Be Still and Know That I Am God

Yesterday I finished listening to the book Anxious Generation by the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt that I would strongly recommend to all parents who worry about the effect of technology on their children. The website for the book summarizes, “The mass migration of childhood into the virtual world has disrupted social and neurological development. This disruption includes social anxiety, sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, and addiction.” He suggests that we take these important steps to free our children from the destructive habits we have let them develop by handing them smartphones with access to just about everything: “Roll back the phone-based childhood: This means delaying children’s access to smartphones until high school and social media platforms until 16. Schools need to go phone-free. Restore the play-based childhood: Children and adolescents need more opportunities for independence, free play, and responsibility. Reclaim life in the real world: Replace screen time with real-world experiences involving friends and independent activity, so that limits on devices don’t feel like deprivation but the opening up of a world of opportunities.” I agree with all of these and feel that they are consistent with what the prophets are teaching the youth. Here is what the new For the Strength of Youth manual says this: “Seek wholesome experiences and real and lasting relationships. Be careful that your use of technology and media does not replace spending in-person time with family and friends. Social media and other technology can take much of your time without giving a lot of value in return. Take a break from the virtual world, and connect with people in real life.” It also warns, “Use social media to uplift. Social media can be a powerful communication tool. If you use it, focus on light, faith, and truth. Don’t compare your life to what other people seem to be experiencing. Remember that your worth comes from being a child of heavenly parents, not from social media.” In 2019 President Nelson gave this powerful invitation to the youth: “My first invitation to you today is to disengage from a constant reliance on social media by holding a seven-day fast from social media.” He explained that the “downside of social media is that it creates a false reality. Everyone posts their most fun, adventurous, and exciting pictures, which create the erroneous impression that everyone except you is leading a fun, adventurous, and exciting life. Much of what appears in your various social media feeds is distorted, if not fake.” Recently the Church has also created a booklet called Taking Charge of Technology which encourages us to use technology with a purpose, to plan ahead about how we will use technology, and to pause our use by taking breaks from it.

                There are three scriptures associated with this booklet that are powerful for us to consider when we think about our own use of technology. The first is these words to Thomas B. Marsh, “Let thy habitation be known in Zion, and remove not thy house; for I, the Lord, have a great work for thee to do, in publishing my name among the children of men” (Doctrine and Covenants 112:6). We find a similar message in other scriptures such as this one: “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:33). The Lord also said, “And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:33). The Lord has a great work for us to do, and we aren’t going to accomplish it staring at our screens all day long or constantly playing video games or endlessly scrolling through our social media feeds. The second scripture in the booklet is this one: “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32). We have to remember the purpose of our life—to prepare to return to our Father in Heaven by following His Son Jesus Christ—and ask whether what we are doing on technology is helping us to achieve that goal. Alma also taught, “There was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead” (Alma 12:24). Time is so precious—we can’t afford to waste it in valueless activities when the Lord intended us to use it to prepare to meet Him. The third scripture from the booklet is this one: “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:16). We need to “be still” in order to commune with God, and that means putting away our phones and devices and reaching out to Him in prayer and the study of the scriptures. So, let us take our heads out of our phones, join in the great work that the Lord has for each of us, and lift up our eyes to God as we seek “a higher and holier way” to live our lives.