Rhetoric is the communication of change, but without the Spirit, rhetoric is nothing. We use rhetoric to get someone to view something as we view it or even to get someone to do something we want them to do—to change their hearts. However, the power to change that seems to flow from strong, articulate, and dynamic words comes from a different source than from the words themselves. Nephi says “When a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.” The Holy Ghost is the power that truly affects people when rhetoric is used, which is evidenced by the varying effects that rhetoric has on the righteous and the wicked, as well as by the effectiveness of rhetoric on people when supplemented by the Spirit.
The righteous, or those who listen to the Holy Ghost, are more affected by spiritually enhanced rhetoric than are those who have shunned its influence from their lives. Such a separation is illustrated in the difference between Nephi and his brothers in listening to their father, Lehi. Through the use of stories, symbolism, and argument, Lehi tries to instill in their hearts a desire to follow him to the Promised Land. Nephi relates, “Wherefore I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did…soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father.” Then, when he tries to convince his brothers, “Behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto [his] words…because of the hardness of their hearts.” However powerful Lehi’s words were, the effect that they had on his sons was entirely dependent on whether they were open to the Spirit or not. The power that Lehi was looking for to win his sons’ confidence was not found merely in his moving words, but in the influence that his sons decided to either embrace or shun.
This influence that the listener can either embrace or shun can also be invited or discouraged by the speaker, and when invited, it makes his rhetoric much more effective. Concerning the university made in his name, Brigham Young gave Karl G. Maeser this charge: “You should not teach even the alphabet or the multiplication tables without the Spirit of God.”
Brigham Young knew that the Spirit is not only a tool to assist in teaching people; it is the very power that really teaches people the truth. It “carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.” Rhetoric is the tool that supplements the Holy Ghost. The Spirit, as the convincing power of God, is actually what is supplemented.
Because we see that the influence rhetoric has on people correlates with their receptiveness to the Spirit, and that the Spirit increases the effectiveness of rhetoric, we can conclude that the Spirit is actually the power behind rhetoric. The Spirit is what really changes hearts.
Yes! That's really how I felt about rhetoric in the gospel too! I also loved how you gave responsibility to the listeners as well as the speakers, because, when it comes to the Spirit, one party needs to have it and the other need to be receptive to it.
ReplyDeleteWe both took kind of the same approach to this. I enjoyed your point of view and the strong examples you used to back up your view on the matter. It is something i will make sure to keep in ind when i write my next blog.
ReplyDeleteI spoke about the gospel and rhetoric too... i stressed the importance of listening to the Holy Ghost while speaking, but I really like your point about how listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost is also essential while listening. That's so true.
ReplyDeleteWhile I like what you said about how the Spirit is the power behind rhetoric, I have to disagree a little bit. I believe rhetoric can be a powerful tool in the wrong hands as well. Satan has managed to convince us to sin at least one time in our lives. I think, like you said, in order to avoid Satan's temptations, we need to be receptive to the Spirit so the Spirit can have a greater effect on us and steer us in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI think the Brigham Young quote is powerful to reflect on, particularly in regards to learning at BYU...having great teachers, classes, books, etc. is not enough if we don't let the Spirit be a part of the process.
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