What is the "Official" position of the LDS, Mormon Church concerning the TV Series Big Love?

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary...

Here it is.

And part of it is written here

Church members are about to face that question again. Before the first season of the HBO series Big Love aired more than two years ago, the show’s creators and HBO executives assured the Church that the series wouldn’t be about Mormons. However, Internet references to Big Love indicate that more and more Mormon themes are now being woven into the show and that the characters are often unsympathetic figures who come across as narrow and self-righteous. And according to TV Guide, it now seems the show’s writers are to depict what they understand to be sacred temple ceremonies.

Certainly Church members are offended when their most sacred practices are misrepresented or presented without context or understanding. Last week some Church members began e-mail chains calling for cancellations of subscriptions to AOL, which, like HBO, is owned by Time Warner. Certainly such a boycott by hundreds of thousands of computer-savvy Latter-day Saints could have an economic impact on the company. Individual Latter-day Saints have the right to take such actions if they choose.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an institution does not call for boycotts. Such a step would simply generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase audiences for the series.

I think it's a smart move by the leaders of the church.

I fully agree with the sentiments in the news article (link provided by Becca Lynn). Look what the boycott of "Last Temptation of Christ" did for that movie! It increased people's curiosity and it made money as a result. Look at the statements made about "The Da Vinci Code". It caused me to rent and then buy a copy of the DVD (I like Tom Hanks, anyway). I consider it no more valid that the two National Treasure movies -- good entertainment and that's it.

The official position is to simply ignore the series and suggest that we not react in any way toward it. It will have little, if any impact on the church itself. The amount of anti-Mormon (LDS) rhetoric is already prolific and this really won't do much to add to it.

Since people's curiosities often rise with shows like this, I've provided a link to an LDS (Mormon) apologetic site.

I came across some anti web sites when I was researching the actual story of finding the link that shows the picture and description in the t.v. guide. I was just skimming some of the things previous members have written about the temple and such, and man I was floored by some of the stories. It was kind of discouraging and reading it it drains your spirit.

I'm glad the church has addressed the issue and mentioned how this won't slow us down or effect the numbers. Because after seeing some of the stuff out there regarding us, and even the things people say on YA, it kinda made me loose hope.

The show's creators and HBO executives assured the Church that the series wouldn't be about Mormons. However, Internet references to Big Love indicate that more and more Mormon themes are now being woven into the show and that the characters are often unsympathetic figures who come across as narrow and self-righteous. And according to TV Guide, it now seems the show's writers are to depict what they understand to be sacred temple ceremonies. It's liberal T.V. at it's best trying to debunk religion so communism will reign!

You can find it at the LDS Church's webpage located here:

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary...

I am not LDS but I do admire their stay above the fray attitude on these items.

I can't say anything nice, so I'll just keep my mouth shut.

I think it's very hard for Mormons to understand how the rest of the world views this.

There is not one mainstream Christian church that requires its members to dress up and participate in secret rituals. Not one.

A husband and wife cannot even discuss this secret ceremony in private. The vows to the church are more important to Mormons than those to spouses.

Every other church has watched every required ritual portrayed on TV and in movies, and not always in respectful manners, unfortunately. That makes it difficult for the rest of the world to understand the Mormon attitude.

These rituals are part of the Mormon culture, and not everyone who has had the experience is still loyal to the church. Those rituals are part of their life, usually a very important part, and they have every right to discuss it openly. This is America. Once you find out you made vows to a fraudulent organization, you have no need to honor them.

The position is to use your gray matter. Did you use yours in asking the question?