"Ensign": Teaching Gospel Through Media

The “Ensign,” a magazine published by the LDS Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, appeals to a wide variety of people. Many of the readers are members of the LDS Church, though anyone wanting to learn more about the Gospel or just wanting a good clean reading on moral issues in society and the family would enjoy it.

A wide variety of topics makes reading the magazine enjoyable to anyone and everyone. Examples of the variety of story titles shown in the May 2007 issue are “As a Child,” “Broken Things to Mend,” “Prayer, faith, and Family: Stepping-Stones to Eternal Happiness,” “Our Rising Generation,” ect. Many of the stories are written by leaders of the Church, though anyone can send in inspirational stories.

The layout and design of the magazine is simple. Each issue holds different talks given during General Conference. Different articles contain subjects suited for the audience: missions, marriage, priesthood, Sacrament, raising children, staying strong in the faith, the power of prayer, ect.

The “Ensign” is financially supported through the Church, and the people who subscribe pay an annual fee of merely $10. By having such a low fee, the magazine is accessible to everyone.

The average reader is looking to obtain knowledge, as many members of the LDS church use different articles to assist while teaching lessons on Sunday. When I read the “Ensign,” I always know I’ll read inspiring words that lift up my heart, give me strength to face the pressures of the world. I always like the talks I read on testimony as well as marriage. These kind of subjects are good and appeal to the reader, because those reading want to gain or build upon their testimony. Likewise, most people have been, are, or will be married, and as the divorce rate continues to rise, anyone discerning marriage couldn’t hurt from having more advice.

The “Ensign” tries to be a good media influence on the world. Elder M. Russell Ballard, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said in his talk in November 2003, “Brothers and sisters, refuse to be used. Refuse to be manipulated. Refuse to support those programs that violate traditional family values. We may be a small voice to begin with; nevertheless, let us speak out and encourage a more uplifting, inspiring, and acceptable media.”

Janet Jackson's exposure at the XXXVIII Super Bowl

As the times we live in change, what we as American citizens are exposed to through TV has evolved—for better or worse? That is the question. . In 1964, Network programming was still very proper. There was no sex, nudity or profanity. Even the word “pregnant” was a no-no. Lucy and Ricky had separate beds on “I Love Lucy,” as did Rob and Laura on “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
Times surely have changed, as the 2004 Super Bowl showed us. As every American has come to know, the famous Super Bowl comes with the just as famous half-time show. In 2004, during the XXXVIII Super Bowl, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake performed a duet together.

“MTV, which produced the Janet Jackson halftime show for Super Bowl 38, promised a "shocking surprise". Fans got it at the end of her duet with Justin Timberlake (sample lyric: "Gonna have you naked by the end of this song") when he grabbed the front of her costume and yanked the cover off her right breast, which flopped into the clear view of the worldwide audience. Timberlake called the incident a "wardrobe malfunction" that was "not intentional".-Houston Chronicle.


Not intentional or not, anyone who was watching the Super Bowl got flashed Miss Jackson’s left breast. Due to close up photos, many people argue the stunt was planned to drum up album sales. Because, if the “wardrobe malfunction” was not planned, then why would Jackson be wearing a sort of nipple decoration. Though in this day and age, there are many things people do which could likewise be questioned
Jackson argued they planned a costume reveal, which would expose her red bra. The decision was made after final rehearsals she explains. Maybe she should have practiced and avoided this controversy because the explanation is not convincing people, and it created uproar among viewers. An article from CNN tells us,

Jan LaRue, chief counsel for the conservative Concerned Women for America group, called it a "pornographic show"… "We don't buy for a minute that this was not planned. Everybody knew what was going on here."


According to an article by Cade Metz in Law, 21st July 2008, “In the wake of the incident - dubbed Nipplegate - the big-name American TV networks quickly added delays to their live broadcasts. And just weeks later, after U2 front man Bono used a word beginning with F during an NBC broadcast of the Golden Globe awards, the FCC did in fact change its fleeting material policy.” So hopefully nothing like this ever happens again, and our homes, our children, can be protected.