Hailed as the father of Mormon Cinema, Richard Dutcher released his independent film God’s Army in 2000. It was a critical success heralded by Larry King Live, loved by the New York Times, so his second LDS film, Brigham City, was easy to fund. For the first time, these movies showed the words of the LDS Sacrament prayer, blessing for the sick, and other LDS practices right on screen depicting Richard’s own experiences as a Latter-day Saint. Next, he intended to write/produce a film about the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, so he commenced a serious study of Joseph’s life and early church history. Larry Miller, a wealthy LDS businessman who owned the Utah Jazz, committed to partially back the film. Richard’s success in LDS films begot other LDS film makers. One day after months of exhaustive study of all things Joseph Smith—finding things that bothered him but not yet questioning his faith—Richard went to his knees beside his bed to pray. Arising to sit on his bed in a meditative state, he says God spoke to him so clearly from the deepest, truest part of him; he knew it was God. He heard, “Of course it isn’t true.” Richard’s feelings changed in seconds from peaceful to terrifying. Everything he believed wasn’t true. A final LDS movie, God’s Army 2: States of Grace, became his farewell to Mormonism. The theme was sin, forgiveness, and God’s amazing grace. Many LDS were not ready to accept the Christian view of grace nor the Christian cross seen in the movie. It was a financial failure. Soon after, Richard went public with the news that he was leaving the LDS church. All his LDS investors disappeared. His marriage dissolved; they have 7 children. Richard says knowing what he now knew, he just couldn’t stay. He didn’t have a choice.
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