Clarification of Purpose for Technology
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:43 am
"Although we should be mindful to always listen to and follow the promptings of the Spirit when using technology in our Church callings, there is no mistaking the fact that computers, the Internet, and other technologies have made serving in the Church easier."
The above statement is made on one of the pages within this website--when talking about the purpose for this site. I'm new to this site, but let me first say how much I appreciate the site and the efforts being made to better collaborate and use technology to move forward the Lord's work.
I just wanted to share some thought about the purpose of technology in the mission of the church and how we describe the purpose and role of technology. While I do not discount that technological advances have made serving in the church easier, I don't believe that is the fundamental reason for the technological advances or why we should be using them or advocating for them and working to accomplish them; therefore, I prefer to not think of it as making serving easier (as if it's a burden to try and reduce as much as possible) or to describe it in those terms.
I feel that the purposes for the technological advances are not to necessarily reduce the amount of time we spend serving, but rather increase our efficiency and our capacity to serve so that we can reach out to more people. While increased efficiency or "ease" may allow us to spend more quality time with our families rather than using less efficient means, I believe the goal is not ease, but increased efficiency and capacity (i.e. greater bandwidth--we know from the scriptures that the days will be shortened for the elect's sake; see Matthew 24:22).
I worry sometimes when we talk of ease, because even with the technological advances, the purpose is to keep working as hard or harder, AND more efficiently so that we can minister to and better serve our Father's children, our brothers and sisters and our families.
It's probably a minor semantic thing, but I think it is important to communicate clearly and effectively our goals and purposes. Our goal and purpose is to bring as many souls to Christ as possible through the ordinances of the gospel, and not to make our service easier or so that we have to do less.
For those that have served missions, a classic example of this principle would be "tracting." Tracting can be very hard work (or is hard work). The goal of being a missionary is not to work hard or to not work hard. Rather, the goal is to teach, assist in conversion, and administer saving ordinances to as many people as possible. Tracting is simply less efficient than teaching individuals and families who have been prepared by friends who are members of the church and who can come with the missionaries to teach, support and bear testimony. With more member missionary involvement and referrals, the goal is not to have the missionaries work shorter hours in a day, it is to have them work the same number of hours, just teaching, testifying and resolving concerns and not walking from door to door.
That's probably more than enough said, but I wanted to try and articulate the point. Thanks for listening and providing an forum to share thoughts and ideas.
Eric
The above statement is made on one of the pages within this website--when talking about the purpose for this site. I'm new to this site, but let me first say how much I appreciate the site and the efforts being made to better collaborate and use technology to move forward the Lord's work.
I just wanted to share some thought about the purpose of technology in the mission of the church and how we describe the purpose and role of technology. While I do not discount that technological advances have made serving in the church easier, I don't believe that is the fundamental reason for the technological advances or why we should be using them or advocating for them and working to accomplish them; therefore, I prefer to not think of it as making serving easier (as if it's a burden to try and reduce as much as possible) or to describe it in those terms.
I feel that the purposes for the technological advances are not to necessarily reduce the amount of time we spend serving, but rather increase our efficiency and our capacity to serve so that we can reach out to more people. While increased efficiency or "ease" may allow us to spend more quality time with our families rather than using less efficient means, I believe the goal is not ease, but increased efficiency and capacity (i.e. greater bandwidth--we know from the scriptures that the days will be shortened for the elect's sake; see Matthew 24:22).
I worry sometimes when we talk of ease, because even with the technological advances, the purpose is to keep working as hard or harder, AND more efficiently so that we can minister to and better serve our Father's children, our brothers and sisters and our families.
It's probably a minor semantic thing, but I think it is important to communicate clearly and effectively our goals and purposes. Our goal and purpose is to bring as many souls to Christ as possible through the ordinances of the gospel, and not to make our service easier or so that we have to do less.
For those that have served missions, a classic example of this principle would be "tracting." Tracting can be very hard work (or is hard work). The goal of being a missionary is not to work hard or to not work hard. Rather, the goal is to teach, assist in conversion, and administer saving ordinances to as many people as possible. Tracting is simply less efficient than teaching individuals and families who have been prepared by friends who are members of the church and who can come with the missionaries to teach, support and bear testimony. With more member missionary involvement and referrals, the goal is not to have the missionaries work shorter hours in a day, it is to have them work the same number of hours, just teaching, testifying and resolving concerns and not walking from door to door.
That's probably more than enough said, but I wanted to try and articulate the point. Thanks for listening and providing an forum to share thoughts and ideas.
Eric