The Mormon-centric adventure drama "16 Stones" is strictly for the faithful, especially those who subscribe to the doctrines of forgiveness.

In a Mormon town in Missouri, in 1838, James (Mason D. Davis) is a young blacksmith who wants revenge when anti-Mormon raiders come through town and kill his mother (Ilene Wood). Counseled against violence by Joseph Smith (Brad Johnson), James comes upon another idea: Find one of the glowing stones used by the Jaredites in The Book of Mormon and use it to prove the LDS faith is true. So begins a treasure hunt for James, accompanied by returned missionary Thomas (Ben Isaacs) and Thomas' sister Elaine (Aubrey Reynolds) — and with two nasty thieves (Jarrod Phillips, Channon Voyce) on their trail.

Director Brian Brough and his screenwriting wife, Brittany Wiscombe, lay a heavy spiritual message onto a simple, and simplistic, chase narrative that moves at an aggravating stop-and-start pace.

movies@sltrib.com; www.sltrib.com/entertainment

—

HH

'16 Stones'

Opens Wednesday, Oct. 1, at area theaters; rated PG for some violence and thematic elements; 92 minutes.