How is “Witnesses” doing thus far?

Last updated on: June 8, 2021 at 11:55 pm By Dan Peterson

*** How is Witnesses doing thus far? Truth be told, we don’t really know for certain. Hard numbers haven’t yet arrived via reliable channels. But here is something that you might find interesting, from something called Deadline, also known as Deadline Hollywood, an online news site that is focused on the entertainment industry and that is reputed to be one of Hollywood’s most followed websites: “Faith-Based ‘Witnesses’ Debuts With Commanding $155K Weekend; ‘Bố Già’ Continues Specialty Box Office Dominance”... Read more

“They Shall Not Grow Old”

Last updated on: June 6, 2021 at 11:17 pm By Dan Peterson

*** Yesterday, during the opening weekend of the Interpreter Foundation’s Witnesses film, the widow of my late friend, partner, and colleague Dr. William J. Hamblin called my attention to a presentation on the Witnesses that he posted back at the end of 2011. I honestly don’t think that I had ever known of it before. It’s not as flashy as it would likely be had he made it today, with our improved technology; Bill was always... Read more

See the Movie that Enemies of the Church Don’t Want You to See!

Last updated on: June 6, 2021 at 11:30 am By Dan Peterson

*** In my immediately previous post, I observed that the Interpreter Foundation’s Witnesses film is being “review bombed” over on the “Rotten Tomatoes” site by critics who have been giving it the lowest possible score — a half-star — on the RT five-star scale in order to depress its audience rating. A reader of this blog, responding to that fact, suggested a new advertising slogan for the movie along the lines of the one that I’ve used... Read more

Honestly, we need your help

Last updated on: June 5, 2021 at 3:12 pm By Dan Peterson

I sent the following note out on Facebook earlier today. As of yet, I think it’s had pretty limited impact, at best. And, although that may be as much as I can realistically hope for, I still hope for more: For many years, I’ve noticed on Amazon.com that books about “Mormonism” and/or Joseph Smith inevitably attract extremely partisan negative reactions and down-votes from anti-Mormons. In many cases, it’s clear that they haven’t read the book in question... Read more

“Discipleship As the World Collapses Around You”

Last updated on: June 5, 2021 at 3:11 pm By Dan Peterson

*** I feel that I should reinforce the point that I’ve made on several occasions, here and elsewhere, about the effect that a successful opening weekend in theaters can have on the entire life of a film. Here are some things to consider (and there may well be other important ideas that I’ve omitted): • The performance of a new film on its opening weekend determines, to a very considerable degree, how long that... Read more

On Martin Harris: “Native honesty” and Life-Long Testimony

Last updated on: June 5, 2021 at 3:08 pm By Dan Peterson

*** The premiere for the Interpreter Foundation’s Witnesses film went well last night, I think — except for a problem with the main theater’s projector with which our filmmakers had to struggle for about an hour. (The projector apparently hadn’t been functioning properly during its showings of Cruella last week, either.). It delayed things just a bit, and there were a couple of scenes in the movie in which things may have been slightly blurry. Whether anybody... Read more

Oliver Cowdery: Latter-day Saint “Second Elder”

Last updated on: August 15, 2022 at 12:25 am By Dan Peterson

*** From our distributor: Who do you study church history with? Bring your family or class or group of friends to June 2nd 7:20 Premiere showing of Witnesses Film and the popcorn is on us!* We need feedback on how Witnesses Film brings Come Follow Me to life! So gather your friends, your class or your family and enjoy The Family Movie Event of the Summer. ($25 concessions gift card for groups of 6+).* Message this... Read more

Possible Free Popcorn on Wednesday Night!

Last updated on: June 2, 2021 at 2:37 pm By Dan Peterson

*** This announcement is important enough and fun enough and (in a sense) urgent enough that I thought I should give it its own blog entry. And I’ll give you the text from the image above in slightly larger font: Who do you study church history with? Bring your family or class or group of friends to June 2nd Premiere showing of Witnesses Film and the popcorn is on us! We need feedback on how Witnesses... Read more

Would you like to join us for the Wednesday night premiere of “Witnesses”?

Last updated on: June 1, 2021 at 3:58 pm By Dan Peterson

*** The Interpreter Foundation’s Witnesses film premieres tomorrow night — Wednesday, 2 June 2021 — at the Larry H. Miller Megaplex at Thanksgiving Point, in Lehi, Utah. Thereafter, it will have its real opening weekend at various theaters nationally, commencing officially on Friday, 4 June. In some locations, though — and in conformity to what is apparently Hollywood convention — it will actually open at 7 PM or so on Thursday, 3 June. Many of the... Read more

“From Dust to Exalted Crown”

Last updated on: June 1, 2021 at 4:03 pm By Dan Peterson

*** An article by David J. Larsen has just appeared in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: “From Dust to Exalted Crown:Royal and Temple Themes Common to the Psalms and the Dead Sea Scrolls” Abstract: David J. Larsen, after showing how many of the Qumran texts rely on the “Royal Psalms” in the Bible—which have a vital connection to the temple drama—then goes on to exaltation in the views of the Qumran community. He... Read more