J. Reuben Clark: The Church Years

Rating:
Summary: Quinn's lapses in historicism are forgivable in light of the
Review: J. REUBEN CLARK: The Church Years. By D. Michael Quinn. (Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1983. xvi + 334 pp. Index, notes, photographs.) This book is the second work in a multi volume set documenting the life and work of J. Reuben Clark. This monograph is aptly titled The Church Years, following in step with the first biography in the set written by Fox, The Public Years. This work deals with service Clark devoted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he was called and served for thirty years in the First Presidency, the foremost governing body of the church. The first half of this monograph deals with the three church presidential administrations he served under in chronological order. The second half of the work deals topically, chapter by chapter, with subjects and areas of special interest and influence to Clark. This book begins with the chapter, "The Waste Places of Zion . . . The Rivers of Babylon" highlighting Fox's account of Clark's service in the public sector holding diverse positions including as undersecretary of state and as U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Quinn derives his chapter titles from scriptural sources with great success in accurately describing chapter contents and achieving the feeling Quinn goes for throughout this biography. This monograph is the product extensive research of diverse and scattered sources including the personal journal of Elder Spencer W. Kimball, one of Clark's protégés who eventually became president of the church, and other journals and diaries of Clark's close associates. Quinn readily admits in the preface limitations found in this biography due to strained source availability including the "critically important" Minutes of the First Presidency which were not available to him (p. xiv) Quinn rises above this handicap and invites the reader into the workings of the First Presidency of which Clark played such an integral part. The depth of research through vast amounts of diverse sources is very impressive as are his choices and use of photographs throughout the book. The photographs augmented the text without interfering or diminishing it in any way. Quinn is focused and determined to put forth an honest biography by exposing both the honorable qualities and the weaker components of Clark's character. In an official biography on a Mormon subject the focus is often on promoting the faith of Mormon church members. This focus sometimes levies a great cost in scholarship and integrity of the subject in question. Quinn has boldly stepped out on his own and put forth what he believes to be the truth about the life and character of J. Reuben Clark. This courageous move has helped render a masterful biography and would likely be approved of by Clark himself. Quinn unfortunately suffers lapses in his focus and temporarily abandons his reliance upon sources and facts for his work. When describing Clark's reaction to his reassignment as second councilor under the new McKay administration rather than first councilor as he had been under the previous president Quinn engages in a regrettable bout of speculation. Quinn fabricates a scene in which he describes a morose Clark mentally picturing the presidents office with a great longing and envy. Quinn then claims that Clark's mind falls back to a letter he wrote his wife over twenty years prior to this situation. Quinn substitutes his own views concerning the relationship of rank, honor, and prestige to the presidency of the church in the place of Clark's ideas. Quinn makes the same mistake later in the book when describing Reuben's feelings toward the polygyny practiced by his ancestors. Quinn's zeal for a complete portrait of Clark may also have pushed him to make more of an issue out of Clark's alleged anti-Semitism for which Quinn offers little proof. These short lapses in his work are forgiven due to the overall quality of the work. Quinn includes and invaluable chapter entitled, "Those Who Take the Sword" which explores the evolution of Clark's pacifism and ideas concerning war. It is a great chapter on the broader subject of Mormon pacifism which is a little explored aspect of Mormonism. Clark who looked on pluralism with disdain convinced the church to reimburse Quaker conscientious objector camps which sheltered Mormon pacifists during the second World War. The chapter does a great job tracking Clark's evolving views on war, peace, isolationism, and the idea of just war. Well chosen quotes from Clark's Mormon General Conference decrying the use of atomic bombs to murder the quarter million "men, women, and children, and cripples" in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Clark served as a chairman for the oldest pacifist organization in the U.S., Americans For Peace. Clark was in the position of spokesman for the church and a touching expression of his loyalty and subservience to the prophet and the office of the president is manifested through his official pronouncements in favor of supporting military service, which the church supported, but to which Clark at this point was unalterably opposed. Quinn has provided us with valuable information and a seldomly experienced spotlight on a dimly lit subject. More than just a biography of an important Mormon leader and elder statesman this work in fact gives us an intimate look into the process of decision making in church administration. It also gives us insight into the dynamic relationship between the leaders of the church and its general membership. Quinn shows us this with the illustration of Clark's defense of the church President's unpopular stance against Franklin D. Roosevelt and The New Deal. Great tension arose from the struggle for control between leaders and members. Through Clark's life Quinn explores the power structure from the president and apostles down through the general authorities and the local bishops. A view inside the First Presidency and its decision making is granted to us through the chronological documentation through the three administrations in which Clark served as a councilor. Quinn has given us a wonderful pioneering biography but possibly more importantly he has given us new insight into the dynamics of church leadership, decisions, and membership. Forcefully written with feeling but tempered with a great deal of respect to his task of being fair and above all truthful. Quinn's respect for Clark is apparent and attested to by his unwillingness to gloss over of the less admirable qualities of Clark's character. Quinn's focus and determination shine through the text of this work and make it an extremely enjoyable biography to read, and above all, a quality contribution to the subject and study of Mormonism.

Rating:
Summary: Quinn's lapses in historicism are forgivable in light of the
Review: J. REUBEN CLARK: The Church Years. By D. Michael Quinn. (Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1983. xvi + 334 pp. Index, notes, photographs.) This book is the second work in a multi volume set documenting the life and work of J. Reuben Clark. This monograph is aptly titled The Church Years, following in step with the first biography in the set written by Fox, The Public Years. This work deals with service Clark devoted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he was called and served for thirty years in the First Presidency, the foremost governing body of the church. The first half of this monograph deals with the three church presidential administrations he served under in chronological order. The second half of the work deals topically, chapter by chapter, with subjects and areas of special interest and influence to Clark. This book begins with the chapter, "The Waste Places of Zion . . . The Rivers of Babylon" highlighting Fox's account of Clark's service in the public sector holding diverse positions including as undersecretary of state and as U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Quinn derives his chapter titles from scriptural sources with great success in accurately describing chapter contents and achieving the feeling Quinn goes for throughout this biography. This monograph is the product extensive research of diverse and scattered sources including the personal journal of Elder Spencer W. Kimball, one of Clark's protégés who eventually became president of the church, and other journals and diaries of Clark's close associates. Quinn readily admits in the preface limitations found in this biography due to strained source availability including the "critically important" Minutes of the First Presidency which were not available to him (p. xiv) Quinn rises above this handicap and invites the reader into the workings of the First Presidency of which Clark played such an integral part. The depth of research through vast amounts of diverse sources is very impressive as are his choices and use of photographs throughout the book. The photographs augmented the text without interfering or diminishing it in any way. Quinn is focused and determined to put forth an honest biography by exposing both the honorable qualities and the weaker components of Clark's character. In an official biography on a Mormon subject the focus is often on promoting the faith of Mormon church members. This focus sometimes levies a great cost in scholarship and integrity of the subject in question. Quinn has boldly stepped out on his own and put forth what he believes to be the truth about the life and character of J. Reuben Clark. This courageous move has helped render a masterful biography and would likely be approved of by Clark himself. Quinn unfortunately suffers lapses in his focus and temporarily abandons his reliance upon sources and facts for his work. When describing Clark's reaction to his reassignment as second councilor under the new McKay administration rather than first councilor as he had been under the previous president Quinn engages in a regrettable bout of speculation. Quinn fabricates a scene in which he describes a morose Clark mentally picturing the presidents office with a great longing and envy. Quinn then claims that Clark's mind falls back to a letter he wrote his wife over twenty years prior to this situation. Quinn substitutes his own views concerning the relationship of rank, honor, and prestige to the presidency of the church in the place of Clark's ideas. Quinn makes the same mistake later in the book when describing Reuben's feelings toward the polygyny practiced by his ancestors. Quinn's zeal for a complete portrait of Clark may also have pushed him to make more of an issue out of Clark's alleged anti-Semitism for which Quinn offers little proof. These short lapses in his work are forgiven due to the overall quality of the work. Quinn includes and invaluable chapter entitled, "Those Who Take the Sword" which explores the evolution of Clark's pacifism and ideas concerning war. It is a great chapter on the broader subject of Mormon pacifism which is a little explored aspect of Mormonism. Clark who looked on pluralism with disdain convinced the church to reimburse Quaker conscientious objector camps which sheltered Mormon pacifists during the second World War. The chapter does a great job tracking Clark's evolving views on war, peace, isolationism, and the idea of just war. Well chosen quotes from Clark's Mormon General Conference decrying the use of atomic bombs to murder the quarter million "men, women, and children, and cripples" in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Clark served as a chairman for the oldest pacifist organization in the U.S., Americans For Peace. Clark was in the position of spokesman for the church and a touching expression of his loyalty and subservience to the prophet and the office of the president is manifested through his official pronouncements in favor of supporting military service, which the church supported, but to which Clark at this point was unalterably opposed. Quinn has provided us with valuable information and a seldomly experienced spotlight on a dimly lit subject. More than just a biography of an important Mormon leader and elder statesman this work in fact gives us an intimate look into the process of decision making in church administration. It also gives us insight into the dynamic relationship between the leaders of the church and its general membership. Quinn shows us this with the illustration of Clark's defense of the church President's unpopular stance against Franklin D. Roosevelt and The New Deal. Great tension arose from the struggle for control between leaders and members. Through Clark's life Quinn explores the power structure from the president and apostles down through the general authorities and the local bishops. A view inside the First Presidency and its decision making is granted to us through the chronological documentation through the three administrations in which Clark served as a councilor. Quinn has given us a wonderful pioneering biography but possibly more importantly he has given us new insight into the dynamics of church leadership, decisions, and membership. Forcefully written with feeling but tempered with a great deal of respect to his task of being fair and above all truthful. Quinn's respect for Clark is apparent and attested to by his unwillingness to gloss over of the less admirable qualities of Clark's character. Quinn's focus and determination shine through the text of this work and make it an extremely enjoyable biography to read, and above all, a quality contribution to the subject and study of Mormonism.