he talked about distractions that can hinder our spiritual and physical body; specifically, about the impact technology can have on us. Last year during BYU education week, Elder Bednar built upon that message with, “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood.”
Although both messages are centered around the impact technology can have, the focus of the two differ. “Things as They Really Are” focuses more on the cautions of technology than it does the advantages whereas, “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood” focuses more on the possibilities and blessings of technology than it does on the cautions. Though the main focuses are different, Elder Bednar mentions in both of them a “voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls.” I think another way in which the two are similar is that one builds on the other. “Things as They Really Are” was given five years ago which at the time, was what the saints needed to hear. As technology was advancing we needed to be warned and informed of the dangers of using technology. Hearing that talk by Elder Bednar was just preparing the saints to hear, “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood” which informed them of the ways that technology and social media can be used to accelerate the work of salvation.
The tone of the two articles and the roles of technology described are ways in which they differ. In “Things as They Really Are,” the tone was one of warning. “I plead with you to beware of the sense-dulling and spiritually destructive influence of cyberspace technologies…” Elder Bednar also gave many examples of ways that technology can be harmful and “play a role in minimizing the importance of our physical bodies.” In “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood,” Elder Bednar had a tone of enthusiasm and encouragement. In relation to social media he said, “I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood.” He talked about all the many ways that technology and social media has “played an increasingly important role in the hastening of the work.”
While Elder Bednar’s talk “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood” is an extent of his previous message “Things as They Really Are,” and they have a lot of similarities in them, they also have some differences. The main focus, of course is on technology but the influences of technology talked about in the two articles is different. Large amounts of time do not need to be spent using technology but if we all contribute a message of truth, lives around the world will be changed.
Although both messages are centered around the impact technology can have, the focus of the two differ. “Things as They Really Are” focuses more on the cautions of technology than it does the advantages whereas, “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood” focuses more on the possibilities and blessings of technology than it does on the cautions. Though the main focuses are different, Elder Bednar mentions in both of them a “voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls.” I think another way in which the two are similar is that one builds on the other. “Things as They Really Are” was given five years ago which at the time, was what the saints needed to hear. As technology was advancing we needed to be warned and informed of the dangers of using technology. Hearing that talk by Elder Bednar was just preparing the saints to hear, “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood” which informed them of the ways that technology and social media can be used to accelerate the work of salvation.
The tone of the two articles and the roles of technology described are ways in which they differ. In “Things as They Really Are,” the tone was one of warning. “I plead with you to beware of the sense-dulling and spiritually destructive influence of cyberspace technologies…” Elder Bednar also gave many examples of ways that technology can be harmful and “play a role in minimizing the importance of our physical bodies.” In “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood,” Elder Bednar had a tone of enthusiasm and encouragement. In relation to social media he said, “I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood.” He talked about all the many ways that technology and social media has “played an increasingly important role in the hastening of the work.”
While Elder Bednar’s talk “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood” is an extent of his previous message “Things as They Really Are,” and they have a lot of similarities in them, they also have some differences. The main focus, of course is on technology but the influences of technology talked about in the two articles is different. Large amounts of time do not need to be spent using technology but if we all contribute a message of truth, lives around the world will be changed.
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