I was lucky enough to receive “The Work and the Glory: American Zion” for Mother’s Day. This is another good movie, although the tone of the film is completely different from the first movie. The first movie shares how the gospel was restored, as you watch it you can feel the peace that the gospel can bring you. In the second movie you are thrust into the middle of the conflict that the Saints were facing. The result is a raw and highly emotionally charged movie.
The movie opens with Nathan’s and Lydia’s wedding. Soon after that Joseph Smith asks all the saints to gather to Kirtland. Benjamin has a difficult time with allowing members of his family move to Kirtland, but ends up selling his farm and joining the saints there. Benjamin is still skeptical of what the gospel has to offer. We see the violence escalate, and mobs take Joseph from his home to tar and feather him. Saints in Independence, Missouri are also persecuted as they are driven from their homes in the dead of winter. We watch as Benjamin struggles to accept the paths that Joshua and Nathan have taken. He worries about his family becoming involved with the Mormons, but is more concerned with Joshua’s involvement with the mobs.
This movie depicts scenes of violence as it shows the persecution of the early saints. It does deserve its PG-13 rating. I thought that the movie was excellently made. It drew you in from the beginning. There were no lulls in the film. The script was well written. I really enjoyed the cast of characters. Sera Bastian replaces Tiffany Dupont as Lydia in the cast. The transition is well done.
I really enjoyed this movie, and I would recommend that you watch it. The third movie is scheduled to be released to theaters in late November 2006. I am looking forward to seeing it.