It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure that their children are making wise media choices. As parents, we have the obligation to teach our children the difference between what is good and what is not.
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. (Ezekiel 44:23)
To your right are all the good things that can be done in life. The further to your right, the better they are. To the left are all the wrong things that can be done. The further to the left, the worse they are. In the middle, it is difficult to discern between what is good and what is bad. This middle area is where Satan works with righteous people, the twilight zone where you cannot clearly discern what is good and what is bad. It is easy to become confused here. Live well within the wonderful area of good the Lord has defined. If you are not sure whether something is appropriate to look at, listen to, to think about, or to do, then avoid it. (Richard G. Scott, “Do What is Right,” CES Young Adult Fireside, 3 Mar 1996)
Movies typically follow a rating system developed by the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America). Unfortunately, this rating system is SEVERELY FLAWED. There are many PG and PG-13 rated movies that contain language, violence, and/or sexual content that used to be exclusively reserved for the R rating. President Hinckley has before stated that “movie ratings do not necessarily reflect offensive content.” The scriptures provide guidelines in helping us make decisions.
Wherefore I show unto you the way to judge, for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. [italics added] (Moroni 7:16)
Additionally, Elder Russell M. Ballard gave advice on how to apply the practices of media wise parents:
1 Hold family councils to decide what your media standards are going to be.
2 Spend enough quality time with your children so you are the main influence in their lives.
3 Make good media choices yourself and set the example.
4 Limit the amount of time your children watch TV or play video games or use the Internet.
5 Use Internet filters.
6 Locate computers and TVs in much used common rooms.
7 Take time to watch appropriate media with your children and discuss with them how to make choices that will uplift and build rather than degrade and destroy.
(“Let our voices be heard,” Russell M. Ballard, Ensign, Nov. 2003)
Additionally, you can make your own edited movies for family movie night. You can edit your own movies by ripping the movie to your computer hard drive via AnyDVDHD, converting the files via TMPGEnc XPress, editing via Sony Vegas Video, and DVD creation via Sony DVD Architect. Then just burn the finished edited movie on a DVD-R. While I still advise to steer clear of R rated movies, this is a great way to edit your PG-13 and PG rated movies. You can be sure that movies are safe in your home so that your children will not pre-maturely encounter vulgar language in children’s movies such as Shrek, Harry Potter, or Jumanji as well as many Disney movies that are no longer family friendly.
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