A Documentary about the LDS Church

by Miriam Caldwell | More from this Blogger

28 Apr 2007 09:22 PM

A new two-part documentary "The Mormons: A Documentary" is scheduled to air on Monday April 30, 2007 and Tuesday May 1, 2007 on PBS. You can check your local listings for the time in your area. This documentary takes a look at the history of the LDS church, and how the church is operating today. Helen Whitney directs the documentary. This documentary is an objective view of the church.

The first part of the documentary will take a close look at the history of Mormonism. The second part looks specifically at where the church is today. The documentary is not made from an LDS viewpoint. It may raise some controversy or cause people to ask questions. It pulls on church historians and historians outside of the church to put together the information. Whitney also interviews Mormon members and families, as well as former members of the church.

This should be an interesting documentary to watch. In any case it is likely to generate discussion about the church. While some of the questions and perceptions may be negative, it may give you the chance to dispel some myths and rumors about the church. It covers history, beliefs, and many other facets that involve life for LDS church members.

As you discuss the documentary with others, or if you have questions of your own you can visit www.mormon.org to find the answers. The church has missionaries available to answer questions live online. You may also find answers to numerous questions at the site. The site really breaks down the basic LDS beliefs. There are extensive lists of frequently asked questions as well.

You may want to watch the first part of the film for your family home evening lesson this week, or record it to watch later. You can record the second half to watch next week or at a later date as well. You may want to invite any friends or family that are interested in learning more about the church to watch as well.

Related Articles:

An Outsider's View

October's Issue of The Ensign to Address New Members

Joseph Smith Web Site

Learn more about Miriam Caldwell

Miriam is a SAHM mom of three children. She has a daughter who is seven, and two sons, four and two. She loves being a parent and spending time with her children.

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Nola Redd (7081) 30 Apr 2007 01:02 PM

I plan on Tivoing the first half, although the second half conflicts. It should be interesting. Thanks for reminding me!

ptman (30) 30 Apr 2007 09:39 PM

Just watched it. It was apparent that the context was one of 'this is wrong and here is why'. The contrasting of the presentation of information about the MO era of the church and the Mountain Meadow event is revealing. The text about the Hans Mill event was quite sterile in comparison of the Mountain Meadow event. there was reference to a child as young as 10 being shot point blank and then a passing comment about children being killed by the mobs in Missouri. Contrasted to the journal entry from a woman that was 3 at the time of the Mountain Meadow massacre. something like "even at three a child will remember the last gasp of life their father makes as they lay with him, arms tight around his neck, and of the blood stain in the gingham dress of her mother hacked to death...." I am not lessening the terrible event that the Mountain Meadow massacre was, I think that they tried to present some of the pressure that the saints were under at the time, but the presentation was much darker of the MM event than of the Mobbing in MO and IL periods of the chruch history. Any Comments?

Miriam Caldwell (8030) 02 May 2007 06:20 AM

I feel that the documentary showed many different viewpoints and opinions. It was important to show the dissenting viewpoint, but the people who were dissenters were respectful in their comments. I feel that Whitney did a fairly good job. There were parts of history that were brushed over, which I would have liked to see more of, but considering time restraints it was fairly good. I agree that she did not focus much on the violence done to the saints.