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470:. The center was constructed in 1984, and teaches curriculum concerning Near Eastern history, Hebrew and Arabic language, and the Gospels in the New Testament. Part of the agreement which allowed its construction was that students are forbidden to proselytize. If a student breaks this agreement, he or she is sent home. The center was closed during the period between 2000 and 2006 due to security concerns as the result of the
522:” but the film does not make this clear, so the viewer is left to infer she was speaking about the LDS Church. The Tanners, who do make the claim that the LDS Church practiced “blood atonement” in the 19th century, state, “nfortunately, The God Makers II has presented the material concerning blood atonement in a way that has caused many people to believe that the Mormon (LDS) Church is still involved in the practice”.
601:, speculates that the allegation is in fact true and that Joseph Smith Sr. stated there was a rumor, or even started it himself, merely to create a pretext for the exhumation. Vogel suggests that the family would not have had to dig up Alvin’s grave in order to see if it had been tampered with. Further, accepting Chase’s testimony in
246:, Sackett states that he wants to warn the Jews about the “deception and misrepresentation that was employed in building this Mormon edifice” and claims that the true purpose of the structure is to proselytize the Jews. Sackett also makes a number of statements that he claims represent Mormon beliefs, including the following:
419:, "the second book and film are worse than the first: they include an explicit call to hatred and intolerance that has been denounced as such by a number of Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish organizations." Among the critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that challenged the film were
337:
Decker claims that Joseph Smith was a sorcerer and fortune teller and that "t is therefore quite natural to surmise that Smith’s followers would be involved in the same practices that he advocated". Decker also claims that Smith was convicted of sorcery and "crystal ball gazing or fortune telling" by
583:
with him to obtain the plates. Alvin died on
November 19, 1823, well before Smith’s second visit to the hill on September 22, 1824. Although Chase’s statement makes no further comment regarding Alvin, Hofmann’s forgery adds a claim that Smith said to the angel, “he is dead shall I bring what remains
140:, although the name of the church is not identified in the film and is instead referred to by Chynoweth as the “Mormon Church.” Chynoweth states that the group was sincere in practicing “all aspects of Mormonism” and describes her father as controlling every aspect of their lives through revelation.
517:
does not make it clear that she committed suicide in 1992, and instead leaves the impression with the viewer that she was murdered as the result of the “blood atonement” threat. The
Tanners take issue with the manner in which this is presented in the film, stating, "his statement certainly suggests
295:
Decker states that, "The goal of every Mormon man is to become the duplicate of the
Mormons' concept of God: to reign over planets and solar systems and enjoy everlasting, celestial sex with thousands of goddess wives". Decker claims that temple attendance is required to achieve this goal, but that
539:
Joseph Smith was never “convicted” or even tried on charges of sorcery, crystal ball gazing or fortune telling. In 1826 a written complaint was filed against Smith as a “disorderly person.” This resulted in what is referred to as the “1826 trial” of Joseph Smith. The charge was “glass looking,” in
397:
in Salt Lake City. Commenting on the lack of news responding to these allegations, Decker states that the church executed "an extraordinary media blackout" and that they "stopped the hottest story of the ’80s". Decker further states that the Mormon church has the "ability to control virtually all
165:
Chynoweth relates the account of the murder of her husband, her brother-in-law, and his eight-year-old daughter by her half-brothers. She states that their names were “on the list to be atoned for” because her father believed that they were “traitors to God’s cause.” At the end of
Chynoweth’s
225:
Greer states that Mormon men are promised that they will have “unlimited eternal sex” and that the Mormon woman is promised a life of “eternal pregnancy.” Greer also states that if Mormon men do not marry in a Mormon temple that “they will be castrated” and “made eunuchs” as the result of “an
90:
The LDS Church is described as a huge business enterprise. John
Heinerman, author of “Mormon Corporate Empire” describes various business ventures that the church is involved in. Heinerman states that 25% of the church’s holdings are in agribusiness. John L. Smith, Director of
315:. Schnoebelen states that he was a former "high priest of Satan" who attended the temple, and that he was "ultimately very satisfied by it because thought that this was in fact a profound satanic initiation ceremony". Both Schnoebelen and Decker equate
557:
accepts Joseph Smith Sr.’s story on face value where he states that the family, “heard a rumor that Alvin’s body had been exhumed and dissected. Fearing it to be true, the elder Smith uncovered the grave on
September 25, 1824 and inspected the corpse.”
166:
interview, she states that if anything happens to her that the “Mormon” church will be responsible. Immediately following this statement, a text overlay states that shortly after the interview, Lillian was found dead in her home of a gunshot wound.
518:
to all those who see the video, that
Lillian Chynoweth was murdered in cold blood. What the producers of The God Makers II fail to tell the viewer is that Lillian took her own life. Also, the “Mormon Church” Chynoweth refers to on film is the “
510:, and was written by Ervil LeBaron before his death in prison. The document contained a list of individuals that LeBaron believed deserved to die. Upon receipt of the list by several of his sons, they proceeded to administer this punishment.
607:, Vogel states that the timing of the exhumation (September 25, close to the equinox during which Lucy Mack Smith states Joseph made his visits to Cumorah) further suggests it was part of an attempt to secure the golden plates.
725:
226:
operation” that will take place after they reach heaven. Decker later follows up on this theme by stating that the goal of every Mormon man is to “enjoy everlasting, celestial sex with thousands of goddess wives.”
152:” is discussed. Decker states that the concept of blood atonement “glorifies the atoning power of the blood of the Mormon sinner,” and refers to statements regarding “blood atonement” made by LDS Apostle
192:
since it was first published. In addition, Decker states that LDS Church leaders have ”covered up thousands of historical and archeological errors,” while contrasting this with the statement that the
213:
63:
Due to the nature of the subject matter, this program is recommended for mature audiences. All the following information pertaining to Mormon theology can be verified using Mormon publications.
132:
Lillian LeBaron
Chynoweth relates her experiences living in a polygamous fundamentalist group. Chynoweth, identified in the film as “Lillian, Former Mormon Fundamentalist,” was the daughter of
129:
splinter groups who continue the practice today. A series of interviews follows with men and women from some of these fundamentalist groups as they relate their experiences with polygamy.
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but the spirit is gone.” This statement reintroduced speculation regarding the exhumation of Alvin’s body for the purpose of satisfying the requirements for obtaining the plates.
319:
with
Satanism. Regarding these allegations of satanic practices, Decker states that the "LDS Church has officially acknowledged that we were right", apparently referring to the
349:
from the dead. A picture of a decomposed skeletal body in a coffin is shown as Decker suggests that there is "strong evidence" that Smith had to dig up the body of his brother
588:
point out that the only known source of such a requirement is the discredited
Salamander Letter and suggest that Decker relied upon this letter as the source of his claim.
79:, stating that the earlier films “caused mayhem” and suggests that his films caused the LDS Church to “modify several so-called unchangeable sacred doctrines” as a result.
1004:
363:
Decker states that Smith was found to be in possession of a "magic talisman" at the time of his death that would bring him "wealth, power and success in seducing women".
360:
Decker claims that Smith used "blood sacrifices in his magic rituals" in order to locate treasure. Decker quotes C. R. Stafford, while Stafford quotes earlier critics.
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43:
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The LDS Church claims that this doctrine was never practiced in the 19th century church at all, and formally repudiated the allegations of this practice in 1889.
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provoked a number of responses from both supporters and critics of Mormonism, with both groups claiming severe inaccuracies in the information presented. Says
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film. When Decker was denounced by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, he went so far as to accuse them of being in the pay of the LDS Church and even of being "
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states that the men at the top of the “Mormon empire” are extremely wealthy and hold a lot of the corporate power in the country.
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The allegation that Joseph Smith dug up and took with him a part of his brother Alvin’s body to the hill Cumorah is unconfirmed.
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patient named Charles Van Damme is interviewed. Van Damme claims that he arranged women and drugs for church leaders (including
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108:
222:, which depicts God the Father surrounded by numerous, blonde, identical “spirit wives” who are caring for “spirit children.”
281:. During this segment Heinerman states that “people of the new age movement are often more open to the truths of Mormonism.”
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related practices, which involved filming a woman wearing a pyramid on her head and a man who appears to be having a
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reference to Smith’s use of a stone to assist in the search for treasure during the time that he worked for
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Decker introduces himself with the statement that he was an active member of the LDS Church for 19 years.
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is “historically and archaeologically” accurate. Interspersed with Decker’s comments are statements from
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A segment in the film focuses on the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern studies located on
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75% of LDS members will never enter a temple. He also suggests that the requirement to wear "
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With regard to the statement of Lillian Chynoweth’s death after the completion of the film,
393:). These comments are interspersed with video of several people carrying protest signs near
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Lillian Chynoweth’s description of the “blood atonement” administered by the followers of
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The story of the exhumation of Alvin’s remains gained new life with the “discovery” of
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Offenders for a Word: How Anti-Mormons Play Word Games to Attack the Latter-day Saints
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is shown twisting and distorting. A voiceover by Decker comments on his earlier films
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a claim that Mormons believe that they are the only “true Jews” on earth today.
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311:, listed as "Author, Former Mormon, Former Satanist", appears in front of the
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in 1834. Chase states that the angel told Joseph Smith to bring his brother
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29:
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264:, Mormons believe that their blood actually changes to the blood of Israel.
930:"The Devil Makers: Contemporary Evangelical Fundamentalist Anti-Mormonism"
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726:
Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
569:. The forger is believed to have borrowed heavily from the affidavit of
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278:
274:
874:"Joseph Smith and the 1826 Trial: New Evidence and New Difficulties"
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the Tanners’ demons, and expressed great sadness when they refused.
729:, vol. 4, Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, pp. 126–137
117:“actively enjoyed at least 27 other wives” and describes his first
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as a “barely pubescent teenaged relative.” Decker relates how the
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162:, claiming that McConkie contradicts himself on a single page.
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and bring part of his body to the hill in order to obtain the
214:
Sexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
234:
Chuck Sackett, identified as “Former Mormon” and author of
253:
a claim that Mormons believe that they all come from the
59:
The introductory segment contains the following warning:
1127:
Charges Against the God Makers by the NCCJ: A Response
218:
The film include segments of the animation video from
1108:
The God Makers II: Under Fire From Within and Without
36:
in 1993. The film, a sequel to Decker’s earlier film
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Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
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dressed in Mormon temple clothing. Referring to the
431:" themselves. Decker and his associates offered to
423:, despite Sandra Tanner’s involvement in the first
1005:Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
506:, the list that Chynoweth referred to was called
1102:The God Makers II DVD produced by Jeremiah Films
125:by the church resulted in the formation of many
44:the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
341:Decker states that Smith traveled to the hill
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176:Historical authenticity of the Book of Mormon
8:
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502:. Although not explicitly named in the film
136:. LeBaron was the leader and prophet of the
438:The film provoked bomb threats against LDS
345:annually to "conjure up the spirit" of the
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623:
817:"The Alvin Smith Story: Fact and Fiction"
452:Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center
710:— listed Chynoweth’s death as "suicide."
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1152:Documentary films critical of Mormonism
1045:, Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books,
951:(Review of) The Mormon Corporate Empire
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188:Decker refers to “4000 changes” in the
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373:Portrayals of Mormons in popular media
1129:Ed Decker's response to criticism of
1043:Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet
935:Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
796:
598:Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet
529:Allegations of sorcery and necromancy
398:media programming with their minds".
7:
770:
744:
693:Abrams, Garry (September 20, 1992),
300:" places LDS members under bondage.
928:Introvigne, Massimo (Spring 1994),
442:and death threats against members.
273:The film shows what are said to be
367:Allegations against church leaders
180:Archaeology and the Book of Mormon
14:
86:Financial power of the LDS Church
42:, is intended to be an exposé of
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208:Spirit wives and “celestial sex”
1:
508:The Book of the New Covenants
170:Changes to the Book of Mormon
1027:Problems in the Godmakers II
695:"A Family's Legacy of Death"
285:Goddess wives and the temple
109:List of Joseph Smith's wives
723:(1930), "Blood Atonement",
551:in her biography of Smith:
148:A practice referred to as “
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1167:American documentary films
535:Early life of Joseph Smith
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499:Under the Banner of Heaven
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123:cessation of this practice
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1025:; Tanner, Sandra (1993),
948:Jacobs, Marlin L (1985),
733:Unverified online reprint
668:Peterson & Ricks 1998
520:Church of the Lamb of God
236:What’s Going On in There?
138:Church of the Lamb of God
28:-styled film produced by
1119:Salt Lake City Messenger
1114:Jerald and Sandra Tanner
1088:Latter-day Saints portal
1031:Utah Lighthouse Ministry
1029:, Salt Lake City, Utah:
891:Brigham Young University
825:, Salt Lake City, Utah:
784:Tanner & Tanner 1993
642:Tanner & Tanner 1993
586:Jerald and Sandra Tanner
573:, published in the book
492:is briefly described in
421:Jerald and Sandra Tanner
202:Know the Marks of a Cult
847:No Man Knows My History
813:Anderson, Richard Lloyd
554:No Man Knows My History
317:Mormon temple practices
298:sacred temple underwear
260:A statement that, upon
77:Temple of the Godmakers
1162:1993 documentary films
474:and reopened in 2007.
105:Mormonism and polygamy
65:
16:1993 film by Ed Decker
670:, pp. 4–5 fn. 6)
468:Old City of Jerusalem
458:Mormonism and Judaism
407:Responses to the film
326:Decker discusses the
184:The Bible and history
61:
1172:1990s American films
1157:1993 in Christianity
446:BYU Jerusalem Center
338:courts in New York.
332:baptism for the dead
244:BYU Jerusalem Center
230:BYU Jerusalem Center
773:, pp. 242–243)
657:, pp. 166–167)
309:William Schnoebelen
291:Temple (LDS Church)
238:appears outside of
113:Decker states that
93:Utah Missions, Inc.
993:Peterson, Daniel C
923:Mormonism Unvailed
912:Mormonism Unvailed
889:(2), Provo, Utah:
683:, pp. 266–67)
604:Mormonism Unvailed
576:Mormonism Unvailed
417:Massimo Introvigne
391:Gordon B. Hinckley
313:Los Angeles Temple
1131:The God Makers II
1096:The God Makers II
1068:The God Makers II
919:: Telegraph Press
917:Painesville, Ohio
907:Howe, Eber Dudley
700:Los Angeles Times
567:Salamander Letter
515:The God Makers II
504:The God Makers II
413:The God Makers II
381:Conspiracy theory
269:New Age practices
154:Bruce R. McConkie
21:The God Makers II
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921:. See also:
911:
895:the original
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850:, New York:
845:
831:, retrieved
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815:(Aug 1987),
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786:, p. 7)
778:
765:
752:
739:
724:
715:
704:, retrieved
698:
688:
675:
662:
649:
618:
602:
596:
590:
574:
563:Mark Hofmann
560:
552:
546:
538:
524:
514:
512:
507:
503:
497:
494:Jon Krakauer
487:
466:outside the
464:Mount Scopus
461:
437:
424:
412:
410:
384:
362:
359:
347:angel Moroni
340:
336:
325:
307:
294:
272:
235:
233:
224:
219:
217:
201:
200:, author of
198:David Breese
187:
164:
157:
156:in his book
147:
131:
115:Joseph Smith
112:
92:
89:
81:
76:
72:
66:
62:
58:
55:Introduction
37:
20:
19:
18:
882:BYU Studies
758:Brodie 1971
549:Fawn Brodie
402:Controversy
119:plural wife
26:documentary
1147:1993 films
1141:Categories
1039:Vogel, Dan
958:2007-03-15
833:2007-02-20
827:LDS Church
806:References
797:Vogel 2004
706:2013-08-20
565:’s forged
533:See also:
456:See also:
425:God Makers
377:Media bias
371:See also:
304:The occult
289:See also:
220:God Makers
212:See also:
174:See also:
103:See also:
1007:(FARMS),
975:Doubleday
954:, SHIELDS
771:Howe 1834
745:Hill 1972
593:Dan Vogel
429:demonized
411:The film
240:Jerusalem
30:Ed Decker
1041:(2004),
969:(2003),
909:(1834),
872:(1972),
844:(1971),
496:’s book
433:exorcise
385:A dying
99:Polygamy
50:Overview
591:Author
343:Cumorah
279:seizure
275:New Age
262:baptism
1049:
1011:
981:
858:
822:Ensign
379:, and
182:, and
898:(PDF)
877:(PDF)
611:Notes
581:Alvin
351:Alvin
194:Bible
24:is a
1073:IMDb
1047:ISBN
1009:ISBN
979:ISBN
856:ISBN
829:: 58
387:AIDS
107:and
75:and
32:and
1071:at
942:(1)
330:of
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257:.
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