Comments on: PBS at Testimony Meeting

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 14 May 2007 03:55:08 +0000

My wife and I talked about it with another couple in our ward for about 5 minutes (out of 2 hours) on the drive back from the temple. I was interested in how they would react, since they were some of the pioneer members of the church here in Cincinnati (joined as a couple 46 years ago), they are VERY conservative politically, and he is a former bishop and was just released as the ward mission leader. They thought it showed an underlying bias, but they both were pleased overall with it.

By: ElGuapo

ElGuapo — Wed, 09 May 2007 18:27:58 +0000

I went to two sacrament meetings in the Salt Lake area. The documentary was mentioned once in each. The first lady to speak mentioned she watched the PBS documentary, it caused her to ask what she really knows, the Spirit trumps all, no matter how they “spin it.” One older guy mentioned midway through his testimony that he’d watched it, and it might cause people to ask us about our faith. Not another word either hour.

One of two things seems to be happening: either it was a complete non-event to LDS faithful, or they’re waiting for someone to tell them what they think about it.

By: Margaret Young

Margaret Young — Tue, 08 May 2007 17:31:24 +0000

Todd-I posted this on your website, but just so you know, the other post was closed at my request. I felt it had gone as far as it needed to. But I am very happy to become familiar with you and your Idaho Falls church (which I do plan to visit), and to continue conversation on your website.
I find that when blog conversations go beyond 100 or more comments, they get a little circular.

By: onelowerlight

onelowerlight — Tue, 08 May 2007 17:16:59 +0000

No mention of it in my BYU student ward until towards the end of the meeting. One of the guys in my ward talked about how he was disappointed by it and didn’t feel that it got to the real reasons why we do and feel the things we do. He used as an example a part of the movie that seemed to say that Mormons are generally happy because of the emphasis the church places on dancing. His testimony basically was along the lines of “those who aren’t in the church just can’t understand us” and “even though other people portray our faith as being based in an emotional response, I know that the spirit works different than that.” A couple of other people made passing references to the documentary, but most of these were along the same lines.

I get the general sense that everyone in my ward either 1) didn’t see it (such as myself), or 2) wasn’t impressed by it. One sister that I home taught last semester specifically said that she was disappointed how the movie portrayed The Book of Mormon as a product of the 19th century. A lot of people felt that it was good that it delt with the controversies, but felt that it gave too much attention to them and not enough attention to other things.

By: Todd Wood

Todd Wood — Tue, 08 May 2007 17:01:39 +0000

Hi guys, this past Sunday many in my church family asked if I had watched the PBS special. Obviously, many of them don’t read my blog . . . the stinkers.

Anyway, there seems to be a lot of discussion opportunity that could take place. I have been out camping with my family late yesterday afternoon and then overnight; but coming back to BCC now, I noticed another recent thread has been closed. I will pick up on Steve’s suggestion. Thanks.

By: Tanya Spackman

Tanya Spackman — Tue, 08 May 2007 01:55:55 +0000

Not a single mention in my ward, at least during F&T meeting (I missed RS and SS because I’m elsewhere during those hours, so I don’t know if it got a mention there).

By: Razorfish

Razorfish — Tue, 08 May 2007 01:36:52 +0000

We had 2 references made in F&T meeting. In both instances, the speaker was disappointed in the how the Church was portrayed.

What I found interesting in inquiring feedback from the documentary was that the more super orthodox you were, the more likely you were offended by the documentary. That is the more simplistic and correlated view of Church history you held, the more likely you were to be upset.

In High Council, a high council member expressed the opinion, “they did a real hatchet job on Joseph Smith the first night.”

I did note different reactions and opinions though.
Conversly, the more familiar you were with non-correlated Church history (RSR, No Man Knows MY History, Sunstone, Dialogue, etc), the more likely you were to appreciate the documentary and its presentation.

I belive our personal reaction to the PBS documentary is telling in defining our own testimony, worldview, and relative security or insecurity we have in assimilating historical details into the mosaic that paints the picture of our collective Mormon history.

By: maria

maria — Tue, 08 May 2007 00:24:22 +0000

Three or four mentions in F&T meeting, and the first 20 minutes of gospel doctrine devoted to an open discussion of our reactions. Most comments were very positive–speaking of the missionary opportunities provided by the documentary, etc.

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 07 May 2007 23:40:54 +0000

Perhaps a better description of the Shakers would be “The most misunderstood religion with fewer than ten living members in America.”

By: amri

amri — Mon, 07 May 2007 22:21:06 +0000

Jose, same here. I wrote them a mean email showing my discontent and they emailed back saying they’d show it at the end of May. I wanted to email back and say don’t you understand? The blogs will be crazy with this and you’re telling me to wait til the end of May? I watched it a day behind online.

Another thing, I was in the library today and happened to notice the Ken Burns PBS special on the Shakers and you know what he called them? The most misunderstood religion in America! Wha?!? That’s our title. Ken Jerk Burns. I googled it and apparently we share our title with Shakers, Scientologists, Witches, Wiccan and Jehovah’s Witnesses.