Bruce R. McConkie
Encyclopedia
Bruce Redd McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1972 until his death. McConkie was a member of the First Council of the Seventy
of the LDS Church from 1946 until his calling to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
During his service as a general authority
, McConkie published several doctrinal books and articles and wrote the chapter headings of the LDS Church's most recent editions of the Standard Works
.
McConkie received a Bachelor of Arts
and Juris Doctor
from the University of Utah
. He spent his childhood between Monticello, Utah
; Salt Lake City; and Ann Arbor, Michigan
. He married Amelia Smith (1916–2005), a daughter of LDS Church President Joseph Fielding Smith
.
to Oscar Walter McConkie and Margarat Vivian Redd. Before he was a year old, his family moved to Monticello, Utah
. From 1920-1923 Oscar McConkie served as the bishop of the Monticello Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1925 his family moved back to Ann Arbor where his father continued studying law, then in 1926 they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah
. McConkie attended Bryant Junior High School and LDS High School, where he graduated at age 15. He attended three years of college at the University of Utah
before serving a Church mission. He grew to stand 6'5" tall.
McConkie would inherit his father's preaching style and doctrinal views, though he differed from his father politically, as McConkie was a Republican
and his father was a noted Democrat
.
Mission
under President
Don B. Colton
. His first assignment was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. From May 1 to July 24, 1935, he served in the Cumorah District
in Palmyra, New York
as part of an intensive missionary campaign tied to the dedication of a monument to Moroni on the Hill Cumorah. McConkie then served in the Seneca District and later presided over that same district.
In 1936 McConkie participated in the first Hill Cumorah Pageant which was attended by his future father-in-law, Joseph Fielding Smith
. At the end of his second year of missionary service, McConkie "extended his mission for six weeks to travel, without a companion, from town to town throughout the mission, teaching investigators and missionaries" at the request of his mission president.
Joseph Fielding Smith
, before his mission while attending the University of Utah
. He and Amelia graduated from that institution in June 1937, he with a Bachelor of Arts
degree and she with a bachelor's degree
in bacteriology
and pathology
. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple
by Amelia's father on October 13, 1937. Together they had nine children: Bruce (1938), Vivian (1940), Joseph
(1941), Stanford (1944), Mary (1946), Mark (1948), Rebecca (1950), Stephen (1951), and Sara (1957). Their oldest child, Bruce, lived less than two months.
McConkie graduated with his Bachelor of Laws
degree in 1939 and ranked third out of seventy-five on the bar exam. His degree was automatically upgraded to Juris Doctor
in June 1967. Following his graduation, McConkie worked as assistant city attorney in Salt Lake City.
ROTC while at the University of Utah
. With the advent of World War II
, he was called to active duty service on March 5, 1942. He served in military intelligence at Fort Douglas for the duration of the war and received the American Campaign Medal
and the World War II Victory Medal
. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
at his discharge on February 26, 1946, one of the youngest in Army Intelligence
to hold that rank.
on October 6, 1946, McConkie was interviewed by Apostle David O. McKay
to fill a vacancy in the First Council of the Seventy
created by the death of John H. Taylor. McConkie's name was presented for a sustaining vote
by the membership of the church that same day and on October 10, he was ordained and set apart
by Church President George Albert Smith
. He served as a member of the First Council of the Seventy
for twenty-six years.
On June 11, 1961, McConkie was ordained a high priest
by First Presidency
member Henry D. Moyle
. This was in accordance with a new policy requiring the First Seven Presidents of Seventy to assist the Twelve
in setting apart stake presidents, stake high councilors, and bishops.
In writing the book, McConkie relied heavily upon the scriptures and recognized doctrinal authorities. Church leaders were surprised by its publication (since he had not asked permission and was not asked to develop such a work) and responded that while they applauded the attempt of the book to fill a need, it used a harsh tone and, in the words of Mark E. Petersen
, was "full of errors and misstatements, and it is most unfortunate that it has received such wide circulation." Church president David O. McKay
asked McConkie not to reprint, but later McConkie was asked to revise it with the editorial help of Spencer W. Kimball
. The 1966 second edition incorporated many changes, especially a softening of the tone.
Much of the Bible Dictionary
included with the LDS Church's publication of the Bible in 1979 borrows from Mormon Doctrine.
Mormon Doctrine remained in print until 2010, when Deseret Book
ceased publication, citing poor sales.
to preside over the Southern Australian Mission of the Church, which encompassed all of western and southern Australia, on February 9, 1961. He disclosed the call to his wife, Amelia, only after a hike up Ensign Peak that same day. Their daughter, Vivian, was married and Joseph was serving a mission to Scotland, so six of their children accompanied them to Australia.
In October 1962, McConkie reported "an all-time high mark in mission converts and willingness of members to build new chapels. ... There has been no difficulty getting six building missionaries to work on each chapel under the supervision of supervisors called from the states."
The mission decided upon a motto of "Seek the Spirit" and President McConkie taught the missionaries what it is to be humble and hear the whisperings of the Spirit.
McConkie resumed his duties as a Seventy after returning in 1964.
(who was McConkie's father-in-law) died on July 2, 1972. The First Presidency
was subsequently reorganized with Harold B. Lee
as President, leaving a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles . In October 1972, McConkie was invited to Lee's office "where President Lee put his arms around him by way of greeting and said, 'The Lord and the Brethren have just called you to fill the vacancy in the Council of the Twelve.' Bruce responded, 'I know. This is no surprise to me. I have known it for some time.'"
McConkie served in the capacity of an Apostle until his death in 1985, aged 69.
addresses. One for which he is especially remembered is the poem I Believe in Christ, delivered in a 1972 General Conference
address, "The Testimony of Jesus". It was later set to music and published in the LDS Hymnal
, as Hymn #134, "I Believe in Christ" and has since gained popularity among members of the church.
McConkie also penned the fourth verse to Hymn #21, "Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice".
addresses. Prominent among them was his last conference talk in 1985, "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane." He concluded this talk with a poignant testimony of Jesus Christ:
McConkie died at Salt Lake City less than two weeks later. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
.
One of the most controversial topics that McConkie defended in his writings was the church's policy of denying the priesthood to men of African descent
until 1978. This policy was known informally as the "Negro doctrine." His basis for this defense was that, in his view, those of African descent had been less valiant in the pre-existent life that the LDS believe was a precursor to life on earth. In 1958, McConkie wrote:
On June 1, 1978, McConkie was present in the Salt Lake Temple
when a revelation
was received by the First Presidency and the Twelve "that the time had now come to extend the gospel and all its blessings and all its obligations, including the priesthood and the blessings of the house of the Lord, to those of every nation, culture and race, including the black race." This revelation was announced to the world on June 8, 1978.
McConkie's earlier statements on the topic, like those of other church leaders, implied or overtly stated that the priesthood restriction would never be lifted. To this, McConkie stated:
McConkie also made controversial comments about Jews in his book “The Millennial Messiah”:
He then goes on to blame the Jews' rejection of Jesus as the cause of historical persecution of the Jews:
Quorums of the Seventy
Seventy is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek priesthood of several denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
of the LDS Church from 1946 until his calling to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
During his service as a general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
, McConkie published several doctrinal books and articles and wrote the chapter headings of the LDS Church's most recent editions of the Standard Works
Standard Works
The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
.
McConkie received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. He spent his childhood between Monticello, Utah
Monticello, Utah
Monticello is a city located in San Juan County, Utah, and is the county seat. It is the second most populous city in San Juan County, with a population of 1,958 at the 2000 census. The Monticello area was settled in July 1887 by pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
; Salt Lake City; and Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. He married Amelia Smith (1916–2005), a daughter of LDS Church President Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
.
Early years
Bruce R. McConkie was born on July 29, 1915 in Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
to Oscar Walter McConkie and Margarat Vivian Redd. Before he was a year old, his family moved to Monticello, Utah
Monticello, Utah
Monticello is a city located in San Juan County, Utah, and is the county seat. It is the second most populous city in San Juan County, with a population of 1,958 at the 2000 census. The Monticello area was settled in July 1887 by pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. From 1920-1923 Oscar McConkie served as the bishop of the Monticello Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1925 his family moved back to Ann Arbor where his father continued studying law, then in 1926 they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. McConkie attended Bryant Junior High School and LDS High School, where he graduated at age 15. He attended three years of college at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
before serving a Church mission. He grew to stand 6'5" tall.
McConkie would inherit his father's preaching style and doctrinal views, though he differed from his father politically, as McConkie was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and his father was a noted Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Eastern States Mission
On September 6, 1934, McConkie received a call to serve in the Eastern StatesEastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
under President
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
Don B. Colton
Don B. Colton
Don Byron Colton was a U.S. Representative from Utah.Born near Mona, Juab County, Utah Territory, Colton moved with his parents to Uintah County, Utah Territory in 1879....
. His first assignment was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. From May 1 to July 24, 1935, he served in the Cumorah District
District (LDS Church)
A district of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative unit composed of a number of congregations called branches. A district is a subdivision of a mission of the church and in many ways is analogous to a stake of the church. The leader of a district is the...
in Palmyra, New York
Palmyra (village), New York
Palmyra is a village in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 3,490 at the 2000 census. The village, along with the town, is named after Palmyra in present-day Syria.The Village of Palmyra is in the Town of Palmyra...
as part of an intensive missionary campaign tied to the dedication of a monument to Moroni on the Hill Cumorah. McConkie then served in the Seneca District and later presided over that same district.
In 1936 McConkie participated in the first Hill Cumorah Pageant which was attended by his future father-in-law, Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
. At the end of his second year of missionary service, McConkie "extended his mission for six weeks to travel, without a companion, from town to town throughout the mission, teaching investigators and missionaries" at the request of his mission president.
Education, marriage, and family
McConkie met Amelia Smith, daughter of apostleApostle (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, an Apostle is a "special witness of the name of Jesus Christ who is sent to teach the principles of salvation to others." In many Latter Day Saint churches, an Apostle is a priesthood office of high authority within the church hierarchy. In many churches, apostles...
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
, before his mission while attending the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. He and Amelia graduated from that institution in June 1937, he with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree and she with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
and pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
by Amelia's father on October 13, 1937. Together they had nine children: Bruce (1938), Vivian (1940), Joseph
Joseph Fielding McConkie
Joseph Fielding McConkie is an emeritus professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He is the son of LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie and Amelia Smith McConkie. He has authored and co-authored over 25 books, speaks regularly at LDS gatherings, and is married to Brenda Kempton McConkie...
(1941), Stanford (1944), Mary (1946), Mark (1948), Rebecca (1950), Stephen (1951), and Sara (1957). Their oldest child, Bruce, lived less than two months.
McConkie graduated with his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree in 1939 and ranked third out of seventy-five on the bar exam. His degree was automatically upgraded to Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in June 1967. Following his graduation, McConkie worked as assistant city attorney in Salt Lake City.
Military service
McConkie enrolled in ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
ROTC while at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. With the advent of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was called to active duty service on March 5, 1942. He served in military intelligence at Fort Douglas for the duration of the war and received the American Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
The American Campaign Medal was a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
and the World War II Victory Medal
World War II Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
at his discharge on February 26, 1946, one of the youngest in Army Intelligence
Army Intelligence
Army Intelligence may refer to:* The intelligence component of a given nation's army.* In the United States, Army Intelligence is usually referred to as Military Intelligence .-Further reading:...
to hold that rank.
Call to the Seventy
McConkie worked for a time as a reporter for the Deseret News. While covering the proceedings of General ConferenceGeneral conference (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction....
on October 6, 1946, McConkie was interviewed by Apostle David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
to fill a vacancy in the First Council of the Seventy
Quorums of the Seventy
Seventy is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek priesthood of several denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
created by the death of John H. Taylor. McConkie's name was presented for a sustaining vote
Common consent
Common consent is a democratic principle established by the Latter Day Saint movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., who taught in 1830 that "all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith." As it is most frequently used by the Church of Jesus Christ of...
by the membership of the church that same day and on October 10, he was ordained and set apart
Setting apart
Setting apart is an ordinance or ritual in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whereby a person is formally chosen and blessed to carry out a specific calling or responsibility in the church....
by Church President George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith, Sr. was the eighth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...
. He served as a member of the First Council of the Seventy
Quorums of the Seventy
Seventy is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek priesthood of several denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
for twenty-six years.
On June 11, 1961, McConkie was ordained a high priest
High priest (Mormonism)
In most denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, a high priest is a member of the priesthood within the Melchizedek priesthood order. High priests are typically older and more seasoned leaders within the priesthood. The term derives in part from the Epistle to the Hebrews which describes...
by First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
member Henry D. Moyle
Henry D. Moyle
Henry Dinwoodey Moyle was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-Early life:...
. This was in accordance with a new policy requiring the First Seven Presidents of Seventy to assist the Twelve
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
in setting apart stake presidents, stake high councilors, and bishops.
Mormon Doctrine
In 1958 McConkie published a book entitled Mormon Doctrine: A Compendium of the Gospel, which he described as "the first major attempt to digest, explain, and analyze all of the important doctrines of the kingdom" and "the first extensive compendium of the whole gospel—the first attempt to publish an encyclopedic commentary covering the whole field of revealed religion." He included a disclaimer that he alone was responsible for the doctrinal and scriptural interpretations, a practice unusual at the time.In writing the book, McConkie relied heavily upon the scriptures and recognized doctrinal authorities. Church leaders were surprised by its publication (since he had not asked permission and was not asked to develop such a work) and responded that while they applauded the attempt of the book to fill a need, it used a harsh tone and, in the words of Mark E. Petersen
Mark E. Petersen
Mark Edward Petersen was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1944 until his death. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he filled the vacancy caused by the excommunication of Richard R. Lyman...
, was "full of errors and misstatements, and it is most unfortunate that it has received such wide circulation." Church president David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
asked McConkie not to reprint, but later McConkie was asked to revise it with the editorial help of Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
. The 1966 second edition incorporated many changes, especially a softening of the tone.
Much of the Bible Dictionary
Bible Dictionary (LDS Church)
Bible Dictionary is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Since 1979, Bible Dictionary has been published as an appendix to most copies of the King James Version of the Bible printed by the LDS Church. The dictionary contains 1285 entries on 196 pages...
included with the LDS Church's publication of the Bible in 1979 borrows from Mormon Doctrine.
Mormon Doctrine remained in print until 2010, when Deseret Book
Deseret Book
Deseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
ceased publication, citing poor sales.
Mission to Australia
McConkie received a call from the First PresidencyFirst Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
to preside over the Southern Australian Mission of the Church, which encompassed all of western and southern Australia, on February 9, 1961. He disclosed the call to his wife, Amelia, only after a hike up Ensign Peak that same day. Their daughter, Vivian, was married and Joseph was serving a mission to Scotland, so six of their children accompanied them to Australia.
In October 1962, McConkie reported "an all-time high mark in mission converts and willingness of members to build new chapels. ... There has been no difficulty getting six building missionaries to work on each chapel under the supervision of supervisors called from the states."
The mission decided upon a motto of "Seek the Spirit" and President McConkie taught the missionaries what it is to be humble and hear the whisperings of the Spirit.
McConkie resumed his duties as a Seventy after returning in 1964.
Call to the Twelve
President Joseph Fielding SmithJoseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
(who was McConkie's father-in-law) died on July 2, 1972. The First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
was subsequently reorganized with Harold B. Lee
Harold B. Lee
Harold Bingham Lee was eleventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from July 1972 until his death.- Early life :...
as President, leaving a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles . In October 1972, McConkie was invited to Lee's office "where President Lee put his arms around him by way of greeting and said, 'The Lord and the Brethren have just called you to fill the vacancy in the Council of the Twelve.' Bruce responded, 'I know. This is no surprise to me. I have known it for some time.'"
McConkie served in the capacity of an Apostle until his death in 1985, aged 69.
Poetry
McConkie wrote several poems, a few of which he read in various general conferenceGeneral conference (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction....
addresses. One for which he is especially remembered is the poem I Believe in Christ, delivered in a 1972 General Conference
General conference (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction....
address, "The Testimony of Jesus". It was later set to music and published in the LDS Hymnal
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, as Hymn #134, "I Believe in Christ" and has since gained popularity among members of the church.
McConkie also penned the fourth verse to Hymn #21, "Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice".
Final testimony
McConkie gave several influential general conferenceGeneral conference (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction....
addresses. Prominent among them was his last conference talk in 1985, "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane." He concluded this talk with a poignant testimony of Jesus Christ:
McConkie died at Salt Lake City less than two weeks later. He was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
Salt Lake City Cemetery
thumb|The northern section of the cemetery at night, looking towards Salt Lake CityThe Salt Lake City Cemetery is in The Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Approximately 120,000 persons are buried in the cemetery. Many religious leaders and politicians, particularly many leaders of The...
.
Controversy
McConkie's works in general are characterized by their authoritative tone. McConkie once wrote to a Mormon scholar in 1980, "It is my province to teach to the Church what the doctrine is. It is your province to echo what I say or to remain silent." In his best selling Doctrinal New Testament Commentaries and Messiah series, the sources that are most frequently cited as authority for his interpretational positions are other works authored by himself. He explained, "I would never quote another man unless I could first square what he said with the scriptures and unless he said what was involved better than I could."One of the most controversial topics that McConkie defended in his writings was the church's policy of denying the priesthood to men of African descent
Blacks and Mormonism
Early Mormonism had a range of policies and doctrines relating to race in regard to African-descended people. References to black people, their social condition during the 19th century, and their spiritual place in Western Christianity as well as Mormon scriptures were complicated, with varying...
until 1978. This policy was known informally as the "Negro doctrine." His basis for this defense was that, in his view, those of African descent had been less valiant in the pre-existent life that the LDS believe was a precursor to life on earth. In 1958, McConkie wrote:
In the pre-existent eternity various degrees of valiance and devotion to the truth were exhibited by different groups of our Father's spirit offspring. One-third of the spirit hosts of heaven came out in open rebellion and were cast out without bodies, becoming the devil and his angels. The other two-thirds stood affirmatively for Christ: there were no neutrals. To stand neutral in the midst of war is a philosophical impossibility.
Of the two-thirds who followed Christ, however, some were more valiant than others. Those who were less valiant in pre-existence and who thereby had certain spiritual restrictions imposed upon them during mortality are known to us as the negroes.
Negroes in this life are denied the priesthood; under no circumstances can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty.
The present status of the negro rests purely and simply on the foundation of pre-existence. Along with all races and peoples he is receiving here what he merits as a result of the long pre-mortal probation in the presence of the Lord. The principle is the same as will apply when all men are judged according to their mortal works and are awarded varying statuses in the life hereafter.
On June 1, 1978, McConkie was present in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
when a revelation
1978 Revelation on Priesthood
The 1978 Revelation on Priesthood was a revelation to the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which reversed a long-standing policy excluding men of black African descent from the priesthood.-Background:...
was received by the First Presidency and the Twelve "that the time had now come to extend the gospel and all its blessings and all its obligations, including the priesthood and the blessings of the house of the Lord, to those of every nation, culture and race, including the black race." This revelation was announced to the world on June 8, 1978.
McConkie's earlier statements on the topic, like those of other church leaders, implied or overtly stated that the priesthood restriction would never be lifted. To this, McConkie stated:
There are statements in our literature by the early Brethren that we have interpreted to mean that the Negroes would not receive the priesthood in mortality. I have said the same things, and people write me letters and say, "You said such and such, and how is it now that we do such and such?" All I can say is that it is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet. Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or George Q. Cannon or whoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world.
It doesn't make a particle of difference what anybody ever said about the Negro matter before the first day of June 1978. It is a new day and a new arrangement, and the Lord has now given the revelation that sheds light out into the world on this subject. As to any slivers of light or any particles of darkness of the past, we forget about them. We now do what meridian Israel did when the Lord said the gospel should go to the Gentiles. We forget all the statements that limited the gospel to the house of Israel, and we start going to the Gentiles.
McConkie also made controversial comments about Jews in his book “The Millennial Messiah”:
Let this fact be engraved in the eternal records with a pen of steel: the Jews were cursed, and smitten, and cursed anew, because they rejected the gospel, cast out their Messiah, and crucified their King.
He then goes on to blame the Jews' rejection of Jesus as the cause of historical persecution of the Jews:
Let the spiritually illiterate suppose what they may, it was the Jewish denial and rejection of the Holy One of Israel, whom their fathers worshiped in the beauty of holiness, that has made them a hiss and a byword in all nations and that has taken millions of their fair sons and daughters to untimely graves.
Published works
- Doctrines of Salvation, by President Joseph Fielding Smith, compiled by Bruce R McConkie: Volume 1, 1954; Volume 2, 1955; Volume 3, 1956.
- Mormon Doctrine, A Compendium of the Gospel, 1958.
- Mormon Doctrine, Second Edition, 1966.
- Doctrinal New Testament Commentary: Volume 1, The Gospels, 1965. Volume 2, Acts–Philippians, 1970. Volume 3, Colossians–Revelation, 1972.
- The Messiah Series, six-volume set that includes the following three Messiah titles
- The Promised Messiah, 1978.
- The Mortal Messiah, four volumes, 1979-1981.
- The Millennial Messiah, 1982.
- A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 1985
- McConkie also wrote numerous articles for the Church NewsChurch NewsThe Church News is a weekly tabloid-sized supplement to the Deseret News and the MormonTimes , a Salt Lake City, Utah newspaper owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
and church magazines, handbooks, pamphlets, and manuals. In 1981, he re-wrote the chapter headings for the Book of Mormon. He also wrote the chapter headings for the rest of the church-published standard worksStandard WorksThe Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
and contributed to the Bible DictionaryBible Dictionary (LDS Church)Bible Dictionary is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Since 1979, Bible Dictionary has been published as an appendix to most copies of the King James Version of the Bible printed by the LDS Church. The dictionary contains 1285 entries on 196 pages...
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External links
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Bruce R. McConkie
- The Seven Deadly Heresies (This fireside address was given at Brigham Young University on 1 June 1980) (MP3)
- "The Bible, a Sealed Book", by Bruce R. McConkie - BYU, 1984