J. Reuben Clark
J. Reuben Clark – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
Uncover the life, career, and spiritual legacy of J. Reuben Clark, the distinguished American attorney, statesman, and leader in the LDS Church (1871–1961). Explore his biography, key contributions, guiding principles, and memorable quotes.
Introduction
Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr. (September 1, 1871 – October 6, 1961) was a remarkable blend of statesman, lawyer, diplomat, and church leader. He is widely remembered for his service in the U.S. State Department, as Ambassador to Mexico, and especially for his long tenure in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Clark’s ideas about the relationship between faith, civic duty, and constitutional government continue to resonate among scholars, church members, and those interested in the intersection of religion and public life.
Early Life and Family
J. Reuben Clark was born on September 1, 1871, in Grantsville, Utah Territory, a rural Mormon settlement roughly 35 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. He was the eldest of ten children of Joshua Reuben Clark and Mary Louisa Woolley Clark.
His household emphasized education, faith, and industriousness. Though life in Grantsville was modest and sometimes financially constrained, the Clark home maintained a library and a strong culture of learning. As a youth, Clark often helped with farm duties, balancing that with periods of study and self-education.
Clark’s early education was inconsistent in part because of farm responsibilities and limited formal schooling in the area. His mother homeschooled him when formal schooling was unavailable, and he sometimes repeated grades to advance.
From a young age, he exhibited intellectual curiosity, a strong memory, and a penchant for study—traits that would serve him throughout his life.
Youth, Education, and Early Career
University and Law Training
Clark’s formal higher education began at the University of Utah, where he studied science and liberal arts, eventually graduating as valedictorian of his class in 1898. During this period, he also held clerical and assistant roles, including work for the Deseret Museum and as an assistant to James E. Talmage, which helped support his schooling.
His early teaching and administrative work included being principal of the Branch Normal School and instructing at business colleges in Utah.
Clark then pursued legal studies at Columbia University in New York, where he was admitted to the bar and completed his LL.B. degree. While at Columbia, he served on the editorial board of the Columbia Law Review.
Entry into Government Law Service
After his law degree, Clark began his public service career in the U.S. Department of State as Assistant Solicitor in 1906. He rose to become Solicitor of the State Department (1907–1913), representing the U.S. in various international legal disputes.
During this period, Clark was involved in significant legal work, especially during the Mexican Revolution, where he was called upon to advise on the status of Mormon communities in Mexico and the protection of U.S. citizens’ interests.
After the 1913 change in administration (when President Wilson took office), Clark left government service and focused on private legal practice in Washington, D.C., New York, and Salt Lake City. He gained a reputation in international and corporate law, including representing the Japanese government in U.S. legal matters relating to discrimination.
He also commissioned with the Judge Advocate General’s Office in the U.S. Army Reserve during World War I.
Government, Diplomacy & Public Service
The “Clark Memorandum” & Undersecretary Role
One of Clark’s most enduring contributions to U.S. foreign policy is the Clark Memorandum on the Monroe Doctrine (1928). In that detailed treatise, Clark argued that the Monroe Doctrine should not be interpreted as justifying force outside the hemisphere, thereby narrowing the U.S. justification for intervention and refocusing on sovereign equality.
Clark also served as Undersecretary of State under Presidents Coolidge and Hoover (1928–1929) in the State Department.
Ambassador to Mexico
In 1930, President Herbert Hoover appointed Clark as United States Ambassador to Mexico, a strategically important post given the turbulent conditions in Mexico and U.S.–Mexico relations. He held that post until 1933, navigating delicate diplomatic issues during a time of internal upheaval in Mexico.
Service in the LDS Church
While Clark had a distinguished secular career, much of his lasting influence came through his service in the LDS Church. In 1933, he was called to be Second Counselor in the First Presidency (the highest governing body under the church president). In October 1934, he was ordained an Apostle and simultaneously set apart as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
He continued in those capacities under successive presidents (Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, David O. McKay), serving in the First Presidency for over 28 years—one of the longest tenures ever held there by someone who was not president of the church.
In church governance, Clark played a significant role in administering the Welfare Program (originally introduced in the 1930s), which sought to encourage self-reliance, organized welfare efforts, and reduce dependence on external relief. He also was a strong advocate of the King James Version of the Bible within LDS usage and authored Why the King James Version.
Clark held views on the relationship of church and state, individual responsibility, constitutional government, and the nature of religious freedom that were influential among LDS thinkers and students of religion.
Historical Milestones & Context
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First native Utahn to gain national/international acclaim in legal and diplomatic service.
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In the interwar period, Clark’s roles in State Department policy, the Monroe Doctrine, and U.S.–Latin American diplomacy placed him among the leading legal minds of his era.
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His transition from secular statesman to religious leader illustrates a significant blending of faith and public principle in the 20th-century LDS context.
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Through the Welfare Program and other church administrative innovations, Clark contributed to shaping the LDS Church’s social agenda during the Great Depression, WWII, and postwar periods.
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His long service across three church presidents, especially during times of doctrinal and social change, made him a stabilizing and sometimes controversial influence within the church hierarchy.
Legacy and Influence
Clark’s legacy is multifaceted:
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In legal scholarship and diplomacy, the Clark Memorandum endures as an important articulation of U.S. foreign policy doctrine and constraint.
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In the LDS Church, his administrative leadership, writings, and emphasis on doctrinal clarity, scriptural fidelity, and welfare self-reliance have had long-term influence.
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J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University (BYU) and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society carry his name, promoting legal education with a foundation in moral and constitutional principles.
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His public speeches and writings continue to be cited by those in LDS circles and by Christian legal scholars interested in the interplay of faith and constitutionalism.
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Yet Clark’s legacy is also contested: historians have scrutinized his early racial and ethnic views, his attitude toward Jews and anti-Semitism (especially tied to his anti-Communist zeal), and his evolving perspectives on race and integration.
Personality, Talents & Beliefs
Clark was a sharp intellect, consistent in principle, and driven by deep faith. He blended legal precision with theological sensitivity, often viewing secular roles as responsibilities before God.
He valued disciplined study, humility, moral clarity, and constitutional fidelity. He was known for directness and a sometimes uncompromising tone when confronting his views of government overreach, communism, or doctrinal deviation.
Clark’s worldview emphasized individual agency, the sanctity of the Constitution, and the idea that civic leadership is ultimately accountable to divine standards. In his ecclesiastical role, he sought to unite spiritual purpose with administrative competence, and his writing reflects a belief that truth withstands rigorous challenge—if it is true.
On the personal side, he and his wife Luacine Annetta Savage married in 1898 and had four children. His family life, intellectual pursuits, and devotion to both church and country reflect a life lived at the intersection of faith and public service.
Famous Quotes of J. Reuben Clark
Below are several notable quotations attributed to Clark, reflecting his convictions on truth, government, religion, and responsibility:
“If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed.”
“Reduced to its lowest terms, the great struggle which now rocks the whole earth more and more takes on the character of a struggle of the individual versus the state.”
“I say to you that the price of liberty is and always has been blood, human blood … and if our liberties are lost, we shall never regain them except at the price of blood.”
“In the service of the Lord it is not where but how you serve.”
“We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer.”
“Once in debt, interest is your companion every minute of the day and night; … and whenever you get in its way … it crushes you.”
“Let us again clothe ourselves with these proved and sterling virtues – honesty, truthfulness, chastity, sobriety, temperance, industry, and thrift; let us discard all covetousness and greed.”
These quotations highlight his firm belief in truth, virtue, personal responsibility, and vigilance against tyranny or overreach.
Lessons from J. Reuben Clark
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Truth withstands scrutiny
Clark held that if an idea is true, investigation will only strengthen it. This principle invites rigorous thought rather than blind acceptance. -
Civic responsibility as sacred trust
He viewed positions of public trust not merely as political offices, but as duties before God—urging moral accountability in governance. -
Balance faith and public life
Clark’s life illustrates how religious conviction can inform public service without conflating institutions; he navigated church roles and diplomatic duty with a firm boundary of principle. -
Virtue as foundation of liberty
He believed that freedom depends on personal integrity: honesty, sobriety, industry, and thrift are the bedrock of a free society. -
Be wary of debt and economic bondage
His stern warnings about debt reflect a conviction that financial dependence undermines freedom and character. -
Serve faithfully in any setting
His quote about “how you serve” reminds us that the quality of service matters more than status or position.
Conclusion
J. Reuben Clark’s life bridges many realms—legal, diplomatic, ecclesiastical—with a central thread of conviction and consistency. He is remembered not only for his governmental roles but also as a spiritual leader whose influence in the LDS Church spanned nearly three decades. His writings and speeches continue to inspire discussions on faith, constitutionalism, and individual responsibility.
To explore more, consider reading his collected writings (such as J. Reuben Clark: Selected Papers on Americanism and National Affairs), his recorded addresses, and the history of the BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School.