Synopsis
In his behind-the-scenes look at the power struggles that have long dogged the upper reaches of Mormon hierarchy, Quint offers a nuanced view of Mormonism and Mormon social history that reflects both the struggles of the faithful and the machinations of the politicians.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1997-02-01 |
| Size | | Length: | 928 pages | | Height: | 9.5 in | | Width: | 6.8 in | | Thickness: | 2.2 in | | Weight: | 48.0 oz |
Publisher's Note
The Mormon church today is led by an elite dynasty of older men, nearly three-quarters of whom are related to current or past church authorities, who meet in private; neither their deliberations nor the church's finances are available for public review. Public relations spokesmen assure church members that all is well and that harmony prevails among these brethren. But D. Michael Quinn presents a fuller view. His extensive research documents how the brethren are as likely to be at loggerheads as united. Strong-willed and independent-minded, they lobby their colleagues, forge alliances, out-maneuver opponents, and broker compromises. There is more: clandestine political activities, investigative and punitive actions, personal loans from church coffers, and other privileged power-vested activities. Quinn considers the changing attitude of the leadership toward visionary experiences, the momentous events which have shaped quorum protocol and doctrine, and day-to-day bureaucratic intrigue from the time of Brigham Young to the dawn of the twenty-first century. On the other hand, Quinn sees the hierarchy as being at root well-intentioned and the potential for change when they believe that God has spoken, coupled with the tempering effect of competing viewpoints, is a definite strength.
Industry Reviews
Quinn's first volume of The Mormon Hierarchy (The Origins of Power, Signature, 1994) was a landmark in Mormon studies. This latest volume demonstrates the ways and methods by which the leadership maintains and applies its authority. Some believers may not be pleased with the portrait Quinn paints, but his documentation is so thorough and indisputable that few will be able to challenge his arguments. Some chapters are case studies in the rise to leadership of particular individuals, most notably Ezra Taft Benson (13th president/prophet of the church and Eisenhower's secretary of agriculture), and their employment of power. Other chapters look at the means by which power is exercised in governance. The biographical and chronological appendixes are worth the price of the book. Quinn, now an independent scholar, is unquestionably Mormonism's leading historian. A magisterial study; recommended for all libraries with collections in American history. David S. Azzolina, Univ. of Pennsylvania Libs., Philadelphia
Ives
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