Is Everyone Aware That The Joseph Smith Movie…

[AeonJ]

From a narrative standpoint, showing Joseph firing a gun would raise way too many questions and be far too distracting. Viewers would probably be scratching their heads about where the heck Joseph got the gun from, and whether anyone was hit or not. And it would totally change the dynamic of the scene from a solemn martyrdom to

.

Frankly, I think the martyrdom scene is extremely well done (especially for a Church film). I'd be curious to see the previous version.

To each his own opinion about the prophet's death being an old-west shootout vs a solemn martyrdom, but I think that the viewers should be able to decide that with something more historically accurate, especially nonmembers seeing the film.

[LeSellers]

I believe all three shots hit people, and two persons may have been killed. Even if that wasn't so, the depiction in the movie wasn't historically accurate.

No one was killed. Three were wounded.

Two people were initially reported "killed", but the report was in error.

Lehi

[AeonJ]

No one was killed. Three were wounded.

Two people were initially reported "killed", but the report was in error.

Lehi

So why not show Joseph wounding these men instead of rewriting history?

This seems like propaganda to me.

[AeonJ]

multi-post

Edited June 17, 2011 by AeonJ

[David T]

So why not show Joseph wounding these men instead of rewriting history?

This seems like propaganda to me.

It is propaganda. Nobody (including the Church) would deny that. It's a religious, faith-promoting presentation. That's its purpose - and the new version even has Lucy Mack Smith look into the camera and tell you this is done to give you a testimony.

Edited June 18, 2011 by nackhadlow

[cinepro]

So why not show Joseph wounding these men instead of rewriting history?

This seems like propaganda to me.

For the next movie in the Legacy theater, the Church should tell the story of Carthage Jail from the point of view of the attackers. Just to be fair.

[Palerider]

To what end?

All the way to the end, what do you mean? Is there more than one ending???

[ERMD]

So why not show Joseph wounding these men instead of rewriting history?

This seems like propaganda to me.

Is propaganda by definition, bad? Every parent in the country utilizes it. Is there a problem with that?

[etana]

If you did not know here is the link…

Enjoy.

In a Church released article it says it has changed from the original one I saw in SLC…In what way?

Here

Maybe FAIR could provide a permanent link; If permissible.

Thanks Pa! I was not aware, nor have i ever seen it before.

[etana]

All the way to the end, what do you mean? Is there more than one ending???

think you need to wait for the extended dvd for that

[TAO]

So why not show Joseph wounding these men instead of rewriting history?

This seems like propaganda to me.

My friend, wouldn't that just be details though?

Self-defense isn't the most important thing in Joseph's life probably.

Edited June 18, 2011 by TAO

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

All the way to the end, what do you mean? Is there more than one ending???

Would you watch a 60 hour movie just to criticize what is not in it? This is what I mean.

[LeSellers]

Self-defense isn't the most important thing in Joseph's life probably.

Joseph didn't use the pepperbox pistol for "self defense"—he used it to defend others* from being killed and his brother's body from being mutilated. Hyrum was dead. It was only then that he fired three of the six rounds from the toy gun Brother Wheelock had smuggled in.

* Yes, "self defense" also includes defending others. But in this context, it's critical to make the distinction I do.

He jumped from the window (or tried to) to draw away the fire of the Carthage Yellows disguised as a mob. These brave men, servants of the Governor of Illinois, ran, tails between their legs, at the mere notion that "the 'Mormons' [were] coming!"

Had he not fired, it is absolutely certain that the mob would have broken into the upper room of the jail and killed all four of its occupants (whereas John Taylor and Willard Richards survived: the former having nearly died, but the latter not even wounded). Had he not leapt from that window, the same fate would probably have come to pass. Had someone (unknown but to God) not yelled out the dire threat, they would still have been slaughtered.

No. Joseph's use of that joke of a pistol (along with the other events noted) saved two lives, and, since Joseph had told all that he would not return from Carthage that time, he knew that three (or even six) rounds would do nothing for him. It was for the others he fired and jumped.

Lehi

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Thanks Pa! I was not aware, nor have i ever seen it before.

Did you enjoy it?

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

How come the movie didn't show Joseph firing gun shots back at the mob?

I would have and think it makes no difference. My only hope is he hit the mark; after all they were trying to kill his friends, his brother and him.

[TAO]

Joseph didn't use the pepperbox pistol for "self defense"—he used it to defend others* from being killed and his brother's body from being mutilated. Hyrum was dead. It was only then that he fired three of the six rounds from the toy gun Brother Wheelock had smuggled in.

* Yes, "self defense" also includes defending others. But in this context, it's critical to make the distinction I do.

He jumped from the window (or tried to) to draw away the fire of the Carthage Yellows disguised as a mob. These brave men, servants of the Governor of Illinois, ran, tails between their legs, at the mere notion that "the 'Mormons' [were] coming!"

Had he not fired, it is absolutely certain that the mob would have broken into the upper room of the jail and killed all four of its occupants (whereas John Taylor and Willard Richards survived: the former having nearly died, but the latter not even wounded). Had he not leapt from that window, the same fate would probably have come to pass. Had someone (unknown but to God) not yelled out the dire threat, they would still have been slaughtered.

No. Joseph's use of that joke of a pistol (along with the other events noted) saved two lives, and, since Joseph had told all that he would not return from Carthage that time, he knew that three (or even six) rounds would do nothing for him. It was for the others he fired and jumped.

Lehi

That works for me too =D. I was just saying that it wasn't exactly essential to show it in a movie.

Edited June 20, 2011 by TAO

[Rivers]

I documented all the significant changes I noticed on my blog here

• The story segment of young Joseph’s leg injury has been removed to focus more on the development of Joseph’s prophetic career.
• There are additional subtle details (in some cases taken from Lucy Mack’s book) that are noted in this version that were not present in the original, such as the general story of the Book of Mormon record being known to Joseph before the translation process began, and relating such details to his family.
• The Minister figure is viewed as being significantly more sympathetic, and less of a cardboard antagonist. Additional scenes show him having genuine concern for Joseph’s spiritual development and growth (he encourages him and assists him in studying the scriptures), and is shown in a scene showing him expressing genuine sorrow and concern for his conviction that a dying Alvin, without having been baptized, will be eternally lost.
• A brief context-setting scene is shown of Joseph’s early attempt to translate at the Hale home, right before the death of Joseph and Emma’s first child.
• Brigham Young is given a more substantial introduction. Still no sign of Sidney Rigdon, though.
• Better context is given to Joseph’s imprisonments. In the originally, he was shown being arrested, or in jail, but never really explained why. Here, the actual charges are often presented. Much better context for the journey to Carthage, for example, is now presented.
• No, "O Lord My God" cry for help as Joseph dies.
• The film ends with Brigham Young leading the exodus, (even though Lucy Mack states in the film that she’s not going along) which fades to the modern Temple Square, with a statement of the Church expanding to become an international Church throughout the world.

So they didn't add Joseph marrying other women behind Emma's back? Darn.

[cinepro]

So they didn't add Joseph marrying other women behind Emma's back? Darn.

There was an LDS-oriented movie about Emma Smith in 2008, and even that film totally avoided the issue of polygamy. It's narrated by an "old" Emma, and when it comes to polygamy she just says something like "the less said about that, the better".

Edited June 20, 2011 by cinepro

[Rivers]

Did Alvin really say that thing about the sea shell and God not wanting to "save just a few of us?" Is that really in Lucy Smith's history??

Just curious.

Edited June 20, 2011 by Rivers

[etana]

Did you enjoy it?

Very much so.