'DaVinci Code' lecture Thursday

PROVO — The third in a series of lectures on the book "The DaVinci Code" will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at Brigham Young University's Museum of Art.

The lecture, free to the public, is titled "On the Trail of the Holy Grail." Vern Swanson, Springville Art Museum director, is the presenter.

Dan Brown's best-selling novel "The DaVinci Code" suggests Leonardo da Vinci left clues about Jesus and Mary Magdalene in "The Last Supper" and the "Mona Lisa."

Some 4.5 million copies of the book have been sold.

Filmmaker Ron Howard also is making a movie of "The Da Vinci Code" for Sony Pictures Entertainment, expected to be released in 2005.

The lecture series, called "The Da Vinci Code: Mystery, Metaphor and Meaning, LDS Perspectives on The Da Vinci Code," has proven popular at the Provo campus.

The first lecture drew such a large crowd — more than 700 people — that organizers had to close the museum doors10 minutes before the lecture started.

A panel discussion of experts on topics related to the book will be April 1.

The museum's store also will offer a 20 percent discount on copies of "The Da Vinci Code" during February, March and April.

For more information call 801-422-8201.