Beast of Technology

  We live in a time that sees constant addition to our technological options. In what seems to be a very short time, we have computers, cell phones, the internet, self-driving cars, new medicines, etc. We are told that we have to use these things for good, or they will be used for evil. It's strange to me that we never discussed the idea of just not using some technology. I think smartphones are great. They're super useful, convenient and powerful. However, I swapped out my smartphone for a flip phone at Christmas and couldn't be happier. Yes, the technology is great, but so much of what is around us isn't necessary. Facebook, Pintrest and Twitter all have potential good uses, but we never seem to discuss the option of not creating accounts, or even deleting our accounts from these services. If technology can dampen our ability to feel the spirit, shouldn't we teach some form of technological abstinence? I do, of course, believe in the righteous uses of these technologies, but I feel that we aren't nearly as cornered into using them as it seems. It's like any pseudo-addiction: go without it for a week or two, and you'll realize how little some of these things actually added to your life.