The Mormon church today is led by an elite group of older men; nearly three-quarters of whom are related to current or past general church authorities. This dynastic hierarchy meets in private; neither its minutes nor the church’s finances are available for public review. Members are reassured by public relations spokesmen that all is well and that harmony prevails among these brethren.But by interviewing former church aides; examining hundreds of diaries; and drawing from his own past experience as an insider within the Latter-day Saint historical department; D. Michael Quinn presents a fuller view. His extensive research documents how the governing apostles; seventies; and presiding bishops are likely to be at loggerheads; as much as united. These strong-willed; independent men–like directors of a large corporation or supreme court justices–lobby among their colleagues; forge alliances; out-maneuver opponents; and broker compromises.There is more: clandestine political activities; investigative and punitive actions by church security forces; personal “loans†from church coffers (later written off as bad debts); and other privileged power-vested activities. Quinn considers the changing role and 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.The hierarchy seems at root well-intentioned and even at times aggressive in fulfilling its stated responsibility; which is to expedite the Second Coming. Where they have become convinced that God has spoken; they have set aside personal differences; offered unqualified support; and spoken with a unified voice. This potential for change; when coupled with the tempering effect of competing viewpoints; is something Quinn finds encouraging about Mormonism. But one should not assume that these men are infallible or work in anything approaching uninterrupted unanimity.
#196290 in Books 2005-04-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.40 x .90 x 5.50l; .91 #File Name: 1558614893304 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. and blunt in her day-by-day blogs that eventually came together into this excellent book (and a more recent second volumeBy Joe O.A difficult read on the war in Iraq; from an Iraqian's point-of-view. She is candid; honest; tough; and blunt in her day-by-day blogs that eventually came together into this excellent book (and a more recent second volume; not reviewed here). Readers will find the book replete with atrocities performed by both American and native troops; sometimes innocently; more often precisely and with intent to show that America occupies Iraq at the time (2003). I have read several books written by American military personnel; always after they leave military service; but this is the first work that I have read from the "other side." I look forward to reading the second volume.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. History as it was MadeBy jjdulakEarlier this year; the United States passed a dubious anniversary: a full decade had transpired since the initial invasion of Iraq that began the Second Gulf War. To mark the occasion; some focused on the soldiers lost; some celebrated President Obama's draw-down of those that remain stationed there and others still attempted to calculate the pecuniary cost of the misbegotten military effort. Few; however; sought out the qualitative element of the war; particularly from the Iraqi perspective. It was in this light that I gave "Baghdad Burning" the in-depth reading I simply did not dedicate to it several years back when it was first recommended to me. Summarily; I may say that the Riverbend provided me with enough insight to not only satiate the curiosity that brought me to the title; but led me to ask even more questions. That is; in my opinion; the true mark of a worthy piece of non-fiction.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great blogBy JadeI really liked that this was a real blog; I can't wait to read the next one. Riverbend does talk alot about politics in the book and I am not real good w/ politics so I was having a hard time following it all and those parts were kinda boring me to death; so I skipped around alot. What I was hoping to read more of was her daily life; what she does around the house or outside or where ever. Just what HER day to day life is like during the war. But even though I had to skip around alot; I absolutely love the book. Her blog is so long I have alot of catching up to do. I hope they put her whole blog into books; its so much easier to take it everywhere or even in bed than be stuck at a computer reading it.
