Our Philosophy: Seeking What Is "Of Good Report"
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men… If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
Article of Faith 13
The name Of Good Report carries a deliberate dual meaning. It refers both to quality reporting—journalism that is accurate, credible, and constructive—and to the scriptural standard from Article of Faith 13, which invites us to actively seek out what is virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy, and "of good report."
This project is built on the belief that these two meanings are deeply connected. In an age of information overload, where truth and error intermingle freely, the qualities described in Article of Faith 13 offer a timeless framework for discernment:
- Virtuous: Does this source uphold integrity? Does it contribute to moral clarity rather than confusion?
- Lovely: Does it elevate and inspire, or does it exploit fear and division?
- Of Good Report: Is it credible? Is it well-regarded among those who value truth?
- Praiseworthy: Does it serve the common good? Does it merit commendation?
We do not claim that any citation by a Church leader constitutes an endorsement. Rather, we believe that by examining the sources our leaders have referenced—often to illustrate cultural context, provide statistics, or engage with secular ideas—we can better understand how thoughtful, faithful people might approach media discernment.
Our Mission
Of Good Report exists to help members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other truth-seekers explore which journalism and news sources have been cited in General Conference talks and other official Church addresses.
We aim to provide a resource for media literacy that is:
- Uplifting: We focus on context and discernment, not criticism or controversy.
- Non-partisan: We avoid political framing. Our interest is in credibility and constructive value, not ideological alignment.
- Educational: We present information to inform, not to tell you what to think.
- Reverent: We approach this work with respect for prophetic counsel and the sacred nature of General Conference.
"Never in the history of the world have we had easier access to more information—some of it true, some of it false, and much of it partially true. Consequently, never… has it been more important to learn how to correctly discern between truth and error."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, CES Devotional, January 2013
Methodology
Our database is compiled through careful review of General Conference talks and other official addresses. Here is our approach:
- Source Identification: We identify references to journalism outlets, news organizations, magazines, wire services, and broadcast media in official Church addresses.
- Citation Documentation: Each citation is documented with the source name, the talk in which it appears, the speaker, date, and relevant context or quotation.
- Categorization: Sources are categorized by type (newspaper, magazine, wire service, broadcast) and country of origin.
- Verification: All citations are verified against official transcripts available on churchofjesuschrist.org.
- Regular Updates: The database is updated following each General Conference to include new citations.
Important Context
"We need to be cautious as we seek truth and choose sources for that search. We should not consider secular sources of learning as more authoritative than the scriptures and the words of modern prophets."
President Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference, October 2018
Citation Does Not Equal Endorsement: The fact that a Church leader has cited a particular source does not constitute an endorsement of that source by the Church or its leaders. Sources are referenced for various purposes including:
- Providing statistical or factual context
- Illustrating cultural trends or observations
- Offering secular perspectives on matters of faith
- Critiquing or contrasting secular viewpoints
Educational Purpose: This project is intended for educational and informational purposes. Users should always exercise their own judgment and follow prophetic counsel when evaluating any media source.
Independent Project: Of Good Report is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A Word on Tone
You won't find sensational headlines, "breaking news" alerts, or partisan commentary here. We intentionally avoid the frenetic energy of modern news media. Our goal is to create a calm, thoughtful space for reflection and learning.
We believe that seeking what is "of good report" is not just about evaluating sources—it's about cultivating a disposition toward truth, goodness, and light. We hope this project contributes, in some small way, to that pursuit.
"Satan is the great deceiver, the father of lies… He has always used the tactic of confusion to hide the truth… It is more important than ever to learn for ourselves that Jesus is the Christ."
Elder Neil L. Andersen, General Conference, April 2014
Contact
Questions, corrections, or suggestions? We welcome your feedback as we work to make this resource as accurate and useful as possible.
Note: This is a proof-of-concept demonstration. Contact functionality will be added in a future version.