NBC program examines being 'Mormon in America'

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will get a lot more than 15 minutes worth of fame this week. It will be the focus of an hour-long, in-depth report by NBC News.

NBC's "Rock Center with Brian Williams" will air "Mormon in America" Thursday night, as Republicans prepare to nominate a Mormon, Mitt Romney, as their presidential pick next week in Tampa, Fla.

The program describes its special report on the church and its members as "ambitious" and "lively." Not only does the show profile the lives of different church members, it also talks about controversies, customs, and the church's welfare program.

Mormon Love Story

The program features three very different Mormon households. Correspondent Kate Snow spent time with Al and Juleen Jackson and tells what's described as a "modern Mormon love story."

Al Jackson recalls, "We dated for about three weeks and she said, 'If you really like me, you're really going to like my church.'"

"Al, raised a Southern Baptist, converted to the Mormon faith. Now married nearly 20 years, the couple have five children and live in a traditional Mormon household in Salt Lake City," Snow reports. "They read scripture daily and spend three hours in church every Sunday. They're trying to raise their family with Mormon values in a world that can seem so secular and sexual."

"It's hard to sit down and watch a ballgame with my son because of the commercials. They sexualize everything," Al Jackson told NBC. "We take every opportunity we can to teach our children and hopefully, they're able to make good decisions when they're out on their own."'

Rock Center will also feature Joanna Brooks, a Mormon feminist who questions whether women can truly be equal if the can't hold positions of power in the church. It will also feature an openly gay Mormon, who despite the faith's stand against homosexuality, is able to work within the church.

JetBlue Founder

Another show preview focuses on JetBlue founder David Neeleman and how his Mormon faith impacts how he does business.

"I think we're just serious about life," Neeleman told Rock Center's Harry Smith. "You know, we are taught that it's not bad to make money in life. It's not bad, but it's not your money. It's Heavenly Father's money and you should be good stewards over that money."

NBC points out that Neeleman recently started Azul Airlines in Brazil, the same place he served a church mission when he was 19 years old.

NBC quotes Mormon author Jeff Benedict as saying those two-year missions influence how Mormon business leaders work. "It's like a fast track to seriousness," he said.

Church's Welfare Program

Another segment highlights the church's welfare program, including a look inside the Bishops' Central Storehouse in Salt Lake. NBC describes it as a "vast 500,000 sq. ft. warehouse with enough goods to rival your local Costco."

"The storehouse, along with 110 similar facilities spread across the country, is part of the Mormon effort to help those in need, Mormon and non-Mormon alike," NBC reports.

"We'll help anyone at any time as long as we're able to do so and have those resources available to do so," Rick Foster, director of the church's welfare operations, told NBC.

The report points out that other religious and secular charities also provide for the needy, but "the Mormon effort stands out in its organized self-sufficiency."

In addition, Rock Center's Brian Williams will examine the history of the LDS church, and talk about some of it's controversies like polygamy. The program will also feature a religious historian, a church official, and Abby Huntsman, Jon Huntsman's daughter.

The Rock Center show airs Thursday night at 9 pm on KSL 5.

Documentaries Planned

Politico reports both NBC and CNN plan to air documentaries about Mitt Romney and Pres. Barack Obama prior to the Republican and Democratic national conventions.

From NBC:

"Mitt Romney: The Making of a Candidate," produced by MSNBC's Long Form team, follows the former Massachusetts governor through the trials and tribulations of a prolonged 2012 Presidential primary season as he eventually emerges as the soon-to-be Republican nominee for President of the United States."

"Barack Obama: Making History," produced by Peacock Productions and hosted by Chris Matthews, features high-profile interviews that are a signature of Matthews' smart reporting."

The Romney documentary was set to run Friday, Aug. 24, with the Obama documentary airing Monday, Sept. 3.

CNN landed an exclusive interview with the president as part of its documentaries:

"CNN's Obama documentary, Obama Revealed, is led by CNN Chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin, and features interviews with the President, Sec. Clinton, former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, former director of the White House Economic Council Dr. Larry Summers, senior campaign strategist David Axelrod, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, and House Speaker John Boehner, among others."

"CNN's Romney documentary, Romney Revealed: Family, Faith, and the Road to Power, is reported and hosted by CNN chief political analyst Gloria Borger, and features interviews with Mitt and Ann Romney, their eldest son Tagg Romney, Beth Myers (who led the VP search), and campaign adviser Eric Fehrnstrom, as well as some of the candidate's childhood friends and business partners, among others."

CNN's Romney documentary will air Sunday, Aug. 26. The Obama documentary will air Sept. 3.

Contributing: Shara Park and Linda Williams