Ronald E. Poelman

1928–2011 (83 years)

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

Biography

Ronald E. Poelman was a General Authority Seventy known for a 1984 General Conference talk that was later significantly revised. The original talk distinguished between the gospel and the institutional church, but it was re-recorded with changes that emphasized church authority. The revision was not disclosed to members, and the original version was removed from official publications.

Related Posts (1)

Related Images

"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." - L. Jackson Newell, Dialogue, Volume 19 Number 1. 1986 | wasmormon.org Ronald E Poelman - 1984 - The Gospel and the Church. Comparing the original and the edited talk: "As individually and collectively we increase our knowledge, acceptance, and application of gospel principles, we become less dependent on Church programs. Our lives become gospel centered. Sometimes traditions, customs, social practices, and personal preferences of individual Church members may, through repeated or common usage be misconstrued as Church procedures or policies. Occasionally, such traditions, customs, and practices may even be regarded by some as eternal gospel principles. Under such circumstances, those who do not conform to these cultural standards may mistakenly be regarded as unorthodox or even unworthy. In fact, the eternal principles of the gospel and the divinely inspired Church do accommodate a broad spectrum of individual uniqueness and cultural diversity." vs "As individually and collectively we increase our knowledge, acceptance, and application of gospel principles, we can more effectively utilize the Church to make our lives increasingly gospel centered. The conformity we require should be according to God’s standards. The orthodoxy upon which we insist must be founded in fundamental principles and eternal law, including free agency and the divine uniqueness of the individual. It is important therefore to know the difference between eternal gospel principles which are unchanging, universally applicable, and cultural norms which may vary with time and circumstance." | wasmormon.org Ronald E Poelman - 1984 - The Gospel and the Church. Comparing the original and the edited talk: "Both the gospel of Jesus Christ and the church of Jesus Christ are true and divine. However, there is a distinction between them which is significant and it is very important that this distinction be understood." vs "Both the gospel of Jesus Christ and the church of Jesus Christ are true and divine, and there is an essential relationship between them that is significant and very important." | wasmormon.org Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 2 | wasmormon.org Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 1 | wasmormon.org Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 3 | wasmormon.org Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 4 | wasmormon.org Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church, 1984 - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk Slide 5 | wasmormon.org Ronald E Poelman - The Gospel and the Church - Comparing the Original and the Revised Talk - Diff Screenshot https://gist.github.com/circlecube/b18da97c884683b75d820cd4740e225d/revisions#diff-ccff7643a5d68a6563a3687841b4162943edc8ad7799d66f9c4077d99266c3fb