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

Kassandra Hymas
Writing Honors 150
Professor Kerry Spencer
September 24, 2011
Why the Church is as True as the Gospel: Critical Analysis

At first glance Mr. England seems to use extremely dense language and long winded passages,
when in fact he uses his vast vocabulary to produce rich phrases to accurately depict the full
power of the gospel, inviting his audience to think logically into the church, giving gospel topics
a highly educated viewpoint while keeping it simple with his testimony.

Mr. England’s greatest assets in this article is his extensive word choice and organization of
them. In order to explain to members the full capacity of the gospel one must use words with
substance to create rich phrases. One example of a powerful phrase is, “Suddenly I felt
something, vaguely familiar, burning to the center of my heart and bones- and then, it seemed,
physically turning me around to look at the transfigured face of Elder Harold B. Lee, the visiting
authority.”(219) Through words combinations like “burning to the center” and “physically
turning me around,” Mr. England gives us a very life like feeling, giving us a sense of that power
that comes from the Holy Spirit.

The second greatest strength of this article is making the reader really think logically about the
church. After discussing how limited and various our understanding of the gospel he says, “That
is precisely where the church comes in. I believe the Church is the best medium, apart from
marriage (which it must resembles in this respect), for helping us gain salvation by grappling
constructively with the oppositions of existence, despite our limited and various understandings
of ‘the gospel.’ I believe that the better than any other church or organization is at such help, the
‘truer’ it is. And when I call the Mormon church ‘the true church’ I mean that it is the best
organized means for providing such help because it is divinely organized and directed-is made
and kept effective by revelations that have come and continue to come from God, however
“darkly” they, of necessity, come to our own limited and various understandings.” (221)

Choosing a church, and following a church is a generally a pathos decision. It is emotional in
everyday. I would say that most people would even call the LDS church an emotional
attachment. We are first directed by feelings, we support each other emotionally, and we rely on
emotion to understand the truth of our history. Although a church may appeal to the pathos of a
person, Mr. England describes the church from a logical standpoint. He explains his belief that
the church is superbly organized, in order for us to get the best out of spiritual experiences.

One of the last strength's of Mr. England is after discussing in depth topics he wraps it up, and
keeps it straightforward with his simple testimony. He starts out so simple by sharing the
experience of feeling the spirit for the second time. This first statement itself starts off
uncomplicated, and becomes more intricate as he explains not just his experience but also adds
his experience of studying the gospel. For readers who have not felt that special power, the
experience intrigues them, and they are drawn into wanting more. For example: Mr. England
explains, “How many boring stake conferences would I attend to be even once in the presence of
such grace? Thousands-all were. That pearl is without a price. And because I have since learned better what to look for and find there - understanding of and edifying, inspirational experience
with the members of the Church-the conferences are no longer boring. Thus, one of the earliest
and most important pillars of my faith come, not through some great insight into the gospel, but
through an experience I could have had only because I was doing my duty in the Church,
however immaturely.” (220) Throughout the article, Mr.
England sometimes becomes a little
engrossed in his advanced educational viewpoints, sometimes to the point of misunderstanding,
although through his simple testimony, he keeps the article understandable and grounded.

Eugene England’s article “Why the Church is as True as the Gospel”, paints an accurate picture
of the gospel, by using an array of vocabulary and power phrases, inviting audiences to think
deeply, while giving highly educated views on topics yet grounding them with his simple
testimony. Mr. England makes some very substantial points in this article. It was very interesting
to read viewpoints not often thought of.