TV & VIDEO - May 6, 1987

A documentary to air on PBS next week that explores the pressures placed on Mormon missionaries has been called biased by a Mormon official and prompted a protest to Bruce Christensen, the director of the Public Broadcasting Service. Emmy-winning director Bobbie Birleffi argued that the film makers gave equal time, almost to the minute, to Mormon leaders and missionaries who spoke positively about their experience. But Don LeFevre of the church’s public communications office, who has viewed it, said he felt it unfairly stressed the negative aspects of missionary life. He said the church contacted PBS president Christensen, a Mormon, to protest the film. PBS vice president Barry Chase said the matter was referred to him and he took no action.