J. Reuben Clark

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J. Reuben Clark
Image:J_Reuben_Clark.jpg
Full name Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr.
Born September 1, 1871(1871-09-01)
Place of birth Grantsville, Utah Territory
Died October 6, 1961 (aged 90)
Place of death Salt Lake City, Utah
LDS Church Apostle
Called by Heber J. Grant
Ordained October 11, 1934 (aged 63)
Reason for ordination Heber J. Grant's discretion[1]
End of term October 6, 1961 (aged 90)
Reason for end of term Death
Reorganization at end of term No additional apostles ordained[2]

Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr. (1871-09-01 – 1961-10-06) was an American attorney, civil servant, and a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Born in Grantsville, Utah Territory, Clark was a prominent attorney in the Department of State, and Undersecretary of State for U.S. president Calvin Coolidge. In 1930 Clark was appointed American ambassador to Mexico.

He received his BS from the University of Utah where he was valedictorian and student-body president. He received his law degree from Columbia University and also was an associate professor at George Washington University. Both the J. Reuben Clark Law Society and the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University were named in his honor.

There has not been another such group of men in all our history that even challenged the supremacy of this group. It is the union of independence and dependence of these branches -- legislative, executive and judicial -- and of the governmental functions possessed by each of them, that constitutes the marvelous genius of this unrivaled document. ... It was here that divine inspiration came. It was truly a miracle.
J. Reuben Clark, Jr. on the U.S. Constitution

Contents

[edit] Government Service

Clark began his government service in 1906, when he was appointed assistant solicitor to the state department. During World War I, Clark worked in the Attorney General's office. He also participated in creating the regulations for the Selective Service.

In 1928, as Under Secretary of State to President Calvin Coolidge, Clark wrote the "Clark Memorandum on the Monroe Doctrine", which repudiated the idea that the United States could arbitrarily use military force in Latin America.

Clark served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 1930–1933. Regarding his service, President Hoover said, "Never have our relations been lifted to such a high point of confidence and cooperation."

[edit] Church Service

In 1933, he was called to serve in the LDS Church as a counselor in the First Presidency to President Heber J. Grant. This call was a very unusual development, as counselors were generally called from within the quorum of twelve apostles. (Not only had Clark not been a member of the twelve apostles, he had also never been a stake president or bishop. He wasn't even very active in the church at that point, due to his duties as ambassador.) He was ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for purposes of seniority in 1934. Immediately thereafter, he was ordained as Second Counselor to President Heber J. Grant.

He had served as First Counselor to Presidents Grant and George Albert Smith, with David O. McKay serving as Second Counselor. However, upon President McKay's calling as President of the Church, he surprised the members of the church by choosing Clark as his Second Counselor, with Stephen L. Richards as First Counselor, citing Richards' longer tenure as an apostle as his only reason for doing so. It was after this that Clark famously remarked, "It does not matter where you serve, but how." President Clark was returned to the position of First Counselor after President Richards' death in 1959 and continued to serve in that capacity until his own death on October 6, 1961.

Grave marker of J. Reuben Clark. See also back view, headstone:
Grave marker of J. Reuben Clark. See also back view, headstone:

[edit] Published works

  • Clark, J. Reuben (1991). Behold the Lamb of God. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-536-6. 
  • --- (1947). "Gratitude for our heritage": Address before the Salt Lake Rotary Club. The Rotary Club. ISBN B0007HE99Y. 
  • --- (1968). Immortality and eternal life (Vol. 1). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ISBN B0007G3A2C. 
  • --- (1969). Immortality and eternal life (Vol. 2). The Church of J esus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ISBN B0007G3A2C. 
  • --- (1987). J. Reuben Clark: Selected Papers on Americanism and National Affairs. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-109-3. 
  • --- (1930). Memorandum on the Monroe doctrine. U.S. G.P.O. ISBN B0006D9U6Q. 
  • --- (1949). On the way to immortality and eternal life: A series of radio talks. Deseret Book Company. ISBN B0007EJWAS. 
  • --- (1954). Our Bible: Address at General Conference, The Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 4, 1954. Bookcraft. ISBN B0007H2ZL8. 
  • --- (1974). Our Lord of the Gospels. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87747-191-6. 
  • --- (1978). Stand fast by our Constitution. Deseret Book Company. ISBN B0006WZ8SG. 
  • --- (1998). To Them of the Last Wagon. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87579-975-2. 
  • --- (1979). Why the King James version. Deseret Book Company. ISBN 0-87747-773-6. 
  • --- (1947). Wist Ye Not That I Must Be About My Father’s Business. General Board. ISBN ?. 

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Clark had been a member of the First Presidency since 1933.
  2. ^ After Clark's death, Henry D. Moyle was elevated from Second Counselor in the First Presidency to First Counselor; Hugh B. Brown was elevated from Third Counselor in the First Presidency to Second Counselor.

[edit] References

  • Fox, Frank W. (1980). J. Reuben Clark, The Public Years. Brigham Young University Press, Provo, Utah. ISBN 0-8425-1832-0. 
  • Quinn, D. Michael (1983). J. Reuben Clark, The Church Years. Brigham Young University Press, Provo, Utah. ISBN 0-8425-2137-2. 
  • Yarn, David H. Jr., editor. “J. Reuben Clark: Selected Papers on Religion, Education and Youth (Volume 3).” 1984, Brigham Young University Press, Provo, Utah.

Quinn, D. Michael. Elder Statesman: A Biography of J. Reuben Clark. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2002.

[edit] See also

Kimball-Snow-Woolley Family

[edit] External resources

Preceded by
Robert E. Olds		 United States Under Secretary of State
1928–1929		 Succeeded by
Joseph P. Cotton
Preceded by
Dwight Morrow		 U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
1930–1933		 Succeeded by
Josephus Daniels
Preceded by
Charles A. Callis		 Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 11, 1934–1961		 Succeeded by
Alonzo A. Hinckley


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