Item #36118 Jerald and Sandra Tanner's Distorted View of Mormonism: A Response to Mormonism-Shadow or Reality? A Latter-day Saint Historian, D. Michael Quinn.

Jerald and Sandra Tanner's Distorted View of Mormonism: A Response to Mormonism-Shadow or Reality?

NP, 1977. First printing. Pamphlet. 63pp. In 1977, Sam Weller's received a very curious delivery: a key with instructions to use it at a storage facility where a supply of pamphlets would be waiting. The pamphlet was an anonymous response to Jerald and Sandra Tanner's influential book Mormonism: A Response to Mormonism-Shadow or Reality? Naturally, curiosity about the author immediately arose. Over the years, various names were attached to the work-Jim Allen, Bill Hartley, Richard Bushman-but the most common was Michael Quinn. Thanks to Quinn's journal, it is now clear that he was the author. After the Historical Department had received a number of inquiries about Shadow or Reality, staff members began discussing a response to the book. Quinn noted on June 16, 1976, "Leonard [Arrington] asked me on Monday if I would write such a paper, and I said that I would gladly do so." He would later say, "I am prepared to regard [it] as my life's Magnum Opus" and declare "once I deliver up that offering unto the Lord and His people, I will feel at peace and content, even if the rest of my hopes are futile." Despite this, he and Arrington would consistently and forcefully deny that he was the author, notably to Jerald Tanner himself. The printing of the 2000 copies resembled a spy novel: pseudonyms, slush funds (Leonard Arrington providing "silent partner" backing) and finally opting to put the pamphlets in a storage locker and mail Sam Weller the key just before Christmas 1977. New. Item #36118

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