1 The Dispensation of Technology

In the last dispensation on this wondrous earth, we as a human race are becoming more self-absorbed, and less connected with what matters most. Elder David A. Bednar gave two devotionals in the past few years that address the effects of technology on our generation. In the first, he spoke of the debilitating habits of young people becoming addicted to virtual reality and warned against relying too much on what is not there. In the second, he talks about using technology as a way to spread the gospel and move forward the Lord’s work.
Why is technology blamed for tearing families apart? In “Things as They Really Are,” Bednar gives examples of people who put technology and virtual realities as a priority over their actual reality. It is easy to idle away our lives on mindless media and so it is very important that we remember to put our relation-ships first so we do not lose those we love to our selfish habits. In these last days people are becoming more and more disconnected with their families and also with God. Allowing technology to rule our lives, we can become “past feeling”.
Let light “shine forth out of the darkness” (Mormon 8:16). There is a lot of darkness in today’s technology; there are ample opportunities to satisfy lusts and to fall into temptation. Yet the gospel has the opportunity to reach out where it couldn’t before. When technology is used to further the Lord’s work it is like light in the darkness. In our world of technology, we can be the ones to use it for good. We can use God’s gift to us as a way to give back to His children. We can spread gospel messages to uplift and encourage so easily. We can flood the earth with positivity and break through the darkness surrounding so much of technology.
       These are the last days. God has given us all the tools; it is our turn to use them for good.  Both of Bednar’s addresses spoke of the negative effects of technology if we let it control our lives, but if we control our own lives, technology can be a great asset to us. It is on the earth in our day for a reason. Let us focus on the positive effects and remember the “spiritual significance and blessing of living in the dispensation of the fullness of times”.