In Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments, this is exactly what Elder Maxwell was talking about. Elder Holland is speaking specifically about human intimacy but is able to break it down to the importance of keeping it sacred.
Throughout Elder Holland's talk, we are able to see that he likes to quote others when speaking about certain topics. He quotes from the Wall Street Journal, the scriptures, other apostles and prophets, and others. For example, he's quoting 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are brought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." He is able to use their words to back up the important topics he is discussing about the sacredness of human intimacy.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell makes a very good point about speaking and teaching by the Spirit. He says, "Teaching does not remove responsibility from the teacher for prayerful and pondering preparation. Teaching by the Spirit is not the equivalent of going on "automatic pilot." We still need a carefully worked out flight plan. Studying out something in our own minds involved the Spirit in our preparations as well as in our presentations." I love this quote because it just sums up everything. Since he has everything all prepared his is able to follow the promptings of the Spirit that are given to him so he is able to convey the correct message.
Jeffrey R. Holland definitely teaches by the Spirit. I think what allows him to teach by the Spirit so effectively is the way he conveys his messages. He uses some incredible rhetoric, and I'm sure he prepares well before giving a speech. This preparation and study pays off and allows him to be an instrument of the Lord, following the Spirit and giving incredible speeches.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right that Elder Holland is perfectly prepared. I think this comes from his back ground as an educator and President of a university. Adding quotes from well-respected and acknowledged sources adds power and legitimacy to a message. I think he also wanted to portray that this is a message that has been spoken about by many people for a long time and will continue to be spoken about by many people for a long time. Counsel in this regard will never change.
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