I took a bunch of young women to an activity tonight, and it led to a great discussion with my girls about filters. A song came on the radio that we do not listen to in our family, so my daughter immediately changed the station. One of the young women asked if we could go back to that song and I politely replied that we do not listen to that song in our car. I guess she didn't hear me the first time, so she said, "Please turn it back to [name of the song]. That's my jam!" So I said it a little louder and told her that I really wasn't joking, but we do not listen to that song.
She was a bit taken back by my response. And this is where a great discussion happened with my two girls on the way home. We talked about how we were pretty shocked that this girl even knew the song, let alone that she thought it was one of her favorites. The reason we were so shocked is because her parents have pretty stringent rules on media in their home. They do not watch any PG-13 movies. At all. Not even the parents. This same girl has questioned me on why I allow my own children to watch some PG-13 movies. I explained that we pick and choose what we think is appropriate to watch. If something came on a PG movie that wasn't in harmony with those views, we would turn it off. She seemed to accept that answer.
I'm not saying that setting rules is a bad thing. They can be good, but if our children are relying on us to filter what they can or cannot see, or what they can or cannot listen to, they become dependent. Is that what we want? Dependent children or can't think for themselves? And when they are faced with something that is normally accepted, they tend to accept it no matter what. My girls understood that they are their best filter. They know to turn off the computer or TV, or change the radio station when something comes on that they shouldn't see or hear.
In a General Conference (April 2014) talk entitled, "Protection from Pornography--A Christ Focused Home" by Linda S. Reeves, she states,
"Filters are useful tools, but the greatest filter in the world, the only one that will ultimately work, is the personal internal filter that comes from a deep and abiding testimony of our Heavenly Father's love and our Savior's atoning sacrifice for each one of us."
Are we teaching our children to depend on the filters we've placed on our computers/phones/TV's? Do they know what to do when faced with something inappropriate? Are they relying on us to tell them what is right or wrong? Or have we taught them to listen to the Holy Ghost to guide them.
Elder Bednar ("Things As They Really Are," CES Fireside, May 3 2009) suggests that we ask ourselves this question:
"Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?"
I believe if we always ask ourselves if something invites or impedes the Holy Ghost, then we are our best filter. And that filter is based on our testimony of God's love and Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us.
