Does the amount of misinformation in the world make you feel helpless? Even seemingly reputable media outlets often disseminate deceptions. Even if you see a video of something, you can’t always know if it is true.
So what can we do about it? The article “Recognizing Truth in a World of Misinformation” in the September issue of the Liahona magazine offers some good suggestions:
1. Be Guided by the Light of Christ—and Common Sense. “To discern truth, we should use both our God-given sense of right and wrong, which comes through the Light of Christ, as well as the common sense that comes from our accumulated knowledge of how the world works. Be especially wary of things that confirm your opinions or that seem too good to be true.”
2. Find and Check Sources. Pay attention to where the information originated and the context in which it happened. Different media outlets can report the same event in completely different ways. Check original sources and consider the source’s motives.
3. Rely on Divine Assistance. Listen to the Holy Ghost and the counsel from Church leaders.
4. Follow Official Channels. Following official channels—and verifying that information is being shared across multiple official channels—can help us have confidence that what we’re seeing is real. Church announcements happen at general conference, in a letter sent to local leaders from Church headquarters, or in an official release from the Church Newsroom (newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). If you only see something on social media, beware.
I encourage you to read the entire article “Recognizing Truth in a World of Misinformation.”