Is this game o.k.? Read Moroni 7:12-17
This week we received this question: Why can’t I play violent video games?
With all the new gaming systems that people probably received for Christmas and with the continued phenomenon of on-line gaming, we thought this might be a timely question to answer and do a post on.
Perhaps a personal story from Anthony’s life would help answer the question:
“After blessing our newborn daughter, we gathered after church at my parents’ home with family and friends. We had the customary food for all to eat, and after everyone arrived and had made small talk, we thanked everyone for coming and got ready to bless the food. As we all quieted down and the prayer was offered, in the background we could hear two people upstairs who were playing a video game that required them to shoot each other. They apparently had turned it on and were playing it as we waited for people to arrive, and didn’t realize that we had all gotten quiet to say the prayer. Literally, as my grandpa was thanking God in prayer for this new gift of life that had come to us in the form of our baby daughter, we heard from upstairs “Why won’ you die! I’m shooting you! Die! Die! Die!” Although it was kind of comical, it was a stark contrast to compare someone expressing gratitude for life and another screaming for murderous death at the exact same moment. I wonder which one is more in harmony with the gospel? Hmmm…..”
For the Strength of Youth teaches that violent video games that glorify violence “contradict the Savior’s message of love for one another.” The prophets further teach: “Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable…Depictions of violence often glamorize vicious behavior. They offend the Spirit and make you less able to respond to others in a sensitive, caring way” (p. 17).
Although there is debate in the scientific world as to the relationship between violent video games and violent behavior, we don’t need a research study to tell us how violent video games affect our ability to be in tune with the Holy Ghost and live the Savior’s message of kindness, love, and above all, charity. If the video game promotes the opposite of the Savior’s message, it should be clear to any Latter-day Saint which side of the line the game falls on (see Moroni 7:12-17).
It has always been interesting to note that the man in the Book of Mormon who was perhaps the greatest warrior of all, Captain Moroni, didn’t like to kill other people: “And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed” (Alma 48:11; emphasis added). Based off that description, it is doubtful that Captain Moroni would have played violent video games because he was a man of a sound understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and he had a respect for the sanctity of life. Of the righteous Nephite warriors the Book of Mormon says, “Now, they were sorry to take up arms against the Lamanites, because they did not delight in the shedding of blood” (Alma 48:23). If we become more like the Nephites and Captain Moroni and not delight in shedding the blood of others—even if it is on the video screen—we will be more in harmony with the Savior’s message of love and more in tune with the Spirit of God.
This talk by Elder Bednar last year was very good to help me understand why we should not.
http://www.lds.org/broadcast/ces/0,7341,538-1-61-1681,00.html
I had the unique opportunity of teaching a group of youth at a local juvenile detention center. In my preparations to teach I happened upon an article describing the addictive nature of smoking. I learned that the nicotine in cigarettes stimulates the nervous system creating an initial high; however, once the body becomes accustomed to the nicotine the nervous system goes haywire if it doesn’t get it. The only way to calm the frazzled nerves is to smoke another cigarette. This is how addiction begins and at this point it becomes very, very difficult to quit because the body now NEEDS the nicotine just to feel normal.
What does this have to do with violent video games? I asked the youth at the detention center what there favorite video games were.
They all started talking excitedlty about these awful games, describing in great detail the most graphic violence imaginable – each trying to out do the other. I continued my lesson by trying to help them recognize how the playing of violent video games causes feelings of anxiety and aggression which can lead to violent behavior. One teenage boy raised his had and disagreed with me saying that when he is upset and anxious he plays violent games to calm down. I was reminded of how smoking has become an addiction when it is needed to calm one’s nerves and immediately saw the connection with this young man and his reaction to violent video games. Out of all the youth in the room, he was the one I was most scared for because the only way he knew how to calm down was by using violence. Knowing this about him, what do you think would happen if he got upset with his girlfriend? How do you think he would calm himself down? You got it – with violence! Now I don’t know for sure what happened that ended him up at the detention center – but based on his response, I have a pretty good idea. And I’d be willing to bet that he’ll continue to end in detention until he’s behind bars for good. Why? Because he has already demonstrated his addiction to the chemicals released by the brain in response to violence.
Do violent games affect you? You bet they do!!