Jeffrey R Holland Safety For The Soul Summary

Jacob Lundskog

Dr. Hansen

Writing 150

1 November 2017

Analysis of Holland’s “Safety for the Soul”

During the Sunday afternoon session of the October, 2009 LDS General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave an uncommonly impassioned and emotional talk titled “Safety for the Soul.” Many members found this talk to be inspiring and exhilarating while others were disheartened by this talk. The confusion is understandable at many times throughout this talk. To see Elder Holland so passionately sad, angry, happy and resolute throughout his talk left many others feeling like they had been manipulated through the use of of emotion and an absence of logic. Because of long standing doubt and controversy in regards to the Book of Mormon, Holland, near

In his very first paragraph he states that “Prophecies regarding the last days often refer to large-scale calamities such as earthquakes or famines or floods...But there is one kind of latter-day destruction that has always sounded to me more personal than public...“men’s hearts [shall fail] them.” Elder Holland uses the comparison of earthquakes, famines, and floods, which can and do result in tremendous carnage, to individual “spiritual destruction.” The use of this physical metaphor emphasizes the carnage he perceives when members of the church are deceived by Satan, the enemy of truth. This rhetorical device paints a grotesque picture illustrating the consequences of the deception, yet its nature remains undefined. The notion that members are deceived, in this case by Satan, carries with it a grave warning of the potential Satanic influence associated with a reasoned and informed study and analysis of the Book of Mormon

In reference to Hyrum Smith’s final days in carthage he says “Hyrum turned down the corner of the page from which he had read, marking it as part of the everlasting testimony for which these two brothers were about to die.” Elder Holland claims that Hyrum’s turning down the corner of a page after reading is proof of an everlasting testimony. However, reading from a book does not constitute a testimony, unless the testator stated it was. The use of the phrase, “everlasting testimony,” suggests an equivalent to a “dying testimony,” although it is not stated directly as such. Additionally, it is unclear whether Hyrum thought he was going to die imminently. It is clear that Joseph is reported to have said he was going to die, but other concurrent actions suggests that he had no intention of dying while traveling to, being rescued at, or returning from