Praying in the Mountains

In Ether Chapter 12 starting in verse 18 the brother of Jared goes into the mountain to pray to the Lord. The first question that came to mind was if the brother of Jared actually spoke his entire prayer our loud. Sure the prayer is in quotes here, but it does seem that he did give the entire prayer vocally.

He uses the phrase “O Lord” to address his audience God in his prayer. This specific word choice is used repeatedly to show his reverence and respect for whom he is addressing. He also begins by asking several questions. This is important because one of the main purposes of praying is to receive answers. It’s impossible to receive answers to questions if you don’t ask them. While this may seem obvious, it is something that can get overlooked in prayer by lots of gratitude. The brother of Jared was very direct, and made his purpose very clear to the Lord. This shows that he is confident and that he has great faith in receiving answers to his prayers.

This prayer is also clearly a conversation, with the Lord not only giving answers, but asking the brother of Jared questions as well. So while the prayer is formal and respectful, it is still relaxed enough so that the brother of Jared remains part of the conversation and isn’t overshadowed by the Lord. This is a great example to us as individuals in our own prayers. Not only is it important for us to pray, but we should talk with the Lord. We need to be open like the brother of Jared to receive the answers that come, but we also need to think for ourselves and act based on what we get out of our prayers.

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. 

Clear and Important

“Of Souls, Symbols and Sacraments,” was delivered by Jeffery R. Holland to Brigham Young University. He uses speech that is virtuous and lofty. He is clear, succinct and direct in the subject matter proposed. He delivered this talk with the power of the Holy Spirit, so his audience could be moved by the influence of God.

“That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord,” Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 1:31. Apostle Paul warns the saints against worldly words and encourages glorifying the Lord. Jeffery R. Holland follows this theme and counsel in his devotional talk delivered to students at Brigham Young University. Just as Apostle Paul is concerned for the people of Corinth years ago, Apostle Jeffery R. Holland is reaching out to the people of this time at Brigham Young University. Each Apostle lends the audience to a higher level, a spiritual level of thinking with the vocabulary and word choices. The literary devices used pull the listeners from earthly thinking to an eternal view.

Jeffrey R. Holland was clear and to the point. He had done a quick introduction that had made me feel of more importance to him as he said, “Indeed, your growth and happiness and development in the life you are now living and in the life you will be living in the days and decades ahead are the central and most compelling motivation in my daily professional life.”  Then, he approached a subject that was sensitive using direct language that could not be misunderstood. As Elder George A. Smith encouraged, “…the first thing should be plainly and simply to communicate to them the first principles that we receive, in the best possible manner” (Preach My Gospel.)

As I read Jeffery R. Hollands talk I noticed how he taught with the power of the Spirit. He used other tools such as examples in the lives of others, scripture and testimonies, but weaved into the fabric of his subject was the Spirit testifying of the truth of his words. Neal A Maxwell quoted Joseph Smith conveying, “Thus Holy Scripture and the words of living prophets occupy a privileged position; they are the key to teaching by the Spirit.” Teaching by the Spirit was imperative as the subject matter was sensitive. I feel as though my soul has been converted once again with the influence of the Spirit.

Plain, Dignified, Spiritual

          There have been many men and women throughout history using their words to shape and influence generations. Some of these men and women use their oratory skills to gain personal advantage while others use their skills for the greater good of mankind. In the Mormon culture, we have our own unique view of effective public speaking and communication, which is combined with rhetoric to deliver our sermons and speeches. 

 

         I will look at the sermon delivered by Jeffery R. Holland titled “Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments” delivered in 1988, and how it embodies the Mormon Rhetorical Theory and the way he uses rhetoric throughout his talk. The Mormon Rhetorical Theory is summed up in that we believe in communicating and speaking in simple, dignified language that is plain to the audience, and allows the medium of the Spirit to testify and inspire. Elder Holland uses such throughout his talk, for example he says, “The purchase price for our fullness of joy—body and spirit eternally united—is the pure and innocent blood of the Savior of this world” (88:3). This simple, but powerful truth illustrates the high cost for our joy at the expense of our Savior and plays on the emotion of the audience, giving a reminder that we are not our own. Elder Holland, as president of BYU at the time, knew how to effectively reach and address his audience with such a serious topic at hand. 

        Being very plain, but using dignified language, he logically explains the importance of personal purity while complementing this with the emotional consequences of messing with this fundamental doctrine. For example he says, “No murder here. Well, maybe not. But sexual transgression? “He that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.” Sounds near fatal to me” (88:2). Using the scriptural allusion, he drives the point across that sexual transgression brings about fatality. And using the juxtaposition between the terms of sexual transgression and murder, the audience can make a correlation that may not have been apparent at first, that sexual transgression and murder have the same severity as it brings about the same consequences of fatality. Through his use of rhetoric and plain, dignified language, Elder Holland appropriately addresses his audience and delivers an impactful talk.

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"