Paul H. Dunn
Paul Harold Dunn (April 24, 1924—January 9, 1998) was a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Widely considered one of the most dynamic speakers among the General Authorities in the 1970s and 1980s, Dunn was forced to confess in 1991 that he had "not always been accurate" in his speeches and writings.
Biography
Born in Provo, Utah to Joshua Harold Dunn and Geneve Roberts, Dunn was baptized a member of the LDS at the age of eight. Dunn earned a bachelor's degree from Chapman College in 1953 and a master's and a doctorate degree in educational administration from the University of Southern California.
Dunn began his long career in the LDS Church in 1952 as a seminary teacher for the Church Educational System in Los Angeles. On April 6, 1964, Church President David O. McKay asked Dunn to join the First Council of the Seventy and to become a General Authority of the Church. While in this position, Dunn was the president of the church's New England Mission from 1968 to 1971.
In 1976, Dunn became a member of the newly constituted First Quorum of the Seventy. He remained as a member of this quorum until he received General Authority emeritus status on October 1, 1989. Additionally, Dunn served as one of the seven Presidents of the Seventy from 1976 to 1980. Dunn wrote over 50 books during his time as a General Authority.
Dunn married Jeanne Alice Cheverton on February 27, 1946; they were the parents of three daughters. Dunn was named Utah’s Father of the Year in 1972. Dunn died of cardiac arrest in Salt Lake City while recovering from back surgery in 1998.
Scandal
During his time as a General Authority, Dunn often included in his speeches and books extraordinary "real life" experiences that he claimed were from his past. In the late 1980s, a number of investigators, including Arizona Republic reporter Lynn Packer and church critics Jerald and Sandra Tanner, accused Dunn of fabricating or embellishing many of these events. Among Dunn's claims that came to be questioned were:
- that Dunn had played major league baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals;[1]
- that Dunn was one of only six in his 1000-man combat group who survived World War II, and was the only one of the six survivors who wasn't wounded;[2]
- that Dunn was the sole survivor among 11 infantrymen in a 100-yard race against death, during which one burst of machine-gun fire ripped his right boot off, another tore off his ammunition and canteen belt and yet another split his helmet in half—all without wounding him.[3]
When confronted with evidence that several of his stories were either completely falsified or substantially embellished, Dunn admitted that the stories were not completely true, yet continued to defend his use of the stories: "I haven't purposely tried to embellish or rewrite history. I've tried to illustrate points that would create interest. [I was] simply putting history in little finer packages."[4] Dunn compared his stories to the parables of Jesus—although they were not true stories, they were nevertheless valuable means of teaching gospel principles.
Later in 1991, Dunn asked the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church for permission to issue an open letter to all Latter-day Saints. The church agreed, and on October 26 the following letter was published in the church's official newspaper:
- "October 23, 1991
- "I have been accused of various activities unbecoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- "I confess that I have not always been accurate in my public talks and writings. Furthermore, I have indulged in other activities inconsistent with the high and sacred office which I have held.
- "For all of these I feel a deep sense of remorse, and ask forgiveness of any whom I may have offended.
- "My brethern of the General Authorities, over a long period of time, have conducted in-depth investigations of the charges made against me. They have weighed the evidence. They have censured me and placed a heavy penalty upon me.
- "I accept their censure and the imposed penalty, and pledge to conduct my life in such a way as to merit their confidence and full fellowship.
- "In making these acknowledgements, I plead for the understanding of my brethern and sisters throughout the Church and give assurance of my determination so to live as to bring added respect to the cause I deeply love, and honor to the Lord who is my Redeemer.
- "Sincerely, Paul H. Dunn"[5]
The exact identity of the "heavy penalty" that was imposed upon Dunn is unclear, though some have speculated that his being designated an emeritus General Authority was a direct consequence of the scandal. It is clear that Dunn was not excommunicated from the church, though it is not known whether or not he was placed under some other form of church discipline, such as disfellowshipment or probation.
Notes
- ^ Paul H. Dunn, You and Your World, 128; Paul H. Dunn (1973), Discovering the Quality of Success, Deseret Book: Salt Lake City, 38.
- ^ Paul H. Dunn, "The Message: 'If Thou Art Willing'", New Era, Aug. 1975, 4-5.
- ^ Paul H. Dunn, "The Message: 'If Thou Art Willing'", New Era, Aug. 1975, 4-5.
- ^ Salt Lake Tribune, February 16, 1991, 2B.
- ^ Paul H. Dunn, "An open letter to members of the Church", Church News, October 26, 1991.
References
- "Elder Paul H. Dunn Passes Away", Ensign, Mar. 1998, 74.
- Jerald Tanner & Sandra Tanner, "Dunn in the Name of God: Confessions by Emeritus General Authority of the Mormon Church Raises New Questions about the Origins of Mormonism", Salt Lake City Messenger, No. 78, June 1991.
External resources
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages
- Salamander Society, Paul H. Dunn: Telling Whoppers for the Lord