Gordon Shepherd

Mormonism in Secular Society: Changing Patterns in Official Ecclesiastical Rhetoric

This study documents changes in the official rhetoric of Mormon leaders over a 150 year span of Mormon history. These changes are interpreted as indicators of religious adaptation to the secularization ofmodern society. The studys results are based on a content analysis of a sample of 600 addresses delivered by ecclesiastical authorities at Mormon General Conference from 1830 through 1979. At General Conference (convened biannually) the highest ranking officials of the Mormon Church give instruction and guidance to the membership, interpret doctrine, announce and rationalize policies, and exhort members to strengthen their faith and comply with church programs. Indices for measuring conference topics related to such rhetorical themes as utopianism, the supernatural, eschatology, personal morality, family life, and doctrinal distinctiveness are developed. Changes in the relative emphasis given these general themes by conference speakers in five different generations of Mormon history are analyzed and their significance for the institutional development of Mormonism in modern society is considered.

Modes of Leader Rhetoric in the Institutional Development of Mormonism

This study analyzes variation in the expressive modes of official religious rhetoric by Mormon leaders during a 150 year span of Mormon history. Rhetorical modes-identified through content analysis of a comprehensive sample of Mormon general conference addresses-include categories of: (1) exposition (i.e., explanation, justification, repudiation, narration), and (2) admonition (i.e., prescription, proscription, chastisement). Findings include: consistent preference for expository rhetoric over admonition; within expository rhetoric, a shift towards more explanation and repudiation but less narration and justification; general predominance ofprescriptive over proscriptive and chastisement rhetorical modes within the category of admonition; but variations in admonitory modes relative to different audiences (e.g., members vs. non-members, men vs. women, adults vs. youth). The theoretical and historical implications of these findings are discussed in relationship to the social transformation of Mormonism from its initial cult-sect beginnings to its modem state of rapid growth and public acceptance.