M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

That's Entertainment!
By Vickey Pahnke

Seen a good movie lately?  Watched a great television show?  Listened to a wonderful song?  How do we classify whether or not something is good or worth listening to?

"Why do people feel guilty about TV?  What is wrong with us?  Just this:  it shuts out all the wonderful things of which the mind is capable, leaving it drugged in a state of thoughtless stupor."   Strong words from Brother Hugh Nibley.  And ones that should make us think. 

Of how much value is our choice of entertainment?  In a world that offers very few "rated G" movies, and many are full of content that we would be better off to leave out of our brains and hearts, it may be a good thing for us to feel "guilty" enough, or strong enough, or righteous enough, to choose the forms of entertainment that would not leave a negative mark on our heart and mind.  Rather, we can choose to participate in GOOD works.

The old story of the Dad who taught a valuable lesson in Family Home Evening comes to mind.   He was trying to teach that movies that have just "one bad part" are movies that his children should choose to avoid.  The older children disagreed.  After a spirited lesson on the importance of staying away from such questionable movies, and strong opinions from his teenagers, they went into the kitchen where Dad began the process of making the milkshakes for which he was "famous."  Just before putting the top on two blenders full of delicious ice cream, milk, and flavorings, he dropped a big juicy fly into each container.  Then he hit the 'blend' button.  

"Ewwwwwww!!" "Sick!"  That's what the kids had to say.  "What are you doing, Dad?"

The father merely turned toward them and said, "What?  There's only one bad part.  The rest of it is delicious!"   His children got the message.  We can only hope that it sank deep into their hearts and strengthened them in making the wisest choices in their form of television, movies and videos.

Twenty years ago President Gordon B. Hinckley told us "A survey of influential television writers and executives in Hollywood has shown that they are far less religious than the general public....While nearly all of the 104 Hollywood professionals interviewed had a religious background, 45 percent now say they have no religion, and of the other 55 percent only 7 percent say they attend a religious service as much as once a month.

"This group has had a major role in shaping the shows whose themes and stars have become staples in our popular culture."  (This information comes from the Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb 1983.)

"These are the people who, through the medium of entertainment, are educating us in the direction of their own standards, which in many cases are diametrically opposed to the standards of the gospel.  (Ensign, November 1983, pp.45-46.)

Twenty years ago!  A more current survey would show a great decrease in standards and values from the 1980s.   That means that more is expected of us as we use this gift called agency.  It means that we must become ever more concerned with the scriptural counsel that tells us that "every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God” (Moroni 7:13).  In verse 17 of that same chapter we are further instructed that "Whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil."

Clearly, the things we watch and listen to can have a bearing on whether or not we choose to serve God and follow him, to believe in Christ and accept his invitation to live as He lived.  

Do you ever wonder if those who write and produce such vulgar and disrespectful programs have trouble sleeping at night?  Do you wonder if they would allow their own children to be exposed to those things?  President Faust had this to say, "The desire for profitable gain and popularity in the entertainment world has unmasked in the most appealing way all of the evils of the human race.  The most revolting practices and perversions have been masqueraded and even urged upon our inexperienced young people by some seeking to seductively merchandise the evil side of human behavior.  Consciences seem seared with a hot iron; spiritual cells seem closed." 

Again, strong words from a loving and concerned leader who has seen the fall of values and the acceptance of ugly and debasing topics grow and spread among our beautiful young people.  People like you!—Sons and daughters of God who have the potential to become as our Father in Heaven—people who must understand that entertainment should  uplift and inspire.

President Thomas Monson has counseled that "Whatever you read, listen to, or watch makes an impression on you....Don't be afraid to walk out of a movie, turn off a television set, or change a radio station if what's being presented does not meet your Heavenly Father's standards.  In short, if you have any question about whether a particular movie, book, or other form of entertainment is appropriate, don't see it, don't read it, don't participate."  (October Conference, 1990)

We plead with our young people to avoid these things, because we don't want you to become old people with habits and tendencies that have harmed your life or those around you.  We hope that you will understand that there are inspiring choices that can be made in the entertainment line.  There are good things that can be watched and listened to.  There are beautiful works that can move us to be better people and become closer to our Father in Heaven.

When I was studying musical theater at BYU, there was a wonderful director who said to those of us in our theater company, "Good theater should uplift and inspire.  It should make us want to be better people.  It should impress us so that we are better people leaving than when we came in."  I have reflected on his words many times over the years.  He was so correct. 

Seen a good movie lately?  Been to a good play?  Listened to a good song?  If it is uplifting, inspiring, and invites us to be better, that's entertainment!

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