"It is our conviction," says "Frontline" executive editor Louis Wiley, "that our two series will succeed in informing a wide audience about the Mormons. Throughout the series, church leaders, historians, scholars and dissidents tell the fascinating and sometimes controversial story of a religion that overcame many obstacles to become one of America's fastest-growing.

"While we understand the high level of interest in and concern about the series, we hope that viewers, Mormon and non-Mormon, will withhold judgments about our project until they have had a chance to see it for themselves."

Purdy said that that's exactly what the church is doing — neither endorsing nor condemning it.

"We expect that the film will contain many voices on the history and doctrines of the church," Purdy said. "The big question church members have is whether these programs will come close to capturing the essence of how Latter-day Saints define and see themselves.

"Will members look at these films and say, 'Yes, that's me,' or will they say, 'Even after four hours, they missed the point'?"

---

E-mail: pierce@desnews.com