Category: Reviews of LDS Media
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Reviews Index
Reviews of books, movies, and LDS church manuals by the staff of Mormonism Research Ministry
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In the Shadow of the Temple
On October 10th (2009) a new documentary will debut at the Exmormon Foundation Conference in Salt Lake City. In the Shadow of the Temple by Pepita Productions promises to provide 55 minutes of interesting and insightful glimpses into the lives of people who have chosen to leave Mormonism. From the producer’s blog site: Documentary Film…
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Movie Review: Return with Honor: A Missionary Homecoming
By Eric Johnson Released in September 2007 by the company that produced The Other Side of Heaven and God’s Army, Return with Honor was named Best Picture and lead actor Javen Tanner won Best Actor at the 2007 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. The film also received the Gold Remi Award for…
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No Love Lost Between Mormons and HBO’s “Big Love”
Have you heard about the next episode of HBO’s Big Love, set to air on Sunday (March 15, 2009)? It’s being widely reported that the television show will be depicting the LDS temple endowment ceremony as one of the main characters faces losing her LDS Church membership. Read more about it from The Associated Press.…
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Text in Context
During the Priesthood meeting at the last General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson addressed the congregation. His talk was titled, To Learn, To Do, To Be. President Monson spoke of the size of the large assembly of LDS priesthood holders, their admirable desire to learn their duty, and their capacity to share the LDS gospel…
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Movie Review: Twilight
Reviewed by Bill McKeever Let me begin this review by making two confessions. 1) I haven’t read any of the books by Stephenie Meyer, and 2) had Meyer not been LDS, I doubt if I would have ever had any desire to see Twilight, a film based on the first of her four novels (The others…
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Jesus Resurrects; Works Exalt
LDS author Alonzo L. Gaskill authored the 2008 book, Odds Are, You’re Going to be Exalted. On page 4 of that book Dr. Gaskill explains, “…it is a fallacy to say that Jesus saves us, but then our works exalt us—an idea I have heard expressed not a few times by members of the Church.…
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Movie Review: Emma Smith: My Story
Reviewed by Bill McKeever When I first saw the billboards along Interstate 15 advertising Emma Smith: My Story, I wondered how much of “Emma’s story” was going to actually be told. When the trailers for the film started airing on local Salt Lake television stations and I saw that much of the film appeared to…
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The Mormon Doctrine of Materiality
On May 21, 1845 an article on the nature of God, man, and angels appeared in the LDS publication the “Prophet.” Understood to have been written by the editor, LDS Apostle Parley P. Pratt, the article was reprinted in the 1903 book Mormon Doctrine of Deity by B. H. Roberts. Mr. Roberts identified this article,…
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Book Review: Bridging the Divide: The Continuing Conversation between a Mormon and an Evangelical
By Dr. Robert L. Millet and Rev. Gregory C.V. Johnson Monkfish, 2007
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The Latter-day Mystery of John the Beloved
In an article describing the way leadership vacancies are filled within the LDS Church, a recent issue of Church News explained, “On the Mount of Transfiguration in the incident recounted in Matthew 17:1-11, Peter, James and John received those keys, defined as “the rights of presidency, or the power given to man by God to…
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Movie Review: September Dawn
Reviewed by Bill McKeever and Aaron Shafovaloff
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The Mormon Church vs. Hollywood
Today the Hollywood movie September Dawn opens in 1000 theaters nationwide. The dramatized portrayal of the Mountain Meadows Massacre–wherein Mormon men massacred 120 emigrants as they peacefully passed through southern Utah in 1857–is unwelcome among Latter-day Saints. The film has been called “controversial” by the news media, but has received stronger condemnation from Latter-day Saints.…
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Obeying Orders at Mountain Meadows: Would You?
Michael Medved’s criticism of the film September Dawn has garnered support from the LDS community, but many argue it overlooks historical complexities of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, questioning the motivations behind its portrayal.
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Movie Review: The Mormons on PBS
Part 1 Reviewed by Bill McKeever Amidst a lot of anticipation from Mormons and non-Mormons alike, Helen Whitney’s two-part, four-hour documentary on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was met with mixed reaction by a larger than normal audience.
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Book Review: A Mormon in the White House? 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney
By Hugh Hewitt Review by Eric Johnson
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Searching for Answers or Seeking Confirmation?
LDS Professor Robert L. Millet was asked to explain the main reason for the remarkable growth of the LDS Church. He replied, “The Church offers answers to some of life’s oldest questions: Where do I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going after death?” (Source) These three questions have traditionally held a…
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Fresno Bee’s April 1, 2000 Editorial
A Review by Bill McKeever Those who have worked with MRM at temple outreaches know that we try very hard to stay low-key. Our intention is to politely hand out our 4-page newspaper that clearly explains things that the LDS Church is reluctant to have visitors know. We don’t seek media attention nor do we…