“You’re what we call il-li-ter-ate.” I can still hear those taunts from my fifth grade reading buddies because I, a kindergartener, struggled with reading and they simply wanted their mandatory class service assignment checked off. I didn’t know what “illiterate” meant then, but I felt that receiving that label wasn’t a compliment
I’ve now learned the definition of what it means to be illiterate and on a deeper level, I’ve learned the power that comes from being literate in a literal, cultural, and spiritual sense.
Media literacy is described as “the process of critically analyzing media content by considering its particular presentation, underlying political or social messages, and its media ownership or regulation that may affect the type of context we receive” (Pavlik and McIntosh, 35). Essentially, media literacy is analyzing and assessing the information around us. Literacy in this aspect is becoming increasingly more important as we are forced to shuffle through a myriad of voices and opinions to learn for ourselves what “the truth” really is. In addition, life demands that we make choices and in some cases very crucial, life-altering choices. In order to make well informed choices, we must know where to go for information, who to trust, and what to believe. Media literacy plays a role in this as it allows us to be agents instead of objects. Being media literate requires us to evaluate our assumptions about a subject and subsequently investigate and interrogate those assumptions to come to a well-informed and sound conclusion, thus allowing us to take control rather than be controlled by the voices and information blasted into our ears (sometimes literally) every minute of every day.
Spiritual literacy is much the same in that sense. Though it is hard to quantify and measure knowledge and beliefs when it comes to religion and spirituality, the same process and general principles of media literacy apply here too. In fact, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, asking questions and seeking answers is the doctrinal backbone to our spirituality. We are counseled by the Lord all throughout the scriptures to “[a]sk, and it shall be given…; seek and [we] shall find; knock, and it shall be opened…” (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9; 3 Nephi 14:7).
In his October 2009 general conference address, then Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke of this topic exactly, emphasizing and elaborating on the counsel to ask, seek, and knock. First, we must ask sincerely and intentionally. In a spiritual sense, this may mean that we genuinely intend to follow the counsel we receive. When putting this into the context of media literacy, this may mean setting aside biases and digging to find the truth, not just settling for a short but possibly inaccurate answer that satisfies the narrative we want to be true. Second, we study the question. This looks like going to multiple sources, reflecting on personal experiences, speaking with people who may be considered “experts” or have experience with the question or topic. In some circumstances, this step may involve both the head AND the heart–what IS right and also what FEELS right according to our personal morals and virtues–and on occasion, lots of time, patience, perseverance and dedication to get to an answer.
I have no doubt that God is still very much involved in our efforts to become media literate. He cares just as much about our temporal concerns, needs and wants just as much as he cares about our spiritual concerns, needs, and wants. If we follow the commandment he has given to ask, seek, and knock, we will be led to sources of truth and knowledge.