From the August FAIR Journal:
The film director claims no anti-Mormon bias, but it seems that one organization by the name of "WingClips" offers clips from the movie to "use in your church, school or other non-profit organization for FREE." Along with these allegedly inspirational clips they write,
"The film is primarily driven by a Romeo and Juliet-type love story, which helps to better understand the disparity in values and ideals between the Mormons and the Christian settlers. The filmmakers pull no punches in exposing the violent and immoral foundation that the Mormon religion was built upon."
If you would like to get a taste of what is described as "Movie clips that illustrate and inspire" you can view them here, but be forewarned that you will be watching an example of anti-Mormon bigotry.
Link to September Dawn clips
2 comments:
Interesting post. Isn't history still history even if it makes people groups look bad? The Native American people were slaughtered and they also slaughtered white settlers (like in Jamestown) but that is a historical fact. What's the difference in the retelling of this tale? Does it mean you're a bigot to think Hitler's belief system was radically wrong? It doesn't mean you think all Germans are bad, but it does point out the flaws in the Nazi politics of the day. Just curious as to your thoughts on this. Just so you know, I have hundreds of Mormon relatives (by marriage) dating back to Brigham Young's day and I don't hate any of my family. But I DO believe that Joseph Smith was deceived as was Brigham Young, even though I'm sure they fully believed what they taught was true.
Hi Michelle,
I guess we need to clarify my position a bit. Yes, the massacre at Mountain Meadows happened. Yes, mormons were involved, and were key players and organizers. No, there is no rational justification for the massacre. Yes, history is important, and historical facts, even when uncomfortable, should be accepted and dealt with.
All that said, I do not believe history shows that Brigham Young ordered the massacre, or wanted it to happen. In fact, there is some pretty decent evidence that he saw it coming and tried to prevent it.
Brigham Young wrote a letter which read in part:
"In regard to emigration trains passing through your settlements, we must not interfere with them until they are first notified to keep away. You must not meddle with them. The Indians, we expect, will do as they please, but you should try and preserve good feelings with them. There are no other trains going south that I know of. If those who are there will leave, let them go in peace. While we should be on the alert on hand and always ready, we should also possess ourselves in patience, preserving ourselves in property, ever remembering that God rules."
My beef with September Dawn is twofold:
1) No mention of this evidence was made in September Dawn. Chris Cain poo-pooed it out of existence, despite plenty of evidence supporting it's existence.
2) Chris Cain claims that all Brigham's dialog in the movie are direct quotes supported by history. He has Brigham saying:
"I am the voice of God and anyone who doesn't like it will be hewn down. God has revealed to me that I have the right and power to call down curses on anyone who tries to invade our lands. Therefore, I curse the Gentiles."
We pretty much have definitive proof that this quote was fabricated. It does not seem to have existed more than a handful of years ago. Nobody can point to the source. Sandra Tanner was asked about it, and never heard of it.
I hope this clarifies my beef with September Dawn a bit. It's not my reluctance to come to grips with terrible and troubling actions taken in the past by mormons. It's about a filmmaker bearing false witness.
Hope to hear back from you.
LM
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