I enjoyed the series. I was close to events of that day, before and after. And I was a close friend to Steve Christensen about 10-15 years prior to his murder. I would like to point out a few missing items from the story that I feel are important.
Prior to the events, for several years, Brent Ashcroft, Brent Metcalf, Mark Hoffman, Jerald and Sandra Tanner and a few others were involved in perpetuating stories that were not favorable to the Church with respect to its history. They were likely repeating stories fabricated by Mark, but Brent Metcalf used his position as a researcher with access to Church vaults to add credibility to the tall tales. As a result of these backroom deals, many active members like me were not happy with the stories being told without actual documents to verify the tales. I disliked these persons intensely. Al Rust's insistence that Gordon B. Hinckley's promise to buy the McClellin Collection, sight unseen, for an agreed amount of 300K is preposterous just because no bright person would do that. Elder Hinckley certainly would not do it unless he had seen it, verified it, and assessed value it first hand. No one had seen the collection because it did not exist. Secondly, Al Rust was never given the promise in person. He heard it from Hoffman and believes it to this day 100%. So I don't like Al Rust or any of these other people working in tandem with Mark.
But, as a surprise to me, this series brought me to a place where I can forgive them for what they said they are sorry for. I wish they would be sorry for the years of lies and deceit, even if they were also fooled. Had they not done what they did, perhaps Hoffman would have been stopped. I would have never predicted that my heart could be softened toward these evil people. They were partners with Mark.
Another point I raise that was not covered in the story. Jerald Tanner was skeptical of the Salamander Letter, while the others, including Sandra, embraced it and advanced it as factual. As much as I dislike the Tanners, I admired Jerald for his integrity on that document. In my opinion, Sandra Tanner offered no value to this series. The other participants I can understand, but Sandra offered nothing. I would have like Jerald's perspective, RIP.
Prior to the events, for several years, Brent Ashcroft, Brent Metcalf, Mark Hoffman, Jerald and Sandra Tanner and a few others were involved in perpetuating stories that were not favorable to the Church with respect to its history. They were likely repeating stories fabricated by Mark, but Brent Metcalf used his position as a researcher with access to Church vaults to add credibility to the tall tales. As a result of these backroom deals, many active members like me were not happy with the stories being told without actual documents to verify the tales. I disliked these persons intensely. Al Rust's insistence that Gordon B. Hinckley's promise to buy the McClellin Collection, sight unseen, for an agreed amount of 300K is preposterous just because no bright person would do that. Elder Hinckley certainly would not do it unless he had seen it, verified it, and assessed value it first hand. No one had seen the collection because it did not exist. Secondly, Al Rust was never given the promise in person. He heard it from Hoffman and believes it to this day 100%. So I don't like Al Rust or any of these other people working in tandem with Mark.
But, as a surprise to me, this series brought me to a place where I can forgive them for what they said they are sorry for. I wish they would be sorry for the years of lies and deceit, even if they were also fooled. Had they not done what they did, perhaps Hoffman would have been stopped. I would have never predicted that my heart could be softened toward these evil people. They were partners with Mark.
Another point I raise that was not covered in the story. Jerald Tanner was skeptical of the Salamander Letter, while the others, including Sandra, embraced it and advanced it as factual. As much as I dislike the Tanners, I admired Jerald for his integrity on that document. In my opinion, Sandra Tanner offered no value to this series. The other participants I can understand, but Sandra offered nothing. I would have like Jerald's perspective, RIP.