A Story Etched into Memory -- the Power of Pathos

Recently, I was drawn to a specific address given by President Henry B. Eyring. He - very strongly - fortified the importance of preparation to my mind through the use of pathos. To get the full message, I encourage you to watch the video if you haven't, the text doesn’t do it justice. For the moment, I will analyze the text, and refer to the expression of speech if necessary.

To begin his talk, President Eyring decided to tell a story – a story so full of emotion that anyone paying attention will remember both the account and its moral. He spoke of a little girl that was thrown fifty feet by an oncoming car, and the call to give a blessing to this girl in the hospital. They were met with opposition, however, as he says,

"The doctors and the nurses only reluctantly let us reach through a plastic barrier to place a drop of oil on the one opening in the heavy bandages which covered her head. A doctor said to me, with irritation in his voice, 'Hurry with whatever you are going to do. She is dying.'” (par. 3)

President Eyring then summarized his feelings of the doctor in three, very powerful words. "He was wrong." After a slight pause (to let the emotional impact sink into the listeners), President Eyring began his address for the importance of preparing long before the time the priesthood is needed.

The details of his address, his vocal emphasis, and overall storyline appealed to the pathos of his talk. The reader/listener could comprehend the importance of his message simply by listening to the feelings they felt as they heard President Eyring speak. Readers can get a sense of the doctors' impatience and frustration, the faith and confidence of the child's parents, the determination of President Eyring and his partner, etc. He used the emotion of his story to leave a lasting impression and memory in those listening -- a prime example of tremendous pathos.

Throughout the rest of his address, President Henry B. Eyring covered two main ways for us to become prepared enough to exercise the priesthood: faith and confidence. He continued to use pathos, but in the context with strong logos and audience appeal.

While he spoke of faith, he gave the example of Nephi (Par. 10-15), showing his faith. Nephi himself had unshakable faith, and President Eyring quotes admirable attributes. Qualities -- confidence, determination, endurance, long-suffering, unshakable faith -- are some of the same that the audience is striving to perfect, and by bringing up Nephi's attributes, President Eyring connects with the thoughts, feelings, and goals of his listeners.

The pathos presented with President Eyring's second point, confidence, is achieved in a similar manner. He recognizes that his listeners at some point in time have felt regret, remorse, and felt "[dragged] down to doubt the existence of God." (par. 22) This phrasing is very important, because President Eyring could have written it much differently. Listeners could feel remorse over breaking the Word of Wisdom, watching a rated-R movie, but doubting the existence of God is out of the question for any person of faith. Thus, listeners are more willing and receptive to the direction of President Eyring. By using hyperboles to exaggerate his point, he can deliver his proposal for all priesthood holders to always be prepared.

Along those lines, we are instructed us to love, support, and show confidence in others, brings those around us up -- and ourselves in the process -- to believe more completely in God. As with faith, President Eyring knows the feelings and desires of his listeners, and gives positive response in the form of pathos with them.

President Eyring's address was both emotionally powerful and emotionally sound in message. The immense impact of a story of pathos and the personal effects of subtle feelings shows the extent of President Eyring's ability to use pathos to support his message. Even outside of the story, he shows us the strength and convincing power of pathos in the company of logos and audience appeal as shown in the use of hyperboles and desirable traits. All of these components lay the foundation for a lasting memory in the minds of the audience.