CALGARY, ALBERTA
Gratitude characterized the address of Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy to members of the Mormon History Association at the traditional Sunday morning devotional of its 47th annual conference on July 1.
Elder Jensen will be released as Church Historian and Recorder when he is made a General Authority emeritus at the upcoming October general conference of the Church.
"If the late Leonard Arrington's term of service in the Historical Department is remembered by some as 'ten years in Camelot,' I'd like mine to be known as 'eight years and thanks a lot!' " Elder Jensen said.
Speaking in the Bow Valley LDS meetinghouse adjacent to the University of Calgary campus, Elder Jensen said, "My heart really does swell with gratitude toward the executives, staff and missionaries at the Church History Department and toward those who make up the communities of Mormon history and Mormon studies. Thanks to you all for accepting a 'historian by yearning' in place of a 'historian by learning.' "
Elder Jensen said that early on while he was Church Historian, the Church History Department developed its core work. "I think we were blessed by the Lord to settle on the memorable little triplet: 'Collect, Preserve and Share.' Simple but comprehensive, the description of what the Church History Department does has proved invaluable as a guide in organizing the department and in developing strategic plans. As a result, the department has been transformed from a loosely knit organization of scholarly independent contractors — each primarily pursuing his or her own agenda and priorities — to a strategically focused, unified and global enterprise. "We've admittedly had our growing pains, but we are the better for them. The best proof of this is the admirable level of productivity the Church History Department has attained and the influence I feel it now exerts in a worldwide Church and in Church history circles."
Elder Jensen spoke of the men who have preceded him in the office beginning with Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer in the early days of the Church.
Elder Jensen said he cherishes the relationships he has formed.
"I stand in awe of you all — Mormon and non-Mormon, old and young, male and female, orthodox and less orthodox. I have loved hobnobbing and kibitzing with you at conferences such as this, attending your lectures, reading your articles and books, and keeping a finger on the pulse of Church history that you all help generate. I hope in some way to have helped bridge the great divide between the apologists and antagonists in Mormon history and to have made welcome all comers to the Church history fold."
He drew an analogy from the Book of Mormon, referring to the keeping of records on "both the large and small plates — each with its particular historical emphasis and content. Perhaps something similar is being done today, and together we are proving it can be done with 'malice toward none and charity for all.' "
