Thursday, October 3, 2013

#4: Conference Rhetoric!

Tell us about a rhetorical tool you spotted during General Conference. (Yes, general authorities use rhetoric, too!) Did the tool enhance or detract from the speaker's message? Why?

18 comments:

  1. there were many uses of Figurative Language that were used throughout Conference.
    things said like, "Christ is our Rock", etc.
    It enhanced the speakers message as it allowed the audience to imagine how it applied into their lives and understand their meaning of the message better.

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  2. One use of rhetoric used during Conference was in Richard J. Maynes talk. He was talking about how our bodies have to be in shape in order to play basketball and then he related that to our testimonies. Our testimonies must be "in spiritual shape" so that we can endure the challenges that life gives us. This analogy enhanced the speaker's message because it made me more interested as the listener and I will always remember it since it was such a unique way of using his words.

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  3. I noticed rhetoric in President Monson's talk during the Sunday morning session. He was talking about families and how important they are and I distinctly remember the 10 minutes or so that he talked about his wife. How she sacrificed so much over the last 50 years to help him be a better Apostle/Prophet and how she never once complained about anything. This definitely enhanced his talk because he's speaking from personal experience and it gave him more credibility. Plus, he started crying when he was talking about her...it just broke my heart.

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  4. I found an example of rhetoric in Richard J. Maynes talk. He used an analogy about how we can't just watch basketball and expect to be good, we have to condition ourselves an keep our bodies in shape. He then related that to how we can't just watch general conference or read the scriptures we need to actively 'work out' and 'shape up', so we will be prepared. I thought this was effective because we live in such a sports centered culture that most everyone can relate and apply his lesson. It also makes it memorable.

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  5. I spotted imagery in Kevin S. Hamilton's talk. He said we need to CLING to the rod of iron, continually holding fast, and to press forward, FEASTING on the words of Christ until the end of our lives. These words have been used before in scripture, and he might have just been quoting the scripture, but I thought it made his talk better regardless. It brought a picture to my mind of somebody holding onto an iron rod for their life's sake as if the ground beneath them was falling away and someone else getting super excited because they're starving, and they get to have a feast.

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  6. Elder Andersen used an analogy in his talk. He compared the sun coming through blinds on a window to men holding the priesthood. Men can pull back the blinds and the priesthood comes through, but they do not own the sun light. I think this was a great explanation of how the Priesthood works. The power of it is accessible to everyone and men and those who have the duty to make those blessings available to all.

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  7. I really liked Elder Nielson's analogy between a game plan and being prepared to do the work of the Lord. We can't expect things to fall into place if we don't prepare for a lesson or if missionaries don't plan out their days. It is also important that we have more than one game plan too just in case the first one isn't as strong of a plan as you had thought it would be. A team plays strongest when they have a plan and everyone does their part. The work of the Lord will progress as people make and carry out plans with God in wisdom and order.

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  8. In the Sunday morning session, Sister Oscarson spoke on conversion. She used repetition as she taught the different ways people become converted. She said "Conversion comes as we act upon the righteous principles we learn in the home and in the classroom. Conversion comes as we live pure and virtuous lives and enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Conversion comes as we understand the atonement of Jesus Christ and accept Him as our savior and redeemer." I loved the structure she created in her talk and the way her use of repetition made it easier for me to pay attention because it increased my awareness to her message.

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  9. I noticed that Elder Oaks tried to claim Authority when he was talking about the Marriage and Family Statistics. He didnt actually cite the study he was referring to. He simply says " responsible sources report..." It sounds logical but fails to uphold any credibility

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  10. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke on what it means to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As he is famous for, he used a very relatable story to start of his talk and make a point. The use of his story really personalized his point because I have personally been in the same situation that he described. It made me open my eyes to all that members really do and made me proud to be able to say that I belong to a church that is so dedicated to God. This rhetorical tool of story telling and applying to the audience's emotions (pathos) really helped deliver his point. President Uchtdorf is awesome!

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  11. Elder Holland used Ethos when he talked about having depression and counseled those who have the same mental/emotional illness.This was effective and he did really well at connecting with his audience and portraying subtle and sympathetic counsel to those in need. His talk was so amazing. I loved it so much!!!! ELDER HOLLAND IS THE BOMB.

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  12. A lot of the authorities apply to pathos, in multiple ways. But one way that stood out to me this conference was their use of personal stories. Many Elders would tell a story, with names and details about the characters. This could create an imagery in your mind and make you feel like you knew the people in their talks, so that you relate more to their stories and are influenced more by your emotions.

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  13. D. Todd Christofferson quotes Margaret D. Nadauld when she says "there are enough women who are coarse, we need women who are are kind," and so on. The repetition that Sister Nadauld uses in her talk, gets the reader to pay attention. D. Todd Christofferson effectively uses Sister Nadauld's talk in order to emphasize important attributes that women should have and to capture the audience's attention.

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  14. S.Gifford Nielson used the imagery of the shoes to drive home his point. Putting in the great detail of the shoes was good but going the extra distance to get bronze replicas and to show the picture was fantastic. It showed he really meant what he was saying about the missionaries sacrifice.

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  15. I noticed alliteration in some of the talks. I thought that this was a powerful rhetorical tool because it makes it easier to remember an important phrase the speaker wants to put across if it is used. After I noticed it, I realized that I can still remember phrases from past talks that used alliteration, so obviously it works.

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  16. Thomas S Monson said "There will be times when you will walk a path strewn with thorns and marked by struggle" which is a metaphor.

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  17. ^ He uses it because it gives it power through imagery, I think it was used well and enhanced the talk.

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  18. Uchtdof said "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith". Which in my opinion negatively affected his talk. This quote is the biggest double standard I have ever heard. It can be literally applied to any other religion. For example the terrorists who bombed the world trade center on 9/11 only did so because they believed it was what their religion told them to do and it was right. Can you imagine if they had doubts and ended up not going through with it? But Uchtdorf says just shove all doubts aside and follow blindly. Doubting should not be shoved aside. I hope people take a second to look at the other side of things.

    Here's a great quote on doubts.
    "Cherish your doubts, for doubt is the attendant of truth. Doubt is the key to the door of knowledge; it is the servant of discovery. A belief which may not be questioned binds us to error, for there is incompleteness and imperfection in every belief. Doubt is the touchstone of truth; it is an acid which eats away the false. Let no one fear for the truth, that doubt may consume it; for doubt is a testing of belief. The truth stands boldly and unafraid; it is not shaken by the testing; For truth, if it be truth, arises from each testing stronger, more secure. Those that would silence doubt are filled with fear; their houses are built on shifting sands. But those who fear not doubt, and know its use; are founded on rock. They shall walk in the light of growing knowledge; the work of their hands shall endure. Therefore let us not fear doubt, but let us rejoice in its help: It is to the wise as a staff to the blind; doubt is the attendant of truth.” – Robert Weston

    Please don't follow blindly and shove doubts away. They are the most important thing when determining the truth.

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