For the younger readers, I give the wiki and a quick summary. Paul H. Dunn was a major General Authority in the 70s and early 80s who was caught lying through his teeth so often that he was removed as a leader. His lies included playing baseball where he didn’t, serving in Vietnam when he didn’t, and a host of other things.
Please note that, although known as a devout liar that misled saints with tales of miracles and personal achievement, his stories can still be found in manuals being taught to children, and he is listed as an author in the Old Testament Student Manual and as a study source in the instructor’s manuals.
Of course, we’d expect talks of his to still be listed on the LDS.org site, but, to my surprise, many of his talks and lessons were reiterated after he admitted that he had embellished his stories in 1991. Sharing Time in 1990, while Paul H. Dunn was under investigation, even included his stories distributed in both the U.S. and foreign mailings of the Friend.
Interestingly, his obituary is rather short, not listing his war service, his baseball experience, or any other of his tall tales. Also noteworthy, he was never excommunicated for lying to the body of the church, just given Emeritus status on October 1, 1989.
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.
Jerald and Sandra Tanner published this number once he confessed, illustrating the long history of fabricating stories to make people feel good. I think it is relevant that Mr. Dunn was committing fraud as the head of a company long before anything came to light publicly:
Paul H. Dunn… whose church salary is $40,000 a year, was a director of Afco Enterprises, a real-estate venture until 1978. Afco collapsed four years later; and its owner, Grant C. Affleck, was recently indicted for mail fraud, securities fraud and bankruptcy fraud. Despite Mr. Dunn’s 1978 resignation, records in the U. S. District Court civil suit here show that he continued to have ties with Afco until it entered bankruptcy proceedings in 1982…. and gave advice to directors after he resigned…. A few days before Afco entered bankruptcy proceedings, Mr. Dunn wrote a disgruntled Afco investor a letter calling Mr. Affleck, a fellow Mormon, ‘fair and Christ like.’ U. S. Attorney Brent Ward… says that about 650 investors lost over $20 million through Afco investments.’
Lynn Packer is an interesting fellow. He is the nephew of Boyd K. Packer, and was a professor at BYU at the time.
Researcher Lynn Packer did not get off so easily. “At the same time [that they placed Dunn on emeritus status], however, the university [BYU] terminated Packer’s teaching contract, in part because he wanted to publish a story about his findings. Gordon Whiting, then chairman of the BYU communications department, had warned Packer in a memo that `publication of the Paul Dunn article will damage the church, will damage the university, will damage the department and will damage you.'”
When Packer, himself a Mormon, decided to release his four years of research to The Arizona Republic in spite of the threats, his contract was terminated and he lost his job. Whiting explained that Packer violated, “church and university policies that prohibit public criticism if church leaders. Mormon leader Dunn was not reprimanded for altering the facts, but Packer was fired simply for showing that these stories were not true.
Lynn Packer also investigated another con man of infamy, one “Mark Hofmann.” He had been tasked at KSL, as he was also employed there, to look into Mark Hofmann’s dealings with Gordon B. Hinckley. He was fired for wanting to publish that story. Packer also published work for the Utah City Weekly newspaper in 2007, highlighting graft and issues in the Olympics, as well as other issues.
His Sunstone article detailing his research is available here.
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 1,000-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]
- that Dunn’s best friend died in his arms from serious injuries sustained in a battle on Okinawa.[4]
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.
The response to the allegations against Mr. Dunn were, perhaps predictable. The Deseret News tried to cast reason to doubt the allegations, and BYU students informed in the Daily Universe became upset anyone would say such truths about a man who was so loved, including one man punching the author (The Daily Universe, Feb. 21, 1991)!
On October 26, the following letter was published in the Church News, a supplement section of Deseret Morning News (a newspaper owned by the LDS Church):
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[5]
The exact identity of the “heavy penalty” that was imposed upon Dunn is unclear. 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.
So what should have happened to Mr. Dunn? In a Sunstone article, there is final note about an LDS chaplain who forged heroic stories about serving in Vietnam. The Chaplain was court-martialed and faced up to 20 years in prison. He was fined $10,000 and dismissed, however.
The fascinating thing is not just that the church tried to cover up the scandal, not that they tried to bribe their way out of it, or that they still use a man who blatantly lied in their teaching material up until long after it was obvious the man was a fraud. It’s that so many of the current GAs are engaged in similar behavior without anyone noticing.
I was a convert to the church at the age of 16, in the early 70’s and my ‘member’ friends shared many of their Paul Dunn tapes and stories with me. I loved listening to them. Fortunately for me, I was converted to the gospel, when I gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon, not to the man or his stories. While it is unfortunate that he felt he had to make a lot of these things up, I am grateful for the principles they illustrated and that have stayed with me through the years. May he rest in peace and receive the forgiveness that we all need and hope for, through the Atonement of the one Perfect person to have lived on this earth.
See, I can respect your point of view, but much of this series (GA Bullsh*t) will illustrate that he wasn’t alone. They all make crap up, and sell it to the gullible.
>Fortunately for me, I was converted to the gospel,
The gospel of Joseph Smith, or the gospel of correlation, because those two are very very different. (See Nutty mormon history 2, comming out soon, for more details)
I too am a convert since 1972 and I attended a BYU Devotional as a non member guest, the concepts taught were what lead me to a continual investigation of the LDS church. I had an opportunity to purchase a set of P Dunn talks but was informed they were exaggerations and fabrications of stories that showed principles. Personally it’s the doctrine that keeps me close to the Lord, not the people. The author of the main article – I would ask him what he believes. It is obvious, what he does not…. What are his foundational beliefs? Share them, so that we may question you as you have of Paul Dunn.
I’ve stated my beliefs on the About Me page, but always happy to reply. What beliefs specifically would you like to know about?
Dunn did great things for the church. He was also a profligate liar. Before we hyperventilate and throw stones at him, we need to be aware of one fundamental reality affecting all of us. It is called the duality of man. Another way to look at it is how do each of us deal with our weaknesses. Are we aware of them? Dunn lost control of his.
I think this is a very insightful comment. I believe the same duality exists in all the brethren, and many of them have lost control of it as well. They simply haven’t been caught yet.
That Duality you speak of is why one must regard religious leaders with EXTRA scrutiny, else one can follow the man, and not the word of God. And if, after investigation, it’s all man, and no God, one cannot blame people for wanting to throw a stone or two at those who pretend to be of God.
Even God dislikes them, calling the prophet who tells lies the back of an ass in the scriptures.
If one won’t throw stones at this level of abuse of power, when will one throw stones?
I grew up in the church, my father was a dear friend of Paul Dunn. I met him on several occasions. I loved Paul and his well spun stories. He drew me in when entertainment and laughter. Paul helped to strengthen my testimony with his strong love of the gospal. I could also feel his great love not just got or heavenly father, the church or its you720-224-7128th. Paul lived my father, they were like brothers. I got to play catch with Paul as a b720-224-7128oy. I loved that man his tall tales, and his love of the gospel. Some block head said stone him, Paul with his stories drew many saints into the gospel and Paul through his love of the church strengthened many testimonies of the saints. I love that man and always will. I hope my father got to go to heaven and meet his friend, my love to both of those remarkable men.
How do you reconcile “lying for the lord”. Do you worship a god of falsehoods?
Lying for the “Lord”, oh the excuses and the spin.
I grew up in the LDS Church, family goes way back to the begining with J. Smith. The lies that were and continue to be told is what drove me out. I used to idolize Dunn but him being caught in the lies and how the Church and the devout members make excuses to justify the lies……..
It’s just the tip of the iceberg of all the lies the LDS Church and religion as a whole are built on.
I too grew up listening to the stories of Dunn. Will I leave the Church because he embellished the truth? No. Would a Lutheran forgo the teachings of Martin Luther because he was anti-Semitic? No. People leave the Church for a multitude of reasons including looking for any reason other than the real reason:
In 1543 Luther published “On the Jews and Their Lies” in which he says that the Jews are a “base, whoring people, that is, no people of God, and their boast of lineage, circumcision, and law must be accounted as filth.” They are full of the “devil’s feces … which they wallow in like swine.” The synagogue was a “defiled bride, yes, an incorrigible whore and an evil slut …” He argues that their synagogues and schools be set on fire, their prayer books destroyed, rabbis forbidden to preach, homes razed, and property and money confiscated. They should be shown no mercy or kindness, afforded no legal protection, and these “poisonous envenomed worms” should be drafted into forced labor or expelled for all time. He also seems to advocate their murder, writing “[w]e are at fault in not slaying them”.
Crap like this can be found in any religion. Did the Mormon leaders handle it wrong? Heck yeah. Lynn Packer should have received a public apology. Church members really should press the leaders to apologize when it is found out, without a doubt, the leaders handled something wrong.
The Mormon leaders are mere mortals and screw up. When I read of leaders of other religions messing up they are given a feee pass. Why the double standard for Mormon leaders?
The screw ups of the leaders does not change the doctrines as restored by Joseph Smith. The doctrines lead us to Christ……not personal stories. Members really do need to understand the Scriptures, doctrines and pray for guidance and ask God for help in all things. I learned a long time ago to not listen to members BS and leaders BS. I stick to the Bible, prayer, doctrines, other Scriptures and I stick to what Joseph Smith taught.
The screw up of leaders have in fact, changed the doctrines as restored by Joseph Smith. They changed them a lot.
Also John Calvin lied, murdered and did all kinds of bad stuff. The Catholic church history is the worst behavior ever…..murders, lying, illegitimate children by Popes and Priests and Nuns, embezzling, you name it The Catholic church did it.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone on Paul Dunn’s grave site. Doubt your doubts, not your faith. Everything is in the hand of the Lord who will straighten everything out at his second coming. Paul H. Dunn may have fabricated the stories but he never fabricated anything focusing on church doctrine.
Prove it. How can we verify that every doctrine was legitimate? We know they fabricated tales about “Milk Strippings” and invited members to invest in a burned-out shell of a bank, and then used tithing funds to bail that out.
So how can one trust the doctrine? What method do you use?
I have read some of Paul H. Dunn’s books, and have listened to some of his talks. I listened to one today. He seems sincere, and genuine when he talks. Did he make mistakes? Big ones. Will he pay a price? Big time. However, what was his crime? He lied. How many of us have not lied? He should have handled it in a different way. I know he wishes that he would have. Think of all the shame and embarrassment, and cost, this has brought to his family. He deserves more. There is no excuse for a General Authority to lie. It is against everything I believe.
I have made mistakes in my life. However, I have a solemn testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that Joseph Smith restored. I absolutely know that it is true. I have come to this conclusion through many hours of study, and prayer. I know I would give everything I have, including my life for the Gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Church has always indicated that the Church is true, the men leading them, are not. Look what Peter did lying about whether he knew Jesus Christ! Did Peter get ex-communicated? No. He went on to become the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ.
We are all mortal, and we all make mistakes. After we die, and we all go before the judgement bar of Christ, we will finally know where Paul goes, Peter goes, and all of us go. The Mormon church is the only true church on the earth. I know that it is the true church. I cannot say it enough times. You can vilify others all you want. It does not change the truth. If the Mormon Church is not the only true Church, what is? Von
>He lied.
He didn’t just lie, he lied for personal and professional gain. He defrauded members by lying to them. What does God call a false prophet?
“the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.” – Isaiah 9:15
That’s right, God, in the bible calls those who claim to be prophets and teach lies, an ass’s ass. Pretty strong words.
>It does not change the truth. If the Mormon Church is not the only true Church, what is?
A true church would not need liars, fraudsters and a history of whitewashing mistakes. I’m happy to talk to you about truth and how we get there.
People are people.
For millennia they have all proved one thing, the same thing, they are human. People make the same mistakes over and over, even Christ talks about it and that was over 2000 years ago.
What matters isn’t them- they- or the mass popular beliefs and mistakes, its you.
Go ahead and throw your stones. Nothing changes those facts, it’s still all about you and your mistakes. I don’t want to be accountable for yours and believe me, you don’t want mine.
It was never a Church thing, it was a Paul thing. We weren’t in Paul’s penalty meetings after that (thank goodness) and have no power or authority over the outcome. So relax, it wasn’t about you that time and you don’t have to judge him.
Now, let’s talk about you and your lousy existence…. I’ll bet this is gonna be good!!
My existence doesn’t result in a real-estate empire bleeding a state of the Union for the good of a few leaders.
Let’s put accountability on the leaders of the organization until the bleeding stops. There’s plenty of time for me to review me with my therapist. 🙂
Perhaps the time has come to review D&C 86 more carefully. Why is there so much white collar crime in Utah? In a population of mostly LDS people, who are kind and trusting, and who also trusted Paul Dunn, you are going to have a parallel criminal element. Liars, con artists, predators, and etc will thrive in that environment. These are the tares among the wheat. Until the second coming, welcome to present day reality. Let’s hope church leaders do the right thing and warn us all.
Dunn exploited the mislaid faith of many TBMs to the tune of millions of dollars of contributions to the Mormon Church. The bastard was worth well over a million dollars at his death and sold nearly a million copies of his books to deceived Mormons. I mistakenly bought a book from him in 1975. I hope he has special spit assigned to him in hell fire where he can roast next to old Joe Smith!