Communication 102

[MaidservantX]

In the www.lds.org Gospel Topic library, there is an entry for "Communication". It says:

"True disciples of Jesus Christ seek to follow His example in the ways they communicate. Their communications, both verbal and nonverbal, are to be kind, compassionate, and helpful, reflecting a love for Heavenly Father's children and an understanding that all people are brothers and sisters. "

Under 'Additional Information' in the Communication topic, lds.org has chosen to quote the following:

"Elder L. Lionel Kendrick of the Seventy taught:

""Christlike communications are expressed in tones of love rather than loudness. They are intended to be helpful rather than hurtful. They tend to bind us together rather than to drive us apart. They tend to build rather than to belittle.

""Christlike communications are expressions of affection and not anger, truth and not fabrication, compassion and not contention, respect and not ridicule, counsel and not criticism, correction and not condemnation. They are spoken with clarity and not with confusion. They may be tender or they may be tough, but they must always be tempered.

""The real challenge that we face in our communications with others is to condition our hearts to have Christlike feelings for all of Heavenly Father's children. When we develop this concern for the condition of others, we then will communicate with them as the Savior would. We will then warm the hearts of those who may be suffering in silence. As we meet people with special needs along life's way, we can then make their journey brighter by the things that we say.

""Christlike communications will help us to develop righteous relationships and ultimately to return to our heavenly home safely. May we treasure the divine gift of communication, and may we use it wisely to build and to assist others on this marvelous journey through mortality" ("Christlike Communications," Ensign, Nov. 1988, 24). "

In the Savior's Sermon on the Mount, he reminded us to not call our brothers 'fools'.

Online we usually cannot hear the tones of the voice nor see the expressions of the face. (Yay! for emoticons, eh?) It becomes doubly important to speak in a way that our compassion is evident. That compassion must also carry the truth.

When I feel that I must correct someone online -- I STOP and first determine if I really must make the correction. What will be the result? Is it just to show that I am right? If that is the only reason, I personally don't think that is good enough. Will the result be that the person is receptive to the correction? If not, then I may not want to spend energy on a direct correction. Many times, however, we are online and have opportunities to correct misinformation for the good of all those who may stop by and read. Then, consider beginning your comments with a praise for what is good in the others' words: "I can hear how passionate you are. I admire that. You'll understand my passion then for [.. ]." "I can see how you have come to believe that from your experiences. I appreciate you taking the time to share. I have had similar experiences, and here is what happened with me. [ . ..]"

Again . . . these are just basics of communication . . . I'm sure you've heard them before. Try it, you'll like it!