New Zealanders 'Meet the Mormons' in Theatres

New Zealanders 'Meet the Mormons' in Theatres Across the Nation

Guests celebrate shared values after viewing new documentary about Latter-day Saints

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND —

Minutes after watching the movie “Meet the Mormons” in Tauranga on Monday night, a guest — who is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — turned to her Mormon friend and said, “Your church and our church are on the same page!”

Similar reactions were felt and comments shared by others who watched the new 78 minutes long documentary in theatres across New Zealand this week.

One Member of Parliament who saw the movie said watching it would help him prepare to go back to Parliament this week. A city mayor said he would write about the movie in his weekly newspaper column.

Other comments from guests, who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, included:

“I loved it. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted more stories. I felt inspired and very emotional about some of the stories. It was beautiful and it’s not the impression I’ve ever had of the Mormon faith, so I want to know more.”

“The movie gave insight into the lives of very different individuals who share a common faith based in family, service and community.”

“Very well done and enjoyable.”

Watch a short YouTube video featuring comments from New Zealanders who watched the movie earlier this week.

Pacific Area President of the Church, Elder Kevin W. Pearson, watched the movie at Wairau Park Hoyts in Auckland with his wife, Sister June Pearson, and their daughter Elizabeth.

“I love that movie,” Elder Pearson said after the screening. “It’s the third time I’ve seen it now, but I still had tears rolling down my cheeks in that last story. Having sent five sons on missions, I felt the exact same way as that mother and that father when I sent every one of them away.”

“But it’s such a great, powerful story of what happens to a family when they prepare a missionary and send them to a faraway land, and hope that people will take care of them and be open to them and treat them well. It’s a great story.”

Sister June Pearson said the movie reminded her that ”the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families. It doesn’t matter where you are, if you are living the gospel of Jesus Christ, it blesses families.”

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen said, “This movie brings awareness that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reaches out to all nations, kindreds, tongues and people. It’s heart-warming to see how the Saviour’s restored gospel has deeply touched the lives of a variety of families worldwide that have strong testimonies of Jesus Christ.”

Sister Wendy Nielsen added, “I found Meet the Mormons moving, uplifting, and unifying. Each time I’ve seen it I’m reminded of how similar we all are notwithstanding our differences.”

Latter-day Saints in Tauranga produced two short videos for the movie launch in their city, which were shown in the theatre before the feature began.

Watch the Tauranga-produced trailers on YouTube, here and here.

Watch the official Meet the Mormons trailer here.

Theatres in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Tokoroa, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch screened the movie which was produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and directed by Blair Treu.

Those who wish to see the movie but missed out on theatre screenings can view it at the Church’s Hamilton New Zealand Visitors’ centre, and soon on iTunes, Netflix and other digital platforms. The movie will also be available on DVD in the coming weeks.

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