Ascribing Divine Authority

In Mormon rhetorical theory, it is common for the speaker to call attention to the listener to not attribute the thoughts and feelings that they are having to themselves, but rather, to Deity Himself. Elder Neal A Maxwell when speaking about teaching quoted Brigham Young who said, “Anything besides that influence (the Holy Spirit), will fail to convince any person of the truth of the Gospel of salvation.” It is this focus of Mormon rhetoric that becomes so powerful. The turning of the audience towards the Godhead itself allows each individual to connect what they are thinking and feeling as divinely appointed.

Photo from: sites.lib.byu.edu

In 1989, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke in a BYU devotional address he entitled, “Of Souls, Sacraments, and Symbols”. In this address, Elder Holland spoke to the student body about a difficult topic that most speakers usually avoid. During this address he specifically follows the Mormon rhetoric tradition of focusing on the Holy Spirit as a source of support as well as a source of authority.

Elder Holland opens his address by humbly stating, “I always need the help and sustaining Spirit of the Lord to succeed at such times, but I especially feel the need for that spiritual help today.” What are the effects of such a statement? Here is an example of reference to deity to help him with the subject he is about to speak on. The rhetoric behind this is powerful because it is humble in the sense that he admits inadequacy and his reliance on God, but at the same time connects that if he is speaking with the help of God, he is speaking with God’s divine stamp of approval.

Near the end of his talk, Elder Holland again focuses on deity, saying, “That we may ‘come unto Christ’ for the fullness of soul and symbol and sacrament he offers us, I pray…”
So here is one source behind the power of his narrative. His entire purpose of the subject is to lead us to God and for his speech to have divine support. It speaks to the listener that his thoughts and feelings that are from God. The premise behind this is a powerful one. After listening to him speak, the question is, is this true? Are you drawing closer to God with his words? The answer is for the listener to decide. 

Light and Darkness

In Orson Whitney’s speech “Home Literature”, one of the topics he teaches is the importance of truth. He says that no matter where and who creates finds it, truth is truth.  God, or more specifically the Holy Ghost, inspires truth. In the history of the human race God has inspired men and woman to share truth with others through literature, music, oral tradition and other mediums.

What happens though, when there is so much truth in a book but it also has its flaws? Do we love it and revere it? Do we take the good without the bad? Can we truly understand the truthful part without the other part?

In Nephi Anderson’s Added Upon, as readers, we must make this distinction. This book is full of great imagery and excels in its ability to transport a reader to the premortal realm.  Anderson sheds light on what it may have been like to fight Lucifer in the battle of the minds.  The truth is that the children of God are mighty and fully capable beating evil.  In this life we are really in a battle of the minds.

In a world where the Adversary fights so hard for our souls, it is comforting that there are people who listen to the Spirit. I believe it is a way that the Lord is fighting against Satan and a way that the Lord intends to bring many souls back to Him.

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Book of Mormon)

I believe that there are many seeds of truth in the book Added Upon but we must be careful so that we do not accept everything. In short, take the light and leave the darkness!

Enlarging the Joy

My first experience at BYU was a late summer honors course on novel writing. Our professor started each period with a brief exercise to get us in the creative mindset.

On the third day, the prompt was to reflect on our happiest moments. As I started to write, I realized all of my happy moments were connected to my family. I pictured nights at the little league diamond watching my brother, drives in the car with my mom, and outings with my dad to our favorite ice cream shack in the cornfields.

Earlier that morning my mom had gone home to Illinois. Sitting at my desk in the Maeser Building, I felt sadness over being away from my family bubble up in my throat and rush out my eyes in tears.

I stood up to leave, and my professor asked me what was wrong.

“My happy moments make me really sad right now,” I said, leaving the classroom.

When I returned ten minutes later, the professor had written what I said on the board. I was embarrassed and worried she was mad, but she motioned me back to my desk.

“This,” she said, striking the chalkboard, “is what real writing is.”

The Spirit spread warmness through my body, sending goose pimples down my arms. She went on to explain how writing is often strongest when grounded by emotions, especially the ones that are hard for us put into words.

Her lesson and the Spirit’s confirmation taught me that writing helps us work through difficult feelings. I’ve found the experiences that elicit strong emotional responses are often my favorite to write about because they bring me to the Savior. He helps me see and write the story, while also healing the pain or enlarging the joy.