User reviews

From the cover: "Millions of people around the world know of him. Yet this frontier prophet of the early 1800's found little honor and eventual martyrdom at the hands of an angry mob in his own country. Who was this Joseph Smith and what was it about his remarkable life story, which inspired such impassioned rancor or unflinching reverence? Please join Academy Award winner Gregory Peck for a fascinating look at this oft-misunderstood American legend."

Many scholars, both Mormon and non-Mormon, give comments and insight into the man Joseph Smith and the circumstances surrounding the major events in his life. So, we hear various perspectives from professors of history at Columbia University, Notre Dame, BYU, and Harvard to name a few. They help us to understand why people were so intolerant of the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon church).

I was disappointed to see this on a PBS station. It does not omit events like the gold plates that were taken back by Moroni, the translating of them using seer stones in a hat, the plural wives, and some other things that are hard to accept, but it certainly does not dwell on or question those events.

If you're going to watch this, I'd recommend also watching "The Bible vs. Joseph Smith," which also is biased, but in a manner at odds with"American Prophet." I'd also recommend reading "Under the Banner of Heaven."