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Show si = wo g WASATCH COUNTY. COURIER . 21. 1999 - Adventures Historian of a Church en | Tg Eile Na . - 5 RY . eS Ipshllarioilisitbh ~ September “I, Claudius”, the future Roman emperor and aspiring young historian Claudius meets two older historians in a library. Livy advocates writing history as a saga that expresses spiritual truths; Pollio says that facts are the most important ele- ments in telling the story. Claudius comes to see that both views must be reconciled, and as he ascends to the throne he cleverly and quietly writes the true history of the empire while recording his own transcendental experiences along the way. The poignancy of Claudius’ quest is mirrored in Leonard Arrington’s fine new memoir, htbedls “Adventures of a Church Historian.” Arrington of the most sD guished historians the LDS tg mR Badd i is one distin- church has - produced, along with Richard Bushman and Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. He has lived a full life, which he describes in his EAT ali tbhrb badd book; growing up poor in academic honors in college school; service in the U.S. - World War II in Italy and an economist and Idaho; high and graduate Army during North Africa administrator; ace author of many exceptional books and slaw he pawl ai dh articles on Mormon history; and becoming the first non-general authority church historian in 1972. cht ded ac BME LD patie UB The most important aspect of this book is the spirit it radiates. The faithfulness, charity, warmth, and humor in it are very moving. Arrington ‘says that his approach to writing history has always. ~~ wv BJdds j ty been to join reason and faith in a large context and common sense and testimony. Candor and honesty are vital; we need only believe things that are true. 7 wt ed Touchingly, Arrington writes for the first m Leb Sok time of the revelatory spiritual experiences had had in his career, “a feeling of ecstasy suddenly came over me—an exhilaration that transported me to a. written.) mittee was determined to bring the writing of church history under their conhumor. He describes his graduate school trol. Eventually that committee blacktime in North Carolina and the influlisted all History Division works from ence on him of the southern school of church manuals and publications (along agrarian thought (otherwise known as with the writings of Eugene England and “the fugitives”)—Robert Penn Warren, Lowell Bennion.) The History Division Allen Tate, and others. “They champiwas eventually reduced in numbers by oned a revival of moral values and reliattrition and moved away from church gious faith...an authentic American conservatism.” (this is an interesting intel- _ headquarters to BYU. Through all this Arrington kept his integrity and lectual confession from a man who in ~ the past has been carelessly labeled as a — remained a humble servant of God. He considers the’ story of the History “liberal”). He recounts his church serv- — ice at Utah State University and the — Division as akin to that of Zion’s Camp; perhaps initially perceived as ending in coming together in ‘the 60’s of a “fraternity” of Mormon history scholars. His : failure, but with real potential for great things in later years. account of the founding of the LDS covery of that man’s puckish sense of Historical Department is a rare and admirable glimpse into church leader-— ship decision-making. scholars and proceeded to professionalize ~the archives and write history. Their accomplishments in the decade of | (their. nickname admirable Arrington retains an for a disagreement, ion, this is the best Mormon book of the year; an instant classic. It is a gripping and riveting read, in an odd sort of way for a church memoir. It was Arrington and associates (along with Samuel W. Taylor) who helped light the fire of my testimony when I was just a kid, and for that I will be eternally grateful. There seems to be a cease-fire in the “history wars” on the publication of this book; a little surprisingly, it is available at Deseret Book. This has to be because everyone finally recognizes both what a good old man Arrington is and the truly — wonderful nature of his contribution. U This review was originally published on the Internet AML-LIST. about whom Arrington has extensively Top Five Books of Monon Atrington’s time in office) were abundant. The best known fruits’ of their efforts are, “The Story of the Latter-day Saints” by James Allen and Glen - Leonard, a very influential book in the Sponsored by Books & Beyond 103 E. Main St., Midway UT 84049« 70’s: Arrington and Davis Bitton’s “The Mormon Experience”, still the best one volume work about al; and Arrington’s _of Brigham Young. historian began to latter-day Saint, after just as much mine as yours.” In my opin- independence of mind and spirit. ] think he identifies with the 19th century Salt — Lake bishop Edwin Woolley (an ancestor of Spencer W. Kimball and a man Arrington assembled a talented team of “Camelot” While remaining a faithful Once, Brigham Young told Woolley “Well, | suppose you are going to go off and apostatize.” Woolley replied, “No, I wont. If this were your church I might, but it’s (435) 657-2665 » (435) 657-1899 fax the church in genermasterful biography However, the church get opposition to his “program. Even though he was supported E by Presidents Harold B. Lee W. Kimball, and Elders Tanner, Howard W. Hunter Joseph Anderson (and most and gratifyingly, Bruce R: and Spencer N. Eldon Alvin Dyer, surprisingly McConkie) and others, the church leadership was a collective enterprise in which the deter- ew L hte JL mined opposition of one, two, or three apostles could carry. a great deal of ‘higher level of consciousness.” He felt . weight. This is what happened when — that the Lord had given him a special some conservative general authorities errand in chronicling LDS _ history. attacked Arrington and company’s interThese divine encounters helped sustain ‘pretations of the past. They wanted, him throughout the difficulties he would wrote Arrington in his journal, a church meet in catring out his errand. | da eben, 5 Rasband, Contributing Writer In Robert Graves’ great historical novel, as 1998 ed . RW. ee =a Chicago and Urbana; by Leonard J. Arrington; University of Illinois Press, historian “who (1) has written little his- This relatively short book is full to bursting with Arrington’s fascinating stories stories. The chapter about _ tory; (2) saturates history with scriptural — allusions and references; and (3) obsti- hood in 1978 alone is worth the price of ) nately refuses to mention controversial episodes.” Arrington is forthright in naming the names of his adversaries. the book. He relates his first. intimidat- There ing interview with President Joseph | Fielding Smith and his subsequent dis- cratic turf battle in the controversy, Arrington writes. The Correlation com- African-Americans receiving the priest- was also an element of bureau- This weeks sled is already a landmark in the community as the Heber Creeper (Heber Valley Railroad) turns 100 on September 29. Used for years as a freight train, hauling supplies into” Heber and sheep out, now the Heber Valley Railroad is strictly commercial, touring visitors up and down Provo paren between Vivian Park a Heber ‘sees round. The Heber Valley Railroad still runs on the old Denver & Rio Grande tracks that took it into Heber back in 1899, for the most part. The tracks were moved when Deer Creek Reservoir — SP . “61 was built, and a few other “| modifications have been made. Look for the Heber Creeper to play a big part in the 2002 Winter Plans J exist for the already railroad to regularly transport visitors lee to and from~ Soldier ede Re oo Hollow. \ oreo mth — pide eariinsedeslelates : 4 Olympics. se ap lene nen: ene 5tema: aR SheI oe a seer Sy TV eR a URE HEBER CITY’S 4-WHEEL DRIVE SERVICE HEADQUARTERS! Get ready for the hunt... let us fix your 4-wheel drive. ANY MAKE OR MODEL! e UNDER NEW SERVICE MANAGEMENT! Chevrolet e Pontiac ¢ Buick Ta HT LAL |