Documentary film meant to educate community about the faith
Meet the Mormons.
On Oct. 10, a documentary film of the same name produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) opened nationwide – including AMC Theaters in Woodbridge.
The movie shares the stories of six devote Latter-day Saints: the coach, the fighter, the humanitarian, the candy bomber and the missionary mom. Each of these stories challenges stereotypes about the Mormon faith while also examining how compassion changes oneself and others.
The LDS Woodbridge congregation worked hard to bring “Meet the Mormons” to our area as the movie was originally scheduled to only open in Fredericksburg and Arlington.
AMC at Potomac Mills generously responded by agreeing to open the show one day early, with showings starting on Thursday, Oct., 9.
“I felt the first showing was fairly historic; it was actually the first public showing of the film in the entire nation,” said Ian Houston, at the Oct 9 showing of the movie.
A steady turn out kept “Meet the Mormons” at the Potomac Mills AMC through Thursday, October 23rd. Though the LDS church sees the movie as an opportunity to tell their story to a national and international audience, the movie is not a meant to be a money-making venture for them. Instead, all net proceeds from the film will be donated to the American Red Cross.
Clark Price, the President of the Woodbridge Virginia Stake, who directs 9 local LDS congregations, explains, the church’s motivation for making the film, “the film clearly shows the great and rich diversity of membership in the church. There are hundreds of languages and cultures in our church membership.” President Price finished, ““We (have) invited all to attend with an open heart and mind to learn more about who Mormons really are.”
“I was surprised in general. That religion is not what I thought it was. It seems to have not only family but it seems to have love,” said Delzoria Hawkins, of Dale City, who was invited to see the movie by her LDS neighbor said,
“It dispels a lot of false assumptions people make about our church.” His wife, Angie Harrison added “the constant you see in the people (in the film) is they are at peace,” said Clark Harrison.
AMC at Potomac Mills sold over 1,200 tickets during the two weeks the movie played in Woodbridge. To date, Meet the Mormons has earned almost $5 million dollars nationally.
After covering distribution costs, the LDS church will donate the remaining net proceeds to further the charitable mission of the American Red Cross. The film is expected to be later released on Netflix.
Editor’s note: This story was written by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Woodbridge, Virginia.
