Wagon Wheels!Contemporizing LDS Pioneer Technology into Modern Day Examples That Students can Understand and Apply

By: Dr. Aaron Wester, PhD

Spiritual Splash Zone: Encourage students to “digitally” sit at front of class

President Brigham Young’s Counsel:

• In 1862, Brigham Young Stated, “Every discovery in science and art, that is really true and useful to mankind has been given by direct revelation from God, though but few acknowledge it. It has been given with a view to prepare the way for the ultimate triumph of truth, and the redemption of the earth from the power of sin and Satan. We should take advantage of all these great discoveries, the accumulated wisdom of ages, and give to our children the benefit of every branch of useful knowledge, to prepare them to step forward and efficiently do their part in the great work”.

President David O. McKay’s Counsel:

• In 1966 President David O. McKay prophesied scientific discoveries that “stagger the imagination” would make possible the preaching of the gospel to every kindred, tongue, and people.• “Discoveries latent with such potent power, either for the blessing or

the destruction of human beings, as to make man’s responsibility in controlling them the most gigantic ever placed in human hands. … This age is fraught with limitless perils, as well as untold possibilities”

President Gordon B. Hinckley’s Counsel:• In 1981 Gordon B. Hinckley stated, “We are confident that as the

work of the Lord expands, he will inspire men to develop the means whereby the membership of the Church, wherever they may be, can be counseled in an intimate and personal way by his chosen prophet. Communication is the sinew that binds the Church as one great family. Between those facilities which are now available and those which are on the horizon, we shall be able to converse one with another according to the needs and circumstances of the time”

Elder David A. Bednar on Technology• “We are blessed to live, learn, and serve in this most remarkable

dispensation. An important aspect of the fullness that is available to us in this special season is a miraculous progression of innovations and inventions that have enabled and accelerated the work of salvation: from trains to telegraphs to radios to automobiles to airplanes to telephones to transistors to televisions to computers to satellite transmissions to the Internet—and to an almost endless list of technologies and tools that bless our lives. All of these advancements are part of the Lord hastening His work in the latter days.”

Pioneer’s 1st Broad Reach Social Channel• The Saints were somewhat isolated in the Salt Lake Valley.• Three functions of the Newspaper:

• Local social communication between church/state leaders and community• Reliable source of news for the community• Expansion of Community Voice as communities extend further away

• There was a need to have a connection to what was going on in the world other than just word of mouth• There was a need for pioneers to have a voice in their community and social

outlet for sharing testimony and connecting to others. • First Print of Deseret News with the “voice of the state of Deseret” and the

Motto “Truth and Liberty”, was published in 1850.

Social Media Providers Used in 2015

Social Media in the Contemporary LDS Church

Social Media in the Contemporary LDS Church

Social Media in the Contemporary LDS Church

Social Media in the Contemporary LDS Church

Social Media Technology In the Church• On August 19, 2014, Elder Bednar stated that approximately 40% of all

LDS missionaries would use digital devices for conversion, retention, and activation through social media tools. • As of 30 June, 2014, there are 85,728 missionaries serving, which

includes 6,735 seniors (8%), 54,053 elders (63%), and 24,950 sisters (29%).• Currently 6,500 Missionaries in 30 missions in the U.S. and Japan receive

specially configured iPad Minis for online proselytizing.• Church leaders will also implement online proselyting in the United

States, Canada, Japan, and western Europe following a test in those areas for more than a year.

Nested Programming Loops in Java

How is such programming used today?

Technology Started with Mormon Pioneers

Designed by Orson Pratt and William Clayton

First used on May 12, 1847

Originally called a “roadometer”

60-tooth gear wheel made 1 full revolution for every 360 rotations of the wagon wheel (1 mile). Smaller 40-tooth gear wheel made 1 full revolution every 10 miles

Pioneer Games

Pioneer Games on the Trail…

• Stick Pulling• Laundry Relay• Three-Legged Race• Wheelbarrow Race• Dancing to fiddle music• Hide and Seek• Tag• Jump Rope

• Marbles• Fox and Geese• Dare Base• Drop the Handkerchief• Last Couple Out• Blind Man’s Bluff• Dare Base• Ducks Fly/Simon Says

Joseph Smith’s Favorite Game

Joseph Smith and Young People

Joseph had four fairly distinctive commitments regarding young people: (1) their need for adult love, respect, and guidance; (2) their need for a healthy balance of work and play; (3) their need for schooling; and (4) their need for religious training. - William G. Hartley

Joseph Smith and Games• That Joseph Smith liked to pull sticks, wrestle, play baseball, swim, and hunt

is generally well known. William Allred, who played ball with Joseph many times, recalled an instance when someone criticized the Prophet for indulging in play. To answer the criticism Joseph told a parable about a prophet and a hunter—clearly explaining his own philosophy about the relationship of play to work. As the story goes, a certain prophet sat under a tree “amusing himself in some way.” Along came a hunter and reproved him. The prophet asked the hunter if he always kept his hunting bow strung up. “Oh no,” said he.

“Why not?”“Because it would lose its elasticity.”“It is just so with my mind,” stated the prophet; “I do not want it strung up all the time.” 5

Pioneering the Video Gaming Industry

The Rise of ATARI

Nolan Bushnell – raised in Ogden Utah, worked at Lagoon, attended USU and UofU

“ATARI” = Ataru” in Japanese

• Nolan’s favorite game was Japan’s centuries old classic, Go. • The term “Atari” is used by Go players to politely inform their

opponent that they are about to be overrun. • More specifically, the term comes from “ataru” meaning “to hit the

target”• The word “Atari” is also used in Japanese when a prediction comes

true or when someone wins a lottery. • Fun Fact: In 1976, Steve Jobs approached Nolan with an offer to put in

$50,000 stake into Apple for 1/3rd ownership of company now worth approx. $480 Billion. Nolan declined the invitation.

PONG – Revolutionizes On-Screen Gaming

Under the Hood

Pong Code for a TI Scientific Calculator

Programming Video Games Today

The Future of Gaming Technology> Full 360 Degree Immersion > “The Rift”

Augmented Reality (AR) > Microsoft HoloLens

Council From the Brethren• Elder David A. Bednar stated, "It is no

coincidence that Family Search and other tools have come forth at a time when young people are so familiar with a wide range of information and communication technologies. Your fingers have been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord - not just to communicate quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of salvation.

Next Wave of LDS Pioneers in Technology• 1 million jobs will go unfulfilled in the United States in the technology

industry this year alone because only 1 in 10 schools teach students how to program and manage, and work with technology.• Over the next 10 years, 1.4 million jobs will be available in computer

science, however only about 400,000 college graduates qualify for those jobs today. That’s a shortage of a million people! • “Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer…

Because it teaches you how to think.” – Steve Jobs

What about Technology and Other Faiths?

• Seven out of 10 Christian Millennials who fall into the age range of 18 to 29 read scriptures on a screen. • One-third of them say they read their scriptures from a mobile device. • 54% of them watch online gospel videos• one-third of them use online search to learn more about their faith from multiple

sources. • Through the advent of technology, more and more individuals are discovering and

experiencing a new-found relationship with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. • The opportunities then to contribute as a technologist to this movement to enable

and empower individuals who are search through applications and information to answer those critical questions of who they are, why they are here, and where they are going, are tremendous!