President Hunter Honored
In a famous aphorism, Benjamin Franklin identified two ways to achieve fame: “If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.” Or get an endowed chair named after you: the Howard W. Hunter Chair in Mormon Studies, now formally announced by Claremont Graduate University (in Southern California).
A little background: Howard W. Hunter was the 14th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in that position from 1994 to 1995. He was born in Boise, Idaho, but spent most of his adult life (prior to being called as a General Authority) in Southern California. As a young man, he worked in banking, then attended Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles, graduating with honors in 1939. He was serving as the Pasadena Stake President when, in 1959, at the age of 51, he was called into the Quorum of the Twelve during the Presidency of David O. McKay. President Hunter’s roots in California motivated key members of the LDS community in Los Angeles and Orange County to work toward establishing an endowed chair in honor of his many years of service to the community and to the Church.
Don’t forget his being held hostage along with thousands of BYU students at the Marriott center by crazed mentally ill Cody Judy.
Now that was a fireside devotional!
Comment by Clark Goble — November 3, 2006 @ 12:15 pm
For those that have the Church News, I just read their write up which was very encouraging. They had positive quotes from Mauss and Rees and hyped all the positive ramifications of the scientific study of mormonism.
Comment by J. Stapley — November 18, 2006 @ 4:59 pm
Yes, the Church News article also noted (or implied) that the Council for Mormon Studies that is heavily involved in soliciting funding for the endowed chair and building support for the program is composed of active Latter-day Saints from the Southern California area. I believe Mormon Studies programs at other universities are taking a different institutional approach.
Comment by Dave — November 18, 2006 @ 5:26 pm