. . . I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. (1 Nephi 3: 7)This classic scripture has been indelibly imprinted on the minds of all Mormons since their first association with the Church be it at birth or at conversion. However, my efforts to encourage fellow members to utilize the Church's digital tools largely meet with failure.
"I don't know how to turn on the computer and I don't want to know."
"I don't use the computer."
"I don't want to use the computer."
I don't want to learn the computer."
"I don't know how to use the unit web site."
I'll bet Nephi didn't want to learn how to build a ship.
In a prior unit I was in there was an investigator that no one knew what to do with. Finally, he was just dropped and ignored. Sounds drastic doesn't it. What was the problem? The problem was him. He wanted to learn about the Church. He wanted to explore Mormondom. He wanted to consider being a member. HOWEVER, he refused to read, study, listen to, be taught from or otherwise utilize The Book of Mormon. He would do anything he was asked regarding the Bible, just not The Book of Mormon. That book had to be excluded or else he wouldn't do anything.
I realize that in this blog environment I am preaching to the choir. If you weren't willing to learn and utilize digital tools you wouldn't be reading this blog entry. For that reason, I feel I can make some strong statements. Here they are:
We have been instructed to take the gospel to the world. Obviously, Heavenly Father will prepare a way for us to do so. It is logical to assume that would include digital tools. If we refuse to use them we are refusing to "go and do."
It is not our right to place restrictions on how the Lord's work will be accomplished. If he provides us with the tools we need to succeed then it is our responsibility to learn how to use them. And, we have the right to expect divine assistance in doing so.
As members, we have made solemn covenants to do all we can to accomplish the Lord's purposes. We should not be turning up our nose at the way he has "prepared" for us.
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