The youth of the church should be aware of the dangers of virtual reality in the form of online media and social networking, and understand the importance of pursuing the real meaning of truth in real and lasting relationships, Elder David A. Bednar said in a CES Fireside on Sunday evening.

Speaking at BYU Idaho, Elder Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve, began his talk by quoting Jacob, the brother of Nephi, who said, “I this day am weighed down with much desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls.”

Elder Bednar wanted to emphasize that he was addressing a “serious subject that has both immediate and eternal implications.”

Elder Bednar spoke at length about Satan’s efforts to persuade us to misuse and minimize the importance of our physical bodies, through the use of drugs, immorality and the worship of body image.

Another way Satan tries to minimize the importance of our physical bodies is through the misuse and excessive use of technology, he said. Elder Bednar explained that some youth in the church “neglect eternal relationships for digital distractions and detours that have no lasting value.”

Elder Bednar explained that we live during a time when technology can be used to “replicate reality, to augment reality and to create virtual reality.” This can be useful when the intentions are good and meaningful. However, many times the use of technology can lead to spiritual danger if the purposes are bad.

“Today I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls.”

While Elder Bednar explained that these types of dangers are not new and unique to cyberspace alone, he warned that the “sense-dulling and spiritually destructive” influences are more pervasive and intense than in other forms of media.

If Satan cannot persuade us to misuse our physical bodies, he will get us to gradually disconnect from things as they truly are, by becoming addicted to virtual “realities” of social networking, online chatting and other forms of media, he said.

“Please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, ear buds, Twittering, online social networking and potentially addictive uses of media and the Internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person-to-person communication.”

While Elder Bednar explained that not all technology is inherently bad, he warned that we should not become so involved in our virtual realities that they become more important than our real and lasting ones. If we spend excessive amounts of time chatting online or social networking, we can miss important opportunities to create enduring bonds and develop lasting relationships.

“I am not suggesting all technology is inherently bad, it is not,” he said. “Nor am I saying we should not use its many capabilities in appropriate ways to learn, to communicate, to lift and to brighten lives and to build the church. Of course we should. But I am raising a warning voice that we should not squander and damage authentic relationships by obsessing over contrived ones.”



Copyright Brigham Young University 3 May 2009