The purpose of this study was to provide an analysis of the immediate and long-range implications of three speeches: (1) August 8,1938, (2) September 19, 1952, and (3) September 19, 1956, which J. Reuben Clark, Jr. delivered during the annual Pre-School Faculty Conference at Brigham Young University. The speeches were analyzed and compared to determine the goals and charges given and to determine whether there was carry-over from speech to speech.The significant findings included: (1) The LDS Church school system is to be manned only by those individuals who have strong, undeviating testimonies of a living Savior, of the Restored Gospel, and of a living Prophet; and who are prepared in both content and technique within their special fields of teaching. (2) Brigham Young University is the most important school in the world, to become even greater, because of the unique charge to maintain a balance between spiritual and secular education. (3) The advice and counsel given by Elder Clark has been followed, reaffirmed, and has become the standard by which the University shall maintain its quest toward excellence in education.

The political views of J. Reuben Clark, Jr. have been of interest to the membership of the Mormon Church since the year 1933, when Clark was appointed second counselor to Heber. J. Grant, then President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This interest was generated In part by the various political positions of importance which Clark held since 1906, and by the numerous politically-oriented speeches which he gave from time to time throughout the Church and the nation.According to Clark, the nature of man's relationship to the state was determined by a pre-earth existence. Clark believed man to be a spiritual child of God, inheriting certain divine attributes which could ultimately result in the individual becoming a god. Man's earthly experience was planned to eventually make this possible.Clark felt that governments were instituted by God for the purpose of assuring to man "free agency" or the right to choose for himself. However, Clark believed that since men had "free agency" they were thus free to change the governmental process as they desired. In many instances this resulted in the formation of governments, which were corrupted by evil men, with the purpose of enslaving the populace and destroying "free agency" through the use of inhumane methods of warfare. Those governments which Clark feared the most were Communism and the Welfare State.