"One day in the spring of 1945, a young man awoke in a military hospital. He was fortunate to be alive—he’d been shot just behind the ear, but doctors had operated, and he could now walk and talk normally. Tragically, the bullet had damaged the part of his brain that recognized faces. He now looked at his wife without a spark of recognition; he couldn’t recognize his own mother... He’d become face-blind—a condition that affects millions of people." 1
And so begins Elder Daines's talk at the October 2023 General Conference.
His goal was to bring up the idea of face blindness and connect that to our relationship with God. He could have talked about it in general, from a scientific or biological perspective, or even brought it up using just a statistic, but instead, he opened with a story. Why?
Why does he begin with a story?
To answer this question, it's important to understand the rest of the talk.
As Elder Daines continues, he begins to describe his own condition of face blindness. He tells us that when he was young, he struggled to see his mom as a person, and instead looked at her as a rule-maker.
And later on he says that he even saw God that way: as a person without love and just a set of rules to follow.
And as he describes his personal experience, he draws the listener in because they can empathize with him and understand him better. And because of that, his points are clear, understandable and memorable. His account allows us to see his topic through an individual lense - instead of just viewing it as a foreign concept.
Simply put, Elder Daines uses storytelling to help his listeners understand the quest for God's love at a personal, real level. And they are left with a memorable impression that will stay with them for a long time.
What is storytelling?
Even at its simplest, storytelling is an art. It's a complex process that involves weaving together a character, a plot, struggle, and triumph into a coherent narrative. It's not easy.
But when it's done well, it can be powerful - and truly potent.
In an interview with the Harvard Business Review, Robert McKee, a renowned screenwriting lecturer put it this way:
"In a story, you not only weave a lot of information into the telling but you also arouse your listener’s emotions and energy. Persuading with a story is hard. Any intelligent person can sit down and make lists. It takes rationality but little creativity to design an argument using conventional rhetoric. But it demands vivid insight and storytelling skill to present an idea that packs enough emotional power to be memorable."(4)
Clearly, storytelling is not easy. But it is powerful. When presenting a message, instead of boring us, storytelling inspires us. And it moves us with an emotional power that is unforgettable.
Where can storytelling be applied?
The short answer? Everywhere.
Here are just a few examples:
In Public Relations, businesses must create a positive brand image to promote their ideals and history. Storytelling allows them to connect with their audience.
In Journalism, people don't want to read about just what is happening. They can hear that anywhere. Storytelling allows journalists to set themselves apart and put forth a memorable message.
In Advertising, people are used to ignoring anything that isn't relevant to them. The only way for advertisers to succeed is by telling a story that resonates with the target market.
This list goes on. In order to get a message across, we must use stories. At least, if we would like to be remembered.
So why does he tell us a story?
As he finishes his talk, Elder Daines has not just taught us a principle, he has shared with us how he's applied it in his life. And because of his personal narrative, we are more likely to remember it, feel moved by it, and act upon it.
And that makes all the difference.
Sources:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/13daines?lang=eng
https://www.hostaway.com/blog/airbnb-house-rules-actionable-tips-and-examples/
https://ideas.ted.com/storytelling-is-a-powerful-communication-tool-heres-how-to-use-it-from-ted/\
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/5/6/23699408/elder-robert-daines-general-authority-seventy-bio-2023-stanford-yale-law-business-professor
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