No I was not able to get an interview with D. Michael Quinn — but my buddy Clay turned me on to this 1994 Sunstone “Pillars of My Faith” presentation by Michael Quinn — and it does a wonderful job telling Michael Quinn’s story, in his own words.
Love him, hate him, or indifferent — D. Michael Quinn will go down as one of the most important Mormons of the 20th century.
This is his story, in his own words.
Excellent! Thanks for the link.
This was very interesting. I am continually amazed at the humble, honest impression I get when listening to people like this (Quinn). It might be just my impressions but listening to people speak seems to tell me where they are on the humility/honesty scale. High on my scale are Palmer, Quinn, Dehlin. Low on my scale (solely based on my readings and listening to them on these podcasts) are Ostler, Bushman, John Lynch, Dan Peterson. Is it just me or do some people seem more trustworthy???
Uh… He may be important to those who care about Saints who leave the faith, get fired from BYU, have a wavering testimony, or that Joseph had controversial gay tendencies (I know that’s an exaggeration).
I think the names of Gordon Hinckley, Bruce McConkie, Joseph Fielding Smith and many, many others get on that “one of the most important Mormons of the 20th Century” list before Quinn does. Most members, I bet, haven’t even heard of him, or know his story. He is hardly worth a footnote, comparatively in importance, to the many prophets & apostles. He will NOT be on that list of most important Mormons of the 20th Century. Give me a break. I enjoyed some of his BYU Studies articles, especially the one about Prayer Circles, but his contribution is hardly as great as his disservice to the faith.
I guess this is supposed to make fun of Quinn and bolster the wonderfulness of the General Authorities. But what it really does is illustrate how ignorant rank-and-file Mormons are.
He didn’t leave the faith. He was booted out. To this day he’s still a believer. He got fired from BYU because BYU and the church couldn’t handle the facts. If he has a wavering testimony, I find it very odd that he’s told me personally that he still believes. But who hasn’t had their testimony waver at one point or another? I’m just going to ignore the throwaway “Joseph Smith is gay” line, which you yourself labeled as an exaggeration.
Who’s done who a disservice to the faith? The one who just tells it like it is to the best of his understanding, let the chips fall where they may? Or the bunch of leaders in Salt Lake who go to heroic lengths to hide how things have worked in the church since day one and help foster the culture of ignorance that makes Quinn’s name unknown to most Mormons?
The claim was that he was one of the most important Mormons, not one of the most famous or popular. There is a difference, you know.
I retract this statement. Definitely one of the most important Mormon historians. I love his research.
Sure, GBH’s portrait will be hanging in the church museum in a hundred years, but he will blend in with the rest.
But I will put $50 down that Quinn is still cited by historians in a hundred years.
Quit being a cry baby se7en
This is entertaining to read my posts from almost 2 years ago. :)
I don’t understand why Cecilia Konchar Farr isn’t in the title of this podcast episode? Her talk was really exceptional.