Alone and Unobserved

Richard Dutcher, one of the fathers of modern Mormon cinema, wrote an op-ed piece in today’s Daily Herald (the Provo-area daily) in which he a) tears Mormon cinema and Mormon filmmakers a new one and b) announces that he and the Mormon Church are parting ways. Naturally, commenters on the Daily Herald website immediately assume that it was sin, and not the “spiritual path” he speaks of, that have led him from the fold. Others, equally naturally, completely misunderstand the point of his article.

When I was growing up, I was constantly told that I should study and pray and seek to know for myself that Mormonism was true. What I was not told was, “Have an open mind about things. Study it, and decide whether or not you believe.” The Church is true, so what other conclusion could a sincere, thinking person come to? Well, the reality is that people—sincere, thinking people—come to different conclusions about the same subject every day. I studied Mormonism, and decided I didn’t believe; so has Richard Dutcher, and so have thousands of others. Then there are those who study it and decide to join, or to stay. And that’s okay, too.

This doesn’t mean the Mormon Church should embrace ecumenicalism, because I sure as hell am not going to. But I do think there should be a greater understanding and sympathy in Mormonism for people who are honest, intelligent and non-believing—and in my case, more understanding and sympathy for those who are honest, intelligent and believing. We can start with admitting that such people exist. Deal?