The Work and the Glory
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Movie Reviews of The Work and the Glory
Movie Review: Begining of an Epic
Summary: 3 Stars
This was my first look at "Mormon Movies". I was captivated by the beauty of the fotography and the music, the fall scenes were wonderful. Except for the old film BRIGHAM YOUNG, I have never seen a movie about LDS culture and history so true (to my knowledge of it)and in a positive vein as this one, even showing some of the "worts". The costumes and sets were excellent. The story line unraveled slowely, but I see it as setting up the foundation and explanation for the epic to follow.....This is a "must see" for all, LDS people practicing or not should get tears and joy from this film....Movie Review: Weak effort
Summary: 2 Stars
I guess I have to pour some cold water here. While other reviewers have praised this movie based on its family values and wholesome entertainment, I have to say that there are many other movies out there with the same stuff but of higher quality.
The movie, Work and the Glory which is based on the book written by Gerald Lund proves to be rather weak. It captured the spirit of the book but not the spirit of the people of the book. The actors in this movie looked like they never done a hard day's work, spent too much time in their air conditioned trailers waiting for their scenes as their pale skins reflects indoor people, not outdoor farmer types. To be perfectly honest, not once did I believed that these people on screen were actually hard working folks of Lund's book.
I was also disappointed in the actor who played Joseph Smith. I really didn't see that charismatic leader, just an another bland actor who seem to step off a soap opera TV studio. Funny that I brought up the soap opera theme since the movie did played a lot like a soap opera with that dominate romantic love triangle story.
I do praised the relatively high production value of this movie though. The camera works proves excellent, the art direction reflects the money that went into it, even the all too clean costumes show good history. Technically speaking, its a fine film but as a movie trying to tell a story, it fall pretty flat.
For less demanding audience who only want to see 21st century Americans living and dressing up like early 19th century Americans, I supposed the movie can satisfied. But if you were looking for a movie that reflect the period as describe in the book, this is not the movie for it. I would be surprised if there will be a sequel and if there were, we can hope that Beverly Hills 90102 group can get little grubblier.
Movie Review: According to Smith, apart from the practice of polygamy there was no hope of attaining to godhood
Summary: 1 Stars
The Mormon Jesus:
1. The literal son of god and his goddess wife begotten in the pre-existence.
2. The brother of all spirits born in heaven in the premortal existence.
3. One of 3 gods in the godhead.
4. The Trinity is three separate gods.
5. First one to receive a spirit body.
6. Atoned for sin on the cross and in the garden of Gethsemane.
The Christian Jesus:
1. Not the literal son of god and his goddess wife.
2. Not the brother of all spirits born in heaven in a premortal existence.
3. Not one of 3 gods in the godhead.
4. The Trinity is 3 persons in one God.
5. Was always spirit from eternity.
6. Atoned for sin on the cross alone
Mormon Prophet Admits He Believes in Another Christ
Paris, France - In a surprising admission during last month's three nation European speaking trip, Mormon president Gordon B. Hinckley stated that the Christ he believes in is not the same Christ as the one followed by those outside the LDS Church.
It is interesting that Hinckley states that the beliefs of traditional Christians were so different than that of Latter-day Saints, that their traditional Jesus "is not the Christ of whom I speak." It is not just some different information about the same Jesus but a completely different Jesus.
Christians should ask, "Which Christ?" The Bible warns of false teachers who promote "another Jesus whom we have not preached" (2 Corinthians 11:4)
Polygamy:
Under threat of exile to Mexico the Mormon church officially abolished polygamy in the earthly realm in 1890. However, by virtue of secret temple ceremonies Mormon males like Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, as well as contemporary Mormon leaders remain sealed to multiple wives in the heavenly realm. Thus, the practice of polygamy promoted by Smith - who, by the way, had 27 plural wives, and Young, who had 55 wives and 57 children - was merely transferred to the Celestial Kingdom.
By relegating polygamy to the eternal realm Mormon leaders managed to comply externally with societal norms while still maintaining an eschatological basis for the subjugation of women. Such spiritual sanctioning of polygamy was not only an affront to the value and dignity of women, but stands in direct opposition to Jesus' teaching that at the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage.
The Mormon practice of polygamy finds its genesis in the teachings and practices of Joseph Smith who, in 1843, received an eternally binding revelation. According to Smith, apart from the practice of polygamy there was no hope of attaining to godhood. The everlasting commandment of polygamy revealed to Smith was considered so binding that Brigham Young ominously declared "If any deny the plurality of wives and continue to do so, I promise you that you will be damned."
And, of course, the Old Testament clearly reveals the strife and temptations that accompany the practice. Solomon, of course, is the quintessential example of one whose legacy of faithfulness was compromised because of his polygamous behavior. Despite world-renowned wisdom Solomon's peaceful and prosperous rule ended in idolatrous strife, scandal and in civil strife as well because the Bible tells us his wives turned his heart after other gods. There is, therefore, absolutely no biblical support for the Mormon practice of polygamy either in this life or the next.
Mormonism and the Claim to Restoration:
In response to this teaching, we should ask Mormons exactly how the church could manage to glorify God "throughout all generations" -- as the Apostle Paul clearly wrote in Ephesians 3:21 -- if they fell into total apostasy. We should also point out that Ephesians 4:11-16 talks about the church growing spiritually mature, not spiritually degenerate. The Bible does affirm that there will be apostates, but according to 1 Timothy 4:1 only "some [not all] will abandon the faith." This passage alone is enough to prove that Mormonism is wrong about the church falling away altogether.
Smith and other Mormons need to realize that they're teaching the exact opposite of what Jesus Christ of Nazareth proclaimed in Matthew 16:18 -- namely, that not even the gates of hell would prevail against the church of God. Furthermore, Hebrews 12:28 states that God's kingdom is unshakable, while Daniel 2:44 refers to it as indestructible. There can be no doubt that Mormonism contradicts what the Bible says about the perseverance of God's people -- the living church of God. Remember, it was Joseph Smith who attacked Christianity. He said that all their sects were wrong, their creeds an abomination, and their professors corrupt.
Other Doctrines:
1) God the Father is married and there is a Mother God (Answers to Gospel Questions, Joseph Fielding Smith, Vol. 3, pp. 143-144).
2) All men and women who have ever lived on Earth are the spirit offspring of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. Every person was conceived and born in a pre-existent spiritual realm (Mormon Doctrine, p. 589).
3) Black people are black because of their misdeeds in the pre-existence (Three Degrees of Glory, LDS Apostle Melvin J. Ballard, p. 21).
4) The Bible is considered usable, but suspect due to its many errors and missing parts (Articles of Faith No. 8, Ensign January 1989, pp. 25, 27
Remember that it isn't the Christian church that is attacking Mormonism. It is Mormonism that has attacked the Christian church -- believing or stating that true Christianity disappeared from the earth for over 1800 years -- and let's not forget that. Contrary to biblical teachings they also believe in more than one God, that God is a literal man, that men can become gods, that Jesus was the spirit brother of Lucifer, not to mention salvation by works and not by grace (Isa. 43:10; Mark 12:29; John 4:24; John 1:1-14; Gal. 2:14-16; Eph. 2:8,9).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
According to the official story of the LDS Church, in 1820 Smith was visited by God the Father and God the Son after praying about which church he should join. He was told by Jesus, he should join none of them for they were "all wrong" and all the Christian church's doctrines "were an abomination" (Joseph Smith - History 19, Pearl of Great Price).
DOCTRINES
TRINITY: Mormonism is a polytheistic religion. Joseph Smith declared, "I will preach on the plurality of Gods. I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370).
Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie spoke about the Godhead in this way, "Plurality of Gods: Three separate personages: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, comprise the Godhead. As each of these persons is a God, it is evident, from this standpoint alone, that a plurality of Gods exists. To us, speaking in the proper finite sense, these three are the only Gods we worship. But in addition there is an infinite number of holy personages, drawn from worlds without number, who have passed on to exaltation and are thus gods" (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577).
GOD THE FATHER: Joseph Smith explained, "I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see. He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did" (LDS History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 305).