The Perfect Balance

Elder Holland is one of the most popular speakers, for a variety of reasons. As a speaker he has the ability to completely tear down all the false pretenses we have and speak directly to our souls. The majority of the reason he is able to do this is because of his powerful words and the rhetoric he uses to address his audience.

Approaching the topic of his talk Elder Holland addresses his goal.

“I wish to speak,” he says, “to the best of my ability, on why we should be clean, on why moral discipline is such a significant matter in God's eyes. I know that may sound presumptuous, but a philosopher once said, tell me sufficiently why a thing should be done, and I will move heaven and earth to do it. Hoping you will feel the same way as he and fully recognizing my limitations, I wish to try to give at least a partial answer to ‘Why be morally clean?’”

Beginning this way, he combines both pathos and logos to appeal to the audience. The pathos comes as he quotes a philosopher and tells a story. The logos appears more as he explains and helps us understand the reasoning behind why we do (or do not) participate in certain activities.

He is, in a way, able to walk the line that so many others struggle to find. His talks are so perfectly balanced—and real—that people have to pause what they are doing to listen.

That is ultimately the reason why Elder Holland is such a powerful speaker. He approaches with enough love to make us want to listen, but then his argument is so incredibly forceful and accurate that we can’t stop listening. 

Effective and Inspiring Diction

When I was younger, I thought teaching and sharing the Gospel meant simply communicating (essentially, speaking) the doctrines and principles we believe to those around us.  I memorized the Articles of Faith and many of my favorite prophetic quotes and scripture verses.  I tried to share these bits of knowledge with my friends, but I did not have much success.  As I grew up, however, I started to realize that I needed to broaden my idea of communication to include personal testifying and heartfelt connections, not just rote memorization.  How does one effectively learn how to do this?

Instead of just reading the assigned speech by Jeffrey R. Holland, I decided to listen to the devotional while I read it.  I know that I tend to understand the content differently (and better) than if I just try to read, because I get distracted… 

One thing of literary rhetoric importance that really stuck out to me while I listened to President Holland’s speech from the 1988 BYU Devotional was his diction.  As he began his devotional, he set the mood for his serious topic by establishing a personal, private connection with his audience.  President Holland’s use of diction helps establish both ethos and pathos.  His tone, attitude, and dialect helped his listeners connect with him and realize how much he cares for them and his topic, sexual purity.

The definition of diction is, “the distinctive tone or tenor of an author’s writings… Diction is usually judged with reference to the prevailing standards of proper writing and speech and is seen as the mark of quality of the writing.” (http://literary-devices.com/content/diction)  When I read this, I realized that Holland’s diction and tone are a mark of the quality and importance of his words.  His style of speaking shines through in his writing, and leaves a distinct feeling of awe and respect towards Holland and his prophetic instruction.

I was very inspired by listening to this devotional.  I would strongly advise that everybody (and I mean EVERYBODY) listen to President Holland’s original audio of this BYU Devotional!!

Plain and Simple Logical Stories

In Jeffrey R. Holland's speech at BYU titled "Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments" he plainly describes why sexual purity is critical to obey until we are married.
In trying to describe the seriousness of the sin, he uses many examples that the audience can understand. They are simple stories, which has been encouraged throughout the history of "Mormonism." He first uses this example:
 

"Most people, . . . as a rule do not run up to friends, put a loaded revolver

to their heads, and cavalierly pull the trigger. Furthermore,

when there is a click of the hammer rather than an explosion

of lead, and a possible tragedy seems to have been averted,

no one in such a circumstance would be so stupid as to sigh,

'Oh, good. I didn’t go all the way.'"

 

This quote is understandable and enables the reader to make the connections. Just because someone didn't go all the way through with the act doesn't mean they didn't "do" it. Why would someone go so far as to plan to commit the act, and then, by some circumstance, not go through with it and claim they didn't even do it?

 

The plainness of Holland's story is so that the audience doesn't spend time trying to figure out what he is trying to say. They know what he is saying; they are given the opportunity to ponder on their own lives and where they stand in the face of sin.

 

Holland uses another relatable story for Latter-Day Saints about how one should treat purity:

 

"Now, once again, I know of no one who would, for example,

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, and laughingly retreat from

the building to await an opportunity to do the same thing at

another worship service the next Sunday. ."

 

Through this, the audience can clearly draw a picture in their mind of someone completing this act. It isn't logical to do this! How can the reader know? Because Holland uses plain and simple examples to make the reader understand the seriousness and truthfulness of what he is saying. He follows the pattern to keep it simple and relatable so that the audience can be taught by the Spirit, but is still able to use logic and rhetorical devices to teach them.

Lovingly Blatant

Almost all Mormon oratory has a tendency to be organized and delivered in the simplest of ways.  It is custom to try to make principles and doctrines as clear and applicable as possible. 

In this aspect, Jeffrey R. Holland did not break the mold in his address “Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments.”  He followed a simple outline: an analytical introduction, three main points that make up the body, and a powerful conclusion to drive the point home.  However, in his rhetoric, his style and tone, he was beautifully himself; unique.

The tone of this speech was as passionate, persistent, and intense as most people would imagine a discourse from Jeffrey R. Holland to be.  But more than that, his tone was also one of motivational support, love, and encouragement.  Several times during his address, he would say things such as, “I care very much about you now and forever,” or “I love you for wanting to be on the right side of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Holland here tactically creates an ambiance, with which the audience will be more receptive to, and accepting of, seemingly harsh or direct statements.  He appeals specifically to that audience, many of which, had “hastily and guiltily and surrept

itiously share[d] intimacy in a darkened corner of a darkened hour.”

The heavy use of metaphors and comparisons to get a point across is also very prevalent in this talk, and appeals to the commonplace.  Consider the following example:

“I know of no one who would, for example 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, and laughingly retreat from the building to await an opportunity to do the same thing at another worship service the next Sunday.”

Holland uses other such comparisons and imagery (as well as the sex equals fire metaphor), to make the misuse of the sacred procreative powers seem as blatantly illogical as possible.  This prose helps people, who are not as receptive to common, Sunday meeting talks, understand the significance of self-restraint.

Lastly, a tool highly evident in Holland’s address is alliteration.  Phrases such as “most mysterious and magnificent chemistry,” or “unspeakable, unfathomable, unbroken power of procreation,” add emotion, or feeling, to stress critical ideas. 

Holland’s abundant use of metaphors, imagery, repetition, alliteration, and his overall style and tone, create a rich oratory experience in which his learning audience can be chastised, yet rewarded.

QuestionS

Neal A Maxwell taught that Mormon rhetoric is to be short, direct, and to the point. The spectrum of doctrine and philosophies that can  can be instigated is seemingly endless, and can be a very attractive pitfall to many speakers. Those that are most effective however are those that “stay on task” without digression and after all is said and done drive home one simple truth to their audience. The life of an individual probably won’t be transformed by a single speech, but it can receive a nudge in the right direction.

The then President of BYU, Jeffery Holland in his devotional address “Of Souls Symbols and Sacraments,” employed distinct literary devices that help him to get his simple message across to the students on campus. The most powerful of which was his usage of questions. Elder Holland was very active in questioning his audience of students. Students are very accustom to questions. Not only are they encouraged to ask questions, but in the best learning environments, they are often questions, so as to better retain what is being taught. It is a way of capturing the audience’s attention, and if they so choose, allowing them to become and active participant in being taught.

It isn’t clear through the text, but I’m sure that Elder Holland was also and active “listener” to the questions that he was posing. This meaning that he wouldn’t just throw out a question and then continue on. I’m sure at times we would pause and allow the students in the audience to digest what he was presenting to them. I know that for me personally, its difficult to take everything in if the speaker or teacher doesn't pause and allow for some internal grow and reflection  to take place.

Again questions are a great way for whoever is speaking to take their audience by the hand and show them what their intentions are. It also keeps the audience engaged and on track, which when you are speaking to students as well is very important so that you can get your message across.

Bold but Respectful

Paul writes to the Corinthians that God uses the weak things of the world, the simple words, and the inefficient speaker to shoot the message through the heart of the intended. Something that makes a huge difference in the effectiveness of the message is whether the speaker truly believes it and truly says it with conviction. To be an effective speaker one must believe in it, use simple and concise words, and convey direct imagery or metaphors. Appealing to the audience’s sense of reason, emotion or character help a speaker convey his message.  If the Spirit is with you then the speaker and the audience can be edified together.

As I analyzed Jeffrey R Holland’s address to the students at BYU, I was amazed with his power: his words, his references, his character and his appeals full of love for those in his audience.  In the beginning he used appeals through reason as he spoke of reports, studies and news to back up his point. Next he appeals to our emotions by using words, metaphors and imagery as support. One example of his emotional appeal is when, in reference to the sacred powers of procreation, he said “And when one toys with the Son of Righteousness, the Day Star himself, one toys with white heat and a flame hotter and holier than the noonday sun. You cannot do so and not be burned. You cannot with impunity “crucify Christ afresh”.”

Throughout the whole message, we listen to him and pay attention because of his character. We know who he is and he has credibility, and he shows us he cares with his words of love. He believes in what he is saying and that his message is important. One of the most important parts of his address is his tone of honest and open but respectful communication. His boldness is evident in his speech but so is his respect for the sacred.