The "Witnesses" Film and Church Control of Mopologetics.

[_Philo Sofee]

It's the perfect match, one con artist emulating another. Peterson is quite worthy of such a heinous award, and he thinks its honorable! Even conmen get conned.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Thanks for the fascinating report. I'm glad they were able to comp you a free meal given all the editorial work you've done for them in the past.

You’re very kind. Dr. Peterson said that the Interpreter Foundation has three main purposes: to make the Witnesses film, to fund Royal Skousen, and to pump out weekly articles. I’m grateful to have been a part of the great work.

Incidentally, did you hear that FairMormon honored Dr. Peterson last week with the 2019 FairMormon Lifetime Achievement Award?

https://www.fairmormon.org/blog/2019/08 ... YXkxVCg77A

Please notice that the presenter compared Dr. Peterson to Joseph Smith. I am not making this up.

Yes, and unless I'm mistaken, the only other person ever to have received that award was Dr. Midgley. So, in essence, the two of them contrived to create this Mopologetic organization--i.e., FAIR--and now, some fifteen years later or so, DCP is up at the podium appearing to choke back tears that this organization has "gifted" him with this award. The thing that bothers me most is that he failed to say, "You like me! You really like me!"

[_Doctor Scratch]

There have been some updates concerning this forthcoming movie. I'm starting to feel concerned. For one thing, the production values look pretty awful. The costumes do not look authentic (everyone is totally clean-scrubbed, with nary a hair out of place): it all looks fake. I guess they are going for an idealized version of the Witnesses story? Like, this is the "whitewashed" Church version, rather than something that would be more grounded in reality and convincing? I mean, I think we have to acknowledge that the Mopologists *want* the movie to be "convincing," but I am growing ever more confused as to what that means for them. Is everything all fine and dandy so long as the Brethren view this as sufficient bootlicking, or a reasonably well-crafted piece of propaganda? Or, is it meant to keep people from exiting the Church? Or, is it merely a big ego trip for the Executive Producer? Hey: if you can't hack it as a scholar or a writer, then why not try your hand at producing films? Is that the idea?

In any event, I am still interested in seeing the final product.

[_I have a question]

There have been some updates concerning this forthcoming movie. I'm starting to feel concerned. For one thing, the production values look pretty awful. The costumes do not look authentic (everyone is totally clean-scrubbed, with nary a hair out of place): it all looks fake. I guess they are going for an idealized version of the Witnesses story? Like, this is the "whitewashed" Church version, rather than something that would be more grounded in reality and convincing? I mean, I think we have to acknowledge that the Mopologists *want* the movie to be "convincing," but I am growing ever more confused as to what that means for them. Is everything all fine and dandy so long as the Brethren view this as sufficient bootlicking, or a reasonably well-crafted piece of propaganda? Or, is it meant to keep people from exiting the Church? Or, is it merely a big ego trip for the Executive Producer? Hey: if you can't hack it as a scholar or a writer, then why not try your hand at producing films? Is that the idea?

In any event, I am still interested in seeing the final product.

I'm interested in seeing the final financial reckoning...Does anyone know the first time an actual "$ total needed" amount was mentioned, and what the amount was?

[_Physics Guy]

At the end of his remarks, Mr. Richins picks up the plates again and walks off to some laughter. (He never uncovers the plates.) I am not making this up.

And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Richins has shown unto us, for we have seen him heft them, and know of a surety that the said Richins has got the fake plates of which we have spoken.

[Guest]

There have been some updates concerning this forthcoming movie. I'm starting to feel concerned. For one thing, the production values look pretty awful. The costumes do not look authentic (everyone is totally clean-scrubbed, with nary a hair out of place): it all looks fake. I guess they are going for an idealized version of the Witnesses story? Like, this is the "whitewashed" Church version, rather than something that would be more grounded in reality and convincing? I mean, I think we have to acknowledge that the Mopologists *want* the movie to be "convincing," but I am growing ever more confused as to what that means for them. Is everything all fine and dandy so long as the Brethren view this as sufficient bootlicking, or a reasonably well-crafted piece of propaganda? Or, is it meant to keep people from exiting the Church? Or, is it merely a big ego trip for the Executive Producer? Hey: if you can't hack it as a scholar or a writer, then why not try your hand at producing films? Is that the idea?

In any event, I am still interested in seeing the final product.

Live From Golgotha, my friends. Gore Vidal had it right all along. If you are going to engage in Travels in Hyperreality, you’d better hire a Mormon director.

I have my own idea for a Witnesses movie, one that would be far more true to history and much more entertaining to boot!

Imagine-

1. The Smith family portrayed as treasure diggers a la demon hunters in the 2005 Gilliam film, Brothers Grimm

2. Smith espying Harris walking on a shady path, stopping to address a deer as his Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ

3. Witnesses avowing fervently that they did see the plates “with the eyes of their spirits”

4. Moroni appearing as a wizened old kook, dressed like a 19th century peddler and carrying the “plates” in a sack on his back, offering to show them for ‘two bits a gander’

5. Early Mormon meetings with white people jumping around, hooping and hollering, filled with ”Lamanite” spirits and speaking in their “Lamanite” tongues

6. Joseph Smith discovering the bones of Zelph, the white Lamanite

My friends, if only we could see such a film. My guess is that none of these historically attested elements will find their way into this film. More’s the pity.

[_Gadianton]

Live From Golgotha, my friends. Gore Vidal had it right all along. If you are going to engage in Travels in Hyperreality, you’d better hire a Mormon director.

I have my own idea for a Witnesses movie, one that would be far more true to history and much more entertaining to boot!

Imagine-

1. The Smith family portrayed as treasure diggers a la demon hunters in the 2005 Gilliam film, Brothers Grimm

2. Smith espying Harris walking on a shady path, stopping to address a deer as his Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ

3. Witnesses avowing fervently that they did see the plates “with the eyes of their spirits”

4. Moroni appearing as a wizened old kook, dressed like a 19th century peddler and carrying the “plates” in a sack on his back, offering to show them for ‘two bits a gander’

5. Early Mormon meetings with white people jumping around, hooping and hollering, filled with ”Lamanite” spirits and speaking in their “Lamanite” tongues

6. Joseph Smith discovering the bones of Zelph, the white Lamanite

My friends, if only we could see such a film. My guess is that one of these historically attested elements will find their way into this film. More’s the pity.

I can catch a mental image of how this could go. I'll bet Bobberson could write a killer screenplay for it.

[_Kishkumen]

I can catch a mental image of how this could go. I'll bet Bobberson could write a killer screenplay for it.

Indeed, Dean Robbers. And I expect there would be plenty of allusions to Elmer Gantry therein.