Newsmakers Encore: John Groberg looks back on his life, time in Tonga and talks about new movie
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In this edition of East Idaho Newsmakers, Nate Eaton speaks with John Groberg. Groberg was born and raised in Idaho Falls before being called to Tonga as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Groberg experienced many challenges while serving his mission. He suffered from mosquitoes, a typhoon and starvation. During his conversation with Eaton, Groberg recalls the morning he woke up and realized rats had eaten calluses off his feet. The incident could have resulted in serious infection had locals not stepped in to help.
When Groberg returned from his mission, LDS Church leaders asked him to write a book about his experience. It was called In the Eye of the Storm and later turned into the 2001 Disney film The Other Side of Heaven. He wrote a second book called The Fire of Faith, which is being adapted into a movie set to be released next year.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE NEW MOVIE
In 1976, Groberg became a General Authority for the LDS Church and he lived and served all over the world. He was given emeritus status in 2005 and then became president of Idaho Falls Temple.
John and his wife, Jean, have ten children and many of them live in eastern Idaho.
Watch the video above for the entire conversation.
EAST IDAHO NEWSMAKERS ARCHIVES
WHY THIS YOUNG MAN IS UNASHAMEDLY SHARING HIS EXPERIENCE AS A PORN ADDICT
MEET TURTLE, THE LOCAL TEENAGER WHO WILL PERFORM IN A BROADWAY SHOW ABOUT HEMOPHILIA
FROM HARVARD TO AIR FORCE PILOT TO PIZZA RESTAURANT. THE STORY BEHIND RIGHTEOUS SLICE.
SUMMER ANDERSEN AND HER MISSION TO STOP AVALANCHE FATALITIES
JULIE ZAHN – THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHEPHERD’S INN
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT IN EASTERN IDAHO
AFTER ROBBING A CASINO, HIS FAMILY IS DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET HELP FOR HIS MENTAL ILLNESS
YOUNG MEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF THEIR FRIENDS
LANCE PEKUS – THE LOCAL RANCHER WHO HIT NATIONAL FAME AS THE ‘COWBOY NINJA’
KEVIN MEEHAN, HIS DOG ISOSCELES AND THEIR STORY OF ABUSE AND RESCUE
SUPPORTERS AND OPPOSERS DISCUSS THE D91 SCHOOL BOND
DAMOND WATKINS ON HIS LIFE, CAREER, POLITICS AND SURVIVING A PLANE CRASH
IONA NATIVE JEFF SWEAT AND HIS NEW TEEN NOVEL ‘MAYFLY’
AFTER TRAGEDY, LOCAL MOTHER OF 5 BOYS INVENTS PRODUCT TO KEEP HER TOILETS SPOTLESS