By Erin Ann McBride
Sharing the Gospel or our testimonies is easier now than ever before thanks to the power of social media. The Church has even encouraged us to use social media. “Social media can be a powerful influence in the lives of those who use it. It can provide ways to express our faith in Jesus Christ and strengthen relationships. The Church encourages the use of social media so long as it supports the mission of the Church, improves relationships, and facilitates revelation among children of our Heavenly Father. Church members are encouraged to be examples of their faith at all times and in all places, including when participating in the global conversations available through social media.” (Lds.org June 2010)
Sharing the Gospel or our testimonies is easier now than ever before thanks to the power of social media. The Church has even encouraged us to use social media. “Social media can be a powerful influence in the lives of those who use it. It can provide ways to express our faith in Jesus Christ and strengthen relationships. The Church encourages the use of social media so long as it supports the mission of the Church, improves relationships, and facilitates revelation among children of our Heavenly Father. Church members are encouraged to be examples of their faith at all times and in all places, including when participating in the global conversations available through social media.” (Lds.org June 2010)
President Uchtdorf personally said in the April 2011 General Conference, “With so many social mediaresources and a multitude of more or less useful gadgets at our disposal, sharing the good news of the gospel is easier and the effects more far-reaching than ever before. ... My dear young friends, perhaps the Lord's encouragement to 'open [your] mouths' might today include 'use your hands' to blog and text message the gospel to all the world!”
So how do you use these tools to spread the good word? Are you effectively sharing your message or testimony, or just preaching to the choir? Here are a few pointers for you to help you get you started!
Where to Say It
Should you share your testimony on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, blogs, or YouTube? Well, the answer is up to you! You should pick your medium based on which one you prefer to use the most, and where you have the best relationships. If your purpose is to share your testimony with friends who are not LDS, be sure that you aren't only using a medium where you chiefly communicate with ward members, BYU roommates, and LDS family members!
Facebook tends to primarily be where people communicate with their “real life” friends. Most users know the friends they are connected to on Facebook. While Facebook can be very convenient for sharing news stories, quotes, and your testimony or opinion, don't forget to ask yourself if you are just preaching to the same choir over and over again, when you really wanted to reach a new audience. One way to share the Gospel via Facebook is to share talks or news stories from LDS.org, or even“like” Meridian Magazine, and share the stories that get posted daily.
Pinterest is growing in popularity daily, and while it initially reaches just your friends, it is easily searchable where people outside of your friends can find it. Pinterest is by nature very visual, so share pictures that best depict your testimony! Or “pin” a story or talk that speaks to you. Not only do your pins tell other people what you like and care about, but it gives them a link to follow to learn more. (Meridian just joined Pinterest this week!)
Let's not forget Twitter, the microblogging social site. Twitter has a strong LDS population, where it is easy to find other Church members to converse with. During General Conference twice a year, it is very popular for LDS Twitterers to flood the site with quotes and thoughts heard during conference. (You can follow Meridian at http://twitter.com/ldsmag)
The most important thing to know about all social media and communication is also something that is taught in the Missionary Training Center (MTC)- Build Relationships of Trust. If you don't have a relationship of trust with your audience, they are never going to care about your message. Don't go joining a website just to share your testimony. Instead, use a website where you have built relationships of trust, and that you understand how to use. Once you have determined if that is with your blog readers, friends on Facebook, followers on Twitter, or viewers on YouTube, craft your message for that audience. Post your message on the website you are comfortable using.
And don't forget the most important rule of social media- ENGAGE with your audience! This means don't just post and run. It means responding to comments and interacting with your followers. Leave comments on their posts or videos. Build relationships with them! Don't just make it all about you.
How to Say It
First and foremost, say it with love, and say it sincerely. Arguing or getting angry won't get you anywhere. Have you ever had your mind changed by someone's angry online rant?
Next, know the three golden rules of marketing-
- Create awareness- let people know about you, your religion, your cause, and your message. Let them know you exist! Using social media this could be as simple as posting pictures from your ward activity, making your status a quote from the scriptures, or even just saying, “Church was great today.” You don’t have to shove things down people’s throats. Just be yourself and let people see how the Gospel is a daily part of your life, by letting the Gospel be a daily, public, part of your life.
- Educate your audience- After your friends or audience are made aware that you believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that you choose to live it every day, share more with them about what that means. Educate them! But don’t preach! Why? Because this is social media. There is nothing social about getting preached to.
- Call to action- Once your audience/friends are aware and have been educated, give them something to do with that knowledge. In “real life” this would be the invitation to church, or the offer of a Book of Mormon. But online it is much easier- a link to a cause, an invitation to respond, etc.
Second, know your audience! Are you trying to talk to teenagers? Mothers? Business men? You need to custom tailor your message depending on the demographic. Mothers and fathers are more likely to enjoy messages about families. Teenagers are less likely to enjoy a message telling them they are stuck with their parents for eternity. Instead, they may respond better to messages about self-confidence and love.
“A picture is worth a thousand words!” No place is this truer than on social media. A picture, photo, or video goes much farther, and is recalled more accurately, than a quote or scripture.
Ideas for Sharing Your Testimony Online
Are you looking for ideas on how to share your testimony? Not everyone is a long-winded writer who enjoys sharing her uncensored thoughts on a blog. And nor should everyone attempt to be so! Instead, here are a few ideas to consider-
- Make a (good quality) video of your family singing a Christmas carol in front of the tree, or a favorite hymn, post it on YouTube and share it online.
- Create a “I'm a Mormon” profile on mormon.org and share it on Facebook or in an email.
- Start a Twitter account with quote from your favorite LDS speakers and General Authorities, similar to twitter.com/NealAMaxwell.
- Share invitations to ward activities, church-wide broadcasts, etc., on Facebook.
- Pin your “I'm a Mormon” profile on Pinterest.
- Not all blogs have to be personal stories, instead consider a topic oriented blog where you discuss clean music or movies, LDS artwork, the Young Women values, or the Scouting program. Consider keeping the topic open so that it invites a non-LDS audience. (And remember to engage with your audience- don't just preach to them!)
The Gospel finds its way into our hearts in many different ways and forms. Do what feels natural to you. If it comes from your heart and is sincere it will be more likely to be accepted by others. If it is forced or fake the audience can tell. Be yourself and remember who's work you are about.
Erin Ann McBride is a writer, dreamer, blogger, and social media addict. Equal parts Mary Poppins, Carrie Bradshaw, and Mother Theresa, she goes where the wind blows, writes about relationships and dating, and is devoted to serving others. You can learn more about her at the Story of a Nice Mormon Girl.
