All language subtitles for Meet the Mormons (TV Movie 2014)

Miller Harris will be trained by

Elder Stales [clapping]

Meet the Mormons. Young
missionaries whose job is

to convert us to their
particular brand of
Christianity.

[knocking]

[choir singing]

Run from Salt Lake City in Utah,

it's an empire spanning 185
countries

including the UK. The world
leader

is Thomas S. Monson.

Revered and saluted by
thousands of church members,
his appointment here

was broadcast online to the 15
million Mormons

around the world.

To them he's a living prophet
who receives revelations
directly from God

Mormons adhere to his every
word.

I speak of missionary work.

Two young men are becoming
elders are repeat with prophets
of long time

that every worthy, able young
man

should prepare to serve a
mission. Missionary service is

a priesthood duty. An
obligation.

I wanted to make a film about
the young missionaries who are
expected

to give up two years of their
lives for the church

They call them ambassadors of
God.

Talk to everyone. Absolutely
everyone.

You alright?

It promises that you will know
that it's real. We're Mormons

I was given unprecedented
access because

the church wanted me to make a
film about their faith.

But there's also much they'd
like to keep secret and people
find odd.

Mormons perform baptisms for
dead people

and wear special underwear
which they believe protects them

from temptation and evil.
Fundamentally,

they believe Jesus went to
America after his crucifiction

I'm soon to realize this is a
church anxious

about its public image.

We are from the church of
latter day saints.

Oh no thank you [shuts door]

[music]

Filming began in a car park

on the outskirts of Coventry.

Hello! This is Josh Field. The
young man the church said I
could film.

Josh is 20 from Sussex

and is about to serve two years
as a missionary in Leeds.

Tonight he's going out with a
friend

to a Mormon dance. But someone
else is here

too. There's a representative
from the church's public
relations

department. He's going to be
present for all the filming.

Listening to everything I say
to Josh and everything Josh says

back to me. It was strange

not being able to talk to Josh
on my own.

What are the rules

Standard Mormon rules that just
like

don't drink,

don't smoke. Can't make
friends. The music how is it
managed.

Well it's just normal music
that you hear if the DJs any
good he'll

like dump out all the bad words
and stuff. What sort of stuff

that you can't hear then? All
sort of stuff. Just anything
that's offensive.

Anything that's like sexually
vulgar, or anything like that.

Anything that drops swear words
or be sexually suggestive.

If you wouldn't play it in
front of your mom, don't play
it at the dance, maybe. I don't
know.

[Spice Girls music background]

Thousands of young Mormons

attend dances like these most
weekends.

They grow up following a set of
rules which means they don't
smoke, drink alcohol

or even drink tea or coffee,
because they believe God

commanded them not to. But
perhaps hardest of all

is the church's strict rule of
chastity.

Let me tell you something, I
would advocate celibacy until
marriage because,

it will deepen the relationship.

I went on a date with this
girl, and we went to go watch a
movie.

And let me tell you, that was
as fun as any form of sexual

relationship could be.
Interviewer: You haven't had
sex before?

Morgon: No, I haven't , but the
thing is, I know

the chemical equations of it,
so I can guess.

Immediately I found myself in
trouble with the church
official Dez, he didn't like my

questions or conversation about
sex.

Any kind of talk about sexual
experience is really out of
bounds.

Because it's too personal, and
I'm not really comfortable
without lying.

We didn't know whether he had
or he hadn't.

[choir singing]

Mormons are often accused of
secrecy.

Partly because their temples
are closed to anyone who isn't
a Mormon.

Lectures here are secret

and though the church released
this footage as a way of being
more open,

no one will talk about what
goes on here in any detail.

But Mormons claim to have the
authority to conduct baptisms
for

dead people, whatever their
religion might have been.

And they perform ceremonies
called ceilings, where they
promise husbands

and wives they'll be together
even after they're dead.

Inside the temple all clothing
has to be white.

On Sundays Mormons attend their
local chapels

Josh has been immersed in
Mormon life since birth.

The eldest of six children his
mother Mandy brought them all
up as Mormon.

Children are taught

from an early age that they are
different from other Christians.

While they follow Jesus Christ,
they revere a man

called Joseph Smith. He lived
in upstate New York

200 years ago. An American who

Mormons believe had a series of
visions.

He saw a beautiful bright light
all around him. He saw heavenly
father.

And Jesus Christ standing above
him in the air.

Heavenly Father pointed to
Jesus and said this is my
beloved son.

Hear him. Joseph asked Jesus

which church he should join.
Jesus told Joseph not to join

any of the churches because
they were all wrong.

None of them was His church.
Mormons believe Joseph Smith

was commanded by God to set up
a new church,

because other Christians had
gone astray. They claimed
theirs is the one.

[Child singing]

[knocking]

Hi. How are you doing?

How are you? Come on in.

For the last seven months

Josh has been living with
church members Lesley and
David. They've been helping him

prepare for his mission.

Interviewer: What do you think
the public perception is of
Mormons

David: Well, Mormons are a
strange lot. Lesley: Oh yeah,
with the children I've had lots
of

things people have asked me. Do
Mormons eat sandwiches?

You know, and all that sort of
thing. People just don't know.
Do Mormons eat?

Richard I just you say to
introduce properly.

Is Richard around? Yeah he's
hiding around the corner. He's
made himself so scarce

Come say hello, Richard.

The church representative today
is Richard.

He wants to stay close enough
to hear everything said, but at
the same time

to keep out of the way.
Richard: If you need me, I'll
just be over here.

Want to have a drink, Richard?

What would you like? Milk?

Just want to ask you a couple
things. I suppose the main
question is what are you doing
here?

Good question. Interviewer: I
mean, what

instructions have the church
given you? Richard: I think
it's

just to facilitate. To, um,

reassure? Just the fact that
everything's okay.

And there's someone there who

is there to

um, that everything is above
board.

Questions about being celibate
had already gotten me in
trouble.

But I hadn't yet asked Josh
about how he hoped

with the rules governing sex
and masturbation.

That to be joined by church
official, Richard. He'd been
told to listen

to all of the conversations in
the home, including in 20 year
old Josh's

bedroom. Josh: Why do you want
me? Interviewer: Where's
Richard gone?

Richard said he's going to
stand at the door. Interviewer:
Sorry? Josh: He says he's
standing at the door. Out of the

Chastity is keeping yourself

sexually clean. It basically
means

no sexual contact with yourself
or anyone

else until you're married to
someone then

obviously, you may [laughs]

Have sex. For me, self control

it just hasn't been a problem
whatsover. Like literally,

sex drive just gone. Anything
that was ever there just gone.

So for another two years it's
just not going to be a problem.

What I want to do is serve the
mission. Find people and teach
people.

Once I've done that,

I'll come back and then I look
for. So I really don't care.

If it was 5 years, I don't
care. My self control is fine.

So I'm good. So I won't that on
the back burner.

That time will come when I'm
married.

In a world that's full of
temptation, it can be
challenging to stay virtuous,
but it's worth it. When you obey

God's commandments to be
sexually pure, you prepare
yourself to make and keep

sacred covenants in the temple.

Josh had proved himself to be a
good Mormon and worthy of
serving a mission.

Tonight he's invited me to film
the moment he becomes a
missionary.

It's called "Setting Apart".
He'll leave behind

his previous life and submit to
a new and even

stricter set of rules. For the
next two years,

he won't be able to use his
first name. He'll be known

as Elder Field. A similar grace
with the opposite sex

will be banned. And he won't be
allowed to see any of his
friends

or family for the entire two
years.

Joshua

Levy Field

By the authority of the
Markiseduk Priesthood

which we by birth hold, and in
the name

of our savior, Jesus Christ,

we set you apart to be a full
time missionary

of the church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints.

To serve in the England, Leeds
missionary.

For a period of 24 months.

The Mormons, a church run from
America, and one of the

fastest growing religions in
the world.

In Britain,

there are about 200,000 Mormons
and I've been invited to

film about one of them. He's
coming to this training center
in Lankershim

to learn how to be a
missionary. Every year

a thousand young Mormons attend
from around the world.

For a Mormon family, its a
right of passage which involves

saying goodbye for two years.

Elder Fields, previously known
as Josh,

Has been sent here by his
church leader, the man Mormons
believe

is a living prophet: Thomas S.
Monson.

Stand on the threshold of your
missionary opportunity.

And I would add this thought:
missionaries

are not salesmen with ware to
peddle, they are servants

of the most high God, with
testimonies to bare

with truth to teach and souls
to save.

The work is diffiuclt.

It is demanding. But I would
like bare witness young men

that our heavenly father who
calls you, and remember

you're work comes from a
prophet of God. He will be with
you

for this is his work. And you
are on his errand.

And he will bless you. For he
has promised

Thank you for your trust.

As well as the ban from seeing
family and friends

missionaries are only allowed
to phone home twice a year.

Can only send a letter once a
week. The idea

is that they focus entirely on
their mission.

Church representatives are
still insisting on following

all the filming. They want to
make sure that it's all clear.

Mormons believe in the Bible,
but they also

have their Book of Mormon which
tells the story of how Jesus
went

to America after his
resurrection. Church founder
Joseph Smith

claimed he was lead to the book
by an angel.

The angel told Joseph about a
book. The book was about

people who had lived in the
Americas long ago. Jesus Christ
had

come to these people and taught
them his gospel.

The angel said the book was
written on gold pages called
plates. It was written in

a language that is unknown to
us today. Mormons believe
Joseph Smith

was miraculously able to
translate the ancient script
into

English. The book is called The
Book of Mormon. It tells about

people who lived in American
many years ago. It also tells
about

Jesus Christ, the son of God.

By others to come unto Christ,
by helping them receive the
restored Gospel

through faith in Jesus Christ
and his attonements.

Repentance, baptism, receiving
the gift of the holy ghost.

and enduring to the end. You
just recited your purpose

brothers and sisters and for
the next two years or 18 months

that's exactly what your life
is going to be about. And I
bare testimony that by keeping
the

rules of the white handbook,
you'll experience this more in
your missionary work, okay?

And so, in order to have this
spirit, we need to be obedient

and it all starts here with the
white handbook. Where? Where
does the white handbook come
from?

Who created this?

The first presidency of the
Church. And who gave it

to the first presidency of the
Church to know what rules

what things to put in here? The
Holy Ghost. And

when did that come from? It
came from the lord, okay?

So this has come from the lord.
He's given

these rules, these words to
protect you.

Okay? So follow them.

90 pages have instructions
cover everything from socks to
wear

for deodorant, to a ban on
swimming.

Don't just live it but learn to
love it. Learn to love the
guidelines that the lord

has set for you, okay. And I
promise you, as you do that,
that you

will exceed in everything that
your meant to be doing as a
missionary, okay?

To do with everyone they meet,
is someone in need of the gospel

Almost every person has
something that is either good

or bad happening in their life.
Right now, when you go out

and meet people you may find
people who are dealing with a
difficult

disease or a cancer. You may
find people who have had a
random baby

or just have moved to a brand
new home and a brand new town.
And are looking for friends

and comfort and help. You may
find people who are just
looking for

a religion. You may find people
who are unemployed.

Who have difficult economic
circumstances. People who
struggle with addictions.

Maybe it's people who are
struggling with marital
problems or divorce.

Whatever is happening in their
life,

how do you have the spirit to
help prepare them. And so we
can almost assume when we're
with somebody

that something will be
happening in their life. The
heavenly father

uses to help give them the
spirit to prepare them

[music]

[singing]

It's five days since Elder
Field left home.

A packed schedule meant it had
been difficult to talk to him.

I wondered how he was doing.
Josh: I'm surprised by

how much I do miss people from
home.

I think it might be cause

we can see the road just there.
I mean, it's just down the
road, really.

For the moment it's been

my mom, my brothers and my
sister,

David and Lesley.

And there's people I just really

over six months who I just
really love.

The whole point of a mission is

a sacrifice. You know, it's

you're giving up two years and
you are showing your faith.

Dedication and...it's hard.

A few hours later and I realize

is that Elder Field had been
crying.

Interviewer: Are you sad? Josh:
Yeah, a little bit.

It's more just um..

just worrying for my family,
really.

You just realize

you won't see them for two
years and it's tough.

Makes it hard.

Josh is feeling - sorry - Elder
Field, is feeling pretty sad.

Yes, he's just going through
the worse

It's a normal period of
adjustment.

Could he be a good missionary
and still be in touch with his
mom.

[laugh] I think part of the
difficulty is that sometimes

a contact can actually be worse
than no contact.

If you're a long, long way away
from mom, and you're in
constant contact

with them, you can be dependent
upon that contact, and it makes

being away harder. On a
practical basis,

I'm a counselor. I've been a
therapist. I taught him some

quite mind techniques. Because
very often turmoil in our mind

is caused by running thoughts,
that turn into

running emotions, that then
sort of

cause chaos in the mind. And I
just taught him a few techniques

to quite the mind.

Do you mind if we talk to you.
Josh: Yes, fine.

For the next two days,
President Durkin continued to
help Elder Field

quiet his mind. But he'd had no
contact with his family or
friends

for a week. He was completely
isolated from anyone outside

the training center apart from
me.

Just sad. Interviewer: Would
you like me to give you a hug?

I am so happy to be here, but
it's just at the same time

it's hard 'cause

you giving up what you love for
two years, so

it's just difficult.

Just a part of it.

I mean my mom is probably is
fine.

We trying to share the gospel
with everyone

absolutely everyone. Right now
the heavenly fathers

preparing people to receive you
and your message.

It was hard to understand why
Elder Field would stay

when he seemed so unhappy. But
all young Mormon men

grew up knowing the expects
them to serve a mission.

It was a question of faith.

You're walking through the
street, and you see this lady

and you want to stop and you
want to talk to her about how

the gospel will bless her and
her family.

She's walking right there.
Ready?

[practicing]

I hope that you will remember
today that you are the

representatives of Jesus
Christ. You're literally
ambassadors for him and know
what you are doing.

Is the work the heavenly father
wants you to do right now at
this stage in your life.

Elder Field has finished his
training and is ready to start

his mission. Missionaries get
sent all over the world.

He's been sent to Leeds.

Church official Richard has
come along, too.

Elder Field. Nice to have you.
President Linley is in charge

of the 250 missionaries in the
north east of England.

Come in and maybe we could
kneel down and have a prayer as
we begin if that's alright.

Yeah, of course.

Perhaps I could offer that
prayer. Our father in heaven

I'm so thankful for the
opportunity to welcome Elder
Field into

the mission on his first day.
Pray that thigh spirit would be
with

him throughout his mission.
That he will directive

and prompted by the spirit to
accomplish his purpose as a
missionary

to invite other people to come
under Christ. Tell me Elder
Field

how do you feel about Jesus
Christ and about his

atonement. Field: Um...

there comes no greater honor

when you can wear a badge with
your name on it and

Jesus Christ's name on it.
We're glad to have you here.
Thank you.

I hope you don't mind me giving
you hug because

I love the missionaries and
want hug them and welcome them
here.

Thank you.

[Singing]

I have often said one of the
greatest

the secrets of missionary work
is work.

Missionary work is the spirit.
And he has the spirit, he will
teach the spirt. And if he
teaches

the spirit, he will offer this
to the people, and he will be
happy.

There will be no home sickness.
No worrying about families.

Now we are sent to work in the
ministry. Work, work, work.

There's no satisfactory
substitute. Especially
missionary work.

Now is the exciting time, the
time that we all wait for.

Missionaries work in pairs. The
new arrivals are about

to find out who their
companions will be.

Elder Burrows will be trained
by Elder Donaldson.

[clapping]

The next missionary is Elder
Field.

From Sussex, England, his
ancestors

were British. And Elder Field
will be trained by

Elder Bowman in Leaf One
[clapping]

Elder Bowman, previously known
as Argon, is 22 and Swiss.

He's a Senior Missionary, and
will be Elder Field's

constant companion. [singing]

Straight away, they were out on
the streets.

I pray tonight that we may be
able to

work with the spirit and be
able to find the people who are
ready to hear

How can I help you? Bowman:
Hey, I'm Elder Bowman, this is
my friend

Elder Field we're missionaries.
We sharing the message about
Jesus Christ.

Do have beliefs for yourself?

Yeah, I'm a Sikh. Bowman:
You're a sikh! Alright.

I've met a few sikhs, but I
don't know what you believe in,
actually.

There's a God, like anyone.
Bowman: That's amazing. Do you
have like

10 minutes we share a message
about God? Sikh: I'm busy at
the moment to be honest.
Bowman: Alright.

No problem. Do you know, do you
have another time when we can
come?

I'm not really interested.
Sorry. Bowman: Next one's yours.

Field: This one? Bowman: Yeah.

[dog barking]

Hi. Field: How are you? Woman:
Fine. Field: We were

from the Church of Latter Day
Saints. We were just hoping
that maybe we could share

a few minutes with you. Woman:
I'm not interested, thank you.
Field: Oh, okay.

Do you know any other neighbors
who would be interested? Woman:
No.

Field: Do you have any beliefs
in God yourself? Woman: No.

Thanks. Field: Thank you.
Bowman: Have a good night.

Hi there, we're from the church
of latter day saints.

We're missionaries. We're here
to share a message.

Do you have any beliefs in God
or anything like that?

Woman: Um, no, not really. Man:
It don't interest me. It really
don't.

[music]

Elder Field is sharing a small
flat with Elder Bowman and two
other missionaries.

And of course, Richard is here,
too.

Morning. Morning.

Interviewer: How you doing?
Field: Good. how are you?

And then all the missionaries
in the flat will gather around
this couch and sing.

After that we study.

Let's sing 1-3.

[Singing]

You want to pray?

Missionaries are required to be
with their literally at all
times.

They must always be in the same
room together.

And the only time they can be
apart is when they go to the
bathroom.

This way they can keep an eye
on each other. In case

they attempted to stray.

They always sleep in the same
room.

And get up and go to bed at
exactly the same time as each
other, because they must

never even try to be alone.

I'm guessing does this feed one
or two? I guess it feeds

two. Each missionary is given
just 29 pounds a week.

To cover food and haircuts.

They work unpaid, and they are
expected to contribute

6000 pounds to the overall
costs.

This is my bed.

A bit different from one from
home.

Yeah, there's not a lot

We only really sleep in here.
Interviewer: Elder Bowman, are
you there?

I could hear your phone, that
was all. Bowman: Okay.

Interviewer: Do you need to
stand?

Bowman: I usually just wander
around. Interviewer: What's the
rule?

Bowman: We usually stay within
sight and sound of each other.

Interviewer: Yeah, okay.

This is quite unusual set of
circumstances. Field: Yes, I
bet it is a little bit.

Interviewer: How are you
feeling?

Field: Pretty Tired [chuckles]

I feel okay.

It's just difficult getting
used to

this. It's just

hard at the moment, but

it will get better.

I am a bit down. But it's the
grieving process.

It takes awhile to adjust to
missing people.

Interviewer: If you were on
your own.

having a person here a few feet
away. I mean,

do you think you'd still be
here?

Field: Probably not. I think if
I was here on my own, I
probably would've

just gone I can't do it, I
can't do it.

Hi we're missionaries. Woman:
Sorry, I've got somewhere go.

Mormon missionaries have to
work 365 days

a year. So for two years they
never get a whole day off.

Field: Hi you two, how are you
doing? You're having a good day?

They set goals. In the first
year, their target is to
recruit four new

converts. Bowman: Have you
heard about the book of Mormon
before?

Probably not. To become a
Mormon you're expected to

pay 10% of your income to the
church. Field: ...about Jesus
Christ

Woman: Oh, no, I'm sorry. I'm
very happy without him.

And as full members of the
church, you would

also be expected to wear
special underwear.

Bowman: We have to wear certain
kind of underwear. Interviewer:
What sort of underwear?

What does it look like? I mean,
for men and woman?

Bowman: I'm quite comfortable
discussing my underwear on tv.

Interviewer: um...

what can you say about them.

You can't say what they look
like?

Field: No, because it's sacred
to us. You wouldn't walk up

to a random person in the
street and ask what underwear
they are wearing. You just
wouldn't.

It's personal. And the
underwear we wear is

simply a way of showing our love

There's nothing weird about it.
In fact, I think you'd be very
disappointed when you saw it.

It's not weird at all.

It's just a way of showing our
love and commitment.

Field: Hello? How are you?
Woman: Thank you, but no thank
you.

Do you know where we're from?

Woman: No thank you. Okay?
Bowman: Is there anything we
can do for you?

Woman: No, not at all. Bowman:
We'd like to offer you more
happiness

to you life. Woman: I don't
think so. I'm quite happy with
the faith that I have.

And where we worship. The
Church of England. It has
nothing to do with Mormons.

Bowman: Would you like a copy
of our book. Woman: No.

Field: Okay, is there anything
we could ever do for you?
Anything you need done?

Woman: No, no.

For the last 18 days

Elder Field has been constantly
in his companion's presence.

He hasn't been allowed to speak
to any of his friends or family.

He's forbid on reading books
and newspapers.

Listening to the radio.
watching television. going on
the internet.

Going to the cinema, theater,
and really

every other cultural activity.

[praying] We thank thee, for
thee

good night you've given us.
Thank you for the time

we've had to regain our
strength and prepare

for today. We ask you to help us

as we study.

I was concerned with how Elder
Field was coping. I wanted

a moment with him, to check if
he was okay. Do you have a
moment?

Field: Yeah, sure. We can talk
here.

Interviewer: In your room?

Field: Well Elder Bowman will
be there anyway. Bowman: Yeah.
I can just sit on the couch if
you like.

Is there any way we can have a

more private talk?

Companionship. It's really not
against anything, but we're
like, we stick

together. It's not I want to
talk, I'm not gonna

talk for him or something, but
we need to be together.

Kind of easier just to be
together.

Interviewer: You were
previously happy to talk in
your bedroom. Field: Yeah, I
just find

Bowman: We can sit there.
Field: Yeah, we can sit in the
bedroom if you want.

Interviewer: What both of
you?[gasps]

You were in corner last time,
you need to be..?

Bowman: It's just wahat we do.
Bowman: Nothing against you. I
will not answer any

thing for him. Field: I think
it's just in case last time

I just felt like I should have
a companion here. We do
everything together.

Interviewer: But now you need

to be in the room by his side
as well. That's what you feel?

Field: Just to have be in the
room,

I just feel more comfortable.
Bowman: Look we have been for
weeks

We're good friends. I know
loads about him. He knows loads
about me.

I think it's...with the camera
there, it's still

not as

Wherever you

want to go. Interviewer: Couch.
Field: It's the best.

Field: Do you want a chair?
Interviewer: Yeah, thank you.

Interviewer: How is it, the two
of you? I mean you have

no privacy now.

Field: I actually think it's

not that odd really. I mean,

you shower in privacy and
everything else. Bowman: Quite
clear.

Luckily. I mean, this is like

I mean, you might be lucky
enough with your mate and have

your own room.

Don't know. I couldn't imagine
not having

a companion like on a mission.
I definitely couldn't imagine

not having a companion. I think
it's very helpful.

Who get who you really are.
It's great.

Living with a pal. And working
with a pal. It's great.

I really like it. Interviewer:
I mean some people

would interpret it quite
differently. Field: In what way?

Interviewer: Well, uh, you know
there's someone there who isn't

minding you. Bowman: Always
behind him.

Field: It's more than that.

Bowman: As he said we're...I'm
the same as

he is. We're just missionaries.
And as much as he's

my friend, I'm his friend. So
as we do everything together we
do this

thing together. I don't him to
be alone and me alone over here.

Not knowing what do to.

Bowman: Have you heard of the
book of Mormon?

Bowman: Just sharing a message
about Jesus Christ.

Field: Nothing worth having is
easy.

And I do feel like sometimes

I given up a lot. But

I'm not worried anymore. I just
know that

I go back to a life that is
perfectly

formed for me, because I've
made the sacrifice. When people

think I'm crazy. But I know
that after this

two years after I've worked
hard, and I've brought
happiness into

people's homes for the gospel
and I'll be blessed by the holy
father

doing something like this.
Because it's a sacrifice and
when we sacrifice we are

pure blessed. [music]

Field: You have a good day.

Me and my friend we share
messages about the book of
Mormon and Jesus Christ.

Do you yourself believe in
anything? Man: I'm a Muslim.

Have you heard about the Book
of Mormon?

It just takes a few seconds.

Okay, great hat, by the way.