Summary: Interview Transcript Available Below<br> <br> Prior to his calling as a general authority seventy, Elder and Sister Groberg (Jean Sabin) lived in Idaho Falls, where Elder Groberg worked in a family-owned residential and commercial construction and land development business with his brothers. He was an eagle scout and holds a BS degree from BYU and an MBA from Indiana University. He served as bishop, mission president in Tonga, and regional representative, before being called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1976. In the latter service he served for a time as area president over the Asia, Utah South and North America West areas at various times. On church assignments the Grobergs have lived in Utah, Hong Kong, Idaho Falls, Argentina, Tonga and Hawaii. They have owned a home in Bountiful, Utah since 1978 and served as temple president and matron of the Idaho Falls Temple following service as an active general authority. Elder Groberg has authored five books, typically at the urging of others. His first book, dealing with his experiences as a young missionary in Tonga, was made into a 2001 movie, <a href="http://amzn.to/2xG0IvV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Other Side of Heaven</a>, starring Anne Hathaway and Chris Gorham. It was filmed in New Zealand and the Cook Islands and was directed by Mitch Davis. Elder Groberg wrote the book at the urging of President Thomas S. Monson, a member of the First Presidency.<br> Episode Highlights:<br> <br> * Why <a href="http://amzn.to/2xG0IvV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Other Side of Heaven</a> (Eye of the Storm) Was Written (1:30)<br> * Serving as Bishop (12:00)<br> * Called to Serve as Mission President (17:41)<br> * Serving as a Regional Representative—tantamount to present-day Area Authority Seventy (33:18)<br> * Serving as a General Authority (35:39)<br> * Serving as President of the Idaho Falls Temple, 2005-2008 (58:10)<br> <br> Links:<br> <a href="http://amzn.to/2xG0IvV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Other Side of Heaven</a><br> <br> <a href="http://amzn.to/2gjBTyx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Groberg's Books</a><br> <br> <a href="http://thestray.movie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Stray Movie</a><br> Interview Transcript:<br> Kurt Francom: Today, I'm not too far from my home in Bountiful, Utah, in the home of Elder John Groberg. How are you?<br> <br> John Groberg: Just fine.<br> <br> Kurt Francom: Good, I appreciate you taking some time for us to chat. We actually ran into each other. You were at the BYU Bookstore during Education Week.<br> <br> John Groberg: Right.<br> <br> Kurt Francom: Is that something you typically do?<br> <br> John Groberg: No, that was the first time I've done it, in fact.<br> <br> Kurt Francom: Oh, really?<br> <br> John Groberg: Maybe the second.<br> <br> Kurt Francom: And you were kind enough to sign some books for me, and I was a bit nervous, I said, "Hey, would you ever consider doing an interview for my podcast?" And here we are. I appreciate you being open to that.<br> <br> John Groberg: Thank you.<br> <br> Kurt Francom: Now, how long have you lived here in Bountiful?<br> <br> John Groberg: We've been here since 1978. That is, it's been our home base. We've lived in Hong Kong and Argentina and Tonga and Hawaii and Idaho Falls, and during that time we just rented it out, but we've been here just shortly after I was called as a general authority. They asked us to be in the Salt Lake area.<br> <br> Kurt Francom: Now, I'm sure many listening that are ... you were giving conference talks before I was even born, but I remember you and obviously, on my mission, I was serving in Sacramento, California and I remember the day that my mission president called us and said, "Hey, guess what? I'm taking you to a movie." And we thought, "A movie, wow. On our mission,
