Recently we have been getting a lot of drama over an HBO show notorious for its controversial portrayals of people commonly misconstrued as members of my church. Big Love is the name of the show and it discusses the lives of polygamist practitioners. While this show has claimed it isn't about church members they purposefully use common misconceptions about the church to fuel the publicity behind the show. Their latest stunt is to show sacred ordinances and ceremonies relating to the temple work members of my church perform. Here is where the drama begins...
Lots of people are up in arms about the whole situation and the requisite email chains, facebook groups, and blogs have been popping up all over the place; most of them referencing a picture in a recent TV guide depicting a scene from the show regarding our temple practices. If you read the caption of said picture it states, "Barb's walk of shame is sure to stir the pot..." (emphasis added). Right there it is obvious that HBO wants this to be controversial. They want to stir up discussion, create hype for the show and in the end make more money off the show due to increased viewership. All of this publicity now being generated by those offended (including myself since I wrote this post about it) is only helping HBO get more people interested in the show again. I have seen multiple comments by people who gave up on the show after its then controversial premiere saying they now have a renewed interest in the show and will start watching again. These are people who may not have cared otherwise.
It's not like similar events haven't happened before. With the advent of the Internet nothing is really secret nor sacred anymore. Like it or not temple ordinances are already on the web and available for anyone who cares to look. Often this sort of thing is also filled with partial truths, errors, and much of it is taken out of context. Those who don't understand the religion will obviously get confused, weirded out or angry. That is the whole purpose of those who provide this sort of thing to the public. So why then should we give it more publicity? Why should we make a huge deal out of it? Is it offensive? Yes. Do I feel they belittle and make a spectacle of sacred and important parts of my religion? Yes. But in the end if they want to do it the First Amendment allows that right. There is a lot of stuff published I am offended by or disagree with, but no need to bring it undue attention.
Don't watch it. Don't support it. And Don't make such a big deal about it. Let the church leaders handle it. If it becomes a defamation of the church then the church will deal with it. Don't let our faith be shaken. Be ready and willing to help others better understand the church and clear up the misconceptions. Despite what the show's producers want people to think it is a fictional TV show and the people are not members of the church. What they practice is not what our church teaches and regardless of watever "research" the producers have done the only true way to understand the church and its practices is to speak with the missionaries, speak with our members or visit our website.
Right on cue the church has released a statement that best summarizes this entire situation:
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