Reader responses regarding "The Mormons" PBS series

Helen Whitney's "The Mormons" failed to ask the most important question regarding Mormons, a question that most viewers surely must have been asking themselves, "Why are so many intelligent people willing to tithe, sacrifice time and talents, and genuinely love a church that asks so much of them and has such a strange history?" — Ken Zeeman, Centerville

To try to define what makes Mormons what they are by spending 20 minutes about the Mountain Meadow massacre is like doing a 4 hour documentary on defining the Spirit of the United States and spending 20 minutes on the Mai Lai massacre during the Vietnam War and leaving the impression that Americans are driven to murder to further the American way. Comparing the history of plural marriage in the LDS Church to an old man that we wish would go away is like telling Jews that the story of Jacob who had 12 sons by four wives should be taken out of their history, because it doesn't fit modern morals. For others to worry about Mormons doing baptisms for the dead ancestors of other religions indicates their lack of faith in their own faith. If they really believe in their own religion they would not even worry about what the Mormons are doing. If their own faith is correct then the Mormon effort is a huge waste of time. It is not like a Mormon baptism is going to take a Catholic out of Catholic Heaven if the Catholic religion is true. So why worry about it at all. Do other religions worry about Catholics lighting candles as they pray for themselves and family members. It is a part of their religious ritual. And we should appreciate their sincere feelings and not mock those feelings. But Hollywood and most modern media seem to enjoy mocking the rituals of all religions. They want us to worship at the alter of Hollywood's perception of a Godless world. I could go on, but the documentary missed the power of Mormonism. Because they don't understand spirituality. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the gift of the Holy Ghost. That is it's power! It is God's power! —Tim Benedict

Mormons such as myself want such work to either be a fluff piece or a missionary tool, and this was certainly neither. I think Whitney wanted to bring some balance to the story, but it seems like she devoted more time than necessary to the negatives of church history or policy, using dissidents to tell the story. Little was said about why people find great joy in their church membership. Overall, however, I think it was pretty well done. We just have to get used to the idea that negatives still exist. — Steve Baldridge