Virtual Reality, Social Media, Online Gaming and Internet Addiction

[Krenisphia]

This video makes me love gaming even more. Thank you.

[BurnzyTheBassPlayer]

This is why everybody makes fun of religion.

[Fittlegroven]

I am a game developer and according to this man, I am "working with satan". Give me a break. People use video games to escape real life for a few hours a day and be happy for once. When I kill a person in a video game, how am I, in any way, harming anyone? Just because I play shooter games doesn't mean that I want to go postal and start shooting people in real life! Also the porn segment made me laugh. Has porn ever hurt anyone? No. You people are the reason I'm an agnostic. Stop forcing others

[aaminapa]

This video is amazing! I love it, I totally agree!!

What is the man's name??

[DefendingMormonism]

@aaminapa His name is David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (i.e. "Mormon" or "LDS" Church), and his title Elder is given to all apostles.

[kurakurokuru]

God ... help me. Where ever he is... I don't believe the internet is real ... I believe I am not real. 

[MultiIPwnage]

God is perfect, and perfection is the ultimate evil.

[grandtheftauto4123]

i Extreamly disagree with this video. i find that chat lines such as facebook and texing actually can get you and your friends together. i personally use chat lines to organize things with my friends. but gaming on the other hand is just a waste of time. (dont get mixed up with my name, my name was intended for literal meaning)

[DefendingMormonism]

@grandtheftauto4123 It's all about moderation in all things. Remember that Elder Bednar did not say that all of these things are evil in and of themselves. He said that if we spend too much time focusing on them, they can lessen time spent doing constructive positive things in our lives. Continue using these modern tools to better relationships.

[brismike65]

@DefendingMormonism whilst I may not agree with the religious aspects of this video, grand you put it very well

[DefendingMormonism]

@brismike65 Appreciate it. Much of what Elder Bednar says should be common sense, but what's more common nowadays is wasting lots of time in trivial online pursuits which take us away from making a difference in real life! Obviously there are many, many positive things to be done online. I created this channel to share my faith with many around the world. w/o digital connections I would obviously not be able to do this.

[brismike65]

@DefendingMormonism I does not matter if one agrees with Mormans or not as I stated this video is excellent and accurate and whilst the net may contain lots of things immoral (if you want to use that word) or trival the net can also empower. I guess it is a matter of weighing it up and avoiding the rubbish.

[MrLukasart]

There is no GOD !!!!

If it wasn't for the internet i wouldn't have come across RICHARD DAWKINS who saved me from eternal stupidity and irrationality that is RELIGION.

[THELDSLIFE]

I can't thank Apostle Bednar for his prayers. I never heard this message but I somehow decided on my own to rid myself of this scourge!

The mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ is great. All I can do is praise his name forever!

[THELDSLIFE]

I testify that brother Bednar... Apostle Bednar speaks the truth! The games I played online nearly cost me my eternal marriage. I used every rationalization that he repeated in this conference talk. I speak not that I might show my weakness before the world, for I since have been redeemed of God and I have made repentance to my wife, as well.

Do not suppose that Apostle Bednar is NOT in touch with reality. I am 100% sure that if I continued my course, I would have been rendered useless to God.

[THELDSLIFE]

@THELDSLIFE

Online gaming is the "Mess of Pottage" that Esau was given by Isaac in exchange for his birthright. I pray that NONE should lose their birthright over this modern temporary pleasure and enjoyment.

[oc714cal]

@THELDSLIFE - awesome analogy - thank you.

[DefendingMormonism]

@THELDSLIFE Glad that you turned your energy into defending the gospel!

[THELDSLIFE]

If seen comments on here saying that this music was "Pirated" or "Wrong" to use.

There is a "Fair Use" in using music.

If YouTube has it in place, these songs we use can be tracked, advertised, and promoted by You Tube itself. I see no problem in using music so long as the music industry doesn't mind the "Free Advertising" that this creates for them...

[HLTSender]

Thank you for uploading this. It is a really actual problem.

[selfreliantliving]

Thank you for making this inspiring video. I greatly appreciate it.

[MrCoolguy6273]

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God," (2 Cor. 4:3-4).

[HandGottesInAllem]

Thankyou very much.

[iqlusionblogspot]

LDS leaders do long-term damage to the growth of the church when they make pronouncements that flatly contradict the findings of good behavioral science.

As young people grow up and find out that LDS church leaders have been wrong about evolution, intimate practices in the bedroom, media influence and other well-researched subjects, these young people are going to wonder what else the brethren are dead wrong about.

[LettyCarrillo]

I always wonder about what your talking about, then I realize, their not wrong, I use to be stuck in a world where everything everyone was wrong but my own selfish thoughts, but soon enough you figure that even thing look wrong, the rest of the world is just wrong, and as long as you follow the instructions you will have all, and even though the world may not know your there, god will, and at then end isn't that what matters, or are we gonna take the world when we die?

[iqlusionblogspot]

For the public record, this post appears to be the product of a faithful Mormon mind.

[DefendingMormonism]

For the public record, your post appears to be the product of an un-faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

As for opinions of the Brethren, of course, they are always going to be just that - opinions, just like you and I have our own opinions.

That in no way changes their status as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As for "good behavioral science" I am glad that Jesus Christ never taught that as a prerequisite to faith, happiness, and eternal life.

[cammon88]

@DefendingMormonism well said defendingmormonism

[DefendingMormonism]

In terms of the context of this video, I believe Elder Bednar is spot on.

He speaks in very simple terms, so I'm not sure what your so against in his thoughts.

Or maybe you would find fault in pretty much anything that an LDS apostle says?

[Bureyeanne]

I obsess over pixels.

[DefendingMormonism]

Me too, my friend.

[Bureyeanne]

I should explain that I have a BFA in Digital Arts. So I have to take much of this presentation in it proper context. We did discuss some of these matters in a class that covered topics of contemporary of multimedia. As a result, I do make efforts not to use some ATM's, Self Checkout, or other automation when given a choice. That being noted, everything I do professional or independent is digital.

[BettinaDeutschland]

great. And Enya of course.

[ShaynePacker]

This is such good counsel. I particularly like when he said we should use technology's "many capabilities in appropriate ways to learn, to communicate, to lift and brighten lives, and to build and strengthen the Church". I would also add, to build and strengthen family relationships. I enjoy using technology to connect with my family and grandchildren.

[wgmyler]

This would be a great video...if it weren't for the loud and distracting background music. Too bad, otherwise I would've shared this on Facebook.

It's pathetic that many had to hear it spelled out from an apostle that sharing / pirating music is wrong. D&C 58:26

[TheGermanlds]

Oh - was there a body? oooops!

Excuse me - I have to do some gymnastics now.

Thanks a lot for this upload!

[DefendingMormonism]

Haha. Funny. Let me know how the gymnastics go for ya.

[allzago]

Yes, I was also spoken to as it relates downloading music. I pay for it, but from sites that offer songs for $0.14 per track. I am sure these sites are providing me with pirated rips, so my rationalizing won't help me on that one. Time to do some deleting.

[HonkifULuvBrownies]

I remember when this talk was given,. Thank you for posting this, it helps to remind us what is really important in life. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to read my scriptures. ^-^

[LDSgirl1985]

Great, thank you! Parts of his talk spoke directly TO me, especially the downloading music and distributing burned CD's to others. I love how he's always very honest and vocal about the truth. I never thought of downloading music as being "Deceitful" before, but i guess he's right.

[TheBlu3tube]

@LDSgirl1985 ~ Downloading music is not deceitful. Illegally downloading music off the internet is illegal. If you pay for it, it's fine. If you hack a website and steal merchandise, it's stealing. ^^ And that talk, I felt, was talking to me.

[DefendingMormonism]

I love how he makes the spiritual extremely practical, and in terms of the digital generation, I think he really understands the downfalls that have come along with it.

[sommersvideoblog]

I too have downloaded without paying...never put too much though into it. I will be getting my music from Itunes from now on. Just another way the brethren have helped us to purify our lives!!!