Does Thomas S Monson tell lies...?

[_Blixa]

The word you are looking for sub genius is "biased" not "bias."

[_Nevo]

In order to tell you what TSM got wrong in his second telling of the story I need to figure out what the actual story is. That is going to take me a little bit of time. He was wrong about Arthur's age and when he enlisted.

Yes, quite right. President Monson said Arthur was 15 when he enlisted. Actually, he was 16 years and 3 months.

From spending 10 minutes or so on Ancestry.com, I was able to glean the following:

Arthur Frank(lin) Patton was born on 18 August 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the US Navy on 10 December 1941. His mother was Teresa Patton of 533 South 2nd West, Salt Lake City. His service number was 368-71-14. He was mustered on the USS Dorsey on 10 September 1942 and appears regularly on the ship's muster rolls through 30 November 1943. He first appears on the USS White Plains (CVE-66) muster rolls on 30 May 1944 (as Arthur Franklin Patton). He appears again on 30 June 1944 and 19 July 1944. He does not appear on subsequent muster rolls on any ship. He was not among the crew of the USS White Plains during the Battle of Leyte Gulf the following October.

[_stemelbow]

I'm having trouble seeing what the fuss here is. The skeptical mind will see anything he/she wishes. It appears the best that can be said is Monson mixed up the actual time of his death, as much as anything, the age of his enlistment. It seems like it was all from his memory, aside from after hearing from his mother correcting the death thing.

The poor kid died when he was 18. And the poor mother took it hard as one would expect. Its an interesting story that I would like to hear more about. I don't know if this amounts to anything as people here are trying to paint it though--monson lies, or fabricates or inserts himself into everyone's story or whatever. Its too bad some are so persuaded to attack the guy they have to think he told lies. Hate to see you guys go after me like this. Oh wait...

[_jon]

I'm having trouble seeing what the fuss here is. The skeptical mind will see anything he/she wishes. It appears the best that can be said is Monson mixed up the actual time of his death, as much as anything, the age of his enlistment. It seems like it was all from his memory, aside from after hearing from his mother correcting the death thing.

The poor kid died when he was 18. And the poor mother took it hard as one would expect. Its an interesting story that I would like to hear more about. I don't know if this amounts to anything as people here are trying to paint it though--monson lies, or fabricates or inserts himself into everyone's story or whatever. Its too bad some are so persuaded to attack the guy they have to think he told lies. Hate to see you guys go after me like this. Oh wait...

Stem, would your view change if it becomes clear that Arthur Patton did not die in WWII?

[_stemelbow]

Stem, would your view change if it becomes clear that Arthur Patton did not die in WWII?

I don't even know how one could show that considering the story already told. Are you saying Monson fabricated the letter from his mother? Man, I'm sorry but you guys sure go to extremes when it comes to LDS. Do you really think Monson just made this all up in front of everyone?

[_jon]

Stem, would your view change if it becomes clear that Arthur Patton did not die in WWII?

I don't even know how one could show that considering the story already told. Are you saying Monson fabricated the letter from his mother? Man, I'm sorry but you guys sure go to extremes when it comes to LDS. Do you really think Monson just made this all up in front of everyone?

Stem, would your view change if it became clear that Arthur Patton didn't die in WWII?

[_stemelbow]

Stem, would your view change if it became clear that Arthur Patton didn't die in WWII?

Another hypothetical? I don't care. I'm sure tons of Arthur Patton's have died outside of WWII. Tons of historical records could have been tampered with too. What the garbage to I care? I'm not out hearing people's story they tell me then running off to see if their anecdotal experience holds any merit or not. I just don't think of people or treat people that way.

But again, I don't know regarding your hypothetical...again. Who really does?

[_Buffalo]

Stem, would your view change if it becomes clear that Arthur Patton did not die in WWII?

I don't even know how one could show that considering the story already told. Are you saying Monson fabricated the letter from his mother? Man, I'm sorry but you guys sure go to extremes when it comes to LDS. Do you really think Monson just made this all up in front of everyone?

It's possible. Monson tells a lot of stories that sound like tall tales, or at least highly exaggerated. I'm reserving judgment on this until more information comes in.

[_subgenius]

.... I'm reserving judgment......

[_subgenius]

Sub, If Arthur Patton didn't die in WWII would that have any impact on your opinion of Thomas S Monson.

not at all.
if Arthur Patton DID, would your opinion change?