“Muskets” and Mormons: the violent metaphor which “backfired”

This paper uses Speech Act Theory (SAT) to analyze a senior Mormon [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is more commonly known by the names: Mormons, the LDS, the Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church. For brevity, this paper will alternate between these more familiar names.] leader’s sermon in which the metaphor of “muskets” appeared prominently. The metaphor targeted the Church’s LGBTQ+ community, triggering a “firestorm” of responses [Faith Matters, “Elusive Unity at BYU”.]. While Mormons are typically regarded as religious conservatives, negative responses to the sermon indicate that a more inclusive demographic/attitudinal shift has occurred in the Church’s membership, even as the Church’s leadership appears to be moving in anti-LGBTQ+ policy directions. SAT analysis will be contextualized within this socio-cultural shift and leadership authority claims, examining generic Mormon register-discursive use and understanding of metaphors. The paper will conclude that the sermon “backfired”, not just for its utilization of an anachronistic, violent metaphor, but because of an abuse of the power differential.