One of the many wonderful changes you may be making as a new member of the church is in the media you choose for yourself. Sometimes, just at first, this doesn’t seem so wonderful. You’ve had years of listening to certain types of music and watching certain types of movies and television programs. Now you’re being asked to evaluate those and decide which are worth keeping in your life. Do you know why you’re asked to do this?
“To me, it is impossible to maintain the Spirit of the Lord while listening to music or watching movies or videos that celebrate evil thoughts and use vulgar language.” (M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 39)
This is the most important reason to avoid inappropriate media. You will lose the gift of the Holy Ghost you’ve just worked so hard to gain. The Spirit can’t be in the presence of sin, and so it departs, leaving you to cope with life alone. Now that you’ve felt the spirit, do you really want to lose it?
It’s Satan who promotes the use of inappropriate movies, music, video games, internet usage, and other types of media. Heavenly Father asks us to stay with that which will keep our minds and hearts pure. Which side do you want to be on? Every time you choose to participate in media that is inappropriate, even if it’s only “a little” inappropriate, you choose Satan’s team, and that’s not the winning team.
Every choice you make has consequences and affects your eternal progression. You can’t put eternal progression on pause while you experiment with the evil side of the world. You’re either moving toward Heaven or away from it. You’re never standing still. The smallest amount of inappropriateness sends you backwards, like those children’s board games that often send you backwards on the board, making it harder to reach the finish line.
The Thirteenth Article of Faith is our guideline for what we should bring into our lives:
“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul— We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
When you’re choosing a movie to watch or music to listen to, test them against these words. Imagine watching or listening in the presence of the Savior. Would you feel uneasy? Then don’t do it. If you find yourself in a situation where your friends are doing something that makes you uneasy, find the courage to ask them to stop. If they don’t—and often they won’t–be ready to walk away. Ask your parents to come for you if you need transportation. Parents are generally happy to rescue you from an immoral or dangerous situation, and will be proud of your choice. It’s not easy to walk away, but even when you’re taunted, you survive. I did, even though at the time I was sure I’d die on the spot.
Use the internet in a room full of family. Check reviews before watching a movie. Really listen to the words of your music. In addition, evaluate the mood of the music. How do you feel when you listen? Does it make you feel something inappropriate inside—angry, perhaps? If so, the spirit won’t be in the room, so don’t just turn it off. If it’s yours, throw it away.
It can take time to learn to enjoy new types of music, books, and videos, but it’s more than worth the effort. God is counting on you.
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
