Documentary Review: Frontline: The Mormons

Just got done watching four hours about Mormonism on a special that PBS Frontline created. It was done very well. Though it doesn't get into the theological or Scriptural flaws of Mormonism, I think it is a fair presentation of the religion. From the history, to the roots, to the controversies, it covered it all. I do have several thoughts as a Protestant after watching. We'll start with the positives.

• The Mormons sense of joy, hope and family are to be admired. The family is very close and at the center of your life. Outside of Mormonism, we tend to be more focused on individuals rather than the family as a unit. Granted this is partly because they believe us to be eternal beings and that the family ties will continue into the afterlife. 
• I have always admired the emphasis of mission work with the Mormons. Two years of complete devotion to sharing your faith is more than we require of our own youths who sadly, barely understand what they believe. The tactics they use still seem to be what I criticize with Christianity- hit and run street evangelism and door to door. Even in the video of the Mormon missionaries, you see the largely ineffectiveness of a busy society and 1950 tactics. I believe Christians should tap in to the idea of missionary service for all youth.
• There is a high level of devotion to each other as Mormons. Granted there are denominations even in Mormonism, but their is a proud heritage and bond between members.

The negatives:

• The fact that the Mormon leadership will not deal with any desenting thoughts or questions is troubling. This is especially true even when there is NO historical evidence to any of Joseph Smith's claims in the Book of Mormon. There is no archeological, linguistical or historical evidence about the Nephites and Lamenites. The gold plates were very suspicious. The changing of Joseph Smith's positions and then the following changes in racial issues, polygamy, and baptism of the dead are a sign of a religion that is constantly changing and not sure of itself.
• The focus on America was something I never contemplated before. This is without a doubt, a very ethnocentric belief system. The American mentality is large in Mormonism. this is seen in the belief that Zion will be in Independence, Missouri, that the Garden of Eden was in Missouri, and the fact that Jesus had to appear to the early Americans after his death, yet he didn't appear anywhere else. In a sense, this only fronts the idea that America is the center of God's kingdom, not Israel.
• If we are all God, there is no need for Jesus! He was just like us. If we are Gods, we're are in trouble.
• The Mountain Meadows massacre seems to point directly to the leader of Mormon faith- Brigham Young. Christianity had its own flaws with crusades, yet there were far removed from the time of Christ. We know He would never have approved of them. Brigham gave the thumbs up for the massacre of innocent Arkansasians.
• I think polygamy may very well be a dead horse. It does seem unfair to accuse the LDS of approving of it when the normal convicts of it are offshoots of the LDS. 
• Baptism of the dead is unbiblical...period. It is also a joke. If it is true, there is no need to convert to Mormonism because I'll get a second chance to accept or reject it after I die.
• If Joseph Smith saw God the Father and came away alive, he has done something that not even Moses could do. Moses only saw his glory and it physically changed his face. Joseph is then indeed greater than even the greatest prophets who are recorded in the Bible. Given his disrespect for law officials...that is saying something

There are a lot of other thoughts I had as I watched. However, these are sufficient for now. My heart goes out to people who are trying hard, yet are imprisoned by complete obedience to a church that is theologically messed up and its own history is flawed and false.