Rhetoric in "The Family Proclamation"

            “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was issued by the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1995. It states the position of our Church in matters of the family, teaches the divine significance of the family in Heavenly Father’s plan, and serves as a guide for families that seek eternal happiness. The Family Proclamation was a warning before its time and contains the rhetorical devices ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade people to maintain the strength and integrity of families.

            The Family Proclamation was a warning issued at a critical time. This opportune moment, also known as kairos, occured when social values began to shift away from traditional Christian beliefs and many people were shaping their definition of family. Today’s American society has experienced serious moral deterioration since the proclamation was published. New issues have risen that challenge God’s definition of family, such as same-sex marriage and abortion. Today the proclamation stands as a light in a dark world and professes truths from an eternal perspective. Additionally, the proclamation was issued at a significant time because the people who were children when it was published are now the adults who are making decisions that will determine our future. Knowledge of the proclamation would have helped these children develop righteous ideas that would guide their future actions. Elder Henry B. Eyring said, “A child hearing and believing the words of the proclamation regarding families united eternally would begin a lifetime of looking for a holy temple where ordinances and covenants perpetuate family relationships beyond the grave” (“The Family,” Liahona, Oct. 1998, 12; Ensign, Feb. 1998, 10).

            The Family Proclamation uses ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade readers. The writers establish their ethos or credibility by first stating their positions of authority in the Church. Furthermore, they maintain this credibility by using a formal tone and choosing authoritative diction, including words like “declare,” “proclaim,” and “commandment.” Additionally, the writers share the language of the larger Christian audience beyond our Church by citing a scripture from the Book of Psalms rather than a scripture from the Book of Mormon. Thus the writers gain the trust of the readers and have the opportunity to persuade them.

            The Family Proclamation also uses pathos to put readers in a positive state of mind in order to best persuade them. Pathos is an emotional appeal to the reader that moves them to change their opinions and even calls them to action. The proclamation evokes positive feelings in the readers when the writers use phrases to describe the role of families such as “divine nature and destiny,” “progress toward perfection,” “sacred responsibilities,” and “happiness.” Strong emotional appeals like these persuade readers to receive this message that they might otherwise think is too conservative for today’s society.

            Lastly, the Family Proclamation contains logos to build logical arguments that appeal to readers’ rational thinking. The main argument in the Family Proclamation is that people ought to treat families as the important components of Heavenly Father’s plan that they truly are. The proclamation uses logos when it says “God’s commandment” or “God has commanded” that people should fulfill their responsibilities such as to rear children and maintain marital fidelity. Another instance of logos occurs in this sentence: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.” When one considers the teachings of Jesus Christ, this statement makes logical sense. Furthermore, the word choice “Lord Jesus Christ” is more common amongst other Christian churches and represents the writer’s effort to appeal to a broader audience.

            The Family Proclamation also blends rhetorical devices together to strengthen its argument. One example is in the description of the “divine design” that gives fathers and mothers certain roles in the family. According to the proclamation, the father should be a provider while the mother should nurture her children. Even more, these are their “sacred responsibilities.” Although I am not naturally inclined to think of my role as a future wife and mother this way, I feel as though I am obligated to obey this “divine design” and fulfill my “sacred responsibilities.” This is because the writer uses ethos by referring to God as the designer and uses pathos to appeal to my emotions by calling this role “sacred.”

             The Family Proclamation is important modern-day revelation that stands as a guiding principle of truth and reveals Heavenly Father’s eternal plan for families. Because it came at an opportune time, the proclamation has helped shaped the attitudes of people in today’s society, where morals and virtues are waning. The Family Proclamation uses ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade people to uphold the strength of the family and see the plan of happiness that God has reserved for righteous families.

photo: seminary.lds.org