Last week Tom and I were visiting the Arlington ward in Boston, MA. I left the meeting overwhelmingly inspired in several areas. First, with a desire to improve my rhetoric. There were several members of the ward that took keen awareness of how they placed their words, they didn’t reiterate, and their points were clear and organized. That experience combined with Tom and I’s viewing of the John Adams mini-series has really made me desirous of more refined speech patterns.
Second, I was struck by the discussion on duty in Relief Society. The teacher posed that our society had lost its sense of duty. Again, in combination with the John Adams mini-series, I was stirred by the proposal. I agree, Adams’ dedication to duty is profound. We are all indebted to his lifetime service to this country and its foundation. However, his relationship with his youngest son Charlie (who he renounced) makes one question to what degree one can dedicate oneself to a singular duty without it affecting other areas of one’s life. Which raises the question. What is our duty? Or how does one find ones duty?
Adams felt lead by God in setting up this country, hence I would image that prayer is the fundamental step in finding ones true duty. This is a concept that has long pervaded my thoughts. I feel pulls of duty in various areas of my life. Yesterday after finishing the mini-series, one that I recommend to everyone, (It’s HBO’s mini-series, “John Adams” based of the book by David McCullough.) I knelt in prayer and pondered upon my duty in life. My mind was immediately turned to the The Family: A Proclamation to the World. That document, one that I feel is inspired of God, clearly outlines that one of my duties as a women is that of a mother and nurturer.
The world is in need of nurturing mothers and wifes, sisters and daughters. Women who will cast off the notions of one breed of feminism that suggest women should become like men, and instead follow the breed of feminism that Abigail Adam’s so beautiful epitomizes. Abigail is strong willed, hard working, and intellectual; but she is at the same time forgiving, comforting, and peacemaking. She and John both fulfilled their duties, though I might argue, at least from the films point of view, that she fulfilled her duty with greater balance.
What do you feel duty toward? How do you deal with contrasting responsibilities. Do you think our society is lacking a sense of duty?
One response to “Power of rhetoric and sense of duty”
Steve and I visited Quincy today, coincidentally. It was awesome to be in the Adams’ home. I read most of McCullough’s book, but I’ve forgotten so much I would love to see the mini series. I agree – what amazing people they both were. Their letters to one another are especially inspiring and have prompted a desire in me as well to improve my speech. It’s hard to fathom all of the good John Adams did for this country and all the day to day activity and perseverance that made him such a great and influential man.