Heber J. Grant and 'Brigham Young,' the movie

70 years ago today in Utah History --- Heber J. Grant writes Twentieth Century Fox "I hope we shall not appear to you to be over anxious ... but we are tremendously concerned..."

But nearly a year later the Mormon church president declared "This is one of the greatest days of my life." His involvement in helping with the film "Brigham Young" influenced the making of the movie and subsequently the public perception of the LDS Church.

Early movies depicting Mormons were not flattering. In 1910 the first anti-Mormon film, 'Victim of the Mormons' was "publicly condemned by Apostle David O. McKay" and Utah's LDS Governor William Spry led a successful effort to prevent the film from further airings. [1].

The negative portrayal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continued with the films "The Mountain Meadow Massacre" (1912), "The Mormon" (1912), "Deadwood Dick Spoils Brigham Young" (1915), Cecil B. DeMille's "A Mormon Maid" (1917), and "The Rainbow Trail" (1918).

In 1921 Apostle and Senator Reed Smoot received a letter "from [the] president of Fox Films, agreeing to stop exhibiting [the] movie 'Riders of the Purple Sage'" after church condemnation of the film. Later "the studio re-edited 'Riders,' which Apostle Smoot reviews and approved." [2]

Over thirty movies portrayed the church in a less than flattering light. But in the 1930s, restrictions were imposed on the portrayal of polygamy on the screen. This gave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church a break from negative portrayals in the movies. [3]

In the late 1930s, former Mormon Vardis Fisher's prize winning novel about the early history of the church -- "Children of God" came to the attention of film maker Darryl F. Zanuck. Zanuck had recently purchased 20th Century Fox and had made a series of biographical films about important Americans. Fisher's book helped inspire him to make a movie about Brigham Young. [4]

President Grant was concerned how the church would be portrayed and offered church resources while the film was extensively researched. Vincent Price, who played the part of Joseph Smith, recalled Grant "felt that the picture might have been about Joseph Smith instead of Brigham but of course realized that the great appeal to the public (and of course to the producers) was the difficult trek and the miracle of the gulls." Price continued "I greatly enjoyed the part of Joseph Smith, I read a great deal about him and with the help of the late Heber Grant kept on finding more material on the subject."

Grant was the 7th president and prophet of the Latter-day Saint church, son of Brigham Young's counselor, and adopted son of Joseph Smith.

Writing to the movie's associate producer, Grant expressed concern. "I hope we shall not appear to you to be over anxious, and we have no disposition to be oversensitive, but we are tremendously concerned that this picture shall be a true picture, and, while we are not, any of us, playwrights, or dramatists, or Movie technicians, we can appreciate the war which must constantly go on in one preparing a picture, between the highly dramatic and the sober fact." [5].

The movie's storyline and content continued to be adjusted. In the end it told the story of the founding of Mormonism, the death of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young leading Mormons west, and ended with the miracle of the seagulls.

After a private viewing aired for Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark and David O' McKay before the film's general release, president Grant declared "I endorse it with all my heart and have no suggestions. This is one of the greatest days of my life. I can't say any more than 'God Bless You'" [6].

Utah declared the film's opening day (August 23rd, 1940) "Brigham Young Day" and hosted a parade in downtown Salt Lake City with nearly 100,000 spectators. The film was so popular in Salt Lake that it set a record for the number of theaters opening a single film. It was estimated the population of Salt Lake doubled for the debut because of out of town visitors. [7]

But not everyone was happy with the movie. The church-owned Deseret News pointed out that "the Brigham Young of the picture lacks the faith and knowledge the real Brigham had, who never doubted his leadership nor its divine direction. It therefore to the Church members comes as a shock," but "Church members will readily overlook the infelicities that appear and that they only are likely to see." [8]

The Salt Lake Tribune noted there was only a brief reference to polygamy and that "there is nothing calculated to reopen old wounds, nothing likely to revive rancor." [9]

While some church members were upset with the movie's portrayal of Brigham Young as a self-doubting leader, others praised the movie, feeling the historical inaccuracies and a doubtful Brigham Young were minor issues, particularly when compared to the long string of negative publicity the church had received though film. [10]

At the semi-annual conference of the church in October, President Grant observed "I have heard some little criticism of it, but we cannot expect the people who do not know that Brigham Young was in very deed the representative of God upon this earth who do not know of his wonderful character, to tell the story as we would tell it."

He continued "It is a very marvelous and wonderful thing, considering how people generally have treated us and what they thought of us. Of course, there are many things that are not strictly correct, and that is announced in the picture itself. It is of course a picture and we could not hope that they would make a picture at their expense, running into a couple of million dollars, to be just as we would like it." [11]

The film helped modify the perception of the Mormon church's public image. James D'arc, who provided commentary on the DVD release of "Brigham Young" noted "Brigham Young, to them, was seen in this screen portrait as a courageous and human leader who, while beset by natural self doubt, rose successfully to each challenge of circumstance." The image of Brigham Young in the movies changed "from perverted religious fanatic to virile striving pioneer."

[1] Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996

[3] D'arc, James V. , "The Saints on Celluloid: The Making of the Movie Brigham Young," Sunstone 1:4 (Fall 1976), p. 11-28

[5] Heber J. Grant in letter to Kenneth Macgowan, 30 August 1939 as quoted in D'arc

[6] "High L.D.S. Officials Preview Brigham Young," Salt Lake Tribune, 14 August 1940, p. 8, as quoted in D'arc

[11] Heber J. Grant, One Hundred and Eleventh Semi-Annual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p. 96, as quoted in D'arc

From the article: Over thirty movies portrayed the church in a less than flattering light.

(Sometimes that's what realistic historical portrayals wind up doing -- telling the truth minus the expensive public relations attempt to present most things in a "flattering light")

From the article: The film helped modify the perception of the Mormon church's public image.

Of course it did. Here we have a film about Brigham Young. Polygamy was barely mentioned. His 27 wives were glossed over, as if they didn't matter. Same with his 57 kids -- about half of whom were born to girls in their teens and women in their 20s. In a dozen of Young's marriages, the age differences were:
41-20; 42-18; 42-15; 43-20; 43-19; 44-16; 45-20; 45-16; 45-19; 61-24; 63-22; 66 or 67 - 23 or 24.

A 45 yo marrying a 15 yo & a pair of 16 yo? Sounds to me like the perfect thing even 1940 Hollywood might be interested in. (But no, that got censored out as the Mormon church ensured the film in the prep stages was as the article said "adjusted")

From the article: ...feeling the historical inaccuracies and a doubtful Brigham Young were minor issues...

Listen, if Hollywood had actually gotten into very many "historical accuracies," it would have dealt with:

#1 Brigham Young as territorial governor during the first 9/11 domestic act of terrorism in our nation -- when 120 innocent children, women and men were executed at close range by Mormons their remaining children aged 7 & under kidnapped by Mormon families in Southern Utah, -- all under the watchful eye of Young who acted as both "prophet" and "Guv" of the people. (Ya gotta know this event didn't just happen in a day; the Fancher party was under siege for several days before seeing no alternative but to surrender their weapons and being forced by Mormons to go on their death march)

#2 How about Brigham's "interesting" teaching of blood atonement, which led to some avenging angels & Danites ensuring men were punished for their own sins by "helping them" shed their own blood? (That, too, sounds like Hollywood intrigue; but, no, that, too was skipped over)

#3 What about Brigham's quarter-of-a-century teaching that the first man, Adam, is our god? Surely this "tidbit" highlighted -- if only briefly on the big screen -- could have added more "historical reality" to who Young was.

But, of course, Mormons want a "prophet-hero" they can name a school after and send their kids to.

Of course there will be an accurate rendering of the Muntain Meadows massacre where Brigham oung ordered the murders of 120 unarmed men women and children and babes in arms who were under a flag of truce, and kiddnapped several children 7 and under and held them captive in starvation, want and squallor for two years before the US Army made them give them back...

And brigham young stolle the wagons, horses and cattle, and other belongings and money of his victims and never returned any of it...Even the bloody clothes on the bodies of his victims was stripped from their dead bodies..

Then Brigham Young left the bodies of his victims out on the prairee for two years and animals ate their flesh and scattered the bones...until the US Army, (again) buried their bones etc..and placed a memorial over the huge common grave..

after which Brigham young ordered the memorial pulled down, and the grave destroyed and desecrated...

***A movie on Brigham Young and Joe Smith? Cool! I love comedies, or is this categorized strictly under outlandish fiction?****

I saw this piece of dreck many years ago on tv. Read about the death of Joseph Smith, then watch the movie.

Smith died in a shootout with the mob killing three of them. Then tried to break jail by jumping out of the unbarred window and was caught in the back by the rifle fire from the mob.

Vincent Price looks at the mob, breaking down the door, like an innocent lamb and is then shot and falls backward out the window. No return fire, no Masonic cries for help.

I read a few years back that this particular movie failed at the box office, even in Utah.

***Even the bloody clothes on the bodies of his victims was stripped from their dead bodies..***

I read a history by a Mountain Man (I wish I could remember his name) who was a scout for the US Army when they retrieved the children from the Mormons.

He said only firm discipline by the officers prevented the soldiers from lynching every Mormon they could find. the Cedar City Stake house still stank like a slaughter house two years after the massacre because that is wher the bloody unwashed clothing was stored.

The Mountain man later converted to Mormonism but had to flee Salt Lake for his life when he was seen talking with a non-mormon woman about the errors of Mormonism.

Lol! Revisionism is cool...and necessary to draw in viewers in a story about a fake "prophet".

Personally, I think the mormons should make a movie about the TRUTH, only. (As if that would ever happen).

Here are some groovy fictional concepts from a fake-prophet to help build a truthful storyline:
ALL QUOTED FROM HERE

God was once a man like us.
God has a tangible body of flesh and bone.
God lives on a planet near the star Kolob.
God ("Heavenly Father") has at least one wife, our "Mother in Heaven," but she is so holy that we are not to discuss her nor pray to her.
Jesus was married.
We can become like God and rule over our own universe.
There are many gods, ruling over their own worlds.
Jesus and Satan ("Lucifer") are brothers, and they are our brothers - we are all spirit children of Heavenly Father
Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father by having sex with Mary, who was temporarily his wife.
We should not pray to Jesus, nor try to feel a personal relationship with him.
The "Lord" ("Jehovah") in the Old Testament is the being named Jesus in the New Testament, but different from "God the Father" ("Elohim").
In the highest degree of the celestial kingdom some men will have more than one wife.
Before coming to this earth we lived as spirits in a "pre-existence", during which we were tested; our position in this life (whether born to Mormons or savages, or in America or Africa) is our reward or punishment for our obedience in that life.
Dark skin is a curse from God, the result of our sin, or the sin of our ancestors. If sufficiently righteous, a dark-skinned person will become light-skinned.
The Garden of Eden was in Missouri. All humanity before the Great Flood lived in the western hemisphere. The Ark transported Noah and the other survivors to the eastern hemisphere.
Not only will human beings be resurrected to eternal life, but also all animals - everything that has ever lived on earth - will be resurrected and dwell in heaven.
Christ will not return to earth in any year that has seen a rainbow.
Mormons should avoid traveling on water, since Satan rules the waters.
The sun receives its light from the star Kolob.
If a Gentile becomes Mormon, the Holy Ghost actually purges his Gentile blood and replaces it with Israelite blood.
A righteous Mormon will actually see the face of God in the Mormon temple.
You can identify a false angel by the color of his hair, or by offering to shake his hand.

From the article: Over thirty movies portrayed the church in a less than flattering light.

Ya don't SAY!!

I know of one BOOK that shows it to be a blasphemous swipe at Jesus Christ!!

KJV

Galatians 1:6-9

6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

ANYBODY???

Like this fine looking fellow???

2 Corinthians 11:12-15

12. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Like THESE guys??

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19

17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

Ephesians 2:1-2

1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

1 Corinthians 4:17
For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

1 Corinthians 11:2
Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

2 Timothy 1:13
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15
14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Attack the Mormons.

Why?

They've always been nice to Christians!

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/17#17

17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”

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