Issues Paper

So I've been thinking about the issues paper quite a bit recently and I think that I would really like to focus on the effects of social networking devices (such as texting, Facebook, etc...) on the communication skills of modern teens. Personally, I feel that people communicate MORE today than ever before because of the accessibility of these technologies, but not necessarily BETTER than they did in former years. I think that the younger generation of modern teens suffer from the effects of an "informational overload" and have become so dependent on these technological devices that they can no longer hold meaningful conversations and have lost some rudimentary social skills necessary to effective communication.

Example: I know several people, and I have even done this once (mostly as a joke, but somewhat seriously), who text a friend that is standing within talking distance. Sometimes even at their side. And I've seen people who do this without actually vocally speaking ever. That's just messed up.

Another example: of this is the overwhelming use of the internet to communicate with closely located friends. I know people that will send instant messages and E-mails and a a myriad of other technologically founded messages to friends that live within a short distance and yet won't make the effort to actually go and see them in person.

Last example: How many people are your "friends" with on Facebook, but yet don't really know them. I know that I have some people from before my mission that I added as "friends" and yet I can only vaguely remember who they are and how we even met. Many of them, I probably pass everyday on campus without saying "Hi" or "How's it going?" simply because we aren't really "friends."

In conclusion, I think that many of these technological social networking devices (or whatever you want to call them), are having a very strange effect on today's teenagers. And that effect tends to be of a negative nature for most.

Conference Talk: President Thomas S. Monson

I really enjoyed President Monson's talk during the Priesthood session of General Conference. He spoke about Choices and our Agency. His talk had a powerful influence on me because of my situation in life. I'm kind of at a cross-roads in my life and I had been pondering about many things for some time before conference started. As I listened to his talk about choices in our lives some of the answers to my prayers came at once. For some of my questions I didn't receive the answer, but rather HOW to receive an answer for myself and HOW to choose.
I think that many times in our lives, if not most of the times, we are left to figure out our own problems. We have all been given the great ability to think for ourselves and grow. Without this necessary struggle of problem solving and self confidence, we would remain weak and unable to act for ourselves. No loving parent would do EVERYTHING for their kids all the time. They would want and even expect their kids to struggle a little in order to become much stronger and wiser. Heavenly Father is the same way. He doesn't just hand us all the answers on a silver platter. Rather, He gives us the tools necessary and tells us to go and work at it.