The first time I saw Treasure in Heaven by TC Christensen, I teared up. Treasure in Heaven is the story of John Tanner, one of the early saints who sacrificed all that he had (and he had a lot) to help build up the church. From the moment he heard the gospel, he knew it was true. It’s not just the conversion story that warms the soul–it’s the events that John Tanner lives through and how he responds that really makes you run for the tissues.

I won’t spoil it for you. Treasure in Heaven is another in a line of TC Christensen films that is inspirational. Have you seen The Mouths of Babes? Touch of the Master’s Hand? The Bridge? Most are touching stories to begin with, but TC Christensen has a way to bring out the emotion and the Spirit as you watch.

Sitting in front of my TV, watching Treasure in Heaven, I felt the lump in the back of my throat a couple of times. The example that John Tanner followed was that of Jesus Christ. In giving everything he owned to help the Church, Tanner is a wonderful example of consecration–a word that sometimes makes us cringe out of guilt. But in watching this film, whether consecration is something you’re doing well or something you need to work on, John Tanner (and dare we say TC Christensen as well) urge you to build the kingdom of God through any gift, talent or means you have.

I’m not sure if I like Treasure in Heaven better than The Touch of the Master’s Hand (a personal favorite)–both are wonderful. But the message of Christensen’s latest film is as powerful as they come. I highly recommend it.

These days you watch a movie or the news about the President of the United States and you see the polished secret service men and women who protect our nation’s leader. They wear dark suits and ties with hidden communication devices. Their hair is clean cut and they are in excellent physical shape. That’s not exactly the visual that comes to mind when you think of Joseph Smith’s bodyguard, Porter Rockwell.

A new documentary DVD about Rockwell (Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell) details some stories about his life. His appearance was that of a wild unkempt man. He kept his hair long and could often be heard to swear. He knew Joseph as boys and he remained loyal to Joseph his whole life. He went on to protect Brigham Young after Joseph’s death.

Though it’s hard to picture him running along side an armored limousine, he was just as fierce a protector of the Prophet as the Secret Service is today of the President. The story goes that he was jailed for killing Governor Boggs and then after suffering in terrible conditions was found innocent and released. While in prison he prayed for Joseph. He was worried about his friend. When he was released he returned to where the saints were and crashed a party at Joseph’s place. At first the prophet didn’t recognize him. But when he did he prophesied that if Porter did not cut his hair no man would be able to kill him. Like Samson of old he was blessed with great strength. He was protected. Word got around about his indestructibility and some men came to try to kill him but none succeeded.

Some called him the “Mormon Destroying Angel.” He himself admitted that he “never killed anyone who didn’t need killin.’” He’s not what you think of when considering a disciple of Christ, and his life was very different from ours today, but we can still learn from his example.

We can learn a couple other lessons as well. First, don’t judge a book by its cover. Porter Rockwell was kind and generous and loyal to those he loved, and at the same time tough and fierce to his enemies. Second, not all heroes are polished Supermen out doing deeds for all to see. Sometimes it’s the small quiet things that are truly heroic. And thirdly, stay true to God and to the Church and you will never need to fear. He stayed loyal at a time when many of the Prophet Joseph’s friends betrayed him and fell away. Have you been somebody’s hero today?

To get your copy of the new DVD, click here.

Recently, a DVD set came out of a tour of the Holy Land guided by Church scholar Truman G. Madsen. Between sessions of the last General Conference there was a short documentary about the process of making these DVDs and about Dr. Madsen. He was ill at the time and wanted to make one last journey to Jerusalem and all the surrounding holy sites. Many Latter-day Saints go on trips, take tours with qualified guides or even attend semesters abroad in the Holy Land. They go to “walk where Jesus walked.”

Watching the documentary reminded me of my experience in the Holy Land and all the wonderful experiences I had. We would read about David and Goliath and then take a trip to the field where it may have happened and using the kind of sling David would have had, we tried to throw stones. (It’s harder than you think!) We went everywhere from a possible location of the stable where the Savior was born to the Garden Tomb where His body was lain after His death. The door is adorned with a wooden sign that says simply “He is Risen.”

While it is great to see the sites whether in person or on DVD, the point of Brother Madsen’s trip was not to promote tourism but rather to share his testimony of Jesus Christ as he visited the sites where the Savior lived. We can walk in the Savior’s footsteps without getting a passport. We can know Him the way all the prophets in the scriptures and Brother Madsen did. How do we do this? First we start by studying the scriptures, particularly the New Testament and the Book of Mormon when He was on the earth. We need to learn about how Jesus lived, what He did. Second, we can attend the temple and we can pray for understanding and to know the Savior lives. Third, we need to follow His example. We need to live our lives the way that Jesus did. This includes treating each other the way He did and would have us do.

Shortly after returning from his trip, Brother Madsen’s illness became worse and eventually he passed away. But like many great men before him, he left us a great resource to learn more about the Savior and to strengthen our testimonies of Him. He shared his last testimony with any who want to listen. The final step is to share our testimonies with others. We can walk each day where Jesus walked in everything we do and like Brother Madsen, perhaps others can come to know the Savior through us.