D. Michael Quinn

D. Michael Quinn
Born
Dennis Michael Quinn

(1944-03-26)March 26, 1944
Pasadena, California, U.S.
DiedApril 21, 2021(2021-04-21) (aged 77)
Rancho Cucamonga, California, U.S.
EducationYale University (PhD)
OccupationAuthor
Known forMormon scholar
Member of the September Six

Dennis Michael Quinn (March 26, 1944 – April 21, 2021)[1] was an American historian who focused on the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was a professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) from 1976 until he resigned in 1988. At the time, his work concerned church involvement with plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto, when new polygamous marriages were officially prohibited. He was excommunicated from the church as one of the September Six and afterwards was openly gay.[2][3] Quinn nevertheless identified as a Latter-day Saint and continued to believe in many LDS teachings, though he did not actively practice the faith.[4][1][5]

  1. ^ a b Stack, Peggy Fletcher (April 22, 2021). "Historian D. Michael Quinn, Who Was Booted from the LDS Church as Part of the 'September Six' but Remained a Believer, Dies at 77". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  2. ^ "Interview of D. Michael Quinn". PBS. April 30, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  3. ^ Haglund, David (November 1, 2012). "The Case of the Mormon Historian". Slate. Graham Holdings. The Slate Group. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference dnamormons was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Golden, Daniel (April 6, 2006), "Scholar of Mormon History, Expelled From Church, Hits a Wall in Job Search", The Wall Street Journal, p. A1, Mr. Quinn's personal life contributed to his estrangement from the church. The father of four was divorced in 1985 and came out as a homosexual in 1996 when he published a book about same-sex friendships and romances in 19th-century Mormonism. The church condemns homosexual behavior. Mr. Quinn says he still believes in the 'fundamentals' of Mormonism but doesn't practice the faith.