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there are rumours that the somewhat “anti” Lds show called Big Love are showing temple ceremonies in an episode is this true
and how do you think they are doing this accuratly
and more importantly
what are your thoughts and feelings and what do you want to do about it
Big Love is almost at the end of their 3rd Season. My wife and I are fans of the show. We’ve watched it since it first came on the air. It is really hard to describe the mood and feel of the show. I can tell you it is unique in the world of television drama 
The majority of LDS members would probably be uncomfortable with the show. So few watch it. That leaves them often with wild speculation about the content. Big Love is a family drama the covers the ENTIRE spectrum of mormon culture. It absolutely isn’t anti-mormon, and they do not make fun of Mormons. Well … mainstream mormons are portrayed in the show as less sensitive at times. That’s because the main characters are a polygamist family hiding their status in Sandy, Utah. So part of the drama is the tension about being discovered and turned in to the authorities. They make it VERY VERY clear that the main LDS Church and its members do not approve of polygamy.
The main focus of the show is the Henrickson family. Bill Henrickson has 3 wives, and the show dealt with him “dating” a 4th. They are independent mormon polygamists hiding in mainstream Sandy, Utah (they belong to no centralized church group). Bill is a fairly successful business owner, and each wife has her own house. They are all next to each other on the same street in a cute little suburban residential development, and they share a common (private) back yard area. The neighbors all think that Bill rents the other two houses to single moms
Each of Bill’s wives represents a major mormon/polygamy archetype:
1st wife Barb. She is traditional LDS. She approved of their starting polygamy and is the matriarch of the family (the “boss” wife).
2nd wife Nicki. She is from the FLDS-style compound where Bill actually grew up. She is one of the daughters of Roman Grant, the prophet of the Juniper Creek polygamist sect. Bill married Nicki, with Barb’s full approval, when Barb thought she was going to die of cancer. Nicki wears dresses a lot and always has her long hair in a braid (like people have seen with the FLDS in the news). The Juniper Creek compound is a source of a lot of drama in the show. Roman Grant (their prophet) and his son Albie are villians in the drama.
3rd wife Margene. She wasn’t raised mormon and doesn’t know much about theology. She is very young (early 20’s). She was actually their babysitter who figured out they were polygamists at one point. She had a dysfunctional childhood growing up. She joined the family as the 3rd wife because she just loved the family and loves Bill. Margene is neither LDS nor FLDS. She just likes being in a big extended family. Her character chooses the lifestyle for the lifestyle.
The show portrays the Henricksons as a highly functional, real family dealing with normal family/life problems. The big complication is their secret polygamist lifestyle. That is what is so fascinating about it all — you sit there and think “gee, that isn’t my cup of tea, but those people seem to be pretty normal and happy.” They aren’t shown as crazy freaks like the recent focus on the FLDS in the news. Some allege that the producers intention is to show polygamy as a functional lifestyle choice to encourage people to consider gay marriage simply another lifestyle choice.
NOW… to the current scandal about them showing temple ceremony material.
March 15th’s episode will show Barb (the first wife) going back to the temple. They have a lot of problems and crisis going on in their family’s life (too much to explain in a forum post). She is going to seek guidance and strength, it seems, by going to the temple. They have never gone there before in the show. Apparently, they will show Barb in temple ceremonies and in the celestial room seeking guidance for her family. The producers have very knowledgable ex-mormons on their writing staff. That is clear from all the little cultural and religious references throughout the past 2 seasons.
I really doubt they are going to treat the subject with disrespect. The show has never done that before, although they
DObring up controversial aspects of mormon belief and culture in the show. The basis of the story is polygamy, a huge part of the Mormon past still lingering in the present. I think the biggest issue for most members is the show presenting our temple ceremonies at all. On one hand, that is hard because WE never talk about them in public. On the other hand, it is interesting to have a major network produce a drama about Mormon life. We are no longer a minor, quirky little Wasatch Mountain curiosity cult. We are a major Christian denomination now. Outsiders are interested in us. So it is a two-edged sword. With fame and notice comes scrutiny and interest. I really doubt the show will be disrespectful. It is a serious show.
They will also show Barb being excommunicated on the 15th. Due to a complicated political/plot situation, Barb’s sister (who hates Barb’s marriage situation, and is traditional LDS) notified Barb’s bishop of what is going on. This was an act of revenge for something going on in the show’s plot. So the Big Love is also going to be showing a Church Court on the 15th in addition to the temple ceremonies.
the first season was shown here in the uk as I was first converted and i watched it with interest i couldnt keep watching it as it was on quite late (possibly due to the lack of interest in Mormons here in the UK lol)
I found that first episode very respectful but I have only heard about it since then – and have probably been given a rather distorted view
Many thanks for clearing those things up
That is an excellent summary, valoel. My feeling is a bit of sadness that something we hold so sacred would be depicted, but no outrage – especially before the episode airs. I don’t have HBO (too cheap to pay for it, frankly), and I’m withholding judgment until after it airs and I hear how it is handled.
I don’t have HBO and didn’t even hear about this show until maybe a few months ago. The news where I live had a short segment on it in which they put a statement from the church. It seems that the church isn’t too worried about it. They told members to conduct themselves with dignity and that they didn’t think it would have a big impact on the church. (I’m paraphrasing here and hope I get it right. I was trying to get two kids to bed and do homework while the news was on). I think there is a full statement on the church website. Thanks for the info on the show. It is interesting to hear about. Like Ray I am too cheap to get HBO but maybe you can keep us posted. The LDS Church’s response: http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma I don’t watch the show either, although I have seen some episodes. It seems very well done, a serious drama, but I don’t love the fact that people might think we are polygamous or weird. On the contrary, though, it does seem that the show’s following and the quality of the actors has actually reduced the real-world freakiness associated with the FLDS in the news. Quote:We are no longer a minor, quirky little Wasatch Mountain curiosity cult. We are a major Christian denomination now. Outsiders are interested in us. So it is a two-edged sword. With fame and notice comes scrutiny and interest.
This kind of sums up for me how I view this. I don’t like the temple being portrayed, but IMO it’s not shameful stuff. If it’s truly portrayed as a haven for spiritual decision making, it could go a long way toward neutralizing the negative assumptions made about the temple. With the internet, those who want to make fun of Mormons (or any group for that matter) have plenty of fodder for that.
I guess I’m leading a sheltered life now, I’ve never even heard of the show until last week on MADB.
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