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What She Said: Meridian Readers Applaud Maurine’s Marksmanship
Edited and compiled by Kathy Green
Missing Person
Read
Article Here
Helen Whitney: Missing the
Mark, by Maurine Proctor
I couldn’t have said it better,
but that’s why you’re in journalism and I am in construction.
Thank you for representing my thoughts and feelings so well. I just
wish your words could have been attached to the closing credits
to that documentary.
Randy Dedrick
Yorba Linda, California
**
I thought I was being harsh when I
wrote to Frontline about their anti-Mormon documentary The Mormons,
but Maurine Proctor eloquently described what I was feeling when
I watched only a part of this program. (I could only stand a few
of the misleading historical accounts before I had to turn the channel).
I hope this article by Maurine is read by the many misguided and
biased people who produced that documentary.
Thank you Maurine for expressing exactly
what I and many in my ward were feeling.
John L. Worland
**
Thank you for so eloquently expressing
how I felt about this documentary. I appreciate your cogent analysis,
and hope you will send a copy of your article to Helen Whitney.
Joan Anderson
**
As I watched the two nights of the PBS series, I went through many
different emotions.
Mostly disappointment. If the producer
truly wished for a balanced view of Mormons, I was underwhelmed.
I watched and timed the first night’s lengthy and somewhat
irrelevant Mr. Jeffs part of the polygamy issue. I timed how much
time was spent on the persecution issue. I listened to the Mountain
Meadows Massacre. I found that less time was spent explaining how
the Mormons would be forced to move into an area, and because of
their thrift, intelligence, diligence and industry would create
havens of peace, education and commerce. Not just once, but time
after time after time.
I found the editing of statements to
be almost deliberately made to sound less than favorable. I believe
views on Mormons have left more questions for the general public
than she answered. I believe the production was not a success for
her stated purposes. I was hurt that there was none of the wonderful
sweetness and great good humor of President Gordon B Hinckley shared
with the world. The times he was shown were not a representation
of the compassionate, dedicated servant of the Lord.
This is the greatest disservice I believe
the production inflicted.
Nicolette G. Parsons
Blackfoot, Idaho
**
I am so grateful for your commentary
on the PBS special. I was livid at that awful program! That was
just another hack job. I serve as a stake president in St. Louis
and have worked with the media in doing two radio shows and a small
TV show interview. Those helped to begin the change of perception
of the Church. In one fell swoop, this PBS show could swing it right
back into people believing that the Church is full of lunatics and
that I'm a liar.
Helen Whitney is a sad case for doing ANY type of documentary, in
my opinion. That was absolutely terrible, and as I read your description,
I felt the same words after watching it. What a disaster!
Name withheld
**
Thank you, Maurine, for expressing my opinions in yours. I especially
feel strongly about the important information that was left out
and the negative information that was so embellished. There is nothing
as frustrating and discouraging as having someone look right at
you and tell you what you believe even though they have no idea
what we truly believe — usually someone else has told them
what we believe. I always quietly offer them a Book of Mormon or
the latest Conference Issue of the Ensign, but it is never accepted
because they “already know what’s in it” because
their priest, or uncle or someone else has read it and told them
about it. This is exactly how this documentary felt to me and to
my husband.
I am truly thankful that we do have
the Gift of the Holy Ghost to help us validate our own spirit of
discernment. I am so thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
the knowledge that we have a living prophet to lead and guide us
at all times—if only everyone could understand he is their
prophet too.
Thank you for Meridian and all the
hard work you and Scot put in to it.
Carol Lerwill
Elk Grove, California
**
Maurine Proctor expressed so elegantly
how the average Latter-day Saint felt about the two-part, four-hour
documentary, The Mormons. I felt disgust for the program, and only
continued to watch to be prepared for the questions and discussions
that might occur from family and friends that possibly had watched
the program and had just been "uninformed." This type
of negative bias is still very common.
However the article “Missing the Mark” was wonderful.
I loved all of it. I had hopes that the documentary would have covered
all of Proctor's points in her feature. Thanks for expressing so
precise the facts about the Church, and its leaders. I will be emailing
friends and family the article to read. Excellent reading!
Denise Christian
**
As the Book of Mormon states, there
is opposition in all things. I know many Latter-day Saints were
disappointed by the broadcast last week and felt it did more harm
than good. Short term, maybe. Long term, no. I believe this was
reflected this past Sunday as during my Stake PEC meeting it was
business as usual: no long faces, no feeling sorry for our beliefs
— just the quiet work of priesthood government at work.
During at least two Fast and Testimony meetings I attended, every
testimony was Christ centered, members proclaimed their belief and
shared their real testimonies; no travelogues, no long drawn out
stories — just simple powerful testimonies. If the adversary
had a plan to use the documentary to weaken the Church as a whole,
if what I heard and experienced on Sunday is any reflection he has
sorely underestimated the Latter-day Saints as he always does.
Andy Wykstra
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
**
Thank you for expressing so eloquently
my thoughts. I had hoped, for once, to see something more balanced
and that portrayed our real beliefs and history. I was very disappointed.
I should have known that it would be more of the same misinformation
and half-truths. I knew it would not be balanced as soon as I saw
the artwork used to portray the prophet Joseph Smith.
Jack A. Bair
**
My niece forwarded your assessment
of the PBS special and I've forwarded it to my children and their
spouses. Thank you for speaking for me in your excellent response.
It was a breath of fresh air after the diatribe I heard on four
hours of PBS.
Olivetta Chavez
Concord, California
**
Maurine Proctor spoke for me in her
assessment of the so-called The Mormons. She wrote an excellent
piece. If only the world could read that instead of sitting through
four hours of TV.
Concord, California
**
On her religion beliefs, Helen Whitney
failed to understand the restored church and missed the mark on
why our church is growing well with success.
Ross A. Clark
San Diego, California
**
After two nights of staying up late
to watch the PBS documentary, I woke up this morning with the Prophet
Joseph Smith on the forefront of my mind. The thought came to me
that the Joseph Smith portrayed by PBS is not the Joseph Smith that
I have come to revere and love. I feel the perspective of Joseph
Smith that PBS introduced or portrayed to the general public errs
on the side of a dark and shady character who has incredible leadership
and drive. How sad this is!
Any one of us could look like a very
rotten person if our flaws and mistakes were displayed as the makeup
of 80% of our lives, or if our choices and actions were taken out
of context without the "rest of the story." The Joseph
Smith that I have come to hold in high esteem includes stories of
a gentle and happy man; a man of contagious optimism and perspective;
a man who lived his life in poverty, and who persevered through
all imaginable trials; a man who accomplished the unimaginable;
a man who treasured his wife, Emma; a man who gave everything in
the name of Jesus Christ, and for the God above; a man we would
all do well to pattern our lives after.
With this conclusion in my mind, I
rolled out of bed to offer a prayer of thanks for the Prophet Joseph
Smith, and for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Though I appreciate
the hard work PBS did in providing a documentary about the Mormons
that is refreshingly different than presentations of the past, I
am saddened by the missed opportunity to tell the true story of
Joseph Smith.
Alexis Johansen
Apex, North Carolina
**
Capitol Letter
Read
Article Here
A Letter to the Pastor, by
Margaret Blair Young
This is a most beautiful description
of the Priesthood and the Church. It bought tears to my eyes. I've
sent it on for all to read. Thank you Margaret.
Pam
Perth, West Australia
**
It was perfect — simple and complete,
just like the Gospel.
Jan Bodine
**
Once again, your writing has brought joy to my soul. I want to join
you in that dance of jubilation — can we also sing the song
of redeeming love?
Blessings to you for sharing your gift.
Aloha.
Ann Allred
Laie, Hawaii
**
I read the article by Margaret Blair
Young with great interest to start with. My interest turned into
excitement when I read the part of her father Robert Blair serving
his mission in Finland. As it happens to be, he is the one who taught
the gospel to my family. I was just a year old or so when he first
came to our home, but the legacy of his diligent lives with me forever.
That all was more than 55 years ago. About 33 years ago he was my
BYU sponsor, and today he remains as a beacon in my gospel life.
I will forever be grateful for his
testimony of the gospel. He felt inspired to come to our door, even
though he was alone at the time and on his way to meet the other
elders for some sporting event. Our door was not just one in front
of him; he had to choose the right set of stairs going to the right,
then go in the front door of the building, take the elevator to
the 5th floor and ring our doorbell. He came at a time when my parents
were praying for guidance in a very difficult time. Six months later
my parent were baptized. God does listen to our prayers, and "Vanhin"
Elder Robert Blair is a proof of that.
Anna-Leena Magnusson, aka Hartialan Punnu
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
**
This is a beautifully written letter.
Thank you for the wonderful missionary tool it can be.
Connie Beach
**
Unbelievably touching. So well-written.
It brought tears to my eyes. The circle of life.
Steven Orton
Burke, Virginia
**
This article has to be the most spiritually
uplifting, comforting article I have read in a long while, possibly
ever. It is pure testimony of Christ and our heavenly Father as
they are involved in our lives, and the Gospel plan. What more can
be said?
We may try to explain to our friends
which principles of our doctrine were put forth correctly in the
documentary The Mormons. We might try to discuss the reasons
we think it strange that a person, not a member of the Church, would
try to explain what we believe and what our lifestyle is. But nothing
has a greater impact than bearing our testimonies by the Spirit
and if our friends are ready, they will feel it.
Otherwise it doesn't matter what we
say, because if someone isn't ready to humbly listen and feel the
Spirit, it's just a bunch of words.
Jenny Svendsen
Salt Spring Island. British Columbia, Canada
**
Thank you for the wonderful article
"A Letter to the Pastor" by Margaret Blair Young. It captures
most eloquently, who and what we are as disciples of Christ and
members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was
in tears near the end as the Holy Ghost testified to me, again,
that the Gospel is true.
I also loved Maurine Proctor's article "Helen Whitney: Missing
the Mark." It was informative and will be helpful explaining
to others.
Kathy Westwood
Bettendorf, Iowa
**
I think the Lord will say, "Well
done." At least that is certainly my impression. I hope the
Pastor friend will open his heart and receive it as it was given.
Sam Moellmann
**
One word: Awesome! And two more: thank
you.
Linda Hyde
Rosemark, Tennessee
**
WOW!!! The letter to the Pastor left
me weeping.
How incredibly profound and personal,
yet common to us all! Thank you so much for posting this letter.
It is one I hope to share.
Kirsten O.,
North Virginia
**
Sister Young — what a wonderful
circle of love you have portrayed for each of us. Well said and
well done.
Stewart Lang
**
Dear Margaret, it's I, a voice from
our Provo past. I was so touched by your article I had to write.
I've been so disturbed by the recent sensationalism, drama, and
distortions relating to the church in the press with Mitt running.
Sick of sacred things being profaned. I suppose it will continue
at least through the election, and even get worse. Your article
brought me back to the core of who I am as a member of the Church
and the peace and joy of it all. Thank you, thank you. I always
knew you had literary gifts in high school, and they have flourished
so beautifully. Best to you and your family.
Jeanne Grow Whiting
New Canaan, Connecticut.
**
My heart jumps with joy as I read this
wonderful article, through the tears in my eyes. As a member of
the church for 72 of my 80 years, I have also felt the joy that
Sister Blair has felt. I have had the heartaches in my life of losing,
a brother, my buddy, my parents, my mother and father-in-law, a
sister-in-law, four brothers-in-law from tragic accidents, and two
granddaughters, plus two great-granddaughters who died as infants.
I am grateful for the sure knowledge
that we will all be together as a family in the eternities, when
I have completed all I have been sent here to do.
My prayer is that people will understand
the real message of what it is to be a member of the Lord’s
Church, and want to know how they can enter into the Heavenly Father’s
kingdom when it comes their time to leave this earth. Thanks for
a great article, it really touched my heart.
Wilma
**
I would like to pass along my appreciation
for the well written and in-tune article by Margaret Blair Young.
I have copied it to send to my missionary grandson and plan to keep
it with me as I do a little traveling this summer that I can share
these same beliefs. It is interesting how the documentary has permitted
us to know what is truth and what isn't and to appreciate even more
what is means to us to be a Mormon.
Wini Jensen
**
To Err is Humorous
Read
Article Here
Err on the Side of Charity
by Susan Law Corpany
I always enjoy Susan Corpany's articles. She is always so right
on. Thank you so much for publishing them.
Debra Davenport
Spanish Fork, Utah currently serving in Gawler, SA, Australia
**
Letter from a Non-Member: Guileless
in Seattle
Some of the finest people I have ever
had the privilege to know have been members of the LDS Church. Even
though I am more or less a person non-affiliated with any organized
religious body, I do have my values. Many are no different than
the fundamental notions I acquired in an early mixed Lutheran and
Christian Science upbringing while growing up in my formative years
in Salt Lake City. If anything, this admixture of beliefs and values
allowed me to realize the importance of a strong nuclear family
anchored by solid underpinnings of household solidarity.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit
my own family left something to be desired in that regard, but that’s
the deck of cards I was given. And I hardly mean to suggest that
I came from a less than caring home of nurture. However, I came
to see and to realize that most of the others in my peer group,
largely Mormons, had the benefit of group identity as well as common
core beliefs, some of which I like to think I have mimicked in my
own life.
It does gall me when I hear evangelical
people proclaim that Mormons are “non-Biblical.” In
the next breath they leap to the “therefore” their belief
system is tarnished to the point of cultism. Hogwash. It’s
precisely this non-inclusive puritanical mindset that has the authentic
tarnished viewpoint. There always has been and there always will
be contrariness among any two individual people, let alone different
cultures, times, and stances of any sort.
Prejudice against Mormons runs high
amongst the more numerous evangelical believers in the largely Protestant
makeup of our country. Ironically, the more conservative a religious
affiliation seems, the less likely there is a tolerance for another’s
viewpoints, teachings, etc. Unfortunately, this seems to be a common
human condition. There’s only an iota of a chance that this
state of affairs will ever change or that Mitt Romney might be our
national president.
Mitt Romney would have my favor for
president, based solely on his proven track record of accomplishment
in his family, his church, his professional life and his political
life. Let’s face it. He’s more than just a good man.
He’s the sort of person most anyone would emulate and that
most would wish that they themselves could be.
I don’t think that any one political
party is more prone than another to “jump the gun” when
it comes protecting home, hearth, country and ideology. It does
seem to be that way to the myriad opposing points of view; I oftentimes
find myself bad mouthing our current state of affairs, locally,
domestically and internationally. And, it’s all too easy to
point fingers at the powers that be and to blame those in charge.
And I hardly want to seem like an apologist. However, in a more
thoughtful retrospect I ask myself if I thought I could do any better.
Not likely, and I don’t suppose
that anyone else with opposing notions would do much better themselves.
After all, we’re all pretty much alike when it comes down
to it. No one is even close to being perfect. We can never expect
to have a “one size fits all” leader on any plane. We
should know this by now — and in spite of all the cross-talk
and after all has been said and done, we’re still the world’s
most successful democratic experiment in history. Knowing what I
experientially know about the fiber of the Mormon persona, I would
find Mitt Romney far more palatable than many other religious exemplars
that come to mind.
Bill Bacon
West Seattle, Washington
**
© 2007 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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