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With the Mormon faith being a popular topic among the media lately, Christian Vuissa hopes that his new movie, "Joseph Smith Volume 1: Plates of Gold," is one more way people can find out the truth about the LDS faith.
Vuissa directed and produced the film that is touring the United States in July, first showing in Palmyra, New York — the birthplace of the Book of Mormon. The film has already been screened to sold-out houses in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
The Book of Mormon has been printed over 150 million times and has been fully translated into 82 languages. In 2003, Book Magazine named the Book of Mormon one of the “20 Books That Changed America.” It ranks number five on the list of best-selling books of all time.
- Founder of the LDS Film Festival
- Director of several movies, including "Baptists at Our Barbecue," and "The Errand of Angels"
- Native of Austria
- BYU graduate
Vuissa said that he hopes his film helps people realizes what an impact Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon have had not only in the Latter-day Saint faith but in history.
“Joseph Smith started a movement that changed America and then changed the world,” Vuissa said. “The Mormon Church has over 14 million members. Today, I can travel almost anywhere in the world and find a congregation.”
Vuissa, a native of Austria, is an example of how far-reaching Joseph Smith’s work has been. He joined the LDS Church at age 22 after growing up in a Catholic home. When he was a child, two sister missionaries showed up on his doorstep and taught his family. His mother joined the church, but Vuissa’s father remained Catholic and asked his children to remain in the faith with him.
It wasn’t until his adult life that Vuissa became more serious about religion. After studying the Bible, he felt prompted to join the LDS Church, make changes in his life and serve a mission. Later, he studied at BYU and developed a greater love for film. He has since made award-winning films that have given him various opportunities to share gospel messages to the world. Vuissa hopes to share that same positive message in "Plates of Gold."
“ ‘Plates of Gold’ is a film that tells the true story, the real story behind Smith and the Book of Mormon in a way that has never been told before,” Vuissa said.
For more information about the release of "Joseph Smith Volume 1: Plates of Gold," visit www.josephmovie.com, where you can watch the trailer, read audience responses and find locations and showtimes.
