Missionary Work and Metadata-The Final Paper!

Here is the link to my final paper discussing Missionary Work and Metadata. Obviously this paper is not inclusive of all possible platforms using metadata, or all forms of metadata. My goal was to discuss ways in which descriptive metadata could be used more effectively, from an official church point of view, as well as with members.

As I wrote this paper I gained a greater appreciation for the creativity that metadata allows us, and what an amazing tool this is for all organizations and denominations, and especially as a tool for sharing beliefs that are personal and important with others.

I'd love to hear any feedback and your thoughts as to what could be done to more effectively use metadata!

Working Outline

Below is a rough working outline that will form the basis of my paper regarding metadata and missionary work in the LDS Church. 

1. Intro-Thesis: With the increasing focus on online missionary work within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members need to be aware of the benefits and use of metadata in order to truly establish a reputable online community.
2. The need for personal connections and sharing in the online community-a lot of this will be backed up by Jeff Jarvis’s Public Parts
3. What this means for the LDS online missionary efforts-especially how analyzing metadata could allow them to in part analyze the growth of online missionary work (see below study)
4. How metadata through various platforms will enable them to do this-Case study Folks in Folksonomies: Social Link Prediction from Shared Metadata
5. What the LDS Church could do to support this-altering their Sharing the Gospel and Sharing via Social Media pages, suggesting appropriate labels for each platform, links on Mormon.org to pages already created by users.
6. What members of the Church need to be doing-appropriate tagging, reference to each other in posts, etc.
7. Conclusion

Publication Options

For my final project, as stated earlier, I have been focusing on online missionary efforts for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  In particular, I wish to focus on the effects of meta-data, and how it could be used most efficiently. For my final project, I will be creating a wiki-page detailing the need for metadata, as well as links to current labels different platforms use. Hopefully with this curation, others will be able to more easily connect with others who are interested in online missionary efforts as well. In addition, I will write a paper, arguing for the greater need of metadata within the online LDS community, and the need to make personal connections, not just create content.  I have researched some possible locations to submit this paper.

1. Meridian Magazine-This is an online magazine run by the LDS community.

2. International Journal of Religion, Science and Society-This is a call for papers discussing the relationship between religion, science and society.

3. Religion in Society-This is a call for papers relating to topics affecting religion in our society today.

With the second and third options, I would revise my argument slightly to apply to all denominations, not Mormonism alone, although my examples would likely remain focused on the LDS missionary efforts.

I also did a quick search for Kylee and her research involving tourism.  Along with the website I found earlier when doing my altruistic research for her, I also found this call for papers, the ENTER conference, which focuses on etourism, and is accepting papers discussing the entire spectrum of tourism and technology.

Moby Dick and Metadata

Since returning from my mission, I've struggled finding the balance of continuing to share the gospel, without being too preachy or over-zealous. Our conversations in class and the recent conversation within the Church has really sparked my interest into how digital tools can allow us to share the gospel in a manner that is very warm and approachable.  Lots of efforts are already being made to educate others in how to share the gospel online, as well as efforts to go ahead and start sharing!  Throughout this semester, I've come to realize the necessity of connecting with others. Sharing doesn't amount to much if you're not sharing it with the right group and making connections with those that share your passions. In regards to the LDS community, I believe that metadata will be a key component of efforts really taking off and significant progress being made. If those already invested in this work cannot connect with each other and cannot be found by those searching, it will not amount to much.

Moby Dick is one of the larger books I've read lately, and if I'm being honest, it was sometimes extremely difficult to remember everything I read and where it was found.  Yet the book is methodically organized, with short chapters and the heading describing what is contained-tedious as that topic may be. Melville writes, "What then remains? Nothing but to take hold of the whales bodily, in their entire liberal volume, and boldly sort them that way. And this is the Bibliographical system here adopted; and it is the only one that can possibly succeed, for it alone is practicable" (ch. 32). Just as Melville sorted through his narrative the same way a whale is sorted through, so must we sort through the information we share about our religious beliefs.  Through the use of labels, titles, hashtags, etc. the content shared by members of the Church can be more easily recognized for what it is. As the parts are more easily recognized, so will the whole, or the larger whale. Without the smaller parts being extremely clear as to their function and purpose, it will not point people towards the larger goal.

The beauty of metadata is that it is a way of curating and gathering information that can continue on. There is no limit, the information can continue to evolve and expand. Melville shares similar thoughts, "Finally: It was stated at the outset, that this system would not be here, and at once, perfected. You cannot but plainly see that I have kept my word. But I now leave my cetological System standing thus unfinished, even as the great Cathedral of Cologne was left, with the crane still standing upon the top of the uncompleted tower. For small erections may be finished by their first architects; grand ones, true ones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a drought-nay but the draught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!"

This is a momentous moment for missionary work for the LDS Church. Leaders of the Church recognize that this is a process that will continue to change, and will not be perfected or completed soon. We must make sure that our initial structures, as the first architects, are stable structures upon which others can build. Instead of millions forming new structures, we need to group together and build upon that which already stands.  I believe that the use of metadata and of using various curation tools to link these various sites and people together will help hasten the work in a very powerful and necessary way.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how metadata can strengthen and spark collaborations, especially in regards to missionary work!