Aren't They Awesome?

My dad, who is a coach for the BYU rugby team and had to travel with them to Boise this past weekend, told me that the players were more anxious to hear who the new apostles were going to be than they were to play! Even though the BYU rugby team was only a tiny portion of the huge and very excited audience anxiously awaiting the announcement of who would be called as the new apostles for the church, this event turned out to be a major commonplace for everyone watching general conference.

 Elder Rasband started his talk by softly relaying the first couple sentences of the well known hymn: I stand all amazed. This tactic was the perfect conduit into his very humble testimony of the savior and undeviating faith. The entire arrangement of his talk had a very pathos like appeal as he thanked those special ones in his life as well as the Lord for trusting him with his new calling. His humble delivery helped us feel that he as a new general authority would have a lot to learn, but can still be trusted. From the way he and the other new apostles delivered their talks, I am very excited to hear what they will have to say in the future!

 I can't imagine what it must've been like for these new apostles to try and sum up all that they needed/wanted to say in the matter of a few minutes. I was very interested to see how they were going to show this world wide audience that they were ready for their new responsibilities. I had decided to analyze Elder Rasband's talk for that very reason. I was immediately captivated with the direction Elder Rasband took with his talk as it was a perfect way to establish his ethos and great gratitude for his new calling.

Can't Help but Love Them!

Thanksgivings Point of View

I am not just a day on a calendar (opposition), I am more than a table spread with bounty of turkey, stuffing, potatoes mashed, and pie ( description/ degree). Behold, my name itself denotes my anointing, holy day, indeed, open wide door (apostrophe), let loved ones enter, greet those whose presence and well being brings warmth to your soul, embrace, laugh, share in memories passed. Am I a mere day? No, I bring love and a grateful heart (anthypophora ). 

 Though I my time is but a few 24 hours, the power of my presence precedes my coming and lingers long after I have departed. My colors are the leaves of autumn, the drawing of a hand turkey, the contrast of white cream whipped atop of a moist pumpkin pie. I am found whenever blessings are counted, wherever there is appreciation uttered. I am thanksgiving. (personification)

Valves and Chambers

I have a love of valves and chambers [synecdoche].

I do not love them for what they are, but for what they do [contradiction]. They do not hesitate; they do not shrink; they do not fail [opposition]--rather, they guide tiny red cells on their path toward home [personification] consistently and diligently [antithesis]. With every thump-thump [onomatopoeia], they propel another fleet of oxygen-carrying vessels [paraphrasis] into the sea of vessels [antanaclasis]. And rarely do they ever, if they ever, for anyone, stop working [climax].

Yet sometimes they do stop working, like mini rubber toys that squeeze and then lose their spring [simile]. Still do I love them, and love them the more [parallelism], for a gentle prodding will not bring them back. It takes a shock of awesome power--a strike that burns, leaves a handprint of red, demands a reaction--to send them running back to their positions [appositio]. It is their difficulty, their absence, that makes the heart grow fonder [adage].

When they are not stopped, they are pools of swirling ocean spray, collecting life for others to peer at briefly before the next tide sweeps it away [metaphor]. Pulsing, breathing, swelling and stirring, they delight at the feel of thick liquid rushing along their paths [personification]. More than delight [degree]. They live for such a purpose.

They wouldn't mind then, would they, if we sent love their way [rhetorical question]? They're so tall at carrying blood [catachresis]--I figure it wouldn't be hard to add a drop of emotion to the mix. Carry our blood. Carry the lifeblood of humanity, too [paranomasia].

I will always have a love of valves and chambers.