A Contrast in the Context of Speeches by Elder Robert D. Hales

When Elder Hales got up and began to his talk "Eternal Life-to Know Our Heavenly and His Son Jesus Christ" (October 2014) I was excited because I knew his health has been poor the last several conferences. The general conferences of the LDS church are given in an auditorium that seats thousands of people, and are televised internationally, so it isn't always apparent, but sometimes speakers who are in poor health will sit while they give their address.  Elder Hales sat while he spoke, rather than standing, and his voice was feeble, but he did seem to be in better shape than I remembered and he still spoke with conviction. It was quite a contrast to see him standing erect 33 years prior, when he powerfully and directly delivered his address "Examples from the Life of a Prophet" (October 1981).

He was not a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles when he gave his first address, and now he is: this changed his delivery approach. In 1981, his address "Examples from the Life of a Prophet" used stories from the current prophet's life (President Kimball). Elder Hales leaned on President Kimball's established ethos, while building his own by illustrating the times he had worked in concert with this leader of the church. He had clearly served in the church extensively by this time, in fact he had been a mission president, bishop, high counselor, branch president, and a member of the stake presidency, along with having served in the seventy for 6 years. Despite this, his audience was likely unaware of his background. This contrasts sharply with his approach 33 years later, now a seasoned member of the twelve, and much older than most of his audience. In his address on sunday, he told a story of looking up to into the starts, pondering on the depths of the universe. This helped him relate to his audience, as they have often considered the existence and/or role of God in their lives, and many may not have realized that a member of the twelve would share these common experiences with them.

In his address this past weekend, it was interesting that Elder Hales taught from the scriptures almost exclusively for several minutes at a time. In a different context, this would be similar to someone parsing different court rulings into a legal opinion, or using sections of the accounting codifications to prescribe a proper accounting treatment. Any of the aforementioned approaches could seem odd, unless a clear link between each reference was made. I was interested to see if this style was a common thread in his addresses, but when I listened to Elder Hales talk from 1981, I noticed that it was not. I did, however, find a common theme, that of the testimony of prophets. In '81, the testimony was of a living prophet, and was shared through experiences, while this past sunday it was the written testimony prophets of old. It was enlightening to see the common theme delivered with different approaches by the same speaker, a third of a century apart.

Literary Context of a Father's Counsel

1. Form Analyzed

In this blog post, I have decided to analyze the literary context surrounding Alma's counsel to his son Corianton.

2. Passage Analyzed

Within my section (Alma 38-46), I focused my analysis on Chapter 39 verses 1-4 where Alma sets up the context for the counseling and reproving remarks on repentance, the afterlife, and the final judgement to his son Corianton.

 1 And now, my son, I have somewhat more to say unto thee than what I said unto thy brother; for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a goodexample for thee?

 2 For thou didst not give so much heed unto my words as did thy brother, among the people of the Zoramites. Now this is what I have against thee; thou didst go on unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom.

 3 And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel.

 4 Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.

3. Annotated Text

4. Breakdown / List of Things Found

Alma is speaking to his son and reproving him for "forsaking the ministry" and not giving as much heed to his words. Alma is speaking to his son Corianton who is back home in Zarahemla after returning home from a mission with his brothers. Corianton had not been faithful in his duties as a minister like his brothers and did commit sexual sin with a Lamanite harlot. In chapter 35 it says that a war had begun in the land between the Nephites and the Lamanites. It is also narrated in chapter 35 that Alma had been "greived for the iniquity of his people , yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds;" so he caused his sons to be gathered so he could individually speak with them and give them counsel. 

5. Interpretation

Alma lays down some reasoning for his upcoming reproof to his disobedient son. As I read the context of the situation in prior chapters, and more specifics in chapter 39, I could better understand why Alma was so direct to his son Corianton. It must have been devastating to Alma to hear that his son had been misusing his time as a missionary and sinning with those with whom they were at violent war.

6. Connections / Questions

I wonder how Corianton responded to his father's counsel. Are there other times of discipline or chastisement to family members in the Book of Mormon? This makes me wonder if Alma had to speak with Corianton on other occasions about his disobedience.

Context Behind King Benjamin's Speech

Form Analyzed: I looked at context for my section (p.171-191, aka Mormon-Mosiah 6).

Passage Analyzed: I analyzed Mosiah chapter 2 verses 1-7. 

1 And it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him, and had made a proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear the wordswhich king Benjamin should speak unto them.

 2 And there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them; for they had multiplied exceedingly and waxed great in the land.

 3 And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses;

 4 And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and hadappointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men.

 5 And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to hisfamily, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.

 6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;

 7 For the multitude being so great that king Benjamin could not teach them all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them.

Annotated Text: 

Breakdown/Listing Things Found: This chapter takes place after King Benjamin has commanded his son Mosiah to gather the people so they can hear him speak the word of God. Mosiah does this by issuing a proclamation. We're informed that the people performed sacrifices in honor of this gathering. 

Interpretations: We get a glimpse of the strong character of King Benjamin's people and their respect for him as a leader here. This is a huge turnout ("and there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them...."), and while I realize there wasn't Facebook or Netflix back in the day, I still interpret the context of this passage to demonstrate King Benjamin's power and reputation in his kingdom. 

Non-Context Interpretation: There is a beautiful metaphor in verse 6 where we read, "every man having his tent with the door thereof to the temple." This is a metaphor for the need to turn the hearts of the people to the temple, which is illustrated literally by arranging their physical dwellings. 

Connections/Questions: In verse 4, the author discusses all the things The Lord has done for the people. We talked at the very beginning of our class about how scripture authors do this to establish credibility and to remind the people why they should remember and praise The Lord…but I can’t remember exactly what that is called. There was an example of it in Alma. Can anybody help me out please? The goal is to establish ethos, but I think Dr. Burton called the actual device/practice something else.

Also, the people have learned about the role of sacrifices in worship and we as readers learn they value this practice and have a testimony of its effectiveness. 

Line I Loved: "...that they might be rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men." (v. 4) That's a simple and powerful testimony from King Benjamin's people.