‘The Mormons’ at PBS
The Deseret News has an article describing the upcoming four-hour PBS documentary “The Mormons,” which will air in two parts on April 30 and May 1 (hat tip: M-Star). The producer of the film, Helen Whitney, is quoted in the article as follows:
I hope that most of the stereotypes — ideally, all of them — will be blown away. Because so many of them are just based on ignorance. Ignorance about Mormon history, ignorance about Mormon theology. Ignorance.
This sounds very promising.
The April 30 segment will focus on LDS history:
The first night, on “American Experience,” addresses LDS Church history, with themes that include revelation, persecution leading to exodus, polygamy and “the great accommodation” when the church renounced plural marriage.
The May 1 segment will look at the contemporary LDS Church:
The second night, on “Frontline,” deals with the modern church — missionary work, family, temples, dissenters and “the extraordinary transformation from a people who are outsiders and pariahs to the mainstream. It is one of the great, neglected narratives of American religious history,” Whitney said.
This could be a real breakout moment for media portrayal of the LDS Church: a fair and balanced documentary by an experienced and talented producer. So write these dates on your calendar, planner, or handheld digital device. It may be a night to remember.
I know of several of the folks that have been interviewed. There have been quite a number of Mormon Studies folks. It will definitely be balanced (e.g., interviews with folks that have struggled with the faith), but I am encouraged that the Church gave them such great access.
Comment by J. Stapley — January 15, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
PLEASE.
Someone TiVo this or whatever and burn me a DVD. Uncle Ronan needs to see this.
Comment by Ronan — January 15, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
I actually know several people involved in the process. The angle I took away from it was that it plays more on the sensational aspects of Mormonism to attrack viewers rather than actually being interested in a balanced approach.
I wouldn’t expect anything extraordinary.
Comment by SmallAxe — January 15, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Tangent: Al-Jazeera recently did an in-depth show on the church which I heard was also quite good and balanced. Unfortunately I think it was only on their new documentary channel (as part of a series of shows on religious minorities in the Middle East) which is not available in the States. Several folks I know were interviewed for that and I heard it was quite good coverage. We are little known in the Middle East and what little is known is generally negative (often the result of local churches recycling 100 year old anti-Mormon propaganda too ridiculous for even most US anti’s).
In any case, hope this PBS series comes out good, sounds promising.
Comment by NonArab-Arab — January 15, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
Cool, I’ll be looking forward to this one.
Comment by Sherpa — January 16, 2007 @ 9:50 am
It will be interesting to see who they give the final word and more air time to on the issues.
Will Bagley and Terryl Givens are both consultants on this, i read somewhere…
Comment by Matt W. — January 16, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
I would really like to hear a review of the show before it airs. It seems like the kind of thing I would like to have my non-member parents watch. But I would hate to promise them a balanced program and then sit down to watch and have it be more like what SmallAxe says it is.
Comment by Katie — January 16, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
If this documentary lives up to its “fair and balanced” billing, it could boost Mitt Romney’s Presidential candidacy. While some evangelicals are willing to give him a fair shot, others still are determined not to support him because they believe Mormons aren’t “Christian”. This documentary needs to show that we are unconditionally and unmistakeably Christian.
While I can tolerate most responsible criticism of the Church, the allegation that we’re not Christian truly tries my patience.
Comment by Anchorage Activist — January 18, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
Trust me. None of you will be happy. If an outsider is making an honest doc about the Mormon church, they are going to include the things that make all of you uneasy. A candid survey of Mormon beliefs will include things you guys don’t like to talk about. I won’t go into the details because then I will be accused of being unkind and in your face.
Comment by Katonah — January 19, 2007 @ 7:37 am
“I hope that most of the stereotypes — ideally, all of them — will be blown away. Because so many of them are just based on ignorance. Ignorance about Mormon history, ignorance about Mormon theology. Ignorance.”
Woo! It’s about time aggressively tolerance came to our aid. But if anyone is expecting PBS to shake-up Evangelical attitudes, they are in for a surprise.
Comment by Adam Greenwood — January 19, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
It appalls me that “orthodox” LDS members want to make themselves look like protestant Evangelicals when their religion is the complete opposite of so-called Orthodox Christianity.
Christ said to Joseph about other churches that, “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.â€
This is the main reason i will not vote for Mitt.
Sometimes I wish the preacher and other anti-orthodox Christian bashing was not taken out of the endowment in 1991 (false priests and popes). Maybe then members of the church would see that the Evangelicals are NOT our friends, and that Pat Robinson (among others) actively seeks the destruction of the Church a lot quicker then secularists.
Comment by Michael Sadler — January 20, 2007 @ 10:55 am
Maybe we should be less focused on who our enemies are and on who else we are trying to be, and more focused on who we ourselves want to be?
Comment by NonArab-Arab — January 20, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Attempting to harmonize Mr. Romney’s beliefs with the rigid Judaeo/Christian norm that predominates is disingenuous and dishonors the early founders and forgers of the Mormon Faith. Pioneers didn’t risk life and limb and persecution to join a faith that was similar to the one they were leaving. It was a distinctly new and different religion and offering a totally different path to salvation and afterworld realities.
This is what educated and well informed people know of the LDS faith who have actually studied it or been around its believers enough to ask question and understand it. To the uninformed the situation can be watered down and postured in a way that appears to make it more like the mainstream but this is not what the historical record and culture supports.
Mr. Romney better try and stick to the core issues that need to be addressed and avoid a debate over what it is he really does or does not believe in.
Comment by David L. — January 21, 2007 @ 4:33 am
1) We should hope it’s not a puff piece that Joe and Molly Mormon would love. Puff pieces are boring and few non-LDS would watch.
2) Are commenters really upset we’re becoming a grace preaching church? I greatly prefer this scripture based approach to the sad old Nazi self salvation brand of Mormonism. Without the change, I’d have left long ago. It was a sad time when a GA could make a career obsessing about silly stuff like WofW, fashion, youth self pleasure, etc.
3) Why do many LDS apply Smith’s 1st vision account regarding other churches to anything beyond Palmyra clergy circa 1820? To say only LDS are sincere seekers of truth is not only silly and wrong, it’s a gross stretching of Smith’s account.
Comment by Steve EM — January 26, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Steve why not push for rock bands in the Sunday service and Black gospel like sermons? A lot of changes would have to occur to mainstream LDS Sunday services and reflect an evangelical approach to preaching and salvation.
Comment by David L. — January 26, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
David,
Yes, our sorry music is long overdue for an upgrade and energetic preaching, call and response type worship, speaking in tongues, etc would be welcome changes that would bring us back to the roots of our faith. The basic rule shoud be anything goes that isn’t specifically prohibited by scripture. Amen brother!
Comment by Steve EM — January 27, 2007 @ 12:17 am
I was always of the opinion that the “non-energetic” preaching style of the Mormon laity was its saving grace (if I may use that term). I was always, and still am, appalled at the fire and brimstone style of preaching, even though neither style has anything to do with the relative truths of what’s preached about.
Comment by Katonah — January 27, 2007 @ 12:01 pm