Revisiting the story of Paul H. Dunn

[_Stormy Waters]

On MD&D there is a thread about Paul H. Dunn and Lynn Packer.
The poster SeekingUnderstanding linked to a Sunstone article published in September of 1991.

https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/083-35-57.pdf

It contains some of the research done by Lynn Packer to try to verify some of the stories told by Paul H. Dunn. Where he demonstrates that some of Dunn's stories could not have been true. The rest of the articles contain various opinions and reactions to the events.

Probably the most remarkable comment was this one. (Roger D. Plothow, pg 49)

The Sunday morning the Associated Press wire story on Elder Dunn appeared in my newspaper in Idaho Falls, I scrapped my prepared lesson for the elders quorum and opened the meeting to a free discussion of how quorum members felt about the revelations. I was stunned by the response. There was some sentiment that the fault lay with the Arizona Republic for publishing the story; there was also some anger, but more sympathy, directed toward Elder Dunn. But the greatest bitterness was reserved for Church officials who had done nothing about the situation, even though they surely ROGER D. PLOTHOW is the managing editor of the Idaho Falls Post Register. knew--or at least must have suspected--that many of those stories were, at best, only partially fact

I was too young to remember any of this when it happened, so If you lived through this incident as a member or otherwise I'd like to hear your perception of events and what effect it had on you.

[_Stormy Waters]

It should be noted that in the Deseret News this apology was published one month after the sunstone article.

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 brethren 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 brethren 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

[_Joe Geisner]

The poster SeekingUnderstanding linked to a Sunstone article published in September of 1991.

I was too young to remember any of this when it happened, so If you lived through this incident as a member or otherwise I'd like to hear your perception of events and what effect it had on you.

Stormy,

Is there something particular you would like to know?

Rumor has/had it that Packer (who is Boyd's nephew) was writing a biography of Dunn. I have no idea if he has the manuscript finished or if it he has not written a word. If the manuscript is not finished, then the chances of it ever seeing the light of day is quite unlikely. Most people are looking forward to Greg Prince's work, which I understand will be a compilation of interviews Greg had with Dunn over the last years of his life. I do not know if it will deal with the unpleasant stories.

The Sunstone article is quite good and probably the best known work about Dunn and his stories and shady activities. Packer wrote another article that is less well know that was published about a year later. This was published in Utah Holiday and deals with Dunn's business schemes. Packer always said this was the real story, the baseball/military stories were dessert.

If you would like a copy, pm me your email and I will send it to you.

One comment that I will never for get comes from Ross Peterson. He said this sometime in 1992/1993. Ross said that he was talking with friends about Dunn and one of them said, "Dunn may be a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch." Meaning that most Mormons did not like what "outsiders" were saying and writing about Dunn.

His book sales completely tanked. I recall Deseret Book had an entire wall of Dunn's books before the story broke, after, you were lucky to find a copy of his book in the store.

[_Stormy Waters]

Is there something particular you would like to know?

Specifically I was thinking of whether or not it effected the testimonies of the people who lived through it, or if it was even a big deal at the time.

I am interested and I will PM you my e-mail address.

[_Dr. Shades]

His book sales completely tanked. I recall Deseret Book had an entire wall of Dunn's books before the story broke, after, you were lucky to find a copy of his book in the store.

If the books went from well-stocked to sold out, it sounds like the sales were good, not bad.

[_Stormy Waters]

If the books went from well-stocked to sold out, it sounds like the sales were good, not bad.

Well all they needed to do is move them from non-fiction to fiction.

[_Joe Geisner]

Specifically I was thinking of whether or not it effected the testimonies of the people who lived through it, or if it was even a big deal at the time.

I don't recall it causing anyone to lose their testimony. I think people were angry and/or felt sorry for him.

Most people did and do not now about the business shenanigans.

Rumor (and this is all it was. I was never able to confirm this) that he was released from being a Seventy because of Packer's news stories. Rumor went so far as saying he was disfellowshiped. I think this last rumor was just that, rumor, with no truth.

This all happened around the same time the SCMC was exposed at Sunstone when Gene England made his now famous comment. And with in a year of Packer's article the six people were excommunicated and disfellowshiped in September. It was pointed out that none of these people took others life savings in a Ponzi scheme. Then after this Paul Poelman (Ronald Poelmans brother)was released as Stake Pres. and excommunicated for being arrested after soliciting a prostitute.

Packer told the audience that he felt “[President Poelman had] stepped forward in a way that took courage,” Packer said. “I felt relieved about President and Sister Poelman. Whatever else will take place, there will be no eternal consequences.” Then he asked the audience to keep the matter confidential: “President and Sister Poelman’s lives need to be private now… The Lord directed us to be brothers and sisters. We are a family. A family keeps things private. A family draws close together. These things are to be kept private.”

Those were fun times!

[_Joe Geisner]

If the books went from well-stocked to sold out, it sounds like the sales were good, not bad.

They did not sell. They were warehoused and then used for pulp.

[_moksha]

Yeah, that Lynn Packer was a rabble rouser. Those stories on the Grant Affleck AFCO scandal, the Mark Hoffman forgeries, Paul H. Dunn, Bonneville International and bribery of Olympic officials sure stirred things up in Salt Lake City. Between Packer and the Private Eye-Salt Lake Weekly, stories the mainstream Utah papers wouldn't touch saw the light of day. No wonder he was fired from BYU.

[_Jonah]

I remember as a youth attending a Paul Dunn fireside. He was a very dynamic speaker, had everyone spellbound by his stories, and I was amazed how the "spirit" moved so many to tears from his words. There must have been plenty of "burning bosoms" in the audience. I knew people who had cassette tapes of his talks that they would use in teaching situations or for Family Home Evening. When I graduated from seminary, someone gave me one of his books.

In 1985 I started working in professional sports ownership/management. With some of the best reference materials and record books at my disposal, I thought it would be fun to research Dunn's minor league baseball career. Through all of my hard work and study, I couldn't find anything. I even contacted a famous statistician friend of mine who had a library of reference books that had records of minor league players back to the early 1900's. He couldn't find anything either. Eventually I blew the project off and assumed that I must be doing something wrong and that my sources were flawed.

When the Sunstone article came out, I was amused. The guy who supposedly died in Dunn's arms in one of his war stories, was actually alive and well. Haaaa Haaaaa!! It was also nice to know that I wasn't the crazy one when it came to researching his minor league baseball career. After being exposed, I think it was Dunn who came out with the explanation comparing the stories he told to the parables of Jesus. Later I believe he was involved (or his name was used) in some sort of Utah scam.

I have to get some of those Paul Dunn cassette tapes. What a great white elephant gift they would make.