Pathos--In General Conference

During the 179th General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in April 2009, Elder Jeffery R. Holland gave a moving address about the atonement and crucifixion of the Savior Jesus Christ. Through his use of pathos, he is able to effectively provoke the thoughts of the audience which cause them to more deeply reflect on what happened during that great historical event and what it truly means to them.

Elder Jeffery R. Holland exercises the "strategies for creating an emotional appeal" through his vivid details and language. (W & R, pg. 66) He is able to "re-create an emotional experience in such a way that readers actually feel the associated emotion." (W & R, pg. 67) Now one thing to point out: to truly understand what the Savior did is incomprehensible. However, Holland is able to describe the life-ending journey of the Savior as completely as possible by the mere mortal human through imagery.

This vivid imagery of the final stages of Jesus Christ's life makes this message so concrete.

He continues to use emotional appeal strategies, all of which increases pathos in an argument, by using words such as solitude, withdrawal, loneliness, hopelessness, despair, anguish, brutality, denial, abandonment and betrayal. This diction creates a feeling of empathy toward Christ and all that he suffered. His argument is strong in the fact that the "perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing" (par. 13) NEVER deserved to be be treated in the ruthless way that he was. This argument easily allows the audiences' emotions to be aroused considering most people believe the innocent should not be punished.

The words of Elder Holland have now also become the narration to a video post depicting the final days of the Savior. Now with the addition of visual aids, the message becomes more vivid and therefore, more concrete. The clips shown is the video post causes one to feel great emotion towards the Savior, considering the images shown are painful and filled with sadness. One is able to better understand only a fraction of the inexpressible pain Christ suffered.

Holland continues his message to explain that these terrible feelings were essential in order to have they Savior of the World experience EVERYTHING, including the withdrawal of the Spirit, and in order to complete the Atonement for all mankind.

By the conclusion of Elder Holland's talk, he now incorporates why this journey should be important to others. I cannot better explain how the Savior's journey affects the lives of mankind today than by what Elder Holland stated. "One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, “I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].” (par. 15)

Through this statement, the audience will realize the blessing Jesus Christ can be in their life because they now don't have to experience the pain that Elder Holland so vividly expressed. Pathos, both through words and imagery, allows Elder Holland's remarkable words carry an emotionally powerful effect today on one's reflection on the meaning of the Savior Jesus Christ. By keeping the audience in an emotional bond with what he previously explained, he is able to successfully deliver his final plead to the us. He desires that "we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear...[that] we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death.” (par. 16)