A Mormon Maid Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of A Mormon Maid?

This silent melodrama is set against the 1840s westward migration of the Mormons. Dora, a young woman, and her family are saved from an Indian attack by a Mormon community traveling to Utah. They join the wagon train. Dora is pursued by two men, one a recent convert, the other a scheming elder with a stable of wives. The Mormon elder wants her in his harem. When the mother kills herself from revulsion toward polygamy, the daughter must consider her own future and the man she loves. One of Mae Murray's few surviving films, this was intended by Robert Leonard to be a thoughtful drama about the goods and evils of Mormonism, but today it is generally considered pure anti-Mormon propaganda.

Robert Z. Leonard's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Mae Murray (Dora)'s journey. Dora, a young woman, and her family are saved from an Indian attack by a Mormon community traveling to Utah.

How Does Mae Murray (Dora)'s Story End?

• Mae Murray: Mae Murray's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Frank Borzage (Tom Rigdon): Frank Borzage's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Hobart Bosworth (John Hogue): Hobart Bosworth's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

Is A Mormon Maid Based on a True Story?

Yes — A Mormon Maid draws from real events. The ending reflects documented outcomes, though Robert Z. Leonard has taken creative liberties in dramatizing specific scenes for cinematic impact.

What Does the Ending of A Mormon Maid Mean?

The ending of A Mormon Maid brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Mae Murray's story may not satisfy all audiences.