A choir of missionaries from the Missionary Training Center sang at the Saturday March 31 session of LDS General Conference. Among the missionaries was David Archuleta, an internationally-known singer who recently began a full-time mission. Just a year ago, David Archuleta was the guest singer at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert at the conference center and now he’s a full-time missionary who sang in a choir at conference.
Since I was blogging and posting pictures right after each conference session, I wanted to share his picture on social media. But I hesitated, knowing how humble David is and that he wouldn’t want to make a big deal about it. In David’s goodbye-for-two-years video, he expressed his feelings about leaving music for two years so he could dedicate himself to the work of the Lord.
However, I also thought it could be a great way to help some people connect with general conference. David is very popular. The David Archuleta Facebook page has 2.37 million Likes and there are 450,000 searches on his name on Google every month. If some of these people saw the picture or found a reference to him singing at an LDS General Conference, perhaps they would want to find out more about it, maybe listen to some talks, and learn more about the Gospel.
So, on Saturday, March 31, I posted this picture to Facebook with the following comment: “In the LDS General Conference Saturday afternoon session (gc.lds.org), Elder David Archuleta sang with other missionaries in a choir. Way cool that he’s dedicating 2 years of his life to serve the Lord and share His gospel.” [Note: You can watch the video of the choir singing; they sing several times during the meeting. This screen shot is about 1:54:52 into the video for the Saturday afternoon session.]
Within 30 minutes, it had been liked over 1,000 times. To date, it has been Liked by 9,125 people and shared 2,753 times. In addition, many of the people who shared the photo reposted it, so it has been shared many more times virally from those secondary postings.
Within a few hours of posting the picture, someone sent me this message: “I just wanted you to know that your picture of David, as you know is going viral, but that it has already begin to open doors. I have a young friend I worked with years ago who is a FB acquaintance…. She is not a member of the church but when she saw your picture and what I had posted she sent me a message….telling me she had admired David and knew a little bit about him being a Mormon…and that when she saw him in his suit with his name tag she decided right then she would like to met some missionaries from our area!! What a blessing all young men and women who go on a mission are to the church….As a member I loved how seeing David reminded me how we are all equal in the Lord’s site…..However, to a young mother of two in western Oregon….seeing him as a result of your picture….may change her life forever…. Thank you so much for taking and posting such a great example of what all missionaries are about….”
This is what can happen when we take the initiative to use social media to share the gospel. Something as simple as a picture and a comment can have far-reaching effects. I invite you to share in the comments below your experiences in using social media for good.
Get some ideas on the Church’s page “Sharing the Gospel Online.”
Great article! So much respect for Elder Archuleta!
In regards to social media, don’t have much to say, except it’s a POWERFUL tool. Use it wisely folks.
I too have seen the power of social networking with the Church. More than a few of my friends have messaged me asking about the gospel when they’ve seen me posting LDS things online, and I’ve had many in-depth conversations with others about the gospel when they saw me defending the faith or updating my many LDS pages on Facebook. It’s a wonderful tool and I sincerely hope it continues to be used for good.
AMAZING and…WONDERFUL! I strongly believe that this is what technology has been revealed for; to do the work of the Lord. If each of us will do our part – many lives will be blessed.
Thank you for what you did as well as a great article/reminder of our personal responsibility. As well, it’s a reminder of those who are seeking for light and truth but…just don’t know where to find it!
Blessings to you,
Heidi G.
LDSPowerBloggers
MormonMomsWhoBlog
Thanks for the photo of David Archuleta. You can count me as one of the first 1,000! I have many FB friends of different faiths who “watched” General Conference with me because they saw David’s name in stream that day/ Adding his to my sharing the words of conference grabbed some attention I may not have acquired.
As for the missionary power of social networking, I rely on that. My business attracts many Christian women – some of whom struggled with my beliefs. Through social networking and sharing the words of our beloved prophets and apostles, their hearts have been softened. Social media may be the best tool for me in fulfilling the directive, “Every member a missionary”.
I posted it on my FB with no response from my non LDS FB friends but I know it was eye opening for them to see that those young men in suits and name tags are dedicated to preaching the gospel, even famous singers such as David. Thanks for posting it!
This is great Larry. I couldn’t help but think how symbolic it is that this young singing sensation is now one voice in 56,000. What a cool image to see him in his name-tag and for someone to already make the connection that “…if he is doing the same thing as those boys in white shirts in my area, maybe I should go talk to them…”
I’m glad you posted this. 🙂
Derek
This kid just has a special spirit. I’m uncomfortable with that description, but it’s just the truth. He shines.
Off topic, but I had no idea he was so popular with teens and tweens until I went to one of his concerts and spent the whole evening looking at the skinny little behinds of screaming teenage girls. I wonder where on earth they’re going to send him to avoid a circus.
Great example for young people of these days love it hope young people will learn something from it to leave what they love and always first seek the Kingdom of God and they will be bless for the rest of their lives! Keep it up Elder Archuleta and thankyou for and also to your parent for their support so happy for you even i have never met you! Good luck with your mission and God bless!
I use Read the Scriptures and after you finish there is always a quote from a talk. I copy it on my FB page and have had many friends like it and ask if they could repost it even though they are not members of our church.
Thank you for your post about using social media to share the gospel. My wife and I love missionary work and proclaiming the gospel. We decided that we would start a LDS t-shirt company with shirts that have subtle gospel messages. In accordance with the t-shirts, we have set up a Facebook page, twitter, and Youtube channel. We post uplifting content on Facebook and will be creating our own version of Mormon Messages. Our facebook page is: facebook.com/whitefieldapparel. Thanks again for your post.
I’m a big fan, a loyal fan of David, grew up in the Philippines and somehow heard about Mormon faith. Now I heard a lot about it big time, that David Archuleta is an LDS member and everybody knows David, the great talented singer and handsome Inside and Out. He’s a fantastic role model in his generation/of all ages and his church. So proud of him for leaving behind a career for two years to serve and spread the word of the Lord. Bless his heart. As a fan, I miss David and waiting….till he comes back DA2014!