Rome Temple Gardens: An Oasis from the Digital Noise
This article was contributed by a local member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views expressed may not represent the views and positions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the Church's official site, visit churchofjesuschrist.org.
Watch the full address, “Faith, Dignity, and Human Flourishing: Hearing God’s Voice in an Age of Artificial Intelligence,” by global faith leader Gerrit W. Gong, exploring how to hear the voice of the divine in an age of artificial intelligence.
Only when you turn off a loud kitchen fan do you suddenly realize how deafening the background noise actually was.
For many of us, our digital lives are that kitchen fan. Between phones, computers, and televisions, the average adult spends five to six hours a day looking at screens, and teenagers average eight to nine. Algorithms constantly curate our attention, keeping us trapped in digital monologues and screen-time fatigue.
In his recent address, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explored how to hear God’s voice clearly amid this digital clutter, focusing on how AI impacts our four core relationships:
Deity (Thou)
AI can answer questions, but it cannot answer prayers. It is math, not conscious or alive, and cannot offer revelation or covenant blessings.
Self (I)
As AI makes basic logic a commodity, we must define ourselves by enduring traits of the soul: faith, compassion, love, humility, and forgiveness.
Others (They)
We must ensure “no one sits alone” spiritually or emotionally, especially not dependent on a chatbot designed to maximize screen time.
Nature (It)
We need to step away from artificial conveniences and re-immerse our physical senses in the beauty of creation.
Finding Peace
Elder Gong invites us to find the calm and assurance that comes from stepping outside digital reality. Here in Rome, the temple grounds and reflection pools are designed to be a physical sanctuary.
We invite you to put your phone on silent, walk the shaded paths under the palms, and feel the stillness that screens cannot provide. Real growth and connection don’t happen on a screen; they are lived.
Take the 7-Day “Touch Grass” Challenge
Are you ready to quiet the digital noise? Join our free web challenge. Each day, you’ll receive a simple offline prompt to help you unplug, visit the temple gardens, and reset.
