The Mark of a Truly Educated Man

I taught a class on "Avoiding Degrading Media Influences" in Young Women on Sunday.  It's lesson #33 in YW Manual 1.

Now that I am about six years removed from my days of working in the TV industry, I can clearly see how those experiences have endowed me with wisdom as I make choices about what types of media I include in my life, in my home, and how I educate my children about the media that they are being bombarded with on a daily basis.

Of course, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we can also be endowed with wisdom on these matters by listening to the counsel of our prophets--men who have been called of God to receive revelation, to advise, and warn us about the pitfalls of our day.

The lesson that I had the privilege of teaching on Sunday was full of such priceless wisdom.

This quote from President Ezra Taft Benson stood out to me...Here he speaks of books, but his standards can be applied to ALL forms of media and entertainment today.  He says:

“Today, with the abundance of books available, it is the mark of a truly educated man to know what not to read. … As John Wesley’s mother counseled him: ‘Avoid [1] whatever weakens your reason, [2] impairs the tenderness of your conscience, [3] obscures your sense of God, [4] takes off your relish for spiritual things, … [5] increases the authority of the body over the mind.’

“The fact that a book is old does not necessarily make it of value. The fact that an author wrote one good work does not necessarily mean that all his books are worthy of your time. Do not make your mind a dumping ground for other people’s garbage. It is harder to purge the mind of rotten reading than to purge the body of rotten food, and it is more damaging to the soul” (“In His Steps,” in Speeches of the Year, 1979 [Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1980], p. 61).

I woke up today, turned on NPR (as I routinely do) and heard the headlines about the overnight shooting, massacre really, in Aurora, Colorado.  I was saddened by the news, but not all that phased.  Actually, I wasn't able to take in the news coverage until later this afternoon, around 4pm.

My kids were with me.  Since we will be leaving on our much-anticipated trip to Colorado (the same area of the shooting actually) very soon, I didn't want my kids to see the story for fear that it might scare them or traumatize them.  However, they wouldn't leave the room, and I decided to use the story as a case in point:  Violence begets violence.

Here we have the largest mass-shooting in our country's history, happening at the midnight viewing at the premiere of a violent movie.  (One part of a series of violent movies...)

This thought stood out as important direction for MY life:  I thought, how ironic, that as a society, we will pay good money to watch violence, but we are shocked when those same violent acts become reality.  Even a daily reality.

Yes, shootings can and do happen everywhere: in Amish schools, in churches, in shopping centers, in homes, etc, but the fact that it happened in a darkened theater, after midnight, in front of an audience that had come there eager to watch a LOT of violence that evening is not lost on me.  


The audience was lulled to the point that when the shooter stepped out from behind the screen in full battle garb, no one thought it was out of place.  No one screamed or left the theater.  They thought he was "part of the show,"--that buzz-worthy show that they had paid good money to see!  So, instead of running, they sat and watched him set off canisters of tear gas!


Only when he shot his gun into the air did people snap out of the trance they were in and head for the exits or duck under their seats.  I can only imagine the thoughts going through the shooter's head, "What's wrong with you people? I'm here to shoot you, and you aren't even reacting!?"


Violent media is spiritually numbing.  But in the case of last night's shooting it seemed to have been physically numbing as well.  One effect of watching violent media is dying a slow spiritual, almost undetectable, death.  For some, last night's screening facilitated a quick physical death as well.


I can hardly watch the coverage of this tragedy...and it is a tragedy, regardless of the circumstances.  It should not have happened.  And at least some of the victims should not have even been there.  The four-month-old who was grazed by a bullet should have been in bed.  So should his four-year-old sister.


As I type this, I want to be clear, that I am not trying to transfer blame from the shooter to the victims.  I am blogging these thoughts as a note to self...and if anyone reading this has ears to hear, then this is for you too.  


As parents--as people--we take our spiritual and physical lives (and that of our children) into our own hands when we participate in or watch depictions of violence.  When we decide to step outside of the guidelines that we've been given by prophets, we take ourselves outside of the guidance of the spirit and walk a dangerous, unprotected path.  


As the world becomes more and more evil, more and more volatile and troubled, it will become more and more vital for us to stand in holy places in order to remain safe--both spiritually and physically.


This will take vigilance.  This will require planning on our part to steer our eyes and energies toward uplifting media that will enhance our ability to feel the spirit, so that when we encounter real physical danger, we can heed the warnings of the Spirit without delay and retreat to safer ground.


From what I have gleaned from the very little coverage I have watched of this incident, the shooter was quite intelligent and very well-educated.  He was probably also mentally-disturbed, as he told police that he "is the Joker."  Let us not be prideful, but teachable.  Let us display "the mark of a truly educated man," by walking away from media that promotes violence and degrades us to the point that violence and hatred grows undetected inside of us...until it is too late.

From For the Strength of Youth:

Whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Therefore, choose only entertainment and media that uplift you. Good entertainment will help you to have good thoughts and make righteous choices. It will allow you to enjoy yourself without losing the Spirit of the Lord.

While much entertainment is good, some of it can lead you away from righteous living. Offensive material is often found in web sites, concerts, movies, music, videocassettes, DVDs, books, magazines, pictures, and other media. Satan uses such entertainment to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal and exciting. It can mislead you into thinking that everyone is doing things that are wrong.

Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable.

Pornography in all its forms is especially dangerous and addictive. What may begin as a curious indulgence can become a destructive habit that takes control of your life. It can lead you to sexual transgression and even criminal behavior. Pornography is a poison that weakens your self-control, changes the way you see others, causes you to lose the guidance of the Spirit, and can even affect your ability to have a normal relationship with your future spouse. If you encounter pornography, turn away from it immediately.

Depictions of violence often glamorize vicious behavior. They offend the Spirit and make you less able to respond to others in a sensitive, caring way. They contradict the Savior’s message of love for one another.

Have the courage to walk out of a movie or video party, turn off a computer or television, change a radio station, or put down a magazine if what is being presented does not meet Heavenly Father’s standards. Do these things even if others do not. Let your friends and family know that you are committed to keeping God’s standards. You have the gift of the Holy Ghost, which will give you strength and help you make good choices.