Confessions of a Mormon Historian: The Diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971–1997, Volume 2, Centrifugal Forces, 1975–80

by Gary James Bergera, Leonard J. Arrington

Leonard Arrington (1917–99) was born an Idaho chicken rancher whose early interests seemed not to extend much beyond the American west. Throughout his life, he tended to project a folksy persona, although nothing was farther from the truth. He was, in fact, an intellectually oriented, academically driven young man, determined to explore the historical, economic, cultural, and religious issues of his time. After distinguishing himself at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and serving in the army during World War II in North Africa and Italy, Arrington accepted a professorship at Utah State University. In 1972 he was called as the LDS Church Historian—an office he held for ten years until, following a stormy tenure full of controversy over whether the “New Mormon History” he championed was appropriate for the church, he was quietly released and transferred, along with the entire Church History Division, to Brigham Young University. It was hoped that this would remove the impression in people’s minds that his writings were church-approved. His personal diaries reveal a man who was firmly committed to his church, as well as to rigorous historical scholarship. His eye for detail made him an important observer of “church headquarters culture.”

Genres: Nonfiction

1091 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2018

Reviews

[Rod Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must read for any active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And sadly, those people will not find the time or want to know these facts.

In 2020, a TBM, is subjectively biased—seeing the world as they want or expect it to be... not as it really is.

And a huge excuse they will use is another one of human nature’s gifts not serving us well in modernity, it’s too long.

Ever wonder why the original tweet had a 140-character limit? That length was specifically chosen because we will automatically read a message that size. It’s a fact. It’s not God-magic, random... it’s a scientific fact.

Back to this absolutely amazing, honest, insightful, rare and heartbreaking look into a world that is purposefully veiled from all and especially it’s members. Who are trained not to EVER confront or speak it out against its 15 men of leadership.

These volumes shed light on the true fruit of these men. It been said because of this work, Confidentiality Agreements are signed when one becomes an Apostle and anything, ANYTHING at home, in the car, in the office... anywhere is no longer apart of their estate, it becomes the property of the church.

That’s the lengths at which they go to to hide their actions.

This is also the reason why Arrington was the first and only PROFESSIONAL HISTORIAN to ever be at the helm of the Church Historical Dept.

Today, historians call Leonard’s short time as Church Historian as “Camelot!”