Repetition from the Lord, 'wo, Wo, WO'!

1. Form Analyzed
I am going to focus my thoughts on language, specifically word choice.

2. Passage Analyzed
I decided to analyze 2 Nephi chapter 28 verses 15-16, including this excerpt:

"...Wo, wo, wo be unto them... for they shall be thrust down to hell!"

3. Annotated Text

4. Breakdown / Listing of things found:
The narrator's word choice is extremely bold and unique. The 'Lord God Almighty' uses the word 'wo' three times in a row, then one more time in the next sentence.

5. Interpretation: 
The use of words and phrases such as puffed up, thrust, revile, speedily, fully ripe, and tumble show the reader that the narrator has a sense of urgency. Some of these words are calls to action, and others are bringing forth that sense of urgency using brilliant and unusual descriptive words. The Lord's use of 'wo' three times in a row might mean that he is trying to get a point across in a very straight-forward way. It is hard to miss a triple warning!
6. Connections / Questions:
As I read other student's posts, I discovered that this is not the only time repetition and colorful language were recognized as being used in the Book of Mormon. In Elijah's post, Fiery Rhetoric- Jacob's Call to Repentance, he also found repetitive ideas and words. Why do you think we, as a people, continually forget the prophets' advice and warnings?

He Was a Teenage Lawn Mower

I had a branch president in one of my areas that gave some of the most impressive, engaging talks I had ever heard. I attended a Stake Priesthood meeting where he was asked to speak, and it was my first chance to actually hear him give a talk. He spoke confidently, and never lost the attention of anyone in the room, especially the young men at the meeting to whom he was addressing.

He started with a story about a time he was mowing his lawn as a teenager, and he came upon a few small turtles. He reasoned that there must've been a mother nearby, but couldn't see it. Afraid to accidentally mow over the turtle in the tall grass, he checked every spot of grass before he mowed over it. That is, until he got to one little patch of untrimmed lawn. He thought to check the grass before mowing, but decided against it. To his horror, the grass was indeed hiding a turtle. He then explained how we should never let our guard down when it comes to the gospel.

This impressed upon me just how powerful a personal, well-told story could help teach a gospel principle. Church leaders have used them for years to help teach tough, and perhaps complex topics, with no better example than our own prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

The reason for this seems clear: the conflict-resolution set up that we find in stories perfectly matches up with the problem-gospel answer that has existed as long as holy writ itself, while also providing memorable images to accompany abstract concepts. "Never let your guard down" seems like an obvious, oft-heard message in the church, but with this story, it becomes a lesson I'll not soon forget.

Shining Example

When I was younger, there was a lady in my ward named Teresa. Every fast and testimony meeting, Teresa would stand up and tell us about some little spiritual thing that had happened in her life during that month. I would always sit at the edge of my seat, listening to every word intently. Her voice was like honey, her words settled inside of my heart in the perfect way.

Now that I am older and I still hear her speak sometimes when I am home, I finally understand why I loved  her testimonies so much. Teresa had the power to speak with such confidence that you could not help but believe her. She also spoke with amazing passion about ever little thing in her life.

I work at an elementary school now and am required to teach in a classroom for thirty minutes everyday. I try my hardest to make my voice sound like honey and try to speak with passion like she did when I was a child. Sometimes the children listen at the edge of their seats and somedays I just am not able to be passionate over synonyms.

Maybe one day I will be able to master the talent of public speaking just as Teresa has, but I thank her so much for being an amazing example to me. She taught me how to speak from a podium and I doubt she even knows what she taught me, but I am eternally grateful for Teresa and her confidence in her small testimonies. She will always be a shining example to me.

Curious Traditions of Mormon Oratory

“Hello, my name is Sister Jones*, and last week the bishop texted me (called me, cornered me, etc…) to ask me to speak on faith. I really didn’t want to at first, but…” And so the intro goes. It’s an interesting phenomenon, the seemingly requisite sacrament meeting introduction. Yet I’ve never seen precedent for this unusual manner of speaking in any other forum, be it a professional presentation, a general conference sermon, or a university lecture. Despite this, it seems that a Sunday cannot pass without this perfunctory prologue.

Last month, as I sat in a church meeting, the opening speaker began her talk in this manner. That alone isn’t enough to stop me from trying to understand the message she was trying to convey, but once she threw in a smattering of “likes” and “ums” I started to check out. Try as I might, I couldn’t help but wonder if her husband would struggle with the same mannerisms.

Once she had finished speaking, her husband confidently stood up. He smiled and began straight into a story. It was one I had heard previously in general conference. And yet, he told the story in his own words, not reading from the page with his head down, as some are wont to do. There was not a hesitant or apologetic nature to his sermon, and he spoke with conviction and inflection. Perhaps it was the contrast between husband and wife, but that day I saw the importance of confidence and directness in effective speaking.

*names have been changed