Elaine S. Dalton gave the most wonderful talk in the Sunday morning conference session. She spoke directly to the fathers, but I felt her words speaking directly to my heart. She counseled the fathers to properly raise their daughters by properly respecting and loving their wives. For when a young woman sees the respect and love that is shown for her mother, she will learn to expect the same treatment as a self-same daughter of God. She will raise herself up above the rest, just as her mother has done and will aspire to be like her. Harmony and love flourish in a such a home environment, and I believe that love is always the best teacher. Sister Dalton uses effective tools of rhetoric in her speech, such that I was hooked on her every word and fully convinced of her counsel by the end of the talk. She often employs repetition in the form of anaphora and alludes to the biblical stories to appeal to the pathos, ethos, and logos of her audience.
In an attempt to make sure the fathers know whom Sister Dalton is addressing, she uses the word "you" quite often. "You will teach your daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion, and devotion... You can show your daughter by the way you love and honor your wife that she should never settle for less. Your example will teach your daughter to value womanhood. You are showing her that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father, who loves her" (Dalton). Sister Dalton gives a mandate to the fathers and insists that it is their responsibility to teach us, the daughters, about the gospel, love, compassion, and so on. She wants the fathers to recognize that is not only their fatherly responsibility to be an example to their daughters, but a heavenly mandate. Her repetition of "you" is an anaphora, or repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a clause, and it appeals to the pathos of her audience because the men feel like they are being individually addressed. When people are singled out, they tend to listen more carefully. Sister Dalton continues to use "you" throughout her speech, capturing and maintaining the attention of her audience. Another example of anaphora in Sister Dalton's speech is when she advises the fathers to help their daughters. "Help her understand the importance of education. Help her understand that the principle of modesty is a protection. Help her choose music and media that invite the Spirit and are consistent with her divine identity" (Dalton). Sister Dalton stresses the importance of a father's involvement in his daughter's life. She never stops, during her entire talk, telling the fathers to do so. Such repetition demonstrates the importance of the counsel and makes it more persuasive.
Another tool that Sister Dalton uses is the tool of allusion. References to other works help increase the logos of an argument because those references act as support beams and reinforcers for the main point. As an added bonus, Dalton uses examples from the Book of Mormon, which adds appeals to both ethos and pathos to her talk. One example she uses is that of Abish. Shes relates the story of how Abish was converted by her father's vision and testimony. She was able to develop her own testimony and share it with everyone, thus helping to change and convert an entire society. Dalton uses this story to demonstrate to fathers the importance of sharing with their daughters; whether it be an opinion, a vision, or just love, it is important that fathers show their daughters that they care. I can attest to the fact that as fathers display love and trust in their daughters, those feelings will be reciprocated.
Sister Elaine S. Dalton gave one of the best conference talks I have ever heard. Although it was directed toward the fathers, it completely hit home for me as she also described the role of a heavenly daughter of God. I especially loved the fact that I was able to envision my own father the entire talk, and realize how much I miss his love and guidance while I have been here at college. Through the effective use of tools such as repetition and allusion, Sister Dalton persuaded me, and I believe the rest of her audience, of the importance of being a father.
