The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power (Mormon Hierarchy)

Rating:
Summary: Very valuable book for students of Mormon History
Review: This book is a remarkable accomplishment that will probably never be surpassed as many of the sources Quinn uses have been sequestered away by the church leadership. In reading the book, I felt the author tried to paint a sympathetic picture of church leadership and the challenges they faced. However, with the church's current focus on blind obedience and the building of personality cults around past church leaders, it isn't surprising that some reviewers find offense with the book and will try to discredit it by nitpicking an inaccuracy here or there.

Reading the book, it looked like a series of essays to me. One of the most interesting of the essays was the chapter on Ezra Taft Benson and his attempts at directing the membership of the church towards the extreme right-wing doctrines of the John Birch Society. His success is illustrated in Utah and Mormon areas of Idaho and Arizona being some of the most Republican in the nation. In this regard, this book is relevant to anyone wanting to understand the current demographics and attitudes of church members and how they evolved.

One of the best parts of the book is the huge appendix. Any student of Mormon history will find it very helpful and interesting.

Dr. Quinn is to be commended for his wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: Good history book showing Mormons in their true light
Review: Though I don't think it was intentional, this book really paints the church in colors they would not prefer. Any student of history in the west should get this book. This one is on my top ten list.