MARTIN'S COVE HISTORIC SITE, Wyoming — As a veteran maker of several films on Church-related subjects, Lee B. Groberg attested May 28 before a gathering of historians that he feels a "sacred trust" and the "spirit of place" in his work.
Brother Groberg spoke to attendees at the Mormon History Association Conference at a Sunday morning devotional at the Church's Martin's Cove Historic Site, the concluding event of the conference. He told the historians he feels a kinship with them in the obligation to record Church history accurately and appropriately.
"What an audacious thing it is for anyone to put into print or on the screen pieces of history," he said. "What a sacred trust we have in doing so. Sometimes we don't get it right; sometimes we publish the facts as we have them but learn to our horror within a year or two that facts have changed. But we do our best."
Brother Groberg's latest PBS documentary, which is about the rescue of the Martin and Willie handcart companies, will likely be released in October. He said he has a firm commitment from PBS that the film, to be titled "Sweetwater Rescue," will be shown nationwide. The script was written by Heidi Swinton. Brother Groberg and Sister Swinton have collaborated on several documentaries.
While it is common to get absorbed in the logistics and details of a project such as this, Brother Groberg said there were times during the making of the film when he was caught away by the "spirit of place." One of those times was in the snow, wind and sub-freezing temperatures at Rock Creek Hollow in Wyoming. There, he felt what the Willie and Martin handcart members might have felt, he said.
Another of those times was when the depiction was filmed of the burying of 14 bodies of handcart company members who had perished in one night, including the husband of Elizabeth Horrocks Jackson, who died as he lay next to her in the night.
Brother Groberg said faith is a factor in the telling of history. He told of a previous film he made on the life of Joseph Smith. For that, he engaged veteran actor Gregory Peck as narrator. Mr. Peck hesitated over a line in the script in which it is mentioned that the Book of Mormon plates, after being shown to 11 witnesses, were given back to the angel Moroni.
"Lee, I've got to tell you, I have a problem with this intellectually," the actor said. Brother Groberg said he responded, referring to Mr. Peck's Catholic faith, "There are some things you just accept on faith as a Catholic. I accept this as a member of my church on faith that it is true."
Mr. Peck responded, "I'll buy that," and read the line as if he believed it, Brother Groberg related.
"So faith got us through."
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