Report Draft: I. Other Benefits

1. How has doing this project been personally beneficial?
For my group, the project did not necessarily strengthen our testimonies, but it helped us to see the gospel in a good light. It strengthened bonds of friendship and family because it forced us to share things that we would not usually share with each other. It was also rewarding to see how other people reacted to what we wrote. Usually when we write something it goes to a professor and we do not hear much response about it, but sharing it with the class and the world makes us proud of it.
"I really felt that writing down this experience with some time separating myself from it allowed me to not only understand my role in the experience but also how it has shaped me since". Quoted by Ryan Parker.
2. How has doing this project enabled you to do something that was overdue in a relationship, or in dealing with a problem?
The project gave us an excuse to share personal things. It was almost like an outlet to feelings that we wanted to share, but did not know how to share. Sharing these details about our lives brought people to tears through laughter and sorrow. It also showed the people that we cared about them and wanted them to know these things about us.
3. Did doing this project help you think of other things you might do for yourself or for other people that are not directly related to our goals of sharing essays and videos?
"YES! Although this experience didn’t go as viral as I thought, I realized that I feel more competent and wanting to write more personal experiences that benefit myself and others. I feel more confident to post on my own blog, or seek out for opportunities to share it on other blogs. I feel that it has been the most useful and beneficiary thing I have contributed to my own history, and so even if it isn’t something that goes viral, I have a greater ability, and responsibility to record these experiences down" quoted by Emily.
4. Other benefits, expected or otherwise?
The project benefited our relationships because it makes us want to keep in touch with people. It helped us identify who we were comfortable sharing with and if we were not comfortable sharing it with certain people then what we could do so that we would be comfortable sharing our essay with them. It was also an outlet to pay tribute to influential people, friends, and relationships in our lives.

The Good and Bad

I put my sharing plan into action and there were both good and bad things that came from it. I guess most of the negative was personal. Some people are really difficult to get a hold of! Especially this week. I guess it just meant that a few of my hopeful contacts fell through. There were some positive reactions, however, which I have gotten so far.

The easiest ones were the close to home ones. The best friends; the family. My fiancee has been with me through the entire writing process and it was really great for her to see the finished work. She was surprised at the quality of the video and glad to see that some of her suggestions had been implemented.

The best outcome so far was with my buddy, Anthony. He is not a member and so I was very curious to see how this would turn out. Although he made sure to tell me he has no interest in the Book of Mormon, he explained that my essay did make him a little curious. He emphasized the little. Well! Couldn't have asked for anything more, right?

Photo from: christianchalkboard.files.wordpress.com

What Brings Us Together

After a major tragedy, the power of music brought my school together in a way we would never forget.

Sharing Just Got Personal

Photo from: pantheonuk.com

I am excited to share my personal essay and introductory video by using social media! I have never done something like this before and so this is a big experiment to me to see how effective it is and how people will respond. I want to share this not only publicly, but on an individual level with people who know me personally. I plan on sharing it with the following individuals:

1.       My fiancée. I naturally share everything with her and I value her opinions and advice. I believe that the personal essay is a way in which we can grow even closer together. The emphasis on religion and the Book of Mormon is also special, but even more because this assignment was written with the intent to share religious things in a more cultural way rather than a preachy way that the LDS are so accustomed to. I’ll talk to her about it in person.

2.       My brother is living on the other side of the country and is about to serve a mission in Mexico. I think he can benefit from reading this personal essay as he prepares to talk with people every day about the gospel. I believe exploring how to bring up the gospel in every day life is an important skill to focus on and develop. I’ll share this with him over facebook. I plan on posting to his wall about it.

3.       My best friend from High School. Anthony and I were definitely tight before we both went to separate colleges. It’s been awhile since we last talked. Every once awhile we have Skyped. I think this is a good opportunity to Skype again. During the Skype call I’ll tell him about what I’ve been up to in school and let him know about my personal essay and video. This will be particularly interesting because he is not a member and does not like focusing on religion.

4.       My fiancée’s family. I actually haven’t officially met them yet— but I will over Christmas break! It will be my first time talking with them in person. I think this provides a great opportunity for them to get to know me better. I’ll tell them over the phone about my personal essay and then while I’m there visiting in a few weeks I can show them the video in person and invite them to read the essay.

Photo from: tactumi.com

5.       My roommate. My roommate and I don’t get along too well. He’s a bit messy and he doesn’t agree that the temperature in the apartment should be 70 degrees because “that’s much too hot”. Well, I plan on sharing this with him purely for entertainment. I’m not exactly sure how he’ll respond, but he will probably give me a snarky comment about not caring about my personal life or its accompanying essay. I’ll mention it to him and see how he responds.

Firsthand Experience

In Doug Thayer's novel Will Wonders Never Cease, we are brought back through time and into the thought processes of a young adolescent teen. This is rife with all the characteristics of a teen, from not really knowing who you are or what you want to do, to being curious about girls and your own body.


Specifically in this novel, you are thrown into Mormon culture in a way which most outside of Mormonism has not had a chance to experience. The main character, Kyle, is immersed in it. And this brings up a series of challenges and choices. 


How will he act? Will he believe everything that is said? Doug Thayer effectively brings the reader through 
Kyle's thoughts and the reasons behind his choices and beliefs.

Photo from: berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk

The reason why this novel is important is because of the honesty that is put into Doug Thayer's perception of Kyle. Kyle is able to critique the culture he is immersed in through a humorous way that is not condescending or overtly negative. 

This is unique because it shows the thoughts and feelings of a person in the Mormon culture itself. 


In other words, the experiences of Kyle could be considered first hand and possibly a much better example of what Mormonism is than someone living outside of the religion trying to critique what they have not lived themselves.

Thoughts on Football, Duty, and Battle

With this first attempt at the Personal Essay Video, I decided to experiment with the venue or background of the recording to see if it would add or detract from the purpose of the video. I was hoping that a unique setting would add interest to the purpose of the video, but I am undecided as to whether or not it did that.

Here's the vid:

And here's a link to my personal essay blog post:
Musical Transcendence

Leave a comment about a time that you felt like you were going to war!

Ready for Marriange?

Personal essays… personal essays…

You know, the problem with sharing personal essays— is well, they’re personal.

Photo from: christianpost.com

I decided to share my essay with my fiancée. We’ve dated for a year now and we have gotten know each other extremely well! Or at least I thought so. 

As she read my personal essay all she kept repeating over and over was, “I thought I knew everything about you!” and “Why have you never told me about this?”

Suffice it to say it actually rattled us a bit. How much do we TRULY know about each other? Do we know each other as well as we thought we did? Are we ready to get married? Are we actually ready?

The personal essay is a form that is so unique and intimate that it provides a space for reflection that even fiancées don’t tend to bridge frequently. After contemplating all this, the only lame excuse I could give her was, “well, it never came up.” 

She gave some advice on the rhetorical side of my personal essay.
She explained that some symbolism was vague and I would be better off to state it more fluidly with the rest of the tone of my paper.
Another idea she had was to change the timing at which I interjected thoughts of the Book of Mormon within the events of the story.
 I love the advice she gave and I’ll be sure to implement them for the final draft of my essay. 

Cryptic Symbolism in John Talbot’s “Nightjar”

This poem may just fit the stereotype of all poems. Right from the beginning the symbolism is trying. You are left to grapple with each word fighting to try and decipher what the poet was trying to represent to the reader. This can be fun to some, frustrating to others. In the case of this poem, it does not come easily. The poem begins:

“And if I shrink to drain your flask of pitch?

Call you duskfeather, call you nightjar.

Up and churr then, up and hawk for moths.

Come morning, not crosswise as others do”

A quick search of the word Nightjar will give you lists of information on a bird called a nightjar. This may help the reader begin to surmise the meaning of the poem. Nightjars are active at evening and all through the night. They also eat moths as a main food source.

The poem ends with:
“You toast of no vintage, you draft

Of afterthought tipped pinging into the butt,

Nightjar. Shallow in the ruts you scored

By the footpath, your paired bald

Eggs will baffle in the sun the toddler

Tomorrow and the toddler’s mother.”

In this sense we can see that the nightjar can be compared to the mother of a toddler. This reminds me of my personal reflections of my own mother. Just as the Nightjar works all through the night, the mother cares for the toddler late into the night. She wakes when the toddler has a nightmare or is sick. She cleans, prepares, and feeds.

The aspect of religion is also intriguing. There is an allusion made to the verse in the Docterine and Covenants, “shrank to drink the bitter cup” and also referring to the Savor’s words in Luke 22:42. This religious undertone further exemplifies the mother’s commitment to the child and to God. The symbolism between the Nightjar bird and the mother and child brings out the dedication of the mother.

Musical Transcendence

Nearly every student had come to the High School that day dressed in their Sunday best. What appeared to be a religious gathering held a much different meaning on this day; the air was heavy and somber. The clock ticked softly in the corner of the room as I waited for the bell. We sat in those faded orange chairs that echoed the great school spirit associated with the tradition of school colors. In the background the professor continued the lecture but all eyes pointed downward. Lost in thought, we all contemplated what had transpired the day before. A girl’s whimper and the sound of tears broke from the row of desks to my right. She had known her. They had been best friends before it had happened— before the accidental shooting.

The bell rang and we all stood up and grabbed our things. Walking down the hallway, all was silent. It was an eerie silence that I had never before experienced. I went down and grabbed my French Horn as the rest of the band quickly rushed to the main lobby of the school where we would be performing in tribute of the life the girl who had been shot.

Photo from: i.telegraph.co.uk

We felt like an army marching to help our fallen friend. We had a duty that no one was taking lightly. Our instruments were swords; our music, shields. I wonder if the 2,000 young warriors in the Book of Mormon had felt the same sense of comradery and duty as they marched to help their brothers in war.

Or perhaps the people of Nephi who were committed to defending their friends who had promised to never fight again.

We sat together and prepared ourselves. The song was Danny Boy. It had a beautiful lyrical line and a french horn solo that expressed the feelings of the day perfectly.

We sat there in the uncomfy chairs of the hall surrounded by many students all dressed in their suits and dresses, all wanting to honor the girl who had died. Some knew her, many did not, but all wanted to respect her and the manifestation of this was huge. There is something about tragedy that brings out community. It is a beautiful thing. It is sad that an ugly thing must bring out beauty in life

Every High School student was affected. The girl had been shot in the head by a gun the kids thought was not loaded. Those who knew her were heartbroken. Even those who didn't know her were affected. The whole school was somber. The Symphonic Band was asked to play as tribute. Many students had come dressed in their Sunday best. I played the French Horn in the band. Each musician played their heart out. We played for her. Students surrounded the band in the large entryway. The air seemed think and tears streamed down faces. The power of music said what everyone was already feeling. And yet, it healed.

For those of us in the band, the opportunity to perform was an incredible experience. It was transcendent and lead to a clairvoyance that allowed us to see into the life beyond the here and now. We played our hearts out for that girl. We didn't even know her, at least not personally. But there we sat in our Sunday best and we gave it our all. We played for her. We all played for her. Everyone in the school did it for her. Life is so short and I think that is why it scared us. But it is those moments when we are scared that we cling to something stronger and those things we cling to, if but for a moment, will bridge that gap between heaven and earth. That is what music did for us on that day. It was the bridge that brought us all together and brought us strength. It is one memory that I will never forget.

Later that day I was walking home. To get home I have to climb a very steep hill. There are very few trees on that hill; only dirt and some scrap from cars that fling them to the sides of the road as they speed along. You have to walk on the curb in order to avoid the dangerous vehicles that careen through the loopy road leading up to my house. I realized that this road is representative of life. Understand that if men are that we are to have joy, then the purpose of our very existence is to come to find strength and happiness. So why is there struggle? Well what I realized is there is happiness at every step of the journey. Sometimes it’s harder to find. Sometimes there are no trees. But in the end, there is a road that leads back home— and we are on it.

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What Brings Us Together

Nearly every student had come to the High School that day dressed in their Sunday best. What appeared to be a religious gathering held a much different meaning on this day; the air was heavy and somber. The clock ticked softly in the corner of the room as I waited for the bell. We sat in those faded orange chairs that echoed the great school spirit associated with the tradition of school colors. In the background the professor continued the lecture but all eyes pointed downward. Lost in thought, we all contemplated what had transpired the day before. A girl’s whimper and the sound of tears broke from the row of desks to my right. She had known her. They had been best friends before it had happened— before the accidental shooting.

The bell rang and we all stood up and grabbed our things. Walking down the hallway, all was silent. It was an eerie silence that I had never before experienced. The band had been asked to perform in tribute of the girl who had been shot. I went down and grabbed my French Horn and followed the rest of the band to the atrium.

We felt like an army marching to help our fallen friend. We had a duty that no one was taking lightly. Our instruments were swords; our music, shields. I wonder if the 2,000 young warriors in the Book of Mormon had felt the same sense of comradery and duty as they marched to help their brothers in war; or perhaps the people of Nephi who were committed to defending their friends that could not defend themselves. Did they feel that same sense of duty, love, and determination?

As we neared the atrium, unexpected things began to happen. The buzz of students talking in the nearby cafeteria and adjacent halls softened to a murmur; as we took our seats I glanced down at the music stand in front of me. As I contemplated the song we were about to perform, I realized that the dots on that page meant much more to me than just notes. That day they represented our whole hearts. It was to represent the life of our fellow student. Her hopes, her dreams, her accomplishments. We would perform for her.

I looked up and was amazed to see a very large number of students now standing around the band. The great throng of students was respectfully silent now, waiting for us. I looked in front of me and up towards our director. I noticed that even Matt who was normally somewhat of a rambunctious kid had sat up straight in his seat, instrument held at the ready. For any other performance he would have been leaning forward and poking the girls who play clarinet. I guess some people have a strange way of flirting.

But this wasn’t any old concert. The atrium and surrounding hallways were filled with students who had all come to remember our friend. I had seen nothing like it before.

The director made a motion. We lifted our instruments and began to play. The melody was a very lyrical, beautiful line. We played that part with as much expression as we could. The tubas and trombones, they gave core to the song as the melody transitioned from instrument to instrument. You could feel the unique emotion that each sound gave. Many different instruments. Many different sounds. Many different people. But we were united as one voice; everyone felt it. The whole school was united. We stood together in memory of her.

The final notes echoed through the school, leaving the air heavy. The silence was thick. As I let myself come back to my surroundings, I heard sniffling from the crowd. What had they felt as we had performed?

The things that bring us together are the things that give us strength. They are things that are bigger than the one; bigger than the individual. That day, that thing had been music. It united us in spirit, in voice, and it gave us strength amidst tragedy.

It has been said that music is the bridge between Heaven and Earth. Nothing was further than the truth on that one day when we were all brought together, unified by music. 

Clairvoyance

Nearly every student had come to the High School that day dressed in their Sunday best. What appeared to be a religious gathering held a much different meaning on this day; the air was heavy and somber. The clock ticked softly in the corner of the room as I waited for the bell. We sat in those faded orange chairs that echoed the great school spirit associated with the tradition of school colors. In the background the professor continued the lecture but all eyes pointed downward. Lost in the wilderness of our minds, we contemplated what had transpired the day before. A girl’s whimper and the sound of tears broke from the row of desks to my right. She had known her. They had been best friends.

In times when despair overpowers hope, when darkness covers the light; where is strength found?  In the moment when the soul is wrought with anguish and we are consigned to wonder within ourselves, where art Thou in this tragedy? It is in these times that the soul grabs on to something. We reach out and find a thing which brings out a source of strength.

Every High School student was affected. The girl had been shot in the head by a gun the kids thought was not loaded. Those who knew her were heartbroken. Even those who didn't know her were affected. The whole school was somber. The Symphonic Band was asked to play as tribute. Many students had come dressed in their Sunday best. I played the French Horn in the band. Each musician played their heart out. We played for her. Students surrounded the band in the large entryway. The air seemed think and tears streamed down faces. The power of music said what everyone was already feeling. And yet, it healed.

The song was Danny Boy. It had a beautiful lyrical line and a french horn solo that expressed the feelings of the day perfectly. Danny Boy is actually a ballad which was originally composed by Frederic Weatherly. Frederic is an English songwriter. The music for Danny Boy is actually taken from an old Irish tune which is known as the Londonderry Air.We sat there in the uncomfy chairs of the hall surrounded by many students all dressed in their suits and dresses, all wanting to honor the girl who had died. Some knew her, many did not, but all wanted to respect her and the manifestation of this was huge. There is something about tragedy that brings out community. It is a beautiful thing. It is sad that an ugly thing must bring out beauty in life. Is it possible for people to come together like this without a tragedy? I suppose it can. The only problem is it is much less likely. I cannot think of a time when something brought about a positive situation from a positive one. Usually it is only one that leads to another. Very similar to the pride cycle; the figurative children of our thoughts, or the rising generation as it were, leads to the demise or saving grace of our future.

For those of us in the band, the opportunity to perform was an incredible experience. It was transcendent and lead to a clairvoyance that allowed us to see into the life beyond the here and now. We played our hearts out for that girl. We didn't even know her, at least not personally. But there we sat in our Sunday best and we gave it our all. We played for her. We all played for her. Everyone in the school did it for her. Life is so short and I think that is why it scared us. But it is those moments when we are scared that we cling to something stronger and those things we cling to, if but for a moment, will bridge that gap between heaven and earth. That is what music did for us on that day. It was the bridge that brought us all together and brought us strength. It is one memory that I will never forget.

Later that day I was walking home. To get home I have to climb a very steep hill. There are very few trees on that hill; only dirt and some scrap from cars that fling them to the sides of the road as they speed along. You have to walk on the curb in order to avoid the dangerous vehicles that careen through the loopy road leading up to my house. I realized that this road is representative of life. Understand that if men are that we are to have joy, then the purpose of our very existence is to come to find strength and happiness. So why is there struggle? Well what I realized is there is happiness at every step of the journey. Sometimes it’s harder to find. Sometimes there are no trees. But in the end, there is a road that leads back home— and we are on it.

Roommate Takeover

I open the door to the apartment and collapse inside. What a day it has been. And all I want to do now is relax in my apartment. A few steps in and I throw myself on the coach. Laying there for a few seconds, I enjoy the silence. Then noticing the click-click of my roommate playing his computer games, I put a pillow over my face. It only muffled the noise, but it was one step closer to the silence I so desperately craved.

photo from: media.tumblr.com/

My stomach gurgles and I realize how hungry I actually am. Sitting up, I make myself leave the comforts of the couch. With heavy footsteps I walk into the kitchen— YUCK. WHAT did I just step in?? I flip on the light and look down at the floor. It was covered in bits of food. 

Lifted up my foot and peered at the bottom. My foot could have been a sandwich. Little bread crumbs and a piece of lettuce clung to the bottom of my foot. I look up around the kitchen in disgust; the cupboards were all open and the tables, and counters, and floor were all covered in a thin layer of crumbs and other bits of dropped food. Only one thought came to my head: my new roommate. 

Ted was a nice guy but boy was he messy. His total disregard for cleaning up after himself left me wanting to gag every time I walked around the apartment. Trying to shake off my peeved attitude, I walked into his room to try and connect with him on a more personal level. He was furiously clicking away. Wrappers and bits of food shrouded him like a demented throne. It was silent and awkward for a moment. I spoke up, “Are you winning? What game is this?”
But my attempt was thwarted with a quick answer, “Close game. No talking.”
And that was the end of it.

photo from playbuzz.com

Calmed and Directed

1. Inner Struggles

Stepping into the apartment, I was very proud of myself. The date had gone really well! She told me that she loved the restaurant, the flowers, and the activity afterward— but as we entered the apartment I could tell something was on her mind. She had fallen silent and her slightly furrowed brow told me the lighthearted, carefree feeling of the night was gone and may not return.

Photo from: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/

She went and sat on the couch with me. The silence was less awkward than I expected it to be; both of us were deep in thought. And as we sat there she took a sharp breath before whispering, “So I’m thinking about going on a mission.” OH. NO. Great. Just great! What was I to do? Do I support her in her desire to leave for a year and a half? Or do I discourage it? How do I answer? I had to respond within a couple seconds and my mind was going a million miles a second. Is there a chance that she’ll stay? What if this is just a test! How seriously is she actually considering leaving?

Without fully making a decision in my own head, words just flooded out. “You would be a fantastic missionary.”
I spent the rest of the night wrestling with those words.

2. Scripture, Personal and Powerful

I used to not be the best with staying on top of religion. There is a lot to do! Go to this meeting, go to that get together, write a talk, teach a lesson, go visit the widow down the road. And I guess I just got complacent. It’s easy to get complacent. With a never ending number of things to put your time and focus in, no wonder why you it can be easy to lose sight of certain things. It was one day I had actually found time to read the Book of Mormon. I came across a section where Mosiah is teaching his children about the scriptures. I realized that this is exactly what I needed to hear. I was to do all these things in church so “so that I can become [a man] of understanding” and that if “it were not for [all of this church stuff, I would have been ignorant]… not knowing the mysteries of God” (Mosiah 1:2-3).

I felt enlightened. If it were not for all of these things that I learn through the activites of the church, I would be missing out on all of these important truths. These truths, or mysteries of God, are key to our time here on Earth. They help guide me to my purpose and give me reason to stay on top of the many things we are asked to do.

photo from: ewallpapers.eu

3. A Wilderness Quest

A wilderness quest. It seems every person in life has one of these at one point in their life. It just takes that moment of crisis; that moment of uncertainty. It is then that a person must make a change. They must reach out to something greater than themselves— that is because the answer cannot be found within them. It comes from something higher than humanity itself. This experience happened to me a few years ago and just like others who came before me, it happened in a sacred moment with nature.The scene was my family’s cabin in Michigan. We own a small lake there and quite a few acres of land. It’s in the middle of nowhere and dirt roads are commonplace. This provides for an excellent opportunity to be alone.I had a lot of things on my mind at the time. I wasn’t sure what I should do with my life. It was causing me a good deal of stress and so I decided to take a walk around the woods  of the property. As I crossed a hill I saw the lake glittering through a section of the trees. The sun was bright but I was hidden amongst the shade of the trees around me. It was there in that moment that the scripture came into my head, “Peace, be still.” Mark 4:39. Jesus commands the wind and storm around him to be still. And as I looked around, I thought that nothing could be quite as still and calm as this. That spiritual experience in the woods helped me learn that everything is in His hands. And just as the winds and storms were calmed— I was calmed too.

Tone of Voice Speaks Literal Volumes

Example #1: Character

In 3 Nephi 28 we learn about the character of the new Nephite Apostles by their true desires. They ask Christ for these things, some are more timid than the others. This shows humility in their desires.

This is similar to Emily Lewis' post where she points to Alma humbly and submissively prays for his brother. In both cases the character of the person is shown through their words.

Photo From: irishoriginsofcivilization.com

Example #2: Plot

In 3 Nephi 26-27, Christ visits the Nephites. He teaches them and gives them commandments. He sets up the church by calling leaders. He then has a dialogue with the leaders alone from the multitude. It is the way in which Christ speaks that leads the people to trust and love Him.

I am reminded of Mary Ellsworth's post where she describes the power of words in the way words are said. Just as Christ was trusted because he spoke lovingly, Mary’s compassionate tone allowed her brother to trust her and love her in return.

Photo from: celtcorp.com

Example #3: Dialogue

The dialogue in 3 Nephi 27 is peculiar in the sense that there is both teaching done by Christ as well as commandments given. There is little return dialogue expect in the form of questions for clarification. This shows the place of each person in the writing; there is the teacher and the student. Some

This is very similar to Miranda Ray's post. She describes a father who teaches their sons about a vocation and also by teaching them about their past family. In both cases the form of speech is one of teacher and student.

Shouting through a Megaphone!

Physical experience:

Rain plunking down on top of the water. Small lake in middle of nowhere. Floating under a dock watching the patterns of rain across the lake. Gray-silver sky above, cabin off to one side. The water is warm and my head kept away from the pounding of the rain on top of the dock. Light winds roll around, pushing the dock to one side. Feeling safe, soaking it all in. The smell of fresh water in the air, birds and animals have left, the only noise is that made by the water against water. Me floating on my lake in the rain.

picture from: focusonmexico.com

Scenes: 

At work. Normal day. Talking with my coworkers; going about our jobs. Lady walks in and asks a questions. Then asks who was in charge. We were all on the same level. None above another. Then the moment of realization; everyone was looking at me. I was now the most experienced employee. Others looked to me to get questions answered. They looked to me as if I was one “in charge”. I knew the answer. I solved the problem. I was now in a new position; a new sense of leadership. Hadn’t asked for it… it had just happened that way. Without warning.

Speech:

She insisted that she bought me my favorite ice cream. I was oblivious. She wanted to go sit in that field near a tree. She spoke calmly. She spoke with resolve. She was about to speak a dagger straight to my heart. We sat and ate. Then, these words, “So let me tell you a story.” Something was up. Something was wrong. I could tell from those words alone. And then her words came faster and faster. She wanted to go on a mission. She wanted to go without any “ties”. And then that was it. We never saw each other again.

Emotion in the moment:

Every High School student was affected. The girl had been shot in the head by a gun the kids thought was not loaded. Those who knew her were heartbroken. Even those who didn’t know her were affected. The whole school was somber. The Symphonic Band was asked to play as tribute. Many students had come dressed in their Sunday best. I played the French Horn in the band. Each musician played their heart out. We played for her. Students surrounded the band in the large entryway. The air seemed think and tears streamed down faces. The power of music said what everyone was already feeling. And yet, it healed.

Picture from: firstamendmentcenter.org

People of consequence:

Chris is one of those people that inspires. He is selfless and looks for ways to serve in every day circumstances. He once gave me five dollars— for no reason! He told me to save it for a rainy day. Who does that? No one else I know. He’s the kind of guy that you could knock down and he’d just jump right back up smiling. He’s a role model. He’s a type of a Captain Moroni. Those guys you just look up to and aspire to be. People say that actions speak louder than words, but when you have both actions AND words, you are shouting through a megaphone. That’s Chris. Chris shouts through a megaphone.

Elder Richard G. Scott Connects Faith to Power

In the Sunday Afternoon Session, Elder Richard G. Scott spoke in a sermon which he titled, “Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority”. This talk had an overarching theme of positivity and rising above adversity. It seems Elder Scott can speak on this topic with great authority because of the personal trials he has faced. He often mentions the passing of his wife Jeanene Scott who died in May of 1993 and it's easy to see how this has influenced him in his sermons and in other life experiences.

During this October General Conference Session, speakers from many different backgrounds spoke on topics of their choosing. The average length of time for each talk given was approximately fifteen minutes. This length of time allows one to adequately analyze such a sermon for rhetorical techniques that are not superficial, but that stem throughout the entire length of the talk.

It is interesting to note the way in which Elder Scott draws attention to the ability that the individual has been over the trails of life. Indeed, this seems to be what the basis of his sermon is created. For example, he encourages fathers and mothers saying, “safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer.” There is a reoccurring theme of doing things which give you and your family strength over trails.

Photo From: deseretnews.com

It is interesting to compare this talk with a talk also given by Elder Scott from the April 2003 called, “The Sustaining Power of Faith in Times of Uncertainty and Testing”.

When comparing these two talks, there pops out a common word that is repeated over and over. The word POWER becomes a motif that is used in every section of each sermon! Consistent with the theme of individual strength over trials, Elder Scott uses word choice such as “power of family prayer”, “powerful blessings”, “faith-filled power”, and “power of the Atonement”.

What is the effect of these rhetorical elements? By using theme, motif, and word choice which connote power that are accessible to the listener, the listener becomes encouraged and is able to see the ability which he has to immediately change and affect his daily life. It is this commonality in Elder Scott’s speaking that lends him such great power in helping the listener learn, grow, and come closer to the Savior.

The Three Nephites; Still Here Today!

Section: 3 Nephi 26 – 4 Nephi

3 Nephi 26:1-2 – (sermon) Jesus speaks to the Nephites, teaching and giving new scripture

3 Nephi 27:2-9 – (dialogue) Christ speaks with the Apostles about the name of the church

3 Nephi 27:13-27 – (sermon) Christ speaks to the multitude, teaching the gospel and giving commandments to write down what they see and hear

3 Nephi 28:1-12 – (dialogue) Christ speaks to the Apostles and grants them what they desire

Jesus speaks with "the Three Nephites" (Photo from: mormonthink.com)

Section Analyzed: 3 Nephi 28:1-12

"1 And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?
2 And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.
3 And he said unto them: Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest.
4 And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself unto the three, and said unto them: What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?
5 And they sorrowed in their hearts, for they durst not speak unto him the thing which they desired.
6 And he said unto them: Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me.
7 Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven.
8 And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father.
9 And again, ye shall not have pain while ye shall dwell in the flesh, neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the world; and all this will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand.
10 And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one;
11 And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men, because of me.”

This section can be considered DIALOGUE between the new Apostles and Jesus Christ. When the three Apostles desired to live forever in verse 6, Christ speaks of John and how this is the same thing that John the Beloved had asked of him. This is an example of allusion; Christ referring to John, an apostle in the Old World could be considered an allusion to the New Testament. It is interesting to note that the Nephites, of course, did not have the Bible and therefore Christ briefly explains that John was with him in his early ministry.

There is also a rhetorical appeal of pathos throughout this passage. For example, in verse 5, you sympathize with the Apostles as they are afraid to ask Jesus what they wish for. The word choice, “sorrow in their hearts” is especially poignant in depicting the deep fear and humility the Apostles had in their desire to ask Christ for what they truly wanted.

Imagery is also employed by Christ in this section, particularly in verse 10. Here Christ depicts what the reward will be for the Apostles desiring to preach the gospel until the end of mortality on earth. He describes FULNESS of joy and of SITTING down in the kingdom with the Father. Fulness gives the impression of happiness unmeasured; a full cup with no more room for more. The imagery of sitting with the Father may represent to the reader eternal rest from the cares and stresses that are experienced in mortal life.

These rhetorical elements combine to give a brief but deep insight into the events and dialogue between Christ and the new Nephite Apostles.

Google "three nephite sightings"...you won't regret it. (image from: salamandersociety.com)

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. 

Written For Who?

1. Form Analyzed

In this passage I analyzed characters and the audiences (primary and secondary) that are being referred to.

2. Passage Analyzed

My analysis comes from 3 Nephi 27:23-27.

"Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden. Write the works of this people, which shall be, even as hath been written, of that which hath been. For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men. And behold, all the things are written by the Father; therefore out of the books which shall be written shall the world be judged. And knew ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am."

3. Annotated Text

4. Breakdown/Listing of things found:

In this section there are 8 different names: ye (the Apostles), this people (the Nephites/Lamanites), men (all people), judges (the Apostles), I am (Jesus), the Father, the world. The primary audience is the

Apostles and the secondary audience is the world, or the reader himself.

5. Interpretation:

This passage of the Book of Mormon is powerful because of the way it ties the reader in with the people of the Book of Mormon, and then ties them to Deity. The Apostles (primary audience) are commanded by Jesus Christ to write down everything seen and heard, which are the Father’s words, which the people of the whole world (the reader; secondary audience) will be judged from. This is an especially compelling form of literature because of the way it focuses on the reader himself as a character within the literature.

6. Connnections/Questions:

The big question in my mind is whether or not this section causes everyone to feel compelled as their own character within the passage. Does the form of the passage cause this role of the reader (the secondary audience) to be felt in all people or do feelings vary? What causes this connect or disconnect in the reader?  

In His Name

People visiting a Mormon Church service are always surprised to find a very different structure to the meetings. 

Jenny, one non-LDS blogger wrote about her experience:

“After communion, there were three ‘talks’ that definitely weren’t sermons. And two of them were given by WOMEN. Soooooo weird for me to see women up at the podium, addressing the congregation at a Sunday worship service sacrament meeting. That does not happen in the URC. Not even a little bit.” (Quote from LDSsmile.com).

Photo from: linkedin.com

Not only was Jenny most surprised that members of the congregation were the ones speaking, she was also stunned that women were invited to speak. This tradition of “Mormon Oratory” may be odd to those unfamiliar with it, particularly when we reflect upon Oxford Dictionary’s given synonyms for oratory: eloquence, grandiloquence, skilled speech-making.

Most would probably not define these talks by those same words. There comes a unique culture with Mormon Oratory. It is believed that these talks are to be given with the help of God through the Holy Spirit. This is reflected in the tradition of ending each talk with the words, “In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” This is an essential characteristic of Mormon Oratory. The idea is that the subject of the talks given is what the congregation needs to hear. It is hoped that the Savior ratifies what is said and would have said those same things if He were there.

What does this focus do for the speaker and listener? As we believe these meetings are inspired by God, a powerful connection comes between speaker, listener… and God. This must be the context in which we direct our focus so that God is able to touch us in our hearts and minds.

That is when spiritual inspiration flows to the listener.

The Universal Dream

 

Photo from: my.englishclub.com

Every child has a dream. To become something great, something that is marveled at; that is the universal dream. There is something deep within us that inspires us from birth to want to become something special. A fireman, astronaut, professional musician. The list goes on and on.

Photo from: kidsdreamspot.com

There is one thing in common with these dreams: virtuosity. Becoming something above and beyond the average person. To become so skilled and fluent in one thing that you shine above the rest.

 A main theme in the book, Added Upon by Nephi Anderson, is virtuosic excellence, although not in the way we normally view it.

It came in the criticism of Sardus’ love of music. His friend Homan tells him, “I think there is danger in it. Some I know who neglect every other duty except the cultivation of a certain gift.”

At first, this makes no sense. How could working towards that childhood dream, that universal goal, be so terrible? But Homan continues.
Homan explains, “I think we ought to grow into a perfectly rounded character, cultivating all of Father’s gifts to us, but not permitting any of them to become an object of worship.”

Delsa affirms Homan’s stance, saying, “It is well enough to excel at one thing, but that should not endanger our harmonious development.”

Photo from: questforgod.org

And here we find a continuous theme throughout the book. The author expands our view of excellence and that dream that we were all born with.

Orson F. Whitney exhorts all in his talk, Home Literature, to rise up in our own sphere and to be like Shakespeare, Goethe, and Carlyle.  He says of them, “[they brought] rich treasures of inspired thought and intelligent research into the lap of humanity, giving birth to civilization and filling earth with fame and glory.”

He shows us that it is not enough to improve one aspect of our lives. No, we should be striving toward a much higher goal. In the eternal scope that the novel, Added Upon, places us in, the goal becomes excellence in more than just one aspect of our lives.

 The goal becomes excellence in every aspect of our lives.