Random Thought #66

In my latest book, I just read a chapter about rhetoric. Its amazing how many people are fooled into believing in something and therefore think they are gaining knowledge just because they hear what they want to hear. I've even fallen into that trap before. Sometimes the truth hurts and we need to hear it and be open to it to truly gain pure knowledge and truth and grow. I also think its significant that we gain a testimony of the gospel (pure truth and knowledge) not by the convincing arguments of mankind, but by the Holy Ghost. What's even more special is that we can know for ourselves, we don't have to rely on someone like the Prophet to tell us what is true and what isn't. The gift of personal revelation is a glorious gift. As a side note, rhetoric is defined as the use of speech effectively. Hugh Nibley defines it a little more relevantly in that its use is to persuade or convince. Those who are experienced in using rhetoric were known mainly as orators (now they're called salesmen and marketers). That kind of makes me think, if rhetoric is used to persuade or convince, then what is the purpose of a rhetorical question? Are we supposed to convince ourselves of something? Hmm