From Deseret News archives:

Reader responses regarding "The Mormons" PBS series

Published: Thursday, May 3, 2007 12:10 a.m. MDT
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This is what it brings to mind: If you want to buy a Mercedes, would you go to a BMW dealership and ask them to tell you about a Mercedes? No. Of course not. That would be ridiculous. They don't know every detail of a Mercedes. Their expertise is with the BMW. They want you to buy the BMW. Their response will be that a Mercedes is terribly inferior.

This show proves that without having a knowledge of the church through the Holy Ghost, you just don't get it. — Susan Unklesbay, Fairfield, Ohio

I think The Mormons was focusing way too much on the bad parts of our history, it had a lot on the Mountain Meadows Massacre. I think it is very insulting, and I really didn't like it. They had a lot of non-Mormons who didn't understand our religion speak on it, and only a few Latter-day Saints. They have the completely wrong idea about our church. — no name

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As a 58 year old man, who was raised LDS, I thought the documentary was more than a fair representation. Sometimes the truth hurts but it's still the truth. If Mormonism can't withstand the whole truth being revealed, then I believe it shouldn't be trying to convince the world that Mormonism is the one and only way to God. In the years since I parted ways with the church, I've discovered that there are very good people in all religions, and, I know for a fact, there are some very less than righteous individuals representing themselves as "Good Mormons". So here's to the righteous in all religions, those who truly love their fellow man. Yours is the Kingdom. I'm happy in just trying to be as good as you. — Kip Ellsworth, Lihue, Hawaii

Perhaps the reason for the surprising lack of response, is what more is there to say? Most of the topics covered by Helen Whitney have been covered by others. Choosing to spend so much time on polygamy, Mountain Meadows Massacre, excommunicated member interviews, etc. is the same tired rhetoric. Ms. Whitney chose dark, sinister looking images when explaining the founding of the church. She claimed ahead of time to be able to clear up misconceptions about the church. This piece only fueled the fire, and created more distrust and misunderstanding.

There was nothing new in this, and people can't go away knowing more about the people and why they embrace the faith. It was an opportunity lost. Ms. Whitney chose to emphasis the sensationalism about the church, instead of what is sensational about the church. — Joanne, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

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