Talk:Ronald A. Rasband

Importance upgrade

This page [Ronald A. Rasband] needs to be upgraded in importance in the LDS WikiProject, as this man was recently appointed to an apostle.

EnigmaLord515 (talk) 20:56, 3 October 2015 (UTC)

Middle name

I feel that Elder Ronald Rasband's middle name should be listed as "A" instead of Anderson because every church article I have found on Ronald Rasband in the LDS publications (Ensign, New Era, and Friend) and several issues of the Deseret News Church Almanac report his full name as Ronald A. Rasband. This article for the longest time listed his name as Ronald Anderson Rasband mainly due to lack of interest in editing his article since he was only a General Authority Seventy for many years. Now that he has obtained the apostleship position in the LDS church, it is imperative that his article be updated with reliable information.

My theory is that whoever started the article on Ronald Rasband assumed his middle name to be Anderson because of his mother's maiden name and not on any reliable source. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tnmbrown (talk • contribs) 14:11, 7 October 2015 (UTC)

Since I am the editor that has encouraged the article to remain as shown, rather than changing to the good faith edits made by Tnmbrown, I will provide some comments. First, for purposes of this discussion, I'll grant that it's possible editors years ago may have made an assumption about Anderson being his middle name, since no specific source seems to have been identified when the article was developing. However, the premise that the information (whether or not there is any middle name, let alone that one) is not correct, simply because all the current sources reflect his name as identified, is not a good one. Generally speaking, all LDS Church general authorities go by a first name and middle initial or first initial and middle name. If one will review articles of the other 9 living apostles who were serving prior to the 3 new members, the articles will reflect their full name in the first instance, yet they are "never" referred to that way. This typically includes listings for those currently serving in such sources as the almanacs that used to be produced. For example, with the passing of Richard G. Scott two weeks ago, many would not have known his middle name was Gordon. That's just how the general authorities have been referred to - no reflection or intention that it represents their full name. I would also suggest there was no lack of interest as he was "only" a general authority. He has been the senior seventy for the past 6 1/2 years, and in the seven-man presidency for 10 years. Finally, it's natural that the coverage given was likely going to use the name as identified. As noted before, that is their "formal, church-use" name. Historically, the church's Ensign will include articles about new members of the Twelve, often written by existing members, but likely a more "thorough" biographical-like approach. If that happens again, there would likely be a source to help address the situation overall. I would suggest the article remain as shown until something definitive is provided, one way or another. Again, this should not in anyway be perceived or represented as not being reliable information. ChristensenMJ (talk) 14:41, 7 October 2015 (UTC)

There's no doubt that the middle name—if we know what it is—should appear in the bolded part of the first line per WP:FULLNAME, regardless of what the title of the article is. The only question here seems to be whether we know what it is, i.e., whether there is a reliable source that states the middle name. I think it's probably OK to wait for the Ensign/Liahona/Church News biographical articles which apparently are forthcoming. Good Ol’factory ^(talk) 00:29, 8 October 2015 (UTC)

A reference for the middle name being "Anderson" is here. Good Ol’factory ^(talk) 06:45, 8 April 2016 (UTC)