Meet the Mormons now on DVD

While the movie came out in the Fall at limited theaters, it is now on DVD TODAY for everyone to see. 


Movie:  Meet the Mormons

PG, 1 hour 18 minutes

Grade: A-

In a Nutshell:

Have you seen the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon? While entertaining, it’s not exactly accurate.  It’s a perfect example of how the book is better than the show.

This is an uplifting film about REAL Mormons, people who have found faith to carry them through each day.  They said “We found something that helps us meet the daily challenges of life.  It’s the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Meet the Mormons examines the very diverse lives of six devout members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Filmed on location and across the globe, Meet the Mormons takes viewers on a journey into the day-to-day realities of individuals living in the United States, Costa Rica, Nepal, and beyond. From their individual passions to their daily struggles, each story paints a picture as rich and unique as the next while challenging the stereotypes that surround the Mormon faith.

Uplifting Theme:
 * The Berlin Candy Bombershared that “Service is the bottom line for happiness and fulfillment.”  He motivated me to look at the world’s problems differently and find a way to make a positive difference.
 * Bishnu Adhikari in Nepal explains “There is no fear.  There is, rather, love.”  I was so impressed with his 
    humility and service that I immediately “friended” him on Facebook.
 * The profile that brought tears to my eyes was the mother at the end of the movie who experienced true heartache and was saying good-bye to her missionary son.  I was so touched when she exclaimed “My love is real.”  
* The Mormon church presented “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” two decades ago which teaches families how to be happy even still today.  Click on the video below to watch American Idol star (and Mormon) David Archuleta sing the theme song from the movie.

Things I Liked:
* The movie doesn’t preach, but simply shows elements that enrich Mormon life.
*  If you’re not Mormon, you’ll learn that Mormons are normal, nice people who probably live in your neighborhood.  If you are Mormon, you’ll want to be a better one.
*  There are a few funny moments that let you know Mormons and the church have a sense of humor.
*  It’s about goodness, hope, service, faith, change.  People of any religion should be able to take away those
    uplifting messages.
*  There are millions of Mormons out there and millions of inspiring stories that could be told.  I left the movie inspired to live a better story of my own.

Things I Didn’t Like:
* The film doesn’t include the history of the church or some of its doctrine that a lot of people are curious about.  In fact,  the movie is less about the Mormon church, but more about the everyday people in it and how the gospel of Jesus Christ makes their lives better and more meaningful.
*  If you’re not Mormon, it might feel a bit like an infomercial.  

Tips for Parents:  This is a safe movie for all ages.  Watching it together might result in an interesting family discussion about religion, but it will definitely inspire you to do more and be more.

If you want to learn more about the church, the end of the film invites you to talk to one of your Mormon neighbors or contact one of the 88,000 full-time missionaries.  One of them is my son!