Six Mormons try to become ‘Biggest Loser’

On Sundays, behind the doors of The Biggest Loser ranch, and unseen by almost 9.5 million viewers, several contestants of the hit reality television show meet in Moses Kinikini’s bedroom for a worship service and to share their testimonies. Six of the 22 contestants on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” this season are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, namely Moses Kinikini, Kaylee Kinikini, Rulon Gardner, Justin Pope, Sarah Nitta and Denise Hill.

“We are always here at the ranch,” said Moses Kinikini, who graduated from BYU in marketing. “We don’t have an opportunity to attend church anywhere. ... Our schedules get so hectic sometimes that we don’t get to it, but for the most part on Sundays we are able to (worship with the) other contestants that are LDS.”

Kaylee Kinikini, Moses’ daughter, said she has found even though they are unable to attend church, they treasure the time they have to talk about their beliefs.

“For me, it is actually a really special experience, especially being away from everyone,” Kaylee Kinikini said. “We are from Shelley (Idaho), and that is pretty much Mormon town, so I’m used to having that type of environment around me. But here we don’t have that spirit around us all the time, and to have that separate time to really focus and think about our standards and the gospel is a really special time and I know I cherish it. Having that special time we do and having my dad here ... really means a lot to me.”

Since being on the show, Moses Kinikini has said he has found his journey is more than losing weight, but is a spiritual journey as well.

“I’ve been LDS my whole life and we believe in the Word of Wisdom,” Moses Kinikini said. “Unfortunately, being Tongan when it comes to eat meat sparingly, well, that is something that Tongans don’t really do well. However, being here you realize the truthfulness of the word of wisdom and eating right.”

The LDS contestants are learning a lot about losing weight and growing spiritually together.

Moses Kinikini and Pope hold the top two spots on the leader board with the highest percentage of weight loss, at 24.3 and 24.1 percent.

Moses Kinikini also holds the only two records beaten in season 11, specifically, the most pounds lost in one week at 41 and the fastest to lose 100 pounds, the most coveted record, which he did in only six weeks.

In seven weeks of competition, none of the LDS contestants have been eliminated. The LDS contestants have lost a total percentage of weight loss of 22.25 percent. The other contestants have lost 21.45 percent.

Moses’ wife, Anita Kinikini, has been watching the show and said she was thrilled to see Moses lose 100 pounds.

“Before he went, he told me he was going to break that record and he did,” Anita Kinikini said. “He’s just that type of person. He likes to set goals and achieve them.”

Moses Kinikini said he was relieved when he finally beat the record.

“I did it for (my friends and family),” Moses Kinikini said. “I didn’t want to let them down. I was really proud of what I did because it was something I set out to do and I worked my tail off to get there.”

Anita Kinikini said she is proud of her husband and her daughter Kaylee, who a BYU-Idaho student.

“Kaylee has just blossomed being on that show,” Anita Kinikini said. “She looks so amazing. For her to be able to come home and look so wonderful is just a confidence boost for her. She is so excited to come home and go back to college and … date and do all the things that she never participated in before.”