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Elder Statesman: A Biography of J. Reuben Clark

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Elder Statesman: A Biography Of J. Reuben Clark by D. Michael Quinn is a thorough, solid, detailed and exhaustively comprehensive portrayal of Mormon church leader J. Reuben Clark. Amazingly informative and candid presented Elder Statesman is an outstanding biography that ranges from Clark's brush with atheism (one which he resolved by deciding that belief may be irrational yet is essential), to his view of African-Americans (he was once responsible for segregating blood donations by color), yet he was also one of the first of the Mormon hierarchy to advocate priesthood for African-Americans among the Latter-Day Saints. Elder Statesman is a most revealing and fascinating biographical study, and highly recommended reading for those with an interest in Mormon Studies.

This is a revision of an earlier work by Quinn on the same subject and whatever additions were made (I have not read the earlier edition) are imperceptible to the first time reader. In my view, this is a first class biography in style and depth of documentation. Quinn's footnotes take up approximate 20% of the book (a Quinn trademark). Other biographies of Mormon leaders have been undertaken as much to sustain the faithful as to reveal something about their subject. Elder Statesman still manages to sustain the faithful by faithfully and honestly revealing to us the complexity of a brilliant man, the nature of his faith and the effect of the times and culture from which he sprang. Possibly more interesting for me was the peep behind the curtain of 20th century Mormon church's leadership and bureaucracy and the personal dimensions of the interaction between beloved church leaders. Some might be disturbed at the ambiguity this reveals, particularly in a church that reveres these men as prophets, seers and revelators, but I rather found it inspiring to see the real human sweat that has gone into building the modern church of some 12 million members and a disproportionate influence in the US and the world. These men were not immune or disconnected from the great issues of their day such as progressivism, communism, war, civil rights and the role of the US in the world. It is all deeply fascinating, like finding a new dimension to a painting you though you knew so well.

Because other people will no doubt mention it, Clark, like most men of his generation and background, was a racist and anti-semite. Quinn does not leave it at that though--we learn to understand where such attitudes arose from and admire the moral and intellectual stature of a man who could begin to overcome such deeply-ensconced prejudices.

If you are a serious student of Mormon history, you MUST read this book. If not, read it anyways.

Michael Quinn is without a doubt the most objective biographer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and its members who is currently alive. Quinn's books are always well-researched. It should be noted that Quinn has paid his dues for his committment to honest history. He was excommunicated some years ago by the Church. Nothing, though, has caused Quinn to give up either objective scholarship or a painstaking committment to telling the truth.

"Elder Statesman" is the biography of a famous LDS church leader, J. Reuben Clark. Clark had a fascinating career. He began life in small town in Utah in the nineteenth century. His intellectual talents carried him to the University of Utah, Columbia University Law School, the United States Department of State and finally to a position as United States Ambassador to Mexico. Clark obviously had immense intellectual and mental gifts to get where he did in life.

At this point, Clark was called to serve as Second Counselor to LDS Church President Heber J. Grant. During the next 29 years, Grant served as both second and first counselor in the administrations of Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, and finally, David O. McKay. He brought to these positions tremendous administrative talents. This era was an extremely important time for the church. The groundwork was laid for the tremendous expansion of the Church that occurred and is still occurring.

Quinn points out failings in Clark as a person. By present day standards he was extremely racist, even demanding that Utah hospitals segregate the blood of African Americans from others. Clark was also hostile to Jews and opposed the entry of the USA into the Second World War. In fact, he even went so far as to comment favorably upon the Nazi Regime' in Germany, after the war had begun. Clark found himself at odds with most Mormons when opposed the New Deal policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt. More than sixty-two percent of all Utahns voted to re-elect Roosevelt in the 1936 election. These sections are a bit difficult, and I admit that after reading them, I lost considerable respect for a person, who in all other ways, was a bright and gifted man.

There are some things I don't like about the way Quinn has written this book. First, he chronologically reviews Clark's life in the first 179 pages of the book. At this point, Clark passes away. Quinn than spends another 245 pages jumping back and looking at different "target areas" of his subject's life. I found that to be a bit disjointed. I would have preferred using all the pages to the tell Clark's life story and working the other material into the places in between. Second, this is not the most interesting book in the world. It is about too narrow a subject to be of interest to many people outside of Utah and the Mormon faith. Even those within it may struggle a bit to get through some of the sections which deal with mundane issues such as beer ads on KSL television, or support for Sunday closing laws in the legislature.

On the balance, this is an honest and informative book about a brilliant administrator and leader, barely known outside Utah.

I feel that it is dishonest to present this book as an unbiased look at this great man. It should be known that the author is an excommunicated anti-mormon and all claims in this book should be looked at with the knowledge that it is most likely slanted in an unfriendly light whenever it is possible. I do not believe many of the claims in this book. Just keep in mind that it is written by a man with an agenda and is far from unbiased.