'Mormons' maker defends film

Brief remarks by President Boyd K. Packer and Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the church's Council of the Twelve were also featured in the segment, who said that the church has the right to sanction members who publicly advocate positions in opposition to church teaching.

Afterward, two academics with differing views responded about the segment.

Mario DePillis, emeritus professor of history at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, lauded it as "one of the best documentaries ever done on any religion." But he said Whitney's underlying theme for that segment — that Mormons don't confront their history — "is a half-truth" because Mormon historians "conscientiously try to confront the messy aspects of it."

He questioned Whitney's use of imagery during the segment when Toscano was speaking about her excommunication. It showed a dark, empty room with old wooden chairs lined up opposing a single chair. The image "reminded me of the Darrow Monkey Trial," he said.

Several in the audience questioned Whitney about other visual images they found disconcerting. She said she used them as "visual metaphors" for what people she interviewed felt, rather than as actual depictions of a physical reality.

Richard Bennett, a professor of church history at Brigham Young University, said the film "missed the opportunity to be balanced and accurate" regarding intellectual debate and criticism within the church. He said being a Mormon intellectual is not synonymous with being a dissident and panned the idea that Latter-day Saints follow their leaders blindly.

Also, Mormons should not be judged by what happened during the Mountain Meadows Massacre 150 years ago "any more than Catholics should be judged by the Inquisition" or "Muslims by terrorist extremists," he said.

Whitney responded that in her interviews with people across the spectrum from deep faith to disbelief, she encountered many LDS intellectuals who have "considerable fear of touching on third-rail issues" that they shy away from because "it's not worth what might happen.

"I heard a lot of that, and I don't think that's a spiritually healthy environment. I've had conversations with many who love this church but have fear," she said.

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