Tips, part 4. Videos.

Previous posts in this series: Part 1. Part 2. Part 3.

1. Videos are probably easier to give out than books, especially to English-only speakers.
   
2. Remember that placement success increases when you offer something ("Would you like a free ...?"), rather than just giving it out without asking them first ("Here, take this.")
   
3. I keep two to three copies of each in my car. But I only keep the "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" and "Joy to the World" during Christmas season, November and December. Be sure to order these DVDs, or their corresponding pass-along cards, in early October so you can start giving them out in early November. With the DVDs you can give them out through Christmas Eve. But with pass-along cards, the people you give them to will need to call the number about two weeks before Christmas to get it in time.
   
4. These videos are cheaper than the Book of Mormon, which is $3.00 for a hard-cover edition.
   
5. When I go into Asian restaurants, I usually include "Finding Happiness", "Together Forever", "Our Heavenly Father's Plan", and "Introduction to the Church" in my Asian-language book-bag.
   
6. When encountering beggars, I ask them if they, or one of their friends, has a DVD player. If they do, (and they usually have one or have access to one) I give them a $1 bill and a DVD. I tell them that they can either keep the DVD if they like it, or give it away, or even sell it if they want. The $1.00 is the "opportunity cost" in the placement. Even if they don't watch it themselves, as long as they give it away or sell it, someone is going to see it. If there is no time to talk, such as at an interstate exit ramp, I just hold the $1 bill against the DVD case, oriented so they see the bill, and hand it to them as one. (How much church material does your missionary give away for that $400/month? Do the math, and the $1 is very inexpensive for a placement. And remember that they'll likely give it away or sell it, which increases its exposure.)
   
7. If you don't have room in a bag or briefcase for the DVD clamshells, you can remove them from the clamshells, and put them in CD sleeves so they take up much less room.
   
8. The "language angle" still works. "Would you like a free DVD from my church in [their language]?"
   
9. By using the "quick description" (see below) sound-bite, you can also just flat out offer them to English-only speakers. See these posts for descriptions of some DVD placements.
   
10. I just about always take off the cellophane wrapper from the DVD's and insert a flyer of local-information in the clamshell. And on the reverse of the flyer, I put the list of Book of Mormon languages. (Those files are outdated, but illustrative.) It's very important to have local contact information, and/or a pass-along card with the DVD. Very few of the DVDs have an 800 number on them.
    
11. For a series of amazing encounters with DVD placements in the waiting room of a car repair shop, see this post. Those encounters were not planned. I didn't know ahead of time that the waiting room's TV had a DVD player built in. I had my book-bag because I thought I was going to go to lunch while waiting, but something else miraculous happened instead.

Appropriate videos:

1. The Restoration. Cost: $1.18/each in case of 50. Languages: American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Cebuano, Danish subtitles, Dutch subtitles, English audio plus subtitles, Finnish subtitles, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian subtitles, Portuguese audio plus subtitles, Russian, Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH), Spanish audio plus subtitles, Swedish subtitles, Tagalog, Thai, Ukranian.

Quick description: About how our church started.

2. The Testaments (of One Fold and One Shepherd). Cost: $1.50/each in case of 30. Languages: ASL, Cantonese, Danish subtitles , Dutch subtitles, English, Finnish audio plus subtitles, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian subtitles, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish subtitles, Ukrainian.

Quick description: About Jesus's visit to the Americas after his resurrection.

3. Finding Faith in Christ. Cost: $1.36/each for a case of 50. Languages: Cantonese, Danish subtitles, Dutch subtitles, English audio plus subtitles, Finnish subtitles, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian subtitles, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish subtitles, Thai.

Quick description: About finding faith in Christ.

A pass-along card for "Finding Faith in Christ" is also available.

4. Special Witnesses of Christ. Cost: $1.50/each in case of 50. Languages: ASL, English (with closed captioning and subtitles), French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish.

Quick description: Mormon church leaders talk about Christ.

5. Our Heavenly Father's Plan. Cost: $1.50/each in case of 50. Languages: Cantonese, Danish subtitles, Dutch subtitles, English audio plus subtitles, Finnish subtitles, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian subtitles, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish subtitles, Tagalog.

Quick description: What Mormons believe about the meaning of life.

6. Finding Happiness (Asian languages only). Cost: $1.50/each in case of 50. Languages: Cantonese, English, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin. This DVD is unique in that it has three different videos depending on which language you choose, Chinese actors and locations, Korean actors and locations, or Japanese actors and locations. When listening to English, you can choose any one of the three video locations. The cover of the DVD clamshell has the title in Korean, Chinese, Japanese and English, so it's a nice attention getter when you put is on your table at a restaurant.

7. Finding Happiness, new edition, with Asian and European languages. Cost: $1.50/each in case of 100. Languages: British English, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Castillian Spanish, not Western Hemisphere Spanish), Swedish, Ukranian. There is no "American English" or "Western Hemisphere Spanish" track on this DVD. Like the previous edition, there are several different videos/actors depending on the location: British Isles, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, China, Korea, Japan. This DVD is not optimal for speakers of Western Hemisphere Spanish or American English.

8. Introduction to the Church. Cost: $1.50/each in case of 50. Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish.

Quick description: a short introduction to what Mormons believe and do.

9. To This End Was I Born. (This is the full length version of "Lamb of God.") Cost: $1.50/each in case of 50. Languages: ASL, Cantonese, Danish subtitles, Dutch subtitles, English audio plus subtitles, Finnish subtitles, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian subtitles, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish subtitles, Tagalog.

Quick description: About the last week of Jesus' mortal life.

10. The Lamb of God. (Basically same as "To This End Was I Born", but slightly different languages.) Cost: $1.50/each in case of 50. Languages: Dutch subtitles, English, English SDH subtitles, French, German, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Spanish, Tahitian, Tongan.

Quick description: About the last week of Jesus' mortal life.

A pass-along card for "Lamb of God" is also available.

11. Together Forever. Very easy to give out. Cost: $1.18/each in case of 50. Languages: English audio plus subtitles, Spanish, French, Cantonese, Danish subtitles, Dutch subtitles, Finnish subtitles, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin subtitles (traditional script), Norwegian subtitles, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish subtitles, Tagalog.

Quick description 1: About families.
Quick description 2: About husbands who work too much.

Two pass-along cards for "Together Forever" are available, one featuring a Caucasian couple, and one featuring an African-American couple.

12. Mr. Krueger's Christmas. Easy to give out during Christmas season. Cost: $1.00/each in a case of 50. English only.

Quick description: A short Christmas movie, with Jimmy Stewart and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

13. Joy to the World. Easy to give out during Christmas season. Cost: $2.90/each (gotta pay those royalties) in case of 50. Languages: Cantonese, Danish subtitles, Dutch subtitles, English audio plus subtitles and closed captioning, Finnish subtitles, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian subtitles, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish audio plus subtitles, Swedish subtitles.

Quick description: It features the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

A pass-along card for "Joy to the World" is also available.

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See all pass-along cards here.

Related posts: Tips, part 1. Tips, part 2. Tips, part 3. How this started, some of the overall-story. A quick-start quide. How-to at Chinese restaurants.
 

Why Mormons build temples. New church video.

Why Mormons build temples. New video from the church.

Youtube videos of foreign language Book of Mormon

02/06/2008. I've started a Youtube channel to spread the word of the foreign language editions of the Book of Mormon. The videos are very rudimentary and amateurish. If anyone wants to redo them in a more professional manner, feel free. I'm still too chicken to show my face, but you can hear my voice.

The first two were done with my cell phone, then converted to mp4. The trial version of the program I used to convert from the cell-phone's video format to mp4 doesn't get the audio and video synched correctly. The next three were done with a still camera that has some basic video capabilities, and records directly to mp4. The lighting didn't come out right on the last 2, but the Urdu version came out okay, or at least the best of the five.

The goal is to get the key words of the language and the word "book" on to Youtube so that people searching for them can find a book in their language, and the English edition along with it, so they can have bilingual (diglot) material.

I don't care if people read it merely for the bilingual aspect, or just "something to read" in their native language. Those who are ready for the spiritual message contained in the Book of Mormon will receive some kind of witness or prompting from the Holy Spirit.

Foreign language Book of Mormon on Youtube.

The Book of Mormon in foreign languages, now on Youtube.

LDS videos to round out PBS' "The Mormons".

What do Mormons really believe? I was somewhat disappointed that the things I wanted to see didn't appear in the recent PBS 4-hour long presentation of "The Mormons."

The following DVDs from the LDS church (between 3 and 3.5 hours total combined running time) give what I think are the basics of LDS belief in God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Links go to the Distribution Center web site where you can purchase copies.*

Listed in the order in which I would present them:

1. The Restoration. **This video recording recounts how Joseph Smith's search for truth led to the First Vision and the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It portrays the religious atmosphere in the early 1800s and the conditions that led to Joseph Smith's determination to enter the Sacred Grove. It is ideal for members and missionaries to share with family, neighbors, friends, and investigators. 20 min. Price: $2/each. Case of 50: $1.18/each.

2. Our Heavenly Father's Plan. This video recording gives a brief introduction to the principles in the plan of salvation through words, pictures, and music. 29 min. Price: $4.50/each. Case of 50: $1.50/each.

3. Special Witnesses of Christ. This video recording features members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve declaring their personal witness of Jesus Christ. Filmed in such locations as Jerusalem, the Sacred Grove, and Nauvoo. This recording was filmed prior to the calling of Elder Uchtdorf and Elder Bednar. 65 min. Price: $4.50/each. Case of 50: $1.50/each.

4. Together Forever. This video recording contains thoughts, pictures, and music centered on the eternal nature of the family. It is ideal for members to use in helping nonmembers feel the Spirit and prepare to receive the missionary discussions. 25 min. Price: $4.50/each. Case of 50: $1.18/each.

5. An Introduction to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This DVD gives an overview of the beliefs, purpose, and mission of the Church. Chapter/section headings are: Missionary Work, Core Beliefs, Humanitarian Service, History, Temples and Meetinghouses, Role of the Family, Church Organization, A Code of Health, Church Education, Arts and Culture, Family History, Church Headquarters. Price: $4.50/each. Case of 50: $1.50/each.

For the printed word, if someone wants to know what the official beliefs of the LDS church are, I would of course recommend the scriptures, and Gospel Principles, the Sunday school manual.

* Purchasing items from the LDS Salt Lake Distribution Center does not put you on any mailing list, and you will not receive any calls or visits from anyone in the missionary department. They do not check to see if you are a member (unless you try to buy temple clothes or garments). So if you want to "secretly" buy reading material or videos from the Mormon church, and don't want anyone to know, and don't want to be bothered by missionaries, go ahead and order stuff from www.LDScatalog.com. They ship to PO boxes if you want to ensure privacy that way.

** Descriptions of videos are taken from the LDScatalog.com web site.