Darvish Intelligence: How Anti-LDS Media, Like 'Heretic,' Unintentionally Guides People Toward the LDS Church

Thursday, November 14, 2024

How Anti-LDS Media, Like 'Heretic,' Unintentionally Guides People Toward the LDS Church

How Anti-LDS Media, Like 'Heretic,' Unintentionally Guides People Toward the LDS Church

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS

As someone who has transitioned from being a devout Muslim to an ardent Christian and has navigated a wide range of personal, philosophical, and spiritual transformations, I’ve seen firsthand how media can shape public perception—often in ways that may seem counterproductive to those with certain agendas. One example that particularly stands out is the 2022 horror film Heretic. While the movie was clearly designed to depict the LDS Church in a negative light, I’ve come to realize that, ironically, it may have achieved the opposite of its intended effect for many viewers, including myself.

Heretic attempts to paint the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in a villainous light, aiming to expose what the filmmakers perceive as the church’s cult-like practices and control over its members. This kind of negative media portrayal is nothing new—there’s a long history of movies and documentaries created with the intent to demonize the LDS Church, often focusing on controversial topics like polygamy, cult-like authority, and secrecy. These films are often rooted in the personal experiences of former members or critics of the church, many of whom have left the faith due to disagreements with church teachings, leadership, or practices.

However, from my perspective, these kinds of portrayals often backfire. The more vehemently Heretic sought to paint the LDS faith as dangerous and oppressive, the more it piqued my curiosity about it. As an Iranian-American ex-Muslim, former vegan, and former socialist who had grown disillusioned with both secular liberal ideologies and the Islamic faith, I found myself increasingly interested in learning more about what the LDS Church actually stood for. This curiosity wasn’t an isolated phenomenon. In fact, many people in similar positions of spiritual or ideological confusion may have found themselves in a similar position—questioning their current belief system and looking for something more stable, moral, and rooted in conservative Christian values.

In the age of the internet, where information is both vast and easily accessible, it’s not uncommon for someone to stumble upon content that they might not have initially sought out. For me, it was YouTube channels featuring former LDS members—many of whom were vocal critics of the faith. Ironically, it was through these anti-LDS platforms that I began to learn about the core teachings of the LDS Church. Dr. John Dehlin, a former member of the church and one of the most prominent critics of Mormonism, had a wealth of videos that delved into various aspects of LDS doctrine, history, and culture. His critical perspective led me to investigate further, and that research eventually helped me to appreciate the deeper, conservative Christian values embedded within the LDS faith. Through such media, I encountered teachings about strong family values, personal responsibility, and a commitment to traditional morality, values that resonated with my own evolving Christian conservative worldview.

This phenomenon isn’t just limited to my experience—negative portrayals of religious or ideological groups have often served as a catalyst for people to investigate and, in some cases, adopt those very beliefs. Consider how films like The Passion of the Christ or The Da Vinci Code, despite their controversial or negative takes on Christianity, spurred millions of viewers to explore Christian doctrine more deeply. Similarly, the anti-LDS content I consumed, while meant to criticize and expose, inadvertently led me to appreciate the unique, biblical, and conservative aspects of the LDS Church that had once been obscured to me.

In this sense, Heretic and other similar media may inadvertently fulfill a greater purpose. As they raise questions about the church’s practices or doctrines, they drive individuals like me to seek out the original sources—namely, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and other LDS scriptures. The more I read and studied these texts, the more I realized how aligned the church’s teachings were with conservative Christian values. It became clear to me that the LDS Church is deeply committed to the teachings of Jesus Christ, promoting virtues like family unity, moral living, and a clear rejection of secularism. These values—so diametrically opposed to the socialist, leftist ideologies I had once adhered to—became a beacon of hope and purpose in my life.

For individuals who are disillusioned with the secular world or seeking a deeper connection to Christian values, media like Heretic might be the unintended push they need to look beyond surface-level portrayals and truly understand what the LDS Church offers. In a world where Christianity is often under attack and conservative values seem to be fading, the LDS Church stands as a steadfast example of religious devotion, family-centered living, and an unwavering commitment to biblical principles.

Of course, I do not believe that Heretic was created with any intention of drawing people toward the LDS faith—its creators undoubtedly sought to portray the church in a negative light. But for those of us who are searching for truth, who are looking for a strong Christian community that upholds traditional values, media like Heretic can be a surprising tool for discovery. It may inspire someone to investigate the LDS Church and, in doing so, learn about a community that holds conservative Christian values dear.

In the end, Heretic may have been designed to alienate and critique, but like much of the negative media about the LDS Church, it serves as a reminder of the power of personal investigation and study. What was once meant to create division can instead be the spark for a deeper understanding and a more meaningful spiritual journey. For those of us who are looking for a place that stands firm in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the values of the gospel, the LDS Church may just be the right place to call home.

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