Grasp it Firmly

Joseph Smith taught George A. Smith to keep sermons and prayers short, and to “deliver (your) sermons with a prayerful heart”. Many times in Jeffery R. Holland’s sermon “Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments”, did he talk about having a prayer in his heart, and wishing for the audience to do the same. He addressed the sensitivity of the subject, and the faith and maturity needed to do justice to the topic as well as to keep it sacred.

Elder Holland used much imagery as he used various poems, or described situations that fully contrasted the point he was trying to make. A few examples are when he said “…and if we do not grasp it firmly, then other hands, more determined and bloody than our own, will wrench it from us…” as well as when he described the following scene, “rush into the middle of a sacramental service, grab the linen from the tables, throw the bread the full length of the room, tip the water trays onto the floor…” Both of these descriptions are worded and packed with such imagery and with a sense of disruption that it articulates his point of the power of the sacred, and how we truly should have an opposite course of action in dealing with the symbolic and sacred unity of sexual intimacy within the bounds set by the Lord.

A big metaphor that circles throughout Holland’s sermon is that of fire, and the self destruction and burning that occurs to those who misuse the sacred power given to us by the Lord. Along with this metaphor, his articulations to describe both sides (being married or unmarried) apply the words and help them to stick out in our minds. He describes the unmarried (and murderers) as acting “illegally, illicitly, unfaithfully, (and) without sanction.” Whereas, the married and faithful members are described as “united, bound, linked, tied, welded, sealed, married.” The contrast and list formation of these two sections help us to clearly see and be impacted by what he is saying.

Elder Holland connects to the audience by first being converted by his words himself—which then gives a greater ability to impact all else who hears his words. His knowledge of the world and also of the doctrine, allows his message to be powerful and direct. His use of metaphors, alliteration, and imagery give amplitude and power to the message being shared.

-Lizzy S.