"If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things" (Articles of Faith 1:13).
"You live in a day of marvelous technologies that give you easy access to a wide variety of media, including the Internet, mobile devices, video games, television, movies, music, books, and magazines. The information and entertainment provided through these media can increase your ability to learn, communicate, and become a force for good in the world. However, some information and entertainment can lead you away from righteous living. Choose wisely when using media because whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Select only media that uplifts you.
"Satan uses media to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal, humorous, or exciting. He tries to mislead you into thinking that breaking God’s commandments is acceptable and has no negative consequences for you or others. Do not attend, view, or participate in anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in anything that presents immorality or violence as acceptable. Have the courage to walk out of a movie, change your music, or turn off a computer, television, or mobile device if what you see or hear drives away the Spirit. . . .
"Take care that your use of media does not dull your sensitivity to the Spirit or interfere with your personal relationships with others. Spending long periods of time using the Internet or a mobile device, playing video games, or watching television or other media can keep you from valuable interactions with other people. Be careful that your use of social media does not replace spending time with your family and friends.
"Guard your safety and the safety of others by taking great care about what personal information and images you share through technology. . . .Obey the laws that govern sharing music, movies, and other copyrighted items.
"If you are not sure whether something is appropriate to watch or listen to. . . .The Holy Ghost will give you strength to make correct choices" (emphasis added).
"You live in a day of marvelous technologies that give you easy access to a wide variety of media, including the Internet, mobile devices, video games, television, movies, music, books, and magazines. The information and entertainment provided through these media can increase your ability to learn, communicate, and become a force for good in the world. However, some information and entertainment can lead you away from righteous living. Choose wisely when using media because whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Select only media that uplifts you.
"Satan uses media to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal, humorous, or exciting. He tries to mislead you into thinking that breaking God’s commandments is acceptable and has no negative consequences for you or others. Do not attend, view, or participate in anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in anything that presents immorality or violence as acceptable. Have the courage to walk out of a movie, change your music, or turn off a computer, television, or mobile device if what you see or hear drives away the Spirit. . . .
"Take care that your use of media does not dull your sensitivity to the Spirit or interfere with your personal relationships with others. Spending long periods of time using the Internet or a mobile device, playing video games, or watching television or other media can keep you from valuable interactions with other people. Be careful that your use of social media does not replace spending time with your family and friends.
"Guard your safety and the safety of others by taking great care about what personal information and images you share through technology. . . .Obey the laws that govern sharing music, movies, and other copyrighted items.
"If you are not sure whether something is appropriate to watch or listen to. . . .The Holy Ghost will give you strength to make correct choices" (emphasis added).
President Benson in 1986 (Elder Wirthlin restated this again in 1986 & 1988) said, "We counsel you [to] not to pollute your minds with such degrading matter, for the mind through which this filth passes is never the same afterwards. Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic. Don’t listen to music that is degrading" ("To the 'Youth of the Noble Birthright'," emphasis added).
Elder Scott in 1996 (and reprinted in 2001) said, "Consistently choose to obey your principles. . . .They need your good example. . .[in] refusing to see an R-rated movie. . . .make your standards clear to others by quietly making the right choices when the temptation is first presented. A decisive, correct choice made once and consistently kept thereafter will avoid much heartache" ("Do What is Right," emphasis added).
Do the words of the prophets lose their meaning through time? NO!!!! They are called "prophets" for a reason--they give us prophetic counsel. Just because then brethren do not explicitly say "don't watch R-rated movies" in the current For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet does not mean it is still not the counsel the Lord would have us abide by. Because of how much worse the media is getting, this counsel is probably more important to follow today. Because even some PG and PG-13 movies also fall under the category or "vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic," the Brethren need to be more specific than just "R-rated." Plus, this is a world-wide church, and not all media is rated the same. This counsel goes for Canada, Mexico, England, etc., and for movies, TV, music, books, magazines, texting, Facebook, etc. So, we can see why the Brethren do not still say explicitly "R-rated" movies--the media covers much more than just movies. And just because the Brethren do not still explicitly command us to have food storage, we are still accountable for teachings given to us in the past.
My hope is that we will all seek for entertainment that helps us remember who we are, children of God, and that invites us closer to Christ. I love how simply Moroni teaches us how to judge in Moroni 7 "12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually. 13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." There is much good in the world for us to seek for. Lets do so and receive all the blessings the Lord desires to bless us with!
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