Emma Smith: My Story

Post by **_Gazelam** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:36 am

I don't know if anyones mentioned this film yet, but I thought I'd start a thread about it.

Film website:
http://www.emmasmithmovie.com/

Heres a review of someone who saw an early screening:

http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/movie ... eat-catch/

This is apparently only being shown in a few theatres, so I guess i'll be looking for it on DVD at Deseret.

Post by **_Jason Bourne** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:40 am

It has the same actor for Joseph and the same actress for Emma as the recent LDS produced film on Joseph Smith. In fact the trailer has parts from that film. Is this Church produced?

Post by **_Gazelam** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:43 am

The spots I read on it say that Hinkley himself pushed it to be made.

Post by **_Gazelam** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:48 am

From the above linked film review:

To my surprise, polygamy was not ignored, but received one comment near the end of the movie. Julia asks her mother how she dealt with the revelation on polygamy (D&C 132). Emma admits to having struggled with it, but concludes that it was of God and even testifies of it. The focus is on the revelation itself, and there is no specific reference to Joseph’s actual plural wives. This, of course, is highly strange, considering the fact that Emma denied until the day of her death that her first husband practiced polygamy, so to have her testifying of the document that justified the practice of plural marriage is, to say the least, historical implausible. The studio promises that in the DVD extras, there will be a discussion of Emma’s struggles with polygamy.

The movie contained a single reference to Emma’s decision not to follow Brigham Young. “It is true that Brigham Young and I have not always seen eye to eye, but when it came to Joseph, we agreed.” That’s it. There’s no discussion of her disputes with Young following Joseph’s death in 1844 or her efforts during subsequent decades to argue that Young was the author of the practice of polygamy as well as an usurper of authority. Likewise I believe that the DVD extras will treat these struggles.

Post by **_Jason Bourne** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:53 am

Gazelam wrote:From the above linked film review:

To my surprise, polygamy was not ignored, but received one comment near the end of the movie. Julia asks her mother how she dealt with the revelation on polygamy (D&C 132). Emma admits to having struggled with it, but concludes that it was of God and even testifies of it. The focus is on the revelation itself, and there is no specific reference to Joseph’s actual plural wives. This, of course, is highly strange, considering the fact that Emma denied until the day of her death that her first husband practiced polygamy, so to have her testifying of the document that justified the practice of plural marriage is, to say the least, historical implausible. The studio promises that in the DVD extras, there will be a discussion of Emma’s struggles with polygamy.

The movie contained a single reference to Emma’s decision not to follow Brigham Young. “It is true that Brigham Young and I have not always seen eye to eye, but when it came to Joseph, we agreed.” That’s it. There’s no discussion of her disputes with Young following Joseph’s death in 1844 or her efforts during subsequent decades to argue that Young was the author of the practice of polygamy as well as an usurper of authority. Likewise I believe that the DVD extras will treat these struggles.

Sounds like a lot is left out and some added to make is feel nice and sweet. Too bad. No surprise though. As noted this is a spin off of the Church produced film on Joseph that is at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. And that one is totally faith promoting and almost mythical.

Post by **_Moniker** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:25 am

To my surprise, polygamy was not ignored, but received one comment near the end of the movie.

How can anyone possibly understand her life (or the early Church) with a mere mention of polygamy? Yet, I suppose just that one comment may be an eye opener for a few viewers....

Post by **_sunstoned** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:58 am

I went through four years of seminary wondering what Emma's problem was. Pushing people down the stairs, fighting with her Relief Society councilors, kicking people out of her house, being a drag to Joseph's leadership, and finally turning her back on BY and the church.

It wasn't until much latter that I learned of Joseph's polygamy/polyandry and all the crap and embarrassment she had to put up with, and then it all made sense. To tell Emma's story without the context of what she went through is doing her a great disservice.

Post by **_harmony** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:38 am

sunstoned wrote:I went through four years of seminary wondering what Emma's problem was. Pushing people down the stairs, fighting with her Relief Society councilors, kicking people out of her house, being a drag to Joseph's leadership, and finally turning her back on BY and the church.

It wasn't until much latter that I learned of Joseph's polygamy/polyandry and all the crap and embarrassment she had to put up with, and then it all made sense. To tell Emma's story without the context of what she went through is doing her a great disservice.

Telling Emma's story is not the intent. Telling Emma's story so it supports current LDS leadership's view about church history is the intent. So it sounds like it succeeds.

Post by **_moksha** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:45 am

No listings yet for the dollar theaters.

Post by **_Boaz & Lidia** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:55 am

Great! Just when I was fully weened from MDB, this comes along!

WHAT A CROCK OF CRAP this movie is!

Where were the young teen girls that Emma saw Joe rolling in the hay?

I hope they show him digging for peepstones when he met Emma and eloped with her, against her father's wishes.

They DID show Joe running with the plates though! Friggin Super Man!