Reaction to Part One of The MormonsDocumentary Film on PBS

PBS is showing a four-hour documentary film "The Mormons" by award-winning filmmaker Helen Whitney (winner of an Emmy and Peabody award). Originally PBS's Web site claimed the film will take on stereotypes about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The film is a co-production of "American Experience" and "Frontline" (their first co-production together) and aims to dispel stereotypes based on ignorance.

Well after watching the first half of the documentary I have to say I am looking forward or should I say I'm curious about what the second half of the film is going to say about the church. I was disappointed I missed the first few minutes of it because I was putting my daughter down to sleep (late bedtime tonight because family home evening ran over). I taped it though so I'll have to go back and watch the beginning of it. I really enjoyed getting to see Elder Holland -- he's a favorite of mine.

I'm not totally sure what stereotypes the film was trying to dispel. Perhaps just clear up the actual events of Joseph Smith's First Vision of God and Jesus Christ, polygamy, and what the Book of Mormon is about. I really felt like the film did a poor job of emphasizing the main tenants of our faith and discussed issues that aren't even central to what we believe.Too much time was spent on polygamy (once again) -- I really liked the comment on how this issue seems to resurface every ten years -- that is so true. How many times do we have to go over this? Blah! I thought it was weird that the film featured polygamist families that are in no way affiliated with the church.

It bothered me that the many wonderful qualities of Joseph Smith were not brought up although there seemed to be plenty of criticism. Most of what could be viewed as the positive side for balance in the film seemed to be merely factual historical information. Some items like repaying church debt were left out.

I felt like the explanation of what is contained in The Book of Mormon was very cursory given the significance of the book to our faith. I wish the film had discussed how we also believe in the Bible and additional revelation from modern-day prophets.