I loved the movie Meet the Mormons. If you haven’t seen the flick, I am not going to spoil it for you. But knowing how much I enjoyed it, you probably think I want to tell you all about it. I don’t. You can see it for yourself and decide how you feel. What I loved most about the movie wasn’t even part of it. For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about, let me explain. Meet the Mormons is a feature length movie produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the intent to dispel some of the misconceptions around the world about the religion. So why did I like it so much? You might think it was because it celebrated the influence that we can have on the world or painted the Church in a good light or finally portrayed the effect of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on our lives. True. It did all those things, but that’s not why I adore this movie.
I love Meet the Mormons because its plot was taken from a cross section of everyday members of the Church and highlighted their lives. These were not just accounts of one-of-a-kind individuals, with unique stories. The genius of this movie is that incredible people live all around us in our own homes and neighborhoods with lives and experiences worthy of celebration. The producer could have taken the well-known Steve Young or Donny Osmond or Mitt Romney or <insert a famous Mormon name here>, but he didn’t. Instead the focus was on six pretty much run-of-the-mill members of the Church and highlighted their incredible decisions amid mostly common lives. He could have taken any six members of the Church from anywhere and celebrated the good that they do in classrooms, with challenges, on canvas, or among the downtrodden. We have 15+ million stories that could be told.
That’s why I love this movie.
Here is just one more that has a tie to my life:
You know that I love to write. I have elaborated on the merits of good prose many times. In fact, it was one year ago almost to the day that I posted an article I read on Facebook that, in a way, changed my life. The quality of this piece was manifest as it was shared thousands of times over the Internet.
To read more of Walter’s articles, click the picture.
Seth Adam Smith’s article depicted what was good and right, and I believed and was inspired by his words. But he, too, experienced challenges in his life, not unlike the obstacles we face in our own lives.
Do you see the glass half empty or half-full? The glass doesn’t change. It’s our perspective that determines what we see and how that choice benefits and strengthens us and those we hold most dear.
Sadness and disappointment are temporary. Happiness is eternal.
Share your burdens with someone you love.
Keep your antenna up. Lift a brother.
Together, we are invincible.
In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life's challenges is his panacea.
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First, I too, loved Meet the Mormons. Second, in recent days, I have been reminded of the importance of feeling the support of others and what a difference it can make in whether we see the glass as half-full or half empty. I are becoming acquainted with a woman whose was born deaf and her interactions with others tells me she feels very isolated and unsupported. I keep reminding myself that but for the support of family and friends that I would likely be as demanding as she can be. It is important to remember to thrive we need to be there for each other.