Nauvoo Temple film earning high praise

Filmmaker Lee Groberg has a pretty big fan for his new Nauvoo Temple documentary that will soon be televised on PBS.

While leaving the premiere screening at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building Thursday, LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley gave Groberg public kudos for his work on "Sacred Stone: Temple on the Mississippi."

"Thank you very much, Lee," President Hinckley said in front of the captive audience. "And congratulations."

President Hinckley, who led the charge to rebuild the Nauvoo Temple, told Groberg he'd shake his hand if he wasn't standing on the other side of the Sharon Room. Without hesitating, Groberg zipped over and extended his hand as the crowd laughed and applauded.

Moments before, Groberg had asked everybody to patiently allow President Hinckley and his wife, Marjorie, to leave before anybody else. Not wanting to sound like he was trying to push him out the door, Groberg told President Hinckley that he was, of course, free to stay as long as he wanted.

"No," President Hinckley replied with a smile. "We were invited out."

It was a humorous ending to the first of two debut sessions of the film that Groberg and his crew have labored on for the past few years. It's the third in his LDS trilogy. He portrayed Joseph Smith's life in "American Prophet" and documented the pioneer trek in "Trail of Hope."

Groberg and cinematographer Mark Goodman journeyed across the globe to make "Sacred Stone: Temple on the Mississippi," written by Heidi Swinton, who also wrote the companion book, "Sacred Stone: The Temple at Nauvoo," which was released earlier to coincide with the rebuilt temple's open house and dedication. He earned thousands of frequent flier miles traveling to Nauvoo for research and production.

"I know President Hinckley has been there a lot," he said. "But I've been there 30 times in the last three years."

Groberg, director and producer, is about to see the fruition of his travels and tribulations.

"Sacred Stone" will be broadcast in Utah Sunday, Sept. 29, on KBYU, Channel 11. By the end of the year, it will also be televised in other Western states. Eventually, it is expected to air nationwide. Brigham Young University President Merrill J. Bateman, who spoke briefly, thanked PBS for agreeing "to consider showing this on all public TV markets in the U.S."

"This," the BYU president said, "pleases us very much."