Why We Blog

Did you know that actively participating in a blog community is a great way to do missionary work?  Many people want to learn about the beliefs of Latter-day Saints, but might be afraid to ask questions of their LDS friends or may live in areas where there are few church members.

When we actively participate in a blog, or even create one of our own, we give people a way to search for insights on what it means to be a Mormon.  The Bee allows us to point to the strength and wisdom of our LDS leaders.  Our Prophets and General Officers have such a gold mine of ideas on how to improve the lives of others!  Many people throughout the world might be surprised that they can also learn to be a better leader, just by taking a few minutes each day reading about the ideas of men and women who are inspired by God.

Sharing the Gospel Online

“With so many social media resources and a multitude of more or less useful gadgets at our disposal, sharing the good news of the gospel is easier and the effects more far-reaching than ever before.”

—President Uchtdof  http://lds.org/church/share?lang=eng

What Do I Share?

Missionary work can be as simple as living the way a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is expected to live. Telling your friends you went to church on Sunday, for instance, lets them know you participate actively in the gospel. By your everyday actions, others can also know that Mormons neither smoke nor drink alcohol, coffee, or tea.
With a blog, you have an even greater opportunity to share your beliefs. Talk about your day-to-day life. Remember that some who read your blog may not understand traditional “Mormon jargon”; be careful to be clear in your writing. Share what you learn when you go to Church. Share your family home evening experiences. Share how the Lord has blessed you. Bear your testimony where appropriate and if you are prompted by the Spirit.

Where Can I Blog?  How Can I Read Blogs?

Choose the blog medium that works best for you. Here are some sites where you can start a blog and start sharing with others online:

• Blogger.com
• Wordpress.com
• Posterous.com - start a blog just by sending an e-mail!
• Tumblr.com
• Facebook.com

There also is technology you can use to be notified when there are new blog posts on the blogs you want to read and subscribe to. Google Reader is a great place to set up these notifications, or you can usually do this in your email software. Some blogs even let you subscribe by e-mail.

How Do I Promote My Blog?

Start by notifying your friends and family that you have a blog. You can do this by phone or e-mail. You may also want to show them ways they can subscribe to your blog.
You can create a Twitter or Facebook account and share your new blog posts there with people that subscribe to you. Providing an RSS link or e-mail subscription through a service like Feedburner.com also gives people a way to subscribe and continue reading your blog. Linking to other popular blogs from within your blog posts can also get the attention of those bloggers. Be respectful as you bring others into your conversation and you will gain the attention of many.
Participate in the conversation! Conversation is crucial towards the success of any blog. Get to know what others are saying on the topics you want to write about. Comment on other blogs. Link to other blogs when you talk about the topics their authors are discussing. Most important, use the Spirit as you contemplate ways you can use your blog to share the gospel.  

http://lds.org/church/share/sharing-via-blogs?lang=eng