Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a voice on the subject of heaven during a network TV special tonight.
According to the Deseret News, the church sent Elder William R. Walker, a general authority who oversees the temple department, to New York City for a historic sit-down interview with ABC's Barbara Walters at the Manhattan Temple site last month. The interview will be part of a two-hour special titled "Heaven: Where is it? How do we get there?" that will air on ABC stations throughout the country tonight at 8 p.m. MDT.
The LDS church was not among those included in the first "Heaven" special that ABC aired in December 2005. It was one of the most highly-viewed programs on network TV.
The current "Mormon moment" -- interest in the church generate largely by GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney -- led to the LDS point of view being included this time.
"We felt the program was so good and so strong we wanted to rerun it," the Deseret News quoted Walters as saying. "And with Gov. Romney running for president, we felt it was very important to include the Mormon point of view this time."
The interview with Elder Walker covered everything from what goes on in Mormon temples to the practice of baptizing for the dead to the concept of eternal marriage. "The interview was groundbreaking and showcases the Mormon faith to millions of Americans through a mainstream television program. It also marks the first time that Walters has interviewed a Mormon about Mormonism," the Deseret News reports.
Most of Walters' questions focused specifically on what Mormons believe about heaven and what it takes to get there.
The show's producer described the chemistry during the interview "quite extraordinary." Elder Walker said of Walters, "I found her lovely, fascinating and articulate. It seemed more like a conversation than an interview. Perhaps that's one of the reasons she's such a remarkable interviewer."
At the end of the interview, Walters said, "Elder Walker was perfectly charming and delightful. I think he could convert anyone."
Read the exclusive story at www.deseretnews.com.
Image: Lou Rocco, ABC
