I have grown up watching the Animated Stories from the Book of Mormon, The Greatest Adventure Series, and other similar films and think they are amazing learning tools for children. However, I have heard it argued that such films can be problematic and even detrimental to a child’s learning because they are not completely “accurate.” I have heard one person point out that once a child in her ward bore his testimony about something or someone that was in the movie but not in the scriptures. Such people believe these films can be confusing to children and therefore shouldn't be watched.
Similarly I know people who will not watch such movies as The Patriot or Pearl Harbor because they aren’t totally "accurate." As a history major, and therefore one who is almost obsessed with facts and checking and re-checking sources, I still believe that as long as they don’t blatantly change the story or change the doctrine…WHO CARES. If movies like The Patriot and Pearl Harbor inspire me to love my country and honor those who gave their lives in battle I think the movie has done its job. Similarly, if animated scripture stories instill in me a positive outlook on and a love of the scriptures (rather than thinking they are boring as many children probably do) I believe they have accomplished their mission. Recently in class we watched the film "A Time for Sowing" in which parents were charged with the responsibility of teaching their children gospel principles rather than relying solely on church and other auxiliaries. This is nothing new. Leaders of the church have always placed this responsibility on parents. So also we should not rely on a film to teach our children what is in the scriptures. It is a parent's duty to make sure children can distinguish between the cartoon and the actual scriptures. Although I don't see much that would have to be distinguished in the first place. why are we expecting a 5 year old, or even a 10 year old, to be an expert on the scriptures and what is accurate and inaccurate?
I also know these videos can be powerful missionary tools because I have seen it first hand. For example, my former cross country coach in Las Vegas recently bought the Bible movies for his 6 year old son because he saw how much he knew about the Bible simply from watching the videos with his friends.
With these videos children begin learning the scriptures at a much younger age than they otherwise would have because they make learning fun by using mediums children enjoy. If these films can instill in my future children a love of the scriptures and of learning (which I believe they can) then I will make sure I have them in my home.
2 comments:
It's ironic how the very nature of cartoons (which are caricatures) are criticized as not being accurate. Many children's programs use fantasy and imaginary to effectively deliver the message. Imagine if they were "accurate," would kids still want to watch them and learn something from them? Even many adults can't focus on a two hour "accurate" program from the History channel. Aren't many programs from the History channel dramatized anyway?
However, I agree with you, as long as the message gets through to the kids and is retained, then it doesn't matter if every little detail was accurate. My interest in the scriptures at an early age came from the illustrated children's books and Scriptures Scouts.
We tried a few of the animated Book of Mormon movies with our kids not long ago. We concluded that it's best to give young children/spiritually immature Church members the doctrine "straight and undiluted," to borrow a phrase from Pres. J. Reuben Clark. That means the scriptures, the illustrated "Stories" series put out by the Church, and the Friend. When they're older, and can distinguish better fact from fiction, they can watch these movies and wonder if Abinadi ever burst out in song like that, or if Character X (not referenced in the sacred record) really did influence Nephi or Alma or Mormon to do what they did.
True story: my wife was substituting in Primary, and witnessed a 10-year-old girl from an active family (her father's the elders quorum president) give an answer to a question in Sharing Time where she referenced an event/person that wasn't mentioned in the scriptures. She insisted that it was true, and described it in great detail, because "it was in the cartoon movie."
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