More than 500 invited guests gathered in Utah this week for the premiere of “Meet the Mormons,” a feature-length documentary produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The crowd at the "Meet the Mormons" movie premiere.
They included well-known Latter-day Saint and community figures, including business leaders, educators, artists, performers, filmmakers, sports figures and politicians.
The cast of "Meet the Mormons."
The cast of the movie was on hand at the Megaplex Theatres on 7 October 2014 in Sandy, Utah, to greet the guests and watch the much anticipated movie that has been in the making for three years.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greet the movie audience.
The festivities included a reception and a welcome from Elders Jeffrey R. Holland and David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who have asked moviegoers to share their impressions of the film on social media channels.
The Sullivans with Neon Trees drummer Elaine Bradley and bassist Branden Campbell.
Many of the attendees captured photos with the six Mormon families who were showcased in the 70-minute production, ranging from a humanitarian to a football coach to a missionary mom.
Some of the children in the cast enjoy time together at the movie premiere.
The inspirational movie takes viewers on location around the world to introduce them to diverse families in Costa Rica, Nepal and four cities in the United States. The families featured in the film say it has been a positive experience. In fact, friendships have been formed between the cast and crew members.
Singer Marie Osmond, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland attend the "Meet the Mormons" premiere.
Producers hope the documentary will change negative stereotypes people may have about Latter-day Saints. The film was designed to show the audience that Mormons are Christians who lead normal lives.
The Halvorsens at the "Meet the Mormons" movie premiere.
Col. Gail Halvorsen is celebrating his 94th birthday as the film debuts. Halvorsen was known as “the candy bomber” during the Berlin Airlift in the 1940s. He brought his wife to the premiere.
Humanitarian Bishnu Adhikari and his family meet artist David Archuleta at the movie premiere.
Engineer and humanitarian Bishnu Adhikari, originally from Nepal, attended the Utah event with his wife and children. The family of Ken Niumatalolo participated in Tuesday’s premiere. He’s the head football coach of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Kickboxer Carolina Muñoz Marin attends the movie premiere with her husband.
Carolina Muñoz Marin, an amateur kickboxing champion from Costa Rica, runs a charity with her husband. They traveled to Utah for the movie’s opening.
The Sullivan family attended the movie premiere with their sons.
The movie features a Mormon bishop and his family from Atlanta, Georgia. That bishop and now stake president, Jermaine, and his wife, Kembe, were in Utah with their boys to see the movie.
The Armstrong family poses with Dan Reynolds, singer of Imagine Dragons, at the "Meet the Mormons" premiere.
Utah missionary mom Dawn Armstrong, her husband, and their children also enjoyed meeting those who attended the premiere.
The crowd inside the theater at the "Meet the Mormons" movie premiere in Utah.
“Meet the Mormons” is being shown in more than 300 theaters across the United States beginning Friday, 10 October. Visit the website to find viewing locations.
Table decorations at the movie premiere in Sandy, Utah.
Proceeds from the film will benefit the American Red Cross.