And Should We Died

This film was produced by Brigham Young University and the Presiding Bishopric of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Performed in 1966 under the direction of Wentzel Whitaker and the script of Scott Whitaker.

Distributed by Brigham Young University.

Color: Black and White

Sound: Mono

Length: 53 min

Filmed at Old Tucson, Arizona, U.S. with the help of local American members in Mesa and Tucson

Main Players:

Nathan Hale as President Bentley

Klair Bybee as Rafael Monroy

Dana Rosado as Rafael Monroy 's wife

Jean Jenkins as Sister Chambers

Rodolfo Acosta as General Rodolfo Fierros

Larry Domasin as Pedro Monroy

Miguel de Anda as Vicente Morales

Max Brown as Bert

The theme of the movie brings together two events that occurred to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1918). Although events occurred in distant sites the script of the film was adapted them for this production.

The adaptation of the movie and maybe the lack of reliable information of the event produced significant changes in the real story, very well known to those who know the story of Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales, some of them are:

1) Change the name of the town San Marcos by Santa Ana

2) Locate the Branch Santa Ana, Rafael's branch near Colony Dublan, in Chihuahua. San Marcos, Hidalgo is too far from Mormon colonies in Chihuahua, around 1,400 miles.

3) The impression that Rafael interchange mails letters with the Juarez, Chihuahua Stake President, Pres. Bentley. According Guadalupe Monroy Mera, sister of Rafael, Rafael send letters to the President of the Mexican Mission Rey L. Pratt and other branch presidents in the center of Mexico.

4) Pedro Monroy, Rafael's younger brother in the film. Rafael had a younger brother named Pablo Tomas who died aged 20 in 1907, eight years before Raphael died. Rafael was the only male in the family at the moment of his execution.

5) Youth and physical appearance of Rafael. In the movie seems a younger age who really had, He was 36. In the movie show like medium complexion, when Rafael was robust complexion, Elder Young says that Rafael weighed about 210 pounds and He wore mustache.

6) The clothing of Rafael and Vicente. In the film are dressed in blanket pants, when in reality Rafael was weahlty person, He dressed no elegantly but with no restrictions, wore pants and dress shirt, boots, vest, tie frequently, etc.. It should be remembered that Rafael had a government job and also had a stable economic position, had a big cattle ranch outside of San Marcos with a big store.

7) The General Rodolfo Fierros. Although he was a General under the direct orders of Francisco Villa and it is also true that days before the death of Rafael the army of Francisco Villa under the command of General Fierros took the city of Tula, Hidalgo, separated five miles of the town San Marcos, Hidalgo; according to the account of Guadalupe Monroy, Rafael's sister, the troops who were in San Marcos at the moment of the Rafael's execution, were Emiliano Zapata's troops. Rafael Monroy was killed by a Zapatista squad under the command of General Juan M. Banderas and General Reyes Molina.

8) The Rafael's wife "Rosita" and his children. The film mentions the name of Rosita as Rafael wife and a daughter named Mary and other child. Rafael and his wife Guadalupe Hernandez only had a daughter named Maria Concepcion, who at this time was 4 years old. Rafael had an unwedded relationship before his conversion to the gospel in another town, with Maclovia Flores Perez. He had child fathered two children Luis and Gerarda (Amalia), who at the time of execution were not in San Marcos.

9) The wife and mother present at the time of execution. According to the account related by Gudalupe Monroy, Rafael's sister, nor his wife and his Mother were present at the time of execution. They two were in the Monroy's family home, 800 meters away from the execution point. Mother and Wife of Rafael were in this house when they heard the shots.

10) The time and place of execution. The film shows the appearance that execution was during the day in a semidesert area and far away of the town. Although there are several versions of the execution time, all version agree that execution was between 7 PM and 9 PM, outside of the town in the road to San Miguel, Hidalgo, this place is about 100 meters from the central square of San Marcos, in front of a large ash.

11) The film mentions Pedro, Rafael's brother, searching for his horse "Lucero" that one of the generals of Pancho Villa had taken hold by his personal use. Pancho Villa scolds him and asks him to back the horse to the boy and also pay him rent for the use of the horse.

Daniel Montoya Gutierrez, who at that time was 22 and He was a member of the Church and also He was employee in the "El Godo" - Rafael's ranch. He relates that the revolutionaries went to the ranch and took a mare just new mother, the foal ran behind the mare for several kilometers and Daniel along with the animals and behind the troops. Until they arrived the town, Daniel spoke with General in charge and told him what was happening, the general in charge angrily scolds and punishes whom had taken this mare and makes him return the mare and foal to Daniel.

The production of this film reflects the spirit of supreme sacrifice that is similar to the same spirit like to hear the story documented, doesn't matter the discrepancies.

Thanks to all those who made this production possible.

Here a edited portion of this film (spanish)