Laie Palms and the Dole Cannery theaters in Honolulu will be showing the feature-length film, “Meet the Mormons,” which documents the lives of six members of the LDS Church. The new movie is set to be released Oct. 10. Elder and Sister Addams, service missionaries from Utah, said they are eager to see the film. Elder Addams said, “I appreciate how the trailer says that it’s not a movie about war or theology. It’s a movie about faith.” One of the six people featured in the film is Laie-born, Ken Niumatalolo, head coach of the United States Naval Academy football team. On the Navy sports website it says, “Niumatalolo is just the second coach since World War II to lead Navy to a winning record in each of his first three seasons at the helm . . .this past fall, Niumatalolo was selected to the inaugural class of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and was inducted on January 23 in Honolulu.” Niumatalolo and his wife Barbara have three children.Sister Addams said, “To me that personalizes it so much when they’re featuring a Hawaii-born member of the church. People are interested in seeing their culture and this really brings it home. I love how ethnically diverse the trailer makes it seem. It’s very representative of a worldwide church.”Sister Addams mentioned that her understanding of the film is that it’s relatively unscripted; the producers trusted the featured individuals to be honest and accurate about the Mormon faith. Mormonnewsroom.org reported, “This film is an opportunity for people to meet—in a very personal way—members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From their individual passions to their daily struggles, each story paints a picture as rich and unique as the next while challenging stereotypes that surround the Mormon faith.”Chase Beal, a senior in marine biology from Utah, thought because the film was only playing in select theaters, it wouldn’t be very well known. Beal said, “I think it’s great that they got some big names for the movie so people can get to know us a little better. I would see it.”
Writer: Hannah Packard ~ Multimedia Journalist
