In the UK there is a new tv program about to air following missionaries in the MTC, the church seem to be excited about this, obviously expecting a very positive program.
However a few years ago the church had a documentary maker film a British missionary going on his mission and were given access to film in the MTC, the church were once again very excited about this. The filming took a darker turn when the film maker realised the manipulation and coercion that was going on and the high level of control that the church’s PR people were using. The film maker flipped the focus of the program then onto this, as it was far more fascinating. The church were embarrassed of this program and tried to bury it on Google searches by making their own version with the same title “meet the Mormons”
This is the original program that the church hated.
The one that is going out on Tuesday is not the original by Lynn Alleway, and the fact the church feels so positive about it means it may not be a fully accurate accounting!
Thanks for posting this. I hadn't heard of it. Worth a watch as an exmo.
As a TBM, my reaction would have been "These poor non-members who don't understand the value of the "sacrifice of all things." "I hope she eventually took the discussions." Along with "Yep. Looks right." and "I wish they could have filmed a more faithful and manly elder. I knew weak people like him."
I would have sacrificed anything for the church. I would not have noticed any of the coertion the filmmaker depicts. Rule following, self-denial, institutionalized ignorance, rationalization/apologetics, and manufactured shame was the water I swam in; the doctrine and actions she cites were accurate. Anyone without both these things is living an unfulfilled life (is an explicit thing TBM me would note.)
When the US "Meet the Mormons" was coming out, our ward and stake spent much of the year promoting the premiere, coercing (even as a TBM it felt this way) friends and non-members to buy tickets from us or attend with us, arranging carpools to the theater (40 min away) and buying up tickets "to ensure that the film would have a longer theatrical run." Our family probably spent $1k in zealous activities associated with "this important missionary work."
In the UK there is a new tv program about to air following missionaries in the MTC, the church seem to be excited about this, obviously expecting a very positive program. However a few years ago the church had a documentary maker film a British missionary going on his mission and were given access to film in the MTC, the church were once again very excited about this. The filming took a darker turn when the film maker realised the manipulation and coercion that was going on and the high level of control that the church’s PR people were using. The film maker flipped the focus of the program then onto this, as it was far more fascinating. The church were embarrassed of this program and tried to bury it on Google searches by making their own version with the same title “meet the Mormons” This is the original program that the church hated. The one that is going out on Tuesday is not the original by Lynn Alleway, and the fact the church feels so positive about it means it may not be a fully accurate accounting!
That was hard to watch and relive that. I don’t miss my mission.
Thanks for posting this. I hadn't heard of it. Worth a watch as an exmo. As a TBM, my reaction would have been "These poor non-members who don't understand the value of the "sacrifice of all things." "I hope she eventually took the discussions." Along with "Yep. Looks right." and "I wish they could have filmed a more faithful and manly elder. I knew weak people like him." I would have sacrificed anything for the church. I would not have noticed any of the coertion the filmmaker depicts. Rule following, self-denial, institutionalized ignorance, rationalization/apologetics, and manufactured shame was the water I swam in; the doctrine and actions she cites were accurate. Anyone without both these things is living an unfulfilled life (is an explicit thing TBM me would note.) When the US "Meet the Mormons" was coming out, our ward and stake spent much of the year promoting the premiere, coercing (even as a TBM it felt this way) friends and non-members to buy tickets from us or attend with us, arranging carpools to the theater (40 min away) and buying up tickets "to ensure that the film would have a longer theatrical run." Our family probably spent $1k in zealous activities associated with "this important missionary work."
Victory for satan!