Rhetorical Analysis – “The Enriching of Marriage” by President Faust

WATCO: Divorce on future happiness?

Claim: Divorce hurts the chance for future happiness because divorce makes people take on life’s challenges alone rather than with someone to help them.

Implicit Assumption: Whatever makes people take on life’s challenges alone also hurts their chance for future happiness.

President Faust’s argument that divorce is a deceptively easy way to make life more difficult is full of facts and experience. Many people believe that getting a divorce is a way to put marital and life struggles behind them, but according to President Faust this line of reasoning is false. He cites his many years of experience as a lawyer and other capacities working closely with people as evidence of this. He is extremely credible, and what he has to say agrees with the results of many studies on divorce. He notes that, statistically speaking, about half of married couples in the United States will eventually get divorced, but that does not necessarily make them happier. He focuses on the emotionally stability that comes with being part of the partnership that is marriage. As hard as marriage is sometimes, it is easier than going through life alone. He outlines several ways that couples can strengthen their marriage and get through the hard times without resorting to divorce. He notes the spiritual characteristics of praying together, showing trust and virtue, paying tithing, and focusing on parenthood as a way to strengthen each other. His counsel is nothing new, but it is through the simple things that progress is made and relationships become stronger.

I feel that President Faust’s talk on Divorce is very persuasive. The ideals he encourages are not difficult to do, but will nonetheless make an extreme difference in the lives of people who put them to practice. He is very knowledgeable and his advice can be trusted.