Is Nothing Sacred?

On the Jukebox: "The Temple Reminds Me" by Janice Kapp Perry
Quote: "Look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of your membership." ~ Howard W. Hunter
Flair: The Lord's House

From the Church Newsroom: "Now comes another series of Big Love, and despite earlier assurances from HBO it once again blurs the distinctions between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the show’s fictional non-Mormon characters and their practices. Such things say much more about the insensitivities of writers, producers and TV executives than they say about Latter-day Saints."

There has been much ado lately about the HBO show Big Love. It is a ridiculous show about a man in SLC who practices polygamy and the producers claim this to represent 'the real Mormon people'. The whole Big Love story line is completely implausible. Sunday’s episode shows Barb (played by Jeanne Tripplehorn), who is not a church member in good standing, finding a way into a temple anyhow. Polygamists are not Mormons period. Since their marriages are neither valid nor legal, real Mormons consider the polygamist lifestyle not only illegal but immoral as well. No one doing something illegal and immoral would be allowed inside a temple or allowed to retain Mormon membership.

According to what I read on ChicagoTribune.com, this character is shown going through the veil dressed in temple clothing and performing rituals of covenants. I find this appalling as it is nothing more than an attempt to make the members of the Church look strange and brainwashed. It is offensive - no matter how hard they try to be accurate they cannot duplicate the spirit of the ceremony. They are mocking it, as they mock all religious people. The second thing that this show seeks to do is punish the Church members for exercising their civil rights regarding Proposition 8 in California.

I'm sure the producers hoped to start a big publicity stunt by trying to draw the Church into open conflict by provoking us. If they make light of our most sacred and cherished believes wouldn't we have to stand up and take them on? Of course, that also draws the curious who enjoy cheap titillation and tears at the moral fabric of our society and civilization. For some there is nothing sacred and, if something is called sacred by others they feel a compulsion to drag it through the dirt to destroy it as best they can. Such are HBO's actions in hopes of better ratings and a little retaliation.The irony is that what these people are attempting to do will backfire on them in the end.

President Brigham Young once rightly declared: "Every time you kick ‘Mormonism’ you kick it upstairs; you never kick it downstairs. The Lord Almighty so orders it . . . Every time they persecute and try to overcome this people, they elevate us, weaken their own hands, and strengthen the hands and arms of this people. And every time they undertake to lessen our number, they increase it. And when they try to destroy the faith and virtue of this people, the Lord strengthens the feeble knees, and confirms the wavering in faith and power in God, in light, and intelligence. Righteousness and power with God increase in this people in proportion as the Devil struggles to destroy it. . . . Let us alone, and we will send Elders to the uttermost parts of the Earth, and gather out Israel, wherever they are; and if you persecute us, we will do it the quicker, because we are naturally dull when let alone, and are disposed to take a little sleep, a little slumber, and a little rest. If you let us alone, we will do it a little more leisurely; but if you persecute us, we will sit up nights to preach the Gospel."

A few months ago when the Los Angeles Temple was under siege it actually boosted the efforts of missionaries across the country. The actions of angry protesters did not frighten faithful members away from the Temple. On the worst day when there was an anthrax scare - only one less ordinance was performed than is performed on average. No unhallowed hand will stop the Lord's work! I feel that HBO will be disappointed when their little stunt actually makes people ask real members of the Church about the temple and we can bear our testimonies of the sweet blessings of eternal families.

President Howard W. Hunter said, "Let us be a temple-attending people. Attend the temple as frequently as personal circumstances allow. Keep a picture of a temple in your home that your children may see it. Teach them about the purposes of the House of the Lord. Have them plan from their earliest years to go there and to remain worthy of that blessing."

I love that the Church has posted video explaining the purpose of the temple on the Internet. What may be surprising is that there are members of other religions speaking about our temple. One is the Swedish theologian, Krister Stendahl. He was a New Testament scholar, and a Professor and Dean of Divinity at Harvard University. He often discussed three important rules for religious understanding. These rules have since been recognized for their tremendous insight and application in interfaith dialogue and learning.

They are: 1)When you are trying to understand another religion, you should ask the adherents of that religion and not its enemies. 2)Don’t compare your “best” to their “worst.” 3)Leave room for “holy envy.” In other words, recognize those aspects of other religious traditions that you admire and wish could be reflected in your own.

If only the religion of Hollywood could do the same.