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What are your thoughts concerning this film on the history and beliefs of Mormonism? Did it broaden your understanding of this very American religion?

I was very impressed with the first program and the way the church history was presented. There was not anything there that I have not heard before in my years as a "Mormon". I have questioned some of the reasons for the happenings in history that were spoken of in the program as I have encountered them and, like the friend noted in one of the interviews I have read on this site, I looked at the big picture, the whole concept of what it is to be a Mormon

two missionaries knocked on our door I have been trying to overcome the weaknesses of being human; jealousy, selfishness, insecurity, greed, etc. Like the cream gradually rising to the top of the milk, goodness, charity and all the good qualities of the human experience are rising to the top of my being with the help of the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the LDS church and through personal revelation.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading some of the full interviews you have included on this web site. Thank you for your expansive coverage and thank you for Helen who so diligently portrayed her subject showing impartiality. This is a great example of what journalism should be.

Patricia Bell
Geneva, New

 

Kudos to Helen Whitney and PBS for a riveting program on the religion that I adhere to and love. I am most impressed with the respect given to my often maligned religion and the great care taken to give differing perspectives. This care was evident in the treatment of the horrific Mountain Meadows Massacre by taking the time to describe the backdrop of war and fear that led up to this unspeakable event. Those members who are disappointed that this was not a testimony meeting should look at the comments here from detractors who are unhappy that this program was too positive. I watched this first installment out of a sense of duty, I am anticipating tonight's episode.

alta loma , CA

 

I am an active Latter-Day Saint. For many members of the LDS church, some of the information given in the documentary will be new. Like all religions, the LDS church portrays itself in the best light possible and stays away from all the controversial doctrines or moments of its history. These controversies are eliminated from our inner discourse by leaders who give members a selective history, or revised doctrines. Until a few years ago, I never even heard Joseph Smith was a polygamist, anything about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, about Joseph being a treasure hunter and using peepstones, or his multiple revision of his "first vision." Many active Latter-Day Saints are being surprised by their own history. It is something we as a church need to be more honest about. It will be better in the long run.

Mike Mitchell
Sherman, Texas

 

Regarding viewer's comments: It's interesting that the topic provokes such powerfully opposing feelings that viewers are compelled to take positions halfway into the film.

Sara Bullard
Charlottesville, VA

 

You missed the miracles. You mentioned the militia that marched from Ohio to Missouri, but you forgot the miracles of protection along the trek and at journey's end. You left the story before mentioning they fought in no battles. You forgot to state the reason Joseph Smith gave for their journey was to train the leaders--and how important that trek really was to the leadership core of the Church for the next fifty years, and which defines us today. You forgot the miracle of the Word of Wisdom. You forgot the miracle of the men and women in the Mormon Battalion, who arguably were dispatched by the US Government to die in the wilderness. You forgot to mention the miracle of the seagulls in Utah. You did not mention how the Mormons survived in the Salt Lake Valley, or how they built the temple and tabernacle--all miraculous.

These are not just tangential events--they define the Mormon people. The Mountain Meadow Massacre is a sorrowful, sacred learning experience, but it does little to understand who we were and who we are.

You went to some length about our joy in dance, but historically and doctrinally, there is more significance in our music and poetry. Why did you miss that?

You missed poignant lessons of hardship. You talked of Joseph's candidacy for president; you missed his frustrated appeals to redress grievances of Government officials, up to the office of the President. You missed a lengthy period of Joseph's incarceration, and the words he wrote then--products substantial to the Mormon character to this day, and, in the light of Nineteenth Century American psychology, remarkable. You missed the inaccuracies of the enemy press, the promulgation of violence, and vilifying the leaders of the Church, which continued into the Twentieth Century. These events tell our story better than you told it, but alone they do not tell our faith.

Broadcast time is precious; you could not have done all I suggest. Your rush to avoid the story being tainted by zealots appears to have tainted the story.

gerald patten
Centreville, Virginia

 

As a journalist, I know that completely objective reporting is always the goal and never the result; nevertheless, this program impressed me with its objectivity. I sincerely appreciate the effort to understand and respect a sometimes controversial religion. I agree with previous posts that members of the Church should not fear our history. It is what it is, and it doesn't make the Church any less true. Thanks, PBS, for a balanced documentary.

Megan Gery
Waterville, OH

 

I have really enjoyed this documentary. In light of all the historical information that has become widely available in recent years, I thought the program was charitable to the Church and showed it in the most favorable light possible.

I can understand the outrage of many Mormons however. In my experience as a formerly devout Mormon of many years, most Mormons know relatively little of their own history other than the sanitized version they learn from the hierarchy. Their Sunday School and other meetings and official Church manuals are largely filled with platitudes and hero worship of their historic figures. Mormons are fond of saying love the sinner, but hate the sin. For my part, I love the Mormons, but could no longer tolerate the hoax.

Richmond, Virginia

 

Watching tonight's program would have been worth it for me even if it contained only the following quote:

"Well, it's either true or false. If it's false, we're engaged in a great fraud. If it's true, it's the most important thing in the world. Now, that's the whole picture. It is either right or wrong, true or false, fraudulent or true. And that's exactly where we stand, with a conviction in our hearts that it is true: that Joseph went into the [Sacred] Grove; that he saw the Father and the Son; that he talked with them; that Moroni came; that the Book of Mormon was translated from the plates; that the priesthood was restored by those who held it anciently. That's our claim. That's where we stand, and that's where we fall, if we fall. But we don't. We just stand secure in that faith."

Gordon B. Hinckley is correct. It is either true or false. Having been born into the church, I remember feeling skeptical in the face of family and community pressure as early as my baptism at the age of eight. I have to wonder, having left the church in my teens, how the faithful can believe that a god would choose such an institution or manner to reveal truth - as if there were any basis in believing in the supernatural.

Sandy Bennion
Cambridge, MA

 

Like many other LDS members, I looked forward to viewing the documentary on mormanism by PBS. I heard that it would be well-balanced and represent both believers and non-believers. I was absolutly shocked at the underlying theme presented in the production.

I felt that while chapters such as "Exodus" did well to show the contraversies that faced early saints, most of the film depicted Latter-Day Saints in a negative light. I felt that the film depicted a number of esteemed non-mormons again and again, and failed to continually represent those who belive in, and support this church. It was an absolutly biased film which not only failed to present correct information in many aspects and chapters, but it also took great care to orchestrate a constant attack against our beliefs. I could not bear to watch the second half.

Bakersfield, CA

 

I watched with great interest. I think this is a very thoughtful presentation. As a member of this church, I found I could enjoy the information without being obsessed with whether it was absolutely balanced or unbiased. I think anyone's attempt to convey history or current events is always packaged in the communicator's own cumulative life experience.

Equally interesting, (in my opinion),is how so many viewers can view the same presentation and see and hear such different things. I think we can all learn from that. I would thank all those who seek to provide "light" and do so with "fair" intent.

Robert C Richmond
Salt Lake City, Utah

 

I write this with great saddness. I had hoped that a fair picture would have been presented. It was not. To use mostly ex-mormons as authorities was unfair. To have them say that I, as a practising Mormon, struggle and am at odds with parts of Mormon history is just false and not good journalism.

You glossed over the suffering of the Saints while spending an amazing amount of time on two "sensational" topics. Is this Inside Edition? I understand that you must sell your work and therefore you must make it as controversial as possible but I am deeply dissapointed that this is what documentaries have become. Thankfully I can and do think for myself and I can and do receive guidance from a Higher Being and I will go on living in happiness and peace with my faith.

Kati Layosa
Reno, NV

 

That was the without a doubt the biggest piece of shoddy journalism I have ever seen. On the PBS/Frontline website there is a section about their guidelines on journalistic standards practices including fairness all about how they will approach a story with an open, unbiased mind and will check all facts before airing. Unfortunately this didn't happen.

The so called "experts" interviewed had the most convoluted opinions and were no better than rumor mongors spouting falsities and hearsay. I am shocked and surprised that this was ever produced and aired on television. All they had to do was to interview leaders of the Mormon Church in order to get the facts that they were severely lacking. Now viewers will be sucked into believing rumor rather than truth. If anyone wants to learn for themselves, just contact the Church's missionaries in your area. Refer to www.mormon.org for contact information.

Steven McClellan
Hawthorne, CA

 

I believe PBS portrayed a good balance of arguements from both sides, but I wish they had some input from a protestant theologian on the religious issues and points taken from the Bible. I have found that mormons often take biblical quotes out of context to support their positions.

Las Vegas, Nevada

 

We were a little disappointed with the first half of this program. It did not contain complete truths about the LDS religion also known as "Mormonism." The best way to find truths about any topic of interest is to investigate for yourself. For example, go to a representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, don't rely on those who are former members or anti-Mormons for an accurate account. Also concerning the program, it is critical to acknowledge the comments of the actual leaders of the LDS church.

Springerville, Arizona

 

As a former member of the LDS faith, I found the program to be a fluff piece on the LDS church. It barely addressed the lies and hypocrisy of Joseph Smith and subsequent leaders. this could have been written by anybody in the PR department of the LDS church.

Given that PBS has to present what they see as an even-sided view of the Mormon church, I suspect that they feel they achieved this. I felt that it presented the church is a very positive light.

I do not believe it was well-balanced at all. But the truth is out there for people to read. So if anybody is interested, they will learn the real truth about Mormonism.

Angie Glover
Sandy, UT