Doug Robinson of the LDS Church owned newspaper the Deseret News, asks a very poignant question of whether lies matter. In his article he affirms that big lies do indeed matter.
If we're supposed to believe that hiding the truth will inspire kids to overcome cancer and create fake heroes, then we might also reason it will inspire them to justify other habits because "everyone is doing it." Oh, and it will also tell them that lying is acceptable if it's the means to an end.
Well, then Doug Robinson, might we apply your logic to conclude thusly?
"If we're supposed to believe that hiding the truth will inspire kids to go on missions and marry in the temple and create fake heroes like Joseph Smith Jr, then we might also reason it will inspire them to justify other habits because 'the Church is doing it.' Oh, and it will also tell them that lying is acceptable if it's the means to an end."
aside for Sally Jenkins, co-author of Armstrong's autobiography, none of the media figures and reporters the DesNews column calls out ever wrote or implied that Lance's lies "don't matter".
hell, most of the articles he cites were written before Armstrong admitted lying about his PED use. the only exceptions were Jenkins and Robert Lipsyte, who wrote: "There is nothing noble, of course, in what Armstrong has done. And this is no defense of the ends justifying the means, no defense whatsoever for the lie lived by Armstrong."