'The Work and the Glory' Makes Way for 200th Birthday Celebration for Founder of Mormon Church

'The Work and the Glory' Makes Way for 200th Birthday Celebration for Founder of Mormon Church

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The year 2005 marks two milestones for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Not only does the church celebrate 175 years since its organization, but it is also the 200th birthday of its founder Joseph Smith.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050218/LAFRU7)

Because these are such significant events for members of the LDS faith, commemoration activities are being held throughout the year. Leading the way is the film, based on a series of best-selling novels, "The Work and the Glory" which is playing, or soon will be, in a theater near you.

"The Work and the Glory" has made its way into 45 markets across the nation and the film's distributor, Excel Entertainment Group, plans to follow up with another release into 78 more cities March 11, 2005. Since the limited release of "The Work and the Glory," the film has surpassed $2.5 million in box office and serves as the first big event of the year's commemorations which include dance festivals, youth conferences, trips to church historical sites, and symposia.

From the pages of the best-selling series by Gerald N. Lund, "The Work and the Glory" takes the audience back to a period when America was young and brave and when families pushed the frontier westward in search of better land and new opportunities. In a daring leap of faith, these courageous settlers abandoned familiar homes and relationships in the hopes of building a better life.

Such was the case when the Steed family left their Vermont homestead to start a farm in upstate New York. They unwittingly settled in a region where a widespread religious revival created deep divisions in the community which threatened to tear the Steed family apart.

"Although the film is based on Gerald Lund's best-seller about the origins of Mormonism, our goal in making this movie is to entertain," explains Jeff Simpson, President of Excel Entertainment Group and formerly Studio Executive for Disney Studios in Los Angeles. "This story is about young people trying to merge their lives in spite of divisions and controversy in their families. We think these are universal themes in life and therefore interesting to many people, regardless of faith."

Unlike previous films depicting the religious leader's life, "The Work and the Glory" focuses on how Smith's religious philosophy stirred debate within families and communities.

For more information regarding "The Work and the Glory" contact Ashley Smart at 801-303-6368 or visit www.workandtheglory.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050218/LAFRU7
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Excel Entertainment Group

CONTACT: Ashley Smart, Media Relations of Excel Entertainment Group,
+1-801-303-6368, asmart@xelent.com

Web site: http://www.workandtheglory.com/


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