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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?

You had two hours and you did not get it right. I hope your next two hours repairs some of the damage. I did not expect a pro-mormon propaganda piece but giving 70% or more to pure anti-mormon topics is not balance. On the other hand I should be surprised you didn't just turn it over to the "former mormon scholars". (or did you?) The anti-mormons are dancing with joy tonight. You might notice the anti-mormons are the only happy ones on your blog. Persecution continues. But I have it really easycompared to my ancestors. That you did briefly portray.

Chad Fugate
Pocatello, ID

 

The mark of a great documentary is one where the marketplace of ideas is open. It's interesting that both sides of LDS issues complain it wasn't fair and balanced. I disagree. I think it is incredible that Helen Whitney came out with such an objective film, given the undoubted pressure she was under both from the Church and anti-Mormons to have their sides of the story told. I really hope that members of the Church can be more open-minded about this documentary; it's great that our story is being told, and there is only so much one can put in a 4-hour documentary. Congrats, PBS, and I hope this gets shown over and over. You did exactly what you needed to be fair and balanced by getting commentary from both sides. I thought it was a good touch not to write down who were LDS and who were not because closed-minded people inside and outside the faith would have tuned those out who aren't supporting their views.

Nick Newman
Provo, UT

 

What was entirely new to me, and fascinating, is the way your documentary framed church history and doctrine in the broader context of the American experience ...the Mormon religion as the ultimate Horatio Alger story! Brilliant!

Having spent most of my life in the church, I nonetheless ended up an atheist, not an easy feat living here in what remains, despite Buchanan's best efforts, a Mormon theocracy where nonbelievers are shunned and "apostates" scorned. I look forward to tomorrow's installment and hope it addresses the religious divide here in Utah where any examination of the one true church by a nonbeliever, however well intentioned and fair-minded, will largely be considered an attack to defend against.

Jackie Anderson
Price, UT

 

Thank you PBS for your airing of THE MORMONS. It is rare for any religion to get 4 hours of such educated and highly regarded programing. I appreciated hearing both sides of every story and as with all human history, none is perfect. I know that it is impossible to truly understand a belief without actually participating in it, but I feel that the director of this documentary did so with great respect and research.

There will always be a certain slanting involved because that is the nature of opinions. I especially appreciate the information in your FAQs section on your website. I was pleased to find such accurate and well researched information.

Tannie Smith
Austin, Texas

 

I was raised in the Mormon church (and married to a Mormon man) I have much history and background in the actual current practice of the church, but the true history is often glossed over and the un-flattering portions of the church are often swept under the rug. I found this documentary to be extremely informative and bold in it's desire to show the Mormon church in a non-biased way.

I have noticed quite a few people are commenting on how upset they are about the light in which the church has been portrayed, but I know that when you are so deeply immersed in the religion it's hard to imagine it's anything other than what you're told. Free thinking is not an attribute many Mormons are privileged to enjoy.

Naomi Mitchell
Hamilton, Ohio

 

I would agree with some on this discussion board that the interviews were weighted a bit in favor of the ex- or anti-Mormon commentators. However, I don't think that faithful members of the church should be afraid to be confronted with some of the difficult issues of our history, such as Mountain Meadows and polygamy. True faith is not born of ignorance, but stands firm in the face of difficult questions, and it does so not out of a stubborn unwillingness to look these questions in the eye, but through a process of study and soul searching that transcends empirical deduction. I have spent time at Mountain Meadows, and I will never be able to fully understand or explain away what happened there. But to pretend it didn't happen or to act like it was not a major event and a very black spot in our history does not make it go away. I think it is good for Mormons to acknowledge these difficult issues and to realize that we don't have answers for everything.

Of course this program isn't going to win any converts for the church. It wasn't and shouldn't have been designed to do so. And while I am afraid that at least this first part may have gone a bit too far in reinforcing some negative stereotypes about Mormons, I don't think it's going to cause anyone who was previously ambivalent about the church to develop a negative attitude toward it. If anything, the extreme variety of opinions on this discussion board is proof of that. I don't think my neighbor in Terre Haute developed his rather paranoid view of the church after seeing the program.

Tyler Hafen
Bloomington, Indiana

 

I thought the show was entertaining and had several good points that portray the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. However I was dissapointed to find that there was a tendancy to lean toward the negative side of the coin. I think that the unbalance was do to the fact that more time was spent with those who did not believe and not enough or equal time with those that do. And the whole issue of Pollygamy was shaded a bit. I do not have a problem with my history as a member of the church. However I also know that we are not affiliated with those fundamentalist groups at all and like Pres. Hinckley said, most have NEVER been members of the church. So why spend 15 minutes on that one aspect??

All in all I am glad that people are curious and talking about us. And even though the information was slanted in the negative direction..I look forward to the second installment to see if we are better represented.

Patricia Wandell
Wills Point, Texas

 

With all that has been said thus far, I must add that I feel quite misrepresented as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I felt a darkness and sadness prompted by the cynicism displayed throughout the show. The truth about the church can only be discovered through an individual study of it. No one can gain a true understanding of what we are and what we believe by listening to others opinions; opinions represented as truth in a mask of intellectualism.

Joseph Smith would reply to this documentary by saying that regardless of the outcomes created by it, the kingdom of God will roll forward with increasing momentum. Indeed he said, "the standard of truth has been erected; No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

I appreciate your efforts to inform the world of who we are, no matter what your motives are in doing so. I just want to say to anyone watching and reading that in the end truth is truth, and stands independent of commentary and cynicism. The only way to know truth is to seek it out yourself, independent of the opinions of others.

Janson Holm
Chicago, IL

 

My favorite quote was from Kathleen Flake: "It is revelation or nothing for these people." I agree that what set Joseph Smith apart was his desire that others experience the same visions and develop the same relatioship with God that he had. But then the documentary goes on about the mountain meadows and to falsely accuse the church of expecting blind, unquestioning obedience. I don't think the documentary resolved this seeming contradiction. In my experience, the church has always expected me to "study things out in my own mind" and warns to not "subsist on barrowed light."

A case en point, when others tried to give Brigham Young credit for organizing the mass migration of the saints to Utah, Pres. Young always deflected that praise; instead attributing the migration's success to the "buring testimony" in the hearts of each individual.

David Brosnahan
Evans, GA

 

Great journalism, great breadth and depth. As a practicing Mormon I applaud this presentation -- and not because it contributes to white-washing as other posters have suggested, but because it begins to strip it away. To LDS viewers -- speaking about questions and controversies does not persecution make! Far better that we should welcome inquiry than feel threatened by it.

Julie Berry
Maynard, MA

 

Wow! My opinion is mixed regarding the documentary. I feel an unbalanced amount of time was spent on the Mountain Meadow's Massacre and polygamy. Over all it was educational, but I felt the majority of the commentators had negative feelings for the Mormon Church. I hope the next segment portrays a better balanced representation. Religion is never an easy topic to portray, discuss or represent without bias or emotion. Thanks PBS and Helen Whitney for trying.

Matt Hammond
Idaho Falls, Idaho

 

We often feel misunderstood, and when a show like this airs it arouses our curiousity. We want to see if they got it right. I, like many, was disappionted in a lot of the content of the film. But having studied some of history, i realize that any documenary is going to be full of opinion, which is fine. I really hope though, that anyone not of our faith would realize that they are opinions, and that to learn about something, really anything, you have to actually participate in it. So I urge anyone with real questions to ask members and to learn for themselves.

Tyson Smith
rexburg, ID

 

As a lifetime active member of the LDS Church, I have to say that this documentary is pretty close to the truth. I served a mission, married in the temple etc., but I keep a secret in my heart. It is that I don't ask and don't question what I know to be wrong. Just do some google searching and pray to know the truth and you'll see this documentary is more than fair with our very questionable history. Much of our own history has been kept hidden due to its error. That is why this program is such a shock to LDS folks. Sorry to say, it may be the first time your hearing it because no-one talks about it.

Joseph Smith would be in jail for being a pedophile and rapist if he lived today. Either way it's a pretty good place to raise children so that's why I go. I don't believe it's the only way to heaven and I am sure that the celestial marriage covenant is simply a spin on polygamy. Regardless, I love my wife and family and am sure God knows my heart.

Steve Anderson
Long Beach, CA

 

i am appalled to see PBS broadcast such a documentary that so misrepresents my religion. i can not believe i encouraged people to watch this program i will relay to them my sadness that this program represents the leaders of our church in such a horrible way. I will not be viewing PBS after this.

David Vatcher
Fresno, California

 

I am a convert to Mormonism. I was a Methodist as a child and young man. I am a medical doctor and received my education at the University of Miami Medical School. I consider myself fairly well educated and a generally intelligent person.

The presentation on PBS was overall entertaining and informative, but I couldn't help but feel that much of the presentation was being done "tongue in cheek" with a bias towards we "believers" being somewhat like foolish knaves who had been brainwashed or duped.

The presentation of the historical backround of the gold plates and translation of the Book of Mormon sounded like "voodoo" and certainly might give a non-member pause as they considered this story as too fantastic to be true. I would have appreciated some discussion about the 11 other normal,sane, respectable people who also saw the gold plates and testified of their antiquity. I am always a touch offended at the suggestion that an intelliegent, rational person could never believe in Mormonism--I do.

William Lauro
Salt Lake City, Utah