If you haven't visited Mormon.org yet, you are really missing out! This is one of the Church's many websites that can be a valuable teaching tool for members, and non-members alike. My favorite part of Mormon.org? The videos of "I'm a Mormon" statements - I especially love Sheryl's video - what a powerful influence for good this woman is doing - especially in the lives of those sweet kids she teaches every day! And she is proud to say I'm a MORMON. Are we that proud? Do we exemplify our beliefs like Sheryl does thru her service and association with others? I sure hope we all do. And I firmly believe that she is planting the seed in many of her students to follow her example and to make a difference in this world. Everyone knows the influence of a favorite teacher - and what it can do in ones life.
Ok - onto the "tutorial - part 1". When you first get to Mormon.org, you will see lots of fun colorful things. Down below the main big picture, you will see 5 small boxes of pictures of people. If you click on one of those, that picture will pop up as the main big picture on the page. Click on the big picture, and you can watch their video about them being a Mormon. You will want to watch these! They are so inspiring. So many different and unique people all over the world who are making a difference thru their belief in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
When you first visit the site - at the top of the page there is a CREATE A PROFILE link. Click on this to start your own profile on Mormon.org. Once you create a profile, others can view it and learn from you. You can even link your blog to your profile, so investigators who visit Mormon.org can read about you and learn from you. Why create a profile? Well, let me show you.....
When you get to Mormon.org, you'll see a link that says OUR PEOPLE. If you scroll over this, a drop down menu will appear. Click on MEET MORMONS. This will take you to a page that will help you discover Mormons who share your personal experience in terms of where you live, age, gender, etc.... You can narrow the search by selecting a few more details. Start by just selecting a gender and age. This will pop up all the profiles by this group you selected. Why do they have this feature? Say you have a friend who is a single mom, age 30, who lives in Australia. She doesn't think anyone else is in her situation. She can search for a female, age 30, in Australia. She will find many profiles that she can read that could inspire and teach her about the Gospel - from women her same age in her same area. WOW! What a powerful group that can help her. Go -- create your profile!!
Try playing around with this feature- see who you can find - this could be used to help youth, and adults. Share a profile of someone from another country in your next Family Home Evening. Learn from these people! They have much to teach you.
So, you have now started to create YOUR profile, and you have read several profiles of others (and watched a few video profiles). Now what?
Did you know that you can talk to a missionary right from this website - or refer a friend or investigator to this feature? You can!! When you first arrive on Mormon.org, there is a link that says CHAT WITH US (on the side, angled sideways, next to text by the big picture on the main page - it is currently HOT PINK). Did you know that missionaries are called to serve as this chat group? It's true. I learned (from the class I took on these church websites) that there is an average of 3 baptisms per WEEK due to these CHAT online communications? How wonderful is that?!?!
Last item for this tutorial PART 1 (you'll have lots of homework from these few features you were taught today, so I think we can stop here). Be sure to visit the FAQ's page. You can get to the FAQ's page from any page on this site. Now, this isn't your normal Frequently Asked Questions about a website - no, these are not answers to how Mormon.org (the website) works. These are questions and answers to the most asked questions about OUR CHURCH. When you click on the FAQ link, you'll be taken to a page that has many, many topics, questions, and answers. When you click on a topic, the questions pertaining to that topic are next to it on the right, and next to the questions, if you click on one of the questions, the answer is to the right of that. And want one better? You can also read answers to these questions from people who have profiles on Mormon.org, and who have taken the time to answer these questions (you'll be able to provide answers, too, once you get going on your PROFILE). Can you see now why it is so important we all create a profile? Think if you were investigating the Church - wouldn't it be helpful and comforting to get real answers to your questions from real, everyday people? That is what our profiles do!
Next tutorial - Mormon.org PART 2. Look for it in 7-10 days. Be patient with me if you check back in 7 days and I haven't posted the next tutorial - as I work from home, and I am still a mom
and wife... :-)
Next tutorial - Mormon.org - watch for it in 7-10 days....maybe sooner.