“More needs to be done to increase awareness of, access to and confidence in trusted resources by Latter-day Saints and seekers of truth,” said Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he spoke today at the FairMormon Conference.

Elder Pearson said the Church’s effort to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world presents a “massive challenge” due to a lack of awareness of the Church. 6.6 billion of the 7.6 billion people on earth have never heard about the gospel. “Of the remaining 1.0 billion people who likely have heard of the Church, approximately half have an unfavorable impression about us.”

Technology will be a key to overcoming the challenge of awareness… Much of the content needed for websites and YouTube must come from independent sources … and individual members of the Church. Your voices must be heard on social media, wherever you live….

 

We must be a voice for truth. We must have the faith and courage to speak up and engage in social media in a positive, responsible, noncontentious and effective way. We can simply share what we know and believe with others.

70% of the inhabitants of the earth are not accessible to missionaries, but more than half of the people have access to the internet and over two-thirds have a mobile phone.

The internet has become the most powerful and dominant source for information on virtually any topic or question…. The internet can either lead individuals to the truth or away from it…. There are thoughtful, faithful answers to virtually every question, issue and concern being raised by critics and skeptics of the Church.

The Church has many websites and social media channels designed to share messages of hope and faith with a global audience. LDS365.com offers many suggestions in the Sharing the Gospel section of this website.

Read more of Elder Pearson’s address in the article “Elder Pearson Says Independent Voices Are Needed to Sustain Faith.”

Watch Elder Pearson’s talk on Facebook.