Ronald E. Poelman
Encyclopedia
Ronald Eugene Poelman was a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1978 until his death. In 1984, he delivered a controversial sermon in the LDS Church's general conference which the church redacted before publishing.
to a Latter-day Saint family. As a young man, he served as a Mormon missionary
in the LDS Church's Netherlands
Mission
. He began his college studies at what is now California State University, Long Beach
and later transfered to the University of Utah
completing a degree in history. In 1955 he graduated from the law school at the University of Utah and in 1965 he graduated from Harvard Business School
with an MBA degree.
Poelman lived in San Francisco, California
and was a vice president of Consolidated Freightways
. He was a bishop of the LDS Church over the Stanford Ward. Poelman also served in several other callings including in the Palo Alto Stake presidency. In April 1978, Poelman became a member of the church's First Quorum of Seventy. During his time of service, Poelman has served as a counselor to Hugh W. Pinnock
in the general presidency of the Sunday School
from 1979 to 1981 and from 1985 to 1986. He was a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy from 1986 to 1989. From 1992 to 1994 he again served in the Sunday School General Presidency. In 1998, Poelman was released from active duties and granted general authority emeritus
status.
Poelman was married to Claire, who was for a time a consultant with Stanford University
. After she died, he married Anne G. Osborn
, a doctor connected with the University of Utah
.
At the age of 83, Poelman died of "causes incident to aging" at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah
.
groups, that the text of his talk might support these groups' claims that people do not need the LDS Church. In response, Poelman decided to revise the text of the sermon. Videotape copies of general conference that were included in church archives and distributed throughout the church contained Poelman delivering the revised version of his sermon. A "cough track" was included in the retaping to make it appear that the revised sermon was delivered in front of an audience.
One commentator has criticised the changes to the sermon as a dramatic shift in the meaning of Poelman's address:
Poelman spoke again in general conference after four and a half years.
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...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1978 until his death. In 1984, he delivered a controversial sermon in the LDS Church's general conference which the church redacted before publishing.
Biography
Poelman was born in Salt Lake City, UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
to a Latter-day Saint family. As a young man, he served as a Mormon missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in the LDS Church's Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
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...
. He began his college studies at what is now California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
and later transfered to 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...
completing a degree in history. In 1955 he graduated from the law school at the University of Utah and in 1965 he graduated from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
with an MBA degree.
Poelman lived in San Francisco, 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...
and was a vice president of Consolidated Freightways
Consolidated Freightways
Consolidated Freightways , based in Washington State was the 3rd biggest trucking company in the US. In the 1930s they started their own truck manufacturing operation, Freightliner, now part of Daimler AG. In 1989, Consolidated Freightways purchased Emery Worldwide...
. He was a bishop of the LDS Church over the Stanford Ward. Poelman also served in several other callings including in the Palo Alto Stake presidency. In April 1978, Poelman became a member of the church's First Quorum of Seventy. During his time of service, Poelman has served as a counselor to Hugh W. Pinnock
Hugh W. Pinnock
Hugh Wallace Pinnock was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1977 until his death....
in the general presidency of the Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
from 1979 to 1981 and from 1985 to 1986. He was a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy from 1986 to 1989. From 1992 to 1994 he again served in the Sunday School General Presidency. In 1998, Poelman was released from active duties and granted general authority emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
status.
Poelman was married to Claire, who was for a time a consultant with 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...
. After she died, he married Anne G. Osborn
Anne G. Osborn
Anne G. Osborn, also known as Anne Osborn Poelman, is a medical doctor who works at the University of Utah, the widow of Ronald E. Poelman and the author of a book about how to apply LDS theology to life. Her textbook on Neuroradiology is the definitive work on the subject.-Biography:Osborn got...
, a doctor connected with 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...
.
At the age of 83, Poelman died of "causes incident to aging" at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.
Controversial sermon
In the October 1984 general conference of the LDS Church, Poelman delivered a sermon entitled "The Gospel and the Church". Controversy ensued when the version of his sermon that was published in the November 1984 Ensign magazine differed from the sermon Poelman had delivered orally. According to Poelman's brother, after Poelman had delivered his sermon, it had been pointed out to him by apostles that have dealt with apostate, often pro-polygamyPolygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
groups, that the text of his talk might support these groups' claims that people do not need the LDS Church. In response, Poelman decided to revise the text of the sermon. Videotape copies of general conference that were included in church archives and distributed throughout the church contained Poelman delivering the revised version of his sermon. A "cough track" was included in the retaping to make it appear that the revised sermon was delivered in front of an audience.
One commentator has criticised the changes to the sermon as a dramatic shift in the meaning of Poelman's address:
"The rewriting and refilming of Elder Ronald Poelman's October 1984 Conference address, originally a rare and inspiring defense of free agency, so that it became yet another cry for obedience. His text was not edited — his ideas were turned inside out."
Poelman spoke again in general conference after four and a half years.
External links
- Ronald E. Poelman at Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages : Poelman's October 1984 conference sermon as published in the Ensign : sets out changes to Poelman's 1984 conference sermon
- General Authority Censorship : side-by-side comparison of versions of Poelman's 1984 conference sermon on lds-mormon.com from 2think.org