Richard D. Poll

Richard Douglas Poll (April 23, 1918 – April 27, 1994) was an American historian, academic, author and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His liberal religiosity influenced his notable metaphor about "Iron Rod" vs. "Liahona" LDS Church members.

Biography Poll was born in Salt Lake City, where he lived until moving to Fort Worth, Texas at age 10. He published his first article at age 13 in Liahona, the Elders' Journal, a missionary magazine published by the LDS Church. He married Emogene (Gene) Hill in 1943 in the Salt Lake Temple, and they remained married until their deaths in 1994 in Provo, Utah.

Throughout his life, Poll was active in the LDS Church and served in various positions, such as stake high councilor.

Academics In Fort Worth, Poll studied at Texas Christian University (TCU), completing a bachelor's degree in history in 1938. He also received a master's degree from TCU in 1939, Poll later received a Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Berkeley in 1948. He remained in that role until 1975, though he continued teaching history at WIU until 1983. In his retirement, Poll taught occasional classes at BYU from 1983 until his death in 1994.

Lee also quoted the phrase, "A liberal in the Church is merely one who does not have a testimony." Lee then quoted John A. Widtsoe's definition of "a liberal in the church" as one who has broken with the fundamental principles, does not believe in its basic concepts, and sets out to reform it by changing its foundations.

Poll and his wife considered themselves "Liahona" Mormons. 1979 Presidential Merit Award for quality and accuracy in historical work 1985 Secretary/Treasurer of the BYU Academy Foundation 1994 Personal Essay award from the Association for Mormon Letters for "A Liahona Latter-day Saint"

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