Elder Neil A. Andersen Speaks to the Youth in their Language

Elder Neil A. Andersen is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is ordained to the office of Elder as a distinction of his status as an apostle and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Elder Andersen has the opportunity to speak to members of the LDS Church and other viewers when he speaks at the Church's General Conferences, which are semiannual sessions when Church leaders assemble to deliver inspired messages from God. 

Elder Andersen follows a specific form and style when he speaks at General Conference: he speaks to the youth and he does so by using media to appeal to their interests and skills. His most recent address, "Joseph Smith" (October 2014) and “Spiritual Whirlwinds” (April 2014) both follow this pattern. 

Because he chooses the youth as his audience, Elder Andersen crafts his talks in a way that appeals to them and their interests. One way he does this is through his use of form and style, specifically regarding his use of media. 

In "Whirlwinds" he features images of a tornado, a tree with its roots growing underground, and a cellphone that displayed a text about the need of the recipient to catch up with the times. In his most recent address, Elder Andersen used a movie clip of a man and his son on an airplane putting on oxygen masks.

Youth in this “chosen generation” are tech savvy, and they respond well to messages delivered in their language: the language of media.

Texts, tweets, pins, status updates, photos, and clips appeal to youth because they help them feel engaged. Using the form and style his audience most resonates with through the images and videos helps Elder Andersen's message reach its intended listeners effectively. 

Speaking to youth through media is not a new practice for Elder Andersen. He was the key devotional speaker for youth attendees in February at the RootsTech Conference, the largest family history conference in North America. Continuing to use media to engage youth and to inspire them to take action (in the devotional he calls on them to find their cousins, and in his most recent address he asks them to find favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon and share them) helps Elder Andersen establish credibility with his audience and gives them a form they can look forward to in the future. 

Assignment: Mormon Rhetorical Theory and Practice

Public speaking is a core component of Mormonism, and the accumulated sermons and talks given by church leaders and members since the 1820s comprise a formidable literary heritage. I want my students of Mormon literature to understand both the theory and the practice of Mormon speaking.

In a blog post of 300-400 words, they are to respond to Mormon rhetorical theory as set forth in the texts provided; and second, after studying a model rhetorical analysis, I want them to do a brief rhetorical analysis of a sermon by Jeffrey R. Holland listed below.

Mormon Rhetorical Theory
To understand LDS rhetorical theory--that is, Mormon views about communication, especially public speaking and teaching--I'd like my students first to read the following.

• 1 Cor 1:17-31, 2:1-4 - St. Paul's cautions about worldly words.
• George A. Smith "Preaching the Gospel" An address by Elder George A. Smith delivered in the Bowery, Great Salt Lake City, August 12, 1855. (Focus on the highlighted paragraphs).
• Neal A. Maxwell, "Teaching by the Spirit - 'The Language of Inspiration.'" CES Symposium on the Old Testament, 15 November, 1991. (HTML version via LDS.org | PDF version via LDS Church Educational System)

Rhetorical Analysis

In addition to applying the principles for communication set forth above, one may also analyze Mormon speaking in terms of traditional rhetorical categories. First, students should read an example of such analysis (Burton); then, they are to briefly analyze the speech by Jeffrey R. Holland, applying to this speech the ideas from Mormon rhetorical theory, above, and/or the analytical strategies demonstrated by Burton. (The focus must be narrow since the blog post, in its entirety, should not exceed 400 words).

• Gideon Burton, "Twentieth Century Mormon Eloquence: A Stylistic Analysis of Two Sermons by Neal A. Maxwell"
• Jeffrey R. Holland, "Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments"

Climbing Over Our Hills

While I was a youth in Wyoming I was given a chance to go on a Trek with the Church Youth in Martin’s Cove. The scenery was beautiful and I loved the site. Throughout the Trek, we had speakers address us regarding the different hardships and stories of the great pioneers. I was lucky enough to walk for an ancestor of my own which made the experience so much greater. We were on the end of our five day Trek when we stopped to listen to two particular speakers. They were a married couple; they spoke calmly yet strongly to the youth after acting out an anguishing scene of a pioneer couple.

The couple on the Trek retold the brief history of the Nielsons who were in the Handcart Company.  I noticed that as I watched the couple struggle through this hard trial that it seemed so real. They reached the top of the hill and delivered an eloquent, moving talk with the power of the Holy Ghost. They used this portrayed scene as a metaphor for our lives. Remembering what they had said about the parallel to our lives has stuck with me. The parallel of this struggle on Rocky Ridge of the Nielsons and my own struggles has stayed with me. As I climb over the personal obstacles in my life, I recall the struggle of the tiny Elsie Nielson hoisting her husband into the handcart, and pulling him all by herself in a blizzard.

Parallelism in Prose

Author’s Note: I hesitate to write a post from my point of view as a speaker because I severely lack the wisdom, level of spirituality and experience found in all of the speakers previously mentioned. I fully acknowledge, and I only share this perspective due to its relation to form.

I shared my testimony in a Relief Society meeting a couple of years ago. It was going like a traditional testimony (is there such a thing?) until the very end when I felt the Holy Ghost prompt me to speak in a form that was foreign to me. I attempted to follow what it was guiding me to say, which was something like this:

I did not watch as they nailed Him to the cross, but I know His agony was real.

I did not look in the tomb, but I know that it is empty.

I did not feel the marks in His hands, but I know they are there.

I did not kneel at His feet and wash them with my tears, but I know one day I will.

I do not know all things, but I know He lives.

After the closing prayer, a sister came up to me and asked me if I was an English major. I thought this was a strange question, but she elaborated:

“There was something about the way you shared your testimony,” she said. “I’ve never heard someone speak like that (referring to the section above), and it was really moving.” 

After being in our class and listening to today’s discussion, I think the reason that sister found the testimony to be effective was partly because of the form it was delivered in. The parallelism in the prose, for which credit goes to the Holy Ghost, stood out to her and made the message resonate.

Using elements of literary form can give oratory a depth and richness, as long as the form rings true to the message.

Pure and Simple Testimony

       Growing up in the LDS church, I have been given many opportunities to be the speaker and a listener in religious settings.  Some of these include attending EFY, serving in the Nauvoo Pageant and the play Savior of the World, going to youth conferences and girls’ camp, and attending mission transfer meetings, Sacrament meetings, and General, Stake, and Regional conferences.  It is hard for me to narrow down my experiences with ‘Mormon Oratory’ to the few most important and influential ones.  A few, however, stand out clearly in my mind and were written about in my journal so I could be reminded of their impact on me. 

       Over this last summer, I went on splits with the local missionaries a lot.  I quickly became good friends with the missionaries, local converts and investigators, and other member missionaries through the spiritual experiences we had together.  One day, near the beginning of the summer, I was very nervous about participating in the first discussion with a new convert.  I didn’t know the missionaries or the young man teaching with them very well, and I had never met the convert.  During the discussion, the missionaries asked Aaron to share a personal, spiritual experience.  He agreed.  As I sat in Cecilia’s dimly-lit home, listening to Aaron’s sincere story and testimony, I was touched and inspired in a unique way.  He shared his story in a very personal way, as if he was talking just to me.  The way he spoke was informal, but educated, so I almost felt as if we were in a casual conversation.  I felt that I could trust him, and that he spoke nothing but the pure and simple truth. 

       Another time when I was touched in a similar way was during a large missionary transfer meeting.  Our mission president and his wife were being released, so we were given the opportunity to hear their testimonies along with all the other departing missionaries.  The form of this meeting was new to me.  One missionary after another got up to the podium and bore their sure and simple testimonies about the truth of Gospel doctrine.  I had never heard such short and direct testimonies!  I knew by the end of that special meeting that my testimony had grown, along with the converts and investigators that were in attendance, because of the unique way we were able to hear others’ testimonies.

Brad's Idea of Titanic Lifeboat Rebellion

Brad Wilcox has inspired many people across the world. His name is widely known among Latter-Day Saints, and he is effective in getting his point across. Why? Because he uses word choice that relates to the audience and keeps their attention through stories.

I heard Brad Wilcox give a talk one night at a fireside in my stake. He spoke about how rules and guidelines don't hold us back; they free us. He then told a story that I will never forget:

He told us to imagine a lifeboat out in a freezing cold ocean, watching the Titanic sink in front of us. The lifeboat was put in place - much like church standards - to keep us safe. Then a young adult inside the boat says, "I want to go back to the Titanic."

"Children, children," Wilcox says, "This is the lifeboat."

"But they're playing music over there!"

"It's 'Nearer My God, To Thee,' and it's because they are going to die! There's not much to offer on a sinking ship."

This really made a difference on me. Of course you wouldn't leave the safety of a lifeboat to go back to the Titanic because they were playing music. This story was simple and it got the point across to the young adults at this meeting. Brad Wilcox used something humorous to lightheartedly play off the fact that rules really are there to protect us. He used a good fluctuation of voice to separate the young man's voice from his, and he kept the mood light and fun without using big words that aren't regularly in a teenager's vocabulary.

Brad Wilcox used stories and humor to leave a memorable story in my life. He understands the art of oratory literature, and how to best present it.