If you want to know what about Mormonism that has intrigued, frustrated, endeared, repulsed and fascinated me over the years, what has made me be a fervent and devout believer and an outcast, then you should watch the PBS special "The Mormons." It is a four-hour special that was on last night and tonight (two hours each), though if you missed it last night, you can watch it online from the previous link.
With prominent American, and devout Mormon, figures in politics like Harry Reidand Mitt Romney, perhaps it might be a good thing for all Americans to see this film. Perhaps it's time for Americans to see Mormonism a little more in it's full, complex reality.
My partner was born Mormon (in the covenant as we say) and left at 26, I converted to Mormonism at 18 and excommunicated at 38.
As someone who still loves Mormons and Mormonism, but is fully aware of it's flaws and weaknesses, I found last night's episode fair and objective. As this review from the church-owned Deseret News states:
Anyone who's planning to use the two-part, four-hour PBS documentary "The Mormons" in Sunday School at their local ward is going to be sorely disappointed.
But then so is anyone who's planning to hang copies of the program on doorknobs to convince members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to abandon their faith.
"The Mormons" is not a faith-promoting missionary tool. Although it might turn out to be that for some.
Neither is it an anti-Mormon diatribe. Though some people might see it that way at times.
Everything so far seems fair and presents Mormonism as the complex, paradoxical, endearing and disenchanting faith that it is. Watching it I had both the desire to read my Book of Mormon again and the thought that I was happy not to be Mormon any longer and yet... long slightly for the time I had that faith, all at the same time.
I was lucky enough to meet the woman a couple years ago who made the film, Helen Whitney, who was talked to a group of us gay Mormons for the film. I found her inquisitive and fair-minded.
The film also highlights (in tonight's second half), one of my closest friends, Trevor Southey in an interview with him about the Mormon Church and it's relationship with the LGBT members (Trevor was excommunicated). He is a prominent Utah/Mormon/Gay artist and his art figures prominently in the film (the first half shows several pieces including his painting of Joseph Smith). This piece shown here is "Descent." Much of his early work, before being excommunicated, was very "mormon" and dealt with subjects like Jesus, the prodigal son, family, and spirituality. His work is still very spiritual, just not as "Mormon." Btw, if you ever have a chance to see Prodigal Son, do. It's a large painting that is both representative of the story of the prodigal son... and figurative of "coming out." It's a powerful piece however you see it. The graphic to the right is a very small part of a three panel wall size piece.
But back to the film...
The film is divided in "acts." The first acts are about the beginnings of the church, the revelations, the Book of Mormon, the converts. The later acts talk about the persecutions and exodus to Utah. The film doesn't gloss over the uncomfortable parts. It speaks of Joseph Smith's flaws and spends an entire "act" on the Mountain Meadows Massacre. But it also highlights much of what attracted me to Mormonism at that early age of 18 till my excommunication at 38, and even now.
In fact, as I watched the film I had both the feeling of wanting to reconnect to those spiritual roots, the Book of Mormon, the theology I love and my Mormon friends I've lost contact with, and also glad for that day I was excommunicated and that I am not Mormon any longer.
Those feelings that this film brought up in me, the conflicted, complex feelings of love and distaste for the same thing, is what I think makes this film great. It presents Mormons and Mormonism as the complex American faith that it is. One that can give rise to people as different as a Reid or Romney or someone like a Trevor Southey or a modern-day polygamist, people as different as the devout brother who reject their gay brother and the devout father and mother who embrace their gay son, a faith that gave rise to me :).
As Americans, I think it would behoove us all to watch this film if only to speak from at least some basic foundational understanding of who we Mormons are, because from all I've read from both liberals, fundamentalist Christian conservatives and the person on the street... you don't know us too well even still.
update A commenter below suggested it would be nice for me to go into detail about what I 'miss and feel nostalgic about' instead of the generalizations above. That frankly is another long diary of complex and multiple things, but let me summarize some here.
- I miss the Mormon 'creation' story in all it's amazing complexity from Joseph Smith to Utah, that sense of being part of it.
- I missed the closeness of Mormons as a community. I have seen nothing like it before or sense. Though of course I've felt waht it is to be an outcast of that same community too... complexity.
- I miss many of the doctrines and being able to discuss and write about them with other Mormons, doctrines like the universality of revelation and scripture, the eternal progression of man, the universality of salvation and a lot more.
- I actually miss church services and the temple.
- I am nostalgic for my mission, not that I want to return, but it was an amazing time for me. I taught the deaf in Korea.
Maybe sometime I'll write about all the things I don't miss or repulse me. Like I said, it is complex... both in my own individual history and the religion's.
(all images are either copywrite free, the first, or I have permission to use, Southey art)