David F. Torres

Growing Through Writing Writing has helped me get better at organizing my thoughts and making my writing clear and logical. I learned to use correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, which makes my writing more effective and easy to understand. One surprising way I have grown is my ability to plan and outline my writing. Making outlines before I start writing has helped me stay focused and make sure my ideas flow well from one point to the next. This has made my writing more organized and less confusing for readers. Another way I have improved is in editing and revising my work. I learned to go back to my drafts to make ideas clearer, fix mistakes, and make my writing shorter and better. This has made my final drafts much stronger and more polished. I also noticed growth in my creativity. Writing often has pushed me to think of new and interesting ways to share my ideas. It has helped me try different styles and ways to write, which makes my writing more fun and int...

Communication’s Standards I've come to understand that good communication is about respect and really thinking about the audience. It’s important to talk to others in a way that respects their views, making content that feels welcoming instead of too pushy or confrontational. If I share something that might make people curious or touch on sensitive topics, I see that it’s necessary to be careful. People are more likely to connect with what I share if they feel it’s done with respect and care. This respectful way of talking can lead to good conversations instead of making people feel misunderstood or hurt. President Russell M. Nelson said: “How we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters. I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way. Please listen carefully: ‘If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy’ (see Article of Faith 13) that we can say about ano...

"How blogging has helped me grow as a writer"                 Writing blogs regularly has really helped me improve my writing and grammar. The more I write, the better I get at organizing my ideas and making my sentences clear. I've also learned to pay more attention to grammar and how to make my writing sound more professional. Writing blogs has also taught me a lot of new things. Every time I write, I have to research different topics, which makes me learn things I didn’t know before. This has helped me grow my knowledge and think about things in new ways. Another thing I’ve noticed is how writing for different audiences has made me more understanding of other points of view, making me a more empathetic writer. It has also helped me express my own ideas, beliefs and principles better, which makes my writing feel more like my true self.

The Art of Editing Our Lives: A Gospel Perspective Editing is used in many areas; movies, TV, writing, advertising, and more. It might seem simple, but editing is more than just cutting things out. It takes good communication, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. It is about finding what is important, what can be made better, and what needs to be removed. These same ideas can help us live the gospel and become better step by step. President Gordon B. Hinckley once said, “ Each of us can do a little better than we have been doing. We can be a little more kind. We can be a little more merciful. We can be a little more forgiving. We can put behind us our weaknesses of the past, and go forth with new energy and increased resolution to improve the world about us, in our homes, in our places of employment, in our social activities.” This sounds like the work of an editor, always trying to make things better, fixing mistakes, and improving what needs work. Our lives are ...

  Sensationalism vs. Newsworthy Have you ever started reading a story and couldn’t stop? Sometimes it’s the drama that pulls you in, and other times the information feels important. Sensational stories grab your attention with shocking details and strong emotions, but they often don’t have much meaning. In contrast, newsworthy stories keep you interested by giving useful information and facts that help you understand important issues. Whether it’s through sensationalism or newsworthy journalism, the way a story is told can either make you feel emotional or give you real knowledge, and it’s important to recognize the difference. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic showed a clear difference between newsworthy and sensational stories. A newsworthy article might have a headline like “Guidance for surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants: Interim guidance, 9 August 2021.” This type of article gives facts about new health measures, explains why they are important, and includes expert opin...

 Mercy and Storytelling: How Joseph Smith’s Words Inspire Journalism We all read news stories, and we know that journalists do more than just report events. They decide how to share an idea, and this changes the story. In this case, I want to talk about how journalists try to give the best to readers, to illustrate this, I'll reference a quote from Joseph Smith: “When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what pow’r it has over my mind. … The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more are we dispos’d to look with compassion on perishing souls—[we feel that we want] to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our back… if you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another.” Like Joseph Smith says about kindness and love, journalists can choose to focus on the human side of the story. They don’t just write the facts, they can share the emotions and feelings of the people in the story. This helps readers feel closer to what is happen...

  "Lessons from a Group Newsletter Project" I recently worked on a group project to create a newsletter, which was a valuable learning experience in teamwork. While I didn’t take on an official leadership role, I did take the initiative to guide the team, helping everyone understand their tasks and keeping things moving forward. It showed me how even a small step can greatly impact the group’s progress. One of the biggest lessons I learned was how important communication is in group work. By regularly checking in with each other, we avoided confusion and ensured everyone knew how their parts fit into the project. Without that consistent communication, things could have easily gotten off track. Another thing I realized is how helpful it is to set clear deadlines. Having a timeline gave us something to work toward and kept us focused on getting our parts done. It created a sense of accountability and made sure we stayed on track. Finally, before finishing up the project...

  "A Reflection of Faith Through Social Media" I always say that social media represents a lot of who we really are. It is often that I see people excusing themselves, saying, "It is a joke. Do not take it seriously," when they post on social media, but is it really? Over the years, I have realized that whatever people post on social media is really who they are and what they believe. Yes, social media is our cover letter for the world. With that in mind, I’ve seen the impact it can have when used effectively for good, particularly in sharing the gospel. We have an incredible opportunity to showcase our faith, values, and beliefs through the content we share. Whether it’s a simple scripture, a personal testimony, or an act of kindness, social media can be a platform to inspire and uplift. The question is, what message are we sending? For me, I want my social media presence to reflect my faith, values, principles, and commitment to follow Christ. Doctrine and C...