Geoff Thatcher grew up in Farmington, Utah in an LDS home. He is a descendant of the apostle, Moses Thatcher. He served his mission in the Kentucky Louisville Mission. He graduated from BYU in Journalism and now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio where he works with large corporations to help them create attractions and museums to advertise their brands.

Geoff Thatcher's calling involves working with all stake public affairs directors in a coordinating council (group of stakes). In the interview Geoff talks about the shift that is happening in the direction we are receiving from the general authorities to use social media and technology more activity to spread the message of the gospel. The following is a summary of some of the points he makes. For a full understanding of his message it is recommended that you listen to the full audio episode.

Encouragement from our Latter-day Prophets to use social media and other internet tools

Handbook 2 21.1.22 now states:

Members are encouraged to use the Internet to flood the earth with testimonies of the Savior and His restored gospel. They should view blogs, social networks, and other Internet technologies as tools that allow them to amplify their voice in promoting the messages of peace, hope, and joy that accompany faith in Christ.

Geoff quotes Elder M. Russell Ballard who said in his 2007 address at BYU-Hawaii (the same year the iPhone was released), "With new technological tools, you can further the work of the Lord by joining the ongoing conversation about the Church." This was a big moment for members of the Church to hear from one of the 12 Apostles encouraging them to participate in the conversation online related to the Church.

This comment was followed up a few years later by Elder Adrián Ochoa when he said in his 2012 April General Conference address, "the Internet, social media, and other technologies are tools the Lord has placed in your hands to help you exercise your priesthood duties and extend the influence of truth and virtue."

Elder Perry later encouraged the same message in his talk, Missionary Work in the Digital Age when he stated "Just as missionaries must adapt to a changing world, members must also change the way they think about missionary work. In saying this, I wish to make it clear that what we, as members, are asked to do has not changed; but the way in which we fulfill our responsibility to share the gospel must adapt to a changing world."

Finally, this message came loud and clear from Elder Bednar during the 2014 BYU Education Week when he stated, "I believe the time has come for us as disciples of Christ to use these inspired tools appropriately and more effectively to testify of God the Eternal Father, His plan of happiness for His children, and His Son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior of the world; to proclaim the reality of the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days; and to accomplish the Lord’s work."

The Church has come along way and still has some adjustments to make in order to really leverage the available internet tools to effectively spread the gospel. Geoff talked about a personal example of a missed opportunity when he took the sister missionaries out for Cincinnati chili and interacted...