THE MORMONS, A FILM BY HELEN WHITNEY In its pre-release write-up of the documentary film, The Mormons, the PBS website suggested that “Mormons have always had a peculiar hold on the American imagination, but few know who the Mormons actually are, or who they claim to be, and their story is one of the great neglected American narratives.” Now that the film has aired, how well did it portray the facts of Mormon history and doctrine and capture the essence of the Mormon people? The Mormons will certainly be one of the tradition’s primary public faces for many years to come. How well-suited is it for this role? What themes and strengths in the film should someone hope will become forefronted in future discussions of Mormonism? What might one prefer remain more in the background? A panel of close watchers of the film will assess these and other questions. Come share your own reactions!
LAWRENCE FOSTER, ANN PORTER, SETH PERRY, and DAVID G. PACE