📖 Overview
Leonard J. Arrington (1917-1999) was an American historian who served as the first Church Historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 to 1982. He is widely regarded as the founder of the New Mormon History movement, which emphasized scholarly rigor and objective analysis in the study of Mormon history.
His landmark work "Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900" (1958) established him as a leading scholar in Mormon studies and western economic history. Arrington authored, co-authored, or edited over 20 books and hundreds of articles during his career, including notable biographies of Brigham Young and Charles C. Rich.
As director of the Church History Division, Arrington led a team of professional historians who produced numerous scholarly works on Mormon history. His tenure marked a period of unprecedented openness in access to church archives and historical documents, though this approach later faced institutional resistance.
After leaving his position as Church Historian, Arrington continued his scholarly work at Brigham Young University and later at Utah State University, where he established the Western Historical Quarterly. His personal papers, comprising over 700 boxes of research materials and correspondence, are housed at Utah State University's Special Collections.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Arrington's detailed research and academic rigor, particularly in his work "Great Basin Kingdom" and "Brigham Young: American Moses." Many note his balanced approach to Mormon history, offering both faithful and critical perspectives.
Readers like:
- Thorough documentation and primary sources
- Clear writing style that makes complex history accessible
- Fair treatment of controversial topics
- Personal insights from his time as LDS Church Historian
Common criticisms:
- Some books can be dry and academic
- Occasional defensive tone regarding Mormon institutions
- Limited coverage of non-Mormon perspectives
Ratings:
Goodreads:
- Great Basin Kingdom: 4.1/5 (248 ratings)
- Brigham Young: American Moses: 4.0/5 (1,123 ratings)
- Adventures of a Church Historian: 4.2/5 (186 ratings)
Amazon:
- Great Basin Kingdom: 4.4/5 (41 reviews)
- Brigham Young: American Moses: 4.5/5 (92 reviews)
One reader noted: "Arrington strikes the perfect balance between academic rigor and readability - no small feat for Mormon history."
📚 Books by Leonard J. Arrington
Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900
A comprehensive examination of Mormon economic institutions and practices during the church's first 70 years in Utah Territory.
Brigham Young: American Moses A detailed biography exploring Brigham Young's leadership of the Mormon church and his role in colonizing the American West.
Building the City of God: Community and Cooperation Among the Mormons An analysis of Mormon cooperative economic experiments and communal living efforts in the 19th century.
The Mormon Experience: A History of the Latter-day Saints A general history of Mormonism from its founding through the modern era, written with James B. Allen and Davis Bitton.
Charles C. Rich: Mormon General and Western Frontiersman A biographical study of Charles C. Rich's role as a Mormon leader and pioneer in the American West.
David Eccles: Pioneer Western Industrialist A biography examining the life and business ventures of Utah industrialist David Eccles.
From Quaker to Latter-day Saint: Bishop Edwin D. Woolley A biographical account of Edwin D. Woolley's conversion and subsequent leadership in Mormon communities.
Mothers of the Prophets A collection of biographical sketches about the mothers of Mormon Church presidents.
Adventures of a Church Historian Arrington's autobiographical account of his experiences as LDS Church Historian and his work in Mormon historical studies.
Brigham Young: American Moses A detailed biography exploring Brigham Young's leadership of the Mormon church and his role in colonizing the American West.
Building the City of God: Community and Cooperation Among the Mormons An analysis of Mormon cooperative economic experiments and communal living efforts in the 19th century.
The Mormon Experience: A History of the Latter-day Saints A general history of Mormonism from its founding through the modern era, written with James B. Allen and Davis Bitton.
Charles C. Rich: Mormon General and Western Frontiersman A biographical study of Charles C. Rich's role as a Mormon leader and pioneer in the American West.
David Eccles: Pioneer Western Industrialist A biography examining the life and business ventures of Utah industrialist David Eccles.
From Quaker to Latter-day Saint: Bishop Edwin D. Woolley A biographical account of Edwin D. Woolley's conversion and subsequent leadership in Mormon communities.
Mothers of the Prophets A collection of biographical sketches about the mothers of Mormon Church presidents.
Adventures of a Church Historian Arrington's autobiographical account of his experiences as LDS Church Historian and his work in Mormon historical studies.
👥 Similar authors
Juanita Brooks documented Mormon frontier life and the Mountain Meadows Massacre through extensive primary source research and oral histories. Her work parallels Arrington's commitment to honest historical investigation of challenging aspects of Mormon history.
Richard Bushman combines rigorous historical methodology with deep understanding of religious contexts in his biographical and institutional histories. His approach to Mormon history scholarship mirrors Arrington's balance of faith and academic analysis.
Thomas G. Alexander specializes in Utah history and Mormon studies with focus on the transitional period between frontier and modern Mormonism. His institutional histories of Mormon organizations reflect Arrington's interest in both economic and religious aspects of western settlement.
D. Michael Quinn produces detailed archival research on Mormon institutional and social history using similar methodological approaches to Arrington. His work examines power structures and administrative changes in Mormon history through careful documentary analysis.
Jan Shipps analyzes Mormon history from an academic non-Mormon perspective while maintaining scholarly relationships with Mormon historians. Her theoretical frameworks for understanding Mormon culture and identity development complement Arrington's institutional analyses.
Richard Bushman combines rigorous historical methodology with deep understanding of religious contexts in his biographical and institutional histories. His approach to Mormon history scholarship mirrors Arrington's balance of faith and academic analysis.
Thomas G. Alexander specializes in Utah history and Mormon studies with focus on the transitional period between frontier and modern Mormonism. His institutional histories of Mormon organizations reflect Arrington's interest in both economic and religious aspects of western settlement.
D. Michael Quinn produces detailed archival research on Mormon institutional and social history using similar methodological approaches to Arrington. His work examines power structures and administrative changes in Mormon history through careful documentary analysis.
Jan Shipps analyzes Mormon history from an academic non-Mormon perspective while maintaining scholarly relationships with Mormon historians. Her theoretical frameworks for understanding Mormon culture and identity development complement Arrington's institutional analyses.