Globalization for LDS: Adopt a Wiki!

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“Globalization is an oft-mentioned, all-important matter in today’s world. News media, special-interest groups, and govermental bodies regularly apply it to economics, law, ethics, political science, and sociology. For the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, globalization is more than just an interesting topics; it is an urgent priority. The mission of the Church is to bring all people everywhere to Jesus Christ so that they might enjoy the eternal fruits of His gospel. A wordwide Church is certainly in a better position to accomplish this mission than one that is only local or even regional”.

These are the opening words of the book “Unto Every Nation” by Donald Cannon and Richard Cowan (published by Deseret Book). There are many pieces of interesting information in this book about the History of the Church in many nations, but I want to focus on just a few general ideas here and then challenge all that read this blog to help in our efforts in multiple languages. If you don’t write in another language, for sure you know someone who can do it.

Joseph Smith said: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; …the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:540).

The globalization of the Church represent the fulfilling of this prophecy. But what about the Internet?

In D&C 84:62 we read: “Therefore, go ye into all the world; and unto whatsoever place ye cannot go ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all the world unto every creature.”

According to Cannon and Cowan, “the internet provide a means of keeping this commandment” (p. 516). This is interesting idea. If there is a place where the missionaries can’t go then we will send our web pages.

If we can’t go there phisically, we can still send our words, our testimonies and our teachings. How can we do it in a simple way?

This is one good possibility: We have started wikis (see www.mormonwiki.com) in several languages but we need wikis in more languages and we need more content for those that already exist. We would like to see each of our wikis filled with as many article as we have in the English one (more than 500 and still growing).

Perhaps language departments or language clubs at BYU could “adopt” a wiki in the language they know, or perhaps a Spanish speaking or a Chinese speaking ward could do the same. The possibilities are many, but we want individuals and groups to take onwership of these projects and move them forward while we continue to pursue other ideas. Even groups of young people could help with this; what better way of learning about the Gospel and prepare for a mission than having to write about Gospel topics?

If any of you has language skills or knows people who have them, please contact us and help us to be more effective in spreading the gospel through the Internet to all nations and kingdoms.