Communications Quotes

Christensen, Bruce.

Untitled BYU Forum address given November 8, 1994. Brigham Young University, Provo Utah.

It is about my profession, journalism . . . that I would like to talk with you this morning. I want to connect my professional experiences with my religious beliefs, sharing what I've learned about both in my thirty years of working in the media.

My objectives are to:

Define a context for you, by which to better understand the role of the press in a democratic society.

Identify some myths created by the media, using mendacity promoted by the father-of-all-lies as a principle means of persuasion.

Compare and contrast the values of the gospel with the media myths that we see daily.

And, suggest the means by which we may use the miracles of technology to accomplish divine purpose. (p. 1)

. . .

Managing the media miracles in our lives is a daily challenge--one that can be made easier if we understand the role and nature of journalism in our democratic society, if we recognize the myths the media create that lead us away from self-esteem, peace of mind and joy, and if we are willing [to] take personal responsibility for how media is used in our homes and in our society.

In other words, to be effective in managing media miracles, you must:

First, learn the media functions in our society, understand its purposes and how it influences our lives. Blaming the media is not a solution. Understanding it is.

Second, commit yourself to effectively communicating the principles of the gospel through every means available to you. While your chosen profession may not be communications or the arts associated with creating messages to be delivered through the media, you are not powerless to control the media that you use or to influence its content.

And finally, prayerfully follow the counsel of the Brethren about the media and how it should be used.(pp. 8-9)

Madsen, Arch L.

"Communications: The Ultimate Power." BYU 1974-75 Devotional and Fireside Speeches, BYU University Publications, 1975, pp. 157-167.

The ultimate power [excluding the priesthood and organizations of the gospel] is not atomic energy nor gold nor money nor military might nor great industrial machinery nor great hordes of people. The ultimate power, my brothers and sisters, with which we deal--all of us deal--is called "mass communications." It is indeed a proper subject for this campus above all campuses I know of, because you who come to this campus to participate here, and those of you who operate it, have more of value to communicate to the world than anyone else I know. The world has more urgent need of what you have than any other institution of higher learning in all the world. (p. 158)

. . .

In our country we live in the millennium of communications technology. We have a glittering toolbox of communications instruments unequaled in all human history. But we live bordering the Dark Ages in our utilization of these marvelous instruments to communicate the basic value structure of an enlightened and wholesome civilization. (pp. 158-159)

. . .

Undoubtedly our greatest challenge is to prepare effective programs dealing with the significant--and to discover how to motivate people to listen and view such programs. When we attempt to present programs that are beneficial, people shut off their sets because unfortunately to understand the significant world around us requires us to think. . . . Your presence here is evidence of your ability to think and your concern with the basic values of human existence. . . . You have more to communicate of the significant in basic human values than any other installation or institution of higher learning in the world. The world desperately needs to know the value structure found on this campus, which is based on the gospel of Jesus Christ. (pp. 161, 164)

. . .

Each of us must do the best he can in the areas where he operates. But truly the "ultimate power" the mass media are waiting for is the graduates from this institution to come and show them how to communicate more effectively light and truth on the significant elements of the human experience. Truly the world is waiting for the rays of that light the Lord has asked us to put upon the hill. The world is waiting for us to so shine that all people may understand the priceless gospel of Jesus Christ! Millions are diligently groping in search of answers. You in this room and on this campus have more answers than any other group of people in this whole world. (p. 166)

Stout, Daniel A.

"Protecting the Family: Mormon Teachings About Mass Media." In Daniel A. Stout and Judith M. Buddenbaum (Eds.) Religion and Mass Media: Audiences and Adaptations (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1996), pp. 85-100.

Although the Mormon Church owns a number of commercial television and radio stations, newspapers, and other media vehicles, it is often critical of how these media are used in the larger society. Expectations about appropriate media use have risen, and church magazines often contain guidelines for developing critical media skills. This chapter describes what the Mormon Church teaches about "media effects" and how these teachings have evolved in recent years.

The first section explains some of the theological foundations of Mormon teachings about media. Then, three ways Mormons are instructed about proper media use are discussed. The chapter concludes with some of the sociological implications of these approaches. This analysis is based primarily on a review of General Conference addresses and articles published in the Improvement Era and Ensign since 1897. (p. 87)