Internet Safety Readings

For my fourth article, I chose to read a talk found in the January 1995 New Era. Elder H. Burke Peterson wrote this article, entitled "Leave it Alone". He spoke of the wonderful blessings that we can find through the media, as well as the horrible things that might also enter our lives. He challenged his readers to leave this garbage alone and throw it away because that is what we do with garbage.

The most important things I learned from the readings were how strongly our church leaders feel about the avoidance of immoral media, how it is my personal responsibility as a member of the church to stand up for wholesome media and take a stand against inappropriate media, and how much I will be responsible for when I become a parent and must protect my home and children from the negative influences of the media.

After completing these readings, I have a great desire to locate internet safety features and blocks so that my family and students are safe from sites that do not promote moral media. I also feel that I need to be more critical in my judgments on media. Too often I fall in the category of justifying what is being presented as "only a little bad" or "common and something I am used to". It is never acceptable to view or partake of immoral media and I need to take a greater stand on this subject in my life.

I can have a positive influence on my family and friends in the respect of media by simply taking a stand for what I feel to be appropriate and inappropriate. If I refuse to watch a movie whose content is vulgar or turn off music when it contains harsh words, those around me will notice this difference and might react in a positive way, also leaving such things alone, as suggested by Elder Peterson.