[Leonard Arrington]
In the meeting with Elder [Howard W.] Hunter and Elder [Bruce R.] McConkie on Tuesday [January 21], I sought their reaction on the letter I had written asking for their opinion on the book [proposal] concerning the practice of plural marriage of the Latter-day Saints. They both said they supported the idea and said they would take it to the Quorum of the Twelve and try to obtain their support for the task. If given approval I would plan to publish the book under my name but have chapters written by various members of our staff, and I would indicate by a footnote notation on the first page of each chapter who it was written by. ... It would be aimed for members of the Church as well as for the general public.
The two brethren brought up the criticisms of our work made by Elder [Boyd K.] Packer. They asked me to make an oral statement justifying our work. I did so, and at their suggestion, I did so at some length. I explained the reasons why we had followed the policy we had and why we felt it desirable to include some things that Elder Packer had objected to. After I had completed this statement, both Elder Hunter and Elder McConkie said they accepted this statement; they felt I was justified; they supported what I had done. They suggested that I ask for an interview with Brother Packer and attempt to explain to him the same thing. They said he will try to indoctrinate me, but I should attempt to explain in as clear and logical and persuasive a manner as possible the point of view of historians on this and related matters. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
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