As narrated by his mother, Joseph Smith's life flashes as it pertains to the restoration and growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Set in upstate New York, pivotal events include the first vision where Joseph saw God, the father and his son Jesus Christ; the visit of the angel Moroni and the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon.
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Reviews
Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Excellent adaptation.
The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
Prophet Of The Restoration of the Mormon Cinema is a life study of the founder of the Church Of Christ of Latter Day Saints Joseph Smith who was the middle kid in a large family named Smith just trying to scratch out a living on a farm in Palmyra, New York. Back in those days Palmyra was part of what in Western New York State was called the 'burned over' district. Traveling preachers were in fact the only entertainment these people had often the only book they had in the house was the Bible and the various interpretations thereof these folks heard them all. It was the only entertainment these farmers scratching for a living in the soil like the Smith family had.According to Joseph Smith he was first visited by the eternal when he was 15 and later on was given some gold plated bound books in Hebrew which this barely literate man translated. He did of course have help there. These became the Book of Mormon, a biblical supplement for what became the LDS church, the story of Israelites who made it to the western hemisphere and of Jesus who made a second visit to that western hemisphere civilization they started of which we have no archaeological evidence.Nathan Mitchell who played Joseph Smith in several films anchors this film with a good interpretation of the part. As is usual scrupulous detail is given to creating the look and atmosphere of the Jacksonian era in American history where the church was founded and grew.Gentile audiences will get a good idea about what makes LDS church what it is today from Prophet Of The Restoration.
It would be one thing if this movie was just billing itself as fan fiction. However, it is such a complete whitewashing of history that it only vaguely resembles the Joseph Smith of reality. What the movie doesn't cover:Smith's polygamous/polyandrous marriages (and lifelong public denial of them).Smith's unsuccessful treasure digging by using a "seer stone" that he found while digging a well.Smith translating the Book of Mormon using this same seer stone by putting it in a hat.Smith creating the Book of Abraham by translating ancient papyrus that eventually turned out to be nothing about Abraham.Smith verifying the authenticity of and translating the Kinderhook Plates (plates that eventually turned out to be a hoax).Smith ordering the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor's printing press because they exposed his polygamous activities.
I have seen this wonderful production, and I wonder if anyone can tell me anything about the actress who played the blacksmith's wife-I am not sure of her character's name. I went to BYU with her and lost touch with her-her maiden name was Kim Luke-and I wonder if anyone has any info on her. She is not listed in the credits. This production was outstanding, a tear-jerker on all accounts, superb acting by all. I guess I don't even want to put it in the general category of 'acting', more like 'portraying with feeling the amazing events that led to the opening of the Heavens for this the final dispensation'.....something like that. If anyone worked with Kim or has a website or something please let me know!!! She was fantastic in her role, by the way....Thanks, Melissa Thorne
After reading the comments to this movie and seeing the mixed reviews, I decided that I would add my ten cents worth to say I thought the film was excellent, not only in the visual beauty, the writing, music score, acting, and directing, but in putting across the story of Joseph Smith and the road he traveled through life of hardship and persecution for believing in God the way he felt and knew to be his path. I am very pleased, indeed, to have had a small part in telling the story of this remarkable man. I recommend everyone to see this when the opportunity presents itself, no matter what religious path he or she may be walking, this only instills one with more determination to live the life that we should with true values of love and forgiveness as the Savior taught us to do.