Jamie's Analysis of "Why the Church is As True as the Gospel"

Jamie Jasperson
Dr. Kerry Spencer
Honors Writing 150 Section 109
26 September 2011
Faith and Feelings

In a letter he wrote to his brother Theo in 1889, Vincent Van Gogh said, “Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it” (Brooks). Oftentimes we mistake emotion for weakness. The boy who cries when he skins his knee is considered a sissy; the girl who cannot hold back her tears during Bambi is a crybaby. In reality, emotion is an important aspect of human nature. We make decisions and judgments based on how we think and feel about things. This is why many people choose to use an appeal to emotion, or pathos, as a tool of persuasion when making arguments. Eugene England effectively utilizes pathos as a rhetorical device in his argument “Why the Church Is as True as the Gospel.”

England opens his argument by explaining the opposing side. He says, “One of the clichés often repeated by Mormons is that the gospel is true, even perfect, but the Church is, after all, a human instrument, history-bound, and therefore understandably imperfect – as if it were something to be endured for the sake of the gospel” (Jorgensen 220). England explains that he once believed this “cliché,” but changed his mind after an experience he had when he was twelve years old. While attending a stake conference where then Elder Harold B. Lee presided as a visiting authority, England was privileged to sit near the front. During Elder Lee’s words, England felt “the presence of the Holy Ghost” for one of the first times in his life (219). A mere feeling may hold little or no weight with a lay audience, but England understands that the Latter-day Saint members in his audience will recall times in their own lives when they felt the Spirit and their opinions were changed. They will begin to see his point of view because they personally believe that feelings of the Spirit always teach truth.

Following his experience, England began to understand the importance of an imperfect church. Those who believe that the gospel is more true than the church believe in “a perfect system of revealed doctrines and commandments based in principles which infallibly express the natural laws of the universe” (220). England presents the idea that the universe and all true laws that exist within it are “fundamentally paradoxical” (220). The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi taught that opposition must exist in all things. It logically follows to assume that an imperfect church must exist in opposition to a perfect gospel. But England is not only arguing logically with this idea; he again appeals to the emotions of his audience through his use of Book of Mormon scripture. Citing scripture to back-up an argument sends a subliminal message to England’s audience: if you believe this scripture, then you believe in what I am saying. And why do Latter-day Saints believe in the truth of the Book of Mormon? Because of a feeling they had when they read it, a feeling that told them that the book was true. In essence, then, England is arguing that people who believe the Book of Mormon is true believe that Lehi’s words are true. If they believe in Lehi’s words, then they must also believe that something must exist in opposition to a perfect gospel. He presents the idea that this something is the Church.

England not only draws on his own personal spiritual experiences and the words of the scriptures are proof for his argument, he also turns to the words of the prophet David O. McKay. After quoting President McKay, England says, “Most of my profound spiritual manifestations, those that have provided the rock-bottom convictions I have about the reality of God and Christ and their divine work […] have come, as President McKay affirmed, ‘as a natural sequence to the performance of duty’ in the Church” (223). Again, members of England’s audience will reflect on their own beliefs. They believe in God and Christ, but they also believe in the prophet, President McKay. They base their testimonies of these things in the spiritual feelings they received in response to prayer about the topic. Latter-day Saints place great value in feelings, particularly those of a spiritual nature, as valid sources of truth. England’s understanding of this concept helps him convince his audience to agree with him.

In his concluding statements, England says, “we cannot properly know of the truth of Christ’s restored gospel unless we understand - and act on – the truth of his Church” (228). This argument attacks the emotional connection of England’s audience. Do they believe in the gospel? Then they must believe in the Church. Just as they obtained their belief in the Book of Mormon through feelings they experienced while reading, Latter-day Saints believe in the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ because of spiritual impressions they have received. England is drawing upon these feelings not only as proof that the gospel is true, but also as proof that his argument is sound.

Much of the strength of England’s argument lies in his appeal to the spiritual emotions of his Latter-day Saint audience. He knows that they believe in the validity of emotion as proof of truth and he uses this concept to make a concrete argument. Appealing to pathos is considered an effective tool in arguing because we use feelings to help us make important decisions. Arguers who connect with the emotions of their audience can persuade audience members to agree with their side of the argument.
 
Brooks, David. "From Vincent to Theo." The Vincent van Gogh Gallery. Van Gogh Museum,
Amsterdam, 9 Sep 2011. Web. 22 Sep 2011.
Jorgensen, Sarah. Comp. Reading for Intensive Writers. 5th ed. Provo: BYU Academic
Publishing, 2007. 219-28. Print.