With two of my beautiful daughters

Presenting at the 2014 BYU Women's Conference on the topic of sharing the gospel via social media will no doubt be a highlight journal entry when I someday write my personal history. Not because I feel like in doing so it was some great personal achievement; no, quite the contrary. Rather, because it was so far-fetched that someone like me, an ordinary member of the LDS Church, who happens to enjoy sharing the gospel online was invited to do so. I consider the privilege a great testimony of how the Lord uses the weak things of the world to accomplish His great work. I am continually a humble recipient and witness to this principle of power!



For quite sometime (not sure why I've waited so long?) I've been wanting to share with anyone interested the audio from my BYU presentation and a little slide show I put together after the conference, with some notes to go along with it. I'm doing this for two reasons, 1) To journal my presentation so I have a record of what I taught, and 2) In hopes that it might be instructive to those who want to learn how to share the gospel online and hear my personal story.

There are a few standout lessons that came to me (very personal) as a result of having the experience of being invited to speak at BYU Women's Conference and that I hope to share, someday. But for now, I'll keep those to myself. (Although you'll get a hint of what I'm referring to in the audio of my presentation.)




I tend to be one who when given specific counsel with a promise, according to personal obedience, enjoys claiming it. That was my experience in accepting, preparing and then finally presenting at Women's Conference -- stress and all! And I would be a liar if I said it wasn't a very intimidating experience. As opinionated and passionate as I am about the gospel, and love teaching it, I am not a seeker of the limelight, at all.


Getting up in front of over 1800 faithful LDS women to speak about social media, of all things, was a daunting thought when invited. I was sure that maybe 20 might attend such a class. But I was wrong, the house was packed. And of course, it didn't hurt one bit that my co-presenter was the inspiring Stephanie Nielsen of the NieNie Dialogue blog! What a sweetheart! Getting to meet her and feel of her kind and passionate spirit was a treat. We both share the same passion: sharing the gospel online, through blogging.

Since Women's Conference, members have had more training from LDS leaders on social media and use of the Internet when Elder David A. Bednar gave a landmark address during the 2014 Education Week. I was fortunate (or rather blessed) to be in attendance during that devotional and to feel the power of the Spirit testify to me of the importance of this modern technology to "sweep the earth as with a flood" with the gospel of Jesus Christ -- and my part in that great movement. (And yours, too) Such an exciting time to be alive!

For a multi-stake training I was asked to do, I put together this slideshow to highlight specific points of Elder Bednar's address:




To Sweep the Earth As With a Flood - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

(You can download slide show and access my notes here: https://www.haikudeck.com/to-sweep-the-earth-as-with-a-flood-inspiration-presentation-cjs9bnCYz6#)

And because I didn't get my little slideshow published prior to Elder Bednar's address, it has given me the opportunity to update my social media presentation with some of his counsel that I shared in the above training -- good news for all of us. I was compelled to do this because I have been invited to give a workshop on social media for my own stake Women's Conference and needed to combine the two sources for a complete presentation -- a perfect opportunity to bring it all together!



Spreading the Gospel Through Social Media - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires


Also included in this blog post (below) are some of what I believe are the most important online resources for helping us as members share the gospel online via social media. I hope you find this post helpful and feel my passion for this important facet of what I have felt compelled to spend my time and talents doing, online, for a good eight years now.

tDMg

Kathryn Skaggs

Note: I apologize for the formatting below. I will see what I can do to fix this ASAP. Thanks.




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