Brigham Young (Discourses of Brigham Young, pp. 216-217

In his talk regarding women’s duties, Brigham Young spoke to male members of the Church. He argued that women should be able to study and work in any field that they choose and not be thought of as mere housewives. He claimed that women are just as intelligent, just as capable, and have just as much right to higher education and pursuing a career as men do.

The enthymeme he unconsciously used could be summed up in this way: by allowing women in higher education and following a career path, women please God because by pursuing education and careers women “answer the design of their creation.”

Brigham Young appealed logically, not starting out by saying that women should leave the home and become doctors and lawyers. Such a bold statement would offend many LDS men of the day and would go against their logical understanding of the doctrinal teachings about home and family. Instead President Young tells the men that they have women who, if they had opportunity to study, would make just as good professionals as any man. After laying this doctrinal foundation, the prophet built logically upon by teaching that women should be given the opportunity to pursue these career and educational paths.

Implying that women are not given opportunities to study in professional fields when they are able brings a degree of sympathy from men who have had that opportunity for themselves. Also, implying that men sometimes think of women as only useful at home invites a little guilt to the audience.

Brigham Young, as president of the church, commands great authority in himself since what he says can be considered scripture by the Latter-day Saints. He also, at the end, said women “answer the design of their creation,” reminding the Saints of their scriptural commandment to fulfill their divine purposes. This brings in the authority of God, saying that by studying and practicing careers, women fulfill their Heavenly Father’s plan.

As a prophet, the evidence Brigham Young uses is sufficient for the audience. He does not say “thus saith the Lord” or “as the prophet I command.” He uses enough reasoning, considering his audience, to back up his authority. The speech seems typical of Brigham Young’s teaching style, so the audience would receive it without seeming out-of-place. However, instructing women to go out to do business would be strange for the time. It’s possible that some would have discounted it. President Young also gives an accurate description of women’s situation during that time and of the struggles they faced as housewives. As such, the information and instruction was very relevant for the men and women of Brigham Young’s day.