Ronald W. Walker
Encyclopedia
Ronald Warren Walker is a historian of the Latter Day Saint movement
who was formerly a professor at Brigham Young University
(BYU) and president of the Mormon History Association
.
and raised in [Iowa] and the San Joaquin Valley
of California
. He graduated from high school in Bakersfield, California
.
Walker attended BYU, where he received a Bachelor of Science
in 1961 and a Master of Arts
in 1965. He received a Master of Science
from Stanford University
in 1968, and a Ph.D.
from the University of Utah
in 1977, writing his dissertation on the Godbeites
. During his graduate studies Walker had worked in the church's Institute of Religion
in southern California
and at the University of Utah. He joined the LDS Church Historical Department under Leonard Arrington in 1976. In 1980 he was transferred to BYU to become a professor of history and inaugural member of the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History
. He would later serve as a senior research fellow at the Smith Institute and acting director of the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies. He was president of the Mormon History Association
during 1991–1992.
Walker and his wife, Nelani Midgley Walker, are the parents of seven children. Walker is a Latter-day Saint and among other callings in the Church has served as a bishop.
The following is a partial list of Walker's writings and publications:........
History of the Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a religious movement within Christianity that arose during the Second Great Awakening in the early 19th century and that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous Latter Day Saint churches...
who was formerly a professor at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) and president of the Mormon History Association
Mormon History Association
The Mormon History Association is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field...
.
Biography
Walker was born in Missoula, MontanaMissoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
and raised in [Iowa] and the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He graduated from high school in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
.
Walker attended BYU, where he received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1961 and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1965. He received a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1968, and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
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...
in 1977, writing his dissertation on the Godbeites
Godbeites
The Godbeites were members of the Godbeite Church, officially called the Church of Zion, organized in 1870 by William S. Godbe. This dissident offshoot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was aimed toward embracing all belief systems...
. During his graduate studies Walker had worked in the church's Institute of Religion
Institute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
in southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and at the University of Utah. He joined the LDS Church Historical Department under Leonard Arrington in 1976. In 1980 he was transferred to BYU to become a professor of history and inaugural member of the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History
Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History
The Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History was an academic research organization at Brigham Young University from 1980 to 2005, which sought to promote the study of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-History:In 1982, the History Division of the church's...
. He would later serve as a senior research fellow at the Smith Institute and acting director of the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies. He was president of the Mormon History Association
Mormon History Association
The Mormon History Association is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field...
during 1991–1992.
Walker and his wife, Nelani Midgley Walker, are the parents of seven children. Walker is a Latter-day Saint and among other callings in the Church has served as a bishop.
Writings
Walker was widely published in the field of Mormon history and noted historian Leonard Arrington called him "one of the church's most sophisticated writers."The following is a partial list of Walker's writings and publications:........
Sources
- Short bio of Walker
- Google Books list of works by Walker
- Bio connected with Walker's chapter in Supporting Saints (Donald Q. Cannon and David J. Whittaker, ed., Provo: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1985)