Naturally several aspects of the story of Founder Joseph Smith have been done by the Mormon cinema. This particular version of the story concentrates on his wife, his one and only wife as polygamy had not taken hold in the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You could in fact show a monogamous true love relationship between a man and a woman still in these early days of the LDS church.
The work of her husband Joseph Smith is seen through the eyes of his wife Emma Hale Smith who survived him by many years. Emma is played by Patricia Place in old age and by Katherine Nelson opposite Nathan Mitchell who appeared as Smith in many films. Against the background of Smith's work in growing the church he founded, a simple and poignant love story is told from the time they met to the time Joseph Smith went to Carthage, Illinois to his death as it turned out.
I think a lot of people can't quite wrap their minds around romance and LDS theology when they were polygamous. Polygamy was never meant to be permanent, it was a method of growing the church rapidly to be discarded when no longer needed. Or as it turned out in 1897 in order that Utah finally be admitted to the union.
As is usual with LDS films I've found they are meticulously accurate in portraying the times of the early church in the Jacksonian era. The players are sincere and committed to their roles and the story.
It's a good romance film as well and a lot more than LDS members can appreciate that.
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