Latter-day Saint Life

9 Must-See Films That Will Leave You in Awe of the Pioneers

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Trek: The Movie

Trek follows a young Mormon teenager named Tom and his friends on their handcart journey. Along the way, they try to smuggle in unsanctioned food, battle sibling rivalry, encounter a "special ops" Young Men leader, match wits with a Twinkie-loving skunk, and ponder doctrinal brain teasers like, "Do general authorities go to PG-13 movies?" But, when they encounter unexpected trouble, their faith is tested much like that of their pioneer ancestors. Whether you've been on a trek or not, your family will laugh along and ultimately be inspired as you enjoy this delightful film.

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17 Miracles

As part of the Willie Handcart Company, Levi Savage (Jasen Wade) feared that leaving late in the season would lead to despair and death. What he came to find out is that for every tragedy, there is a multitude of miracles. Based on unbelievable actual events, and brought to you by filmmaker T.C. Christensen (Praise to the Man, The Work and the Glory), 17 Miracles will open your eyes to the stories of the Mormon pioneers as you have never seen them before. Something extraordinary is about to happen.

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Ephraim's Rescue

From T.C. Christensen, director of the sensational pioneer film, 17 Miracles, comes the heroic true story of a simple man who was called to do the work of angels. Ephraim's Rescue relates the story of Ephraim Hanks: a rescuer of the Martin Handcart company. Follow Ephraim as his adventures lead him to join the Mormon Church and to ultimately lead one of the most heroic rescues in American history. With a unique desire to help and strengthen others, Ephraim learns that each choice we make can prepare us for what lies ahead. He discovers, through it all, that decisions determine destiny.

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Emma Smith: My Story

Her legacy is forever linked to that of her husband's, the Prophet Joseph Smith. But who really was Emma Hale Smith? Many years after the death of Joseph, Emma recounts to her daughter her experiences relating to the birth of Mormonism, from magnificent revelations to excruciating persecutions. Discover the remarkable life of an elect lady in Emma Smith: My Story. 1 Hr 37 Min

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Carthage

While seething mobs converged around them, the Prophet Joseph and his brethren quietly submitted themselves to imprisonment in Carthage Jail. Now, as never before, audiences are invited to witness the events of the days preceding the martyrdom. Based on documents handed down through the generations, Carthage offers a glimpse into the turmoil and testimony of the men whose place in history was forever defined by what was to come—a jailer seeking to protect his charges, a governor caught between the persecuted and their persecutors, and a group of Saints whose faith and brotherhood stands as the ultimate witness of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Joseph Smith, American Prophet

Dramatic reenactments, scholarly commentary, and gripping narration take the viewer on a journey through the Prophet Joseph’s life in this documentary originally aired on PBS television in October 2017. Millions of people around the world know of him. Yet this American frontier prophet of the early 1800s 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 that inspired such impassioned rancor or unflinching loyalty and even reverence?

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A 2nd Witness

From acclaimed director T.C. Christensen comes an inspiring true story that spans generations. Since she was a small girl, Jane Panting has heard miraculous stories from her mother, Elizabeth Panting, of temporal salvation the young family experiences as they voyaged from Gloucester, England, to Zion in the Salt Lake Valley. Wilford Woodruff blessed Elizabeth that she and her children would reach their destination, and they experienced the Lord's providential hand on more than one occasion—in both England and on the American plains. But Jane was only an infant when they made their harrowing journey and is beginning to doubt her mother's fantastic stories—until she receives a miracle of her own.

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Discovering Emma

To this day, Emma Hale Smith remains a revered yet enigmatic figure in Church history. As the first president of the world's largest women's organization, the Relief Society, and as a scribe for her husband as the Prophet translated portions of the Book of Mormon, Emma played a crucial part in the founding of the restored gospel. Yet her decision to remain in Nauvoo after her husband's martyrdom resulted in deep misunderstandings. The apparent friction between her and Brigham Young, Emma's feelings on plural marriage, her role in the RLDS Church, and her marriage to Lewis Bidamon are just some of the topics explored in this documentary. Join prominent LDS scholars and authors Susan Easton Black, Gracia Jones, and Paul Smith as they reveal answers to the questions about Emma's life and history.

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Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell

When Orrin Porter Rockwell died of a heart attack in 1878, his name was as well known as Brigham Young's. Cowboys sand song about him and newspapers had frequently printed scandalous accounts about the malicious Mormon "destroying angel." But to men, Rockwell was a guardian angel, and it could be easily said he saved far more lives than he took. He was called a saint and a sinner, a lawman and a criminal, a hero and a villain. Although his death by natural causes likely disappointed the many outlaws seeking his life, it also fulfilled a prophecy given by Joseph Smith that no bullet or blade would ever harm Porter Rockwell. A friend of Joseph Smith's since childhood and later his bodyguard, Rockwell saved the life of the Prophet more than once. Porter also served as a bodyguard to Brigham Young. He became a legend as a frontiersman, a marksman, and a man of iron nerve. And though many outsiders characterized Porter Rockwell as a notorious vengeful murderer, those who knew him saw a protector, a miraculous healer, and a loyal friend.

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