A Thought on Big Love

The HBO show big love has caused a stir due to decision to include in an episode a scene in which one of the main characters goes through a temple session. As a reaction many LDS saints have threatened to boycott sponsors of the show.

Understandably those not of the LDS faith are slightly perplexed by what is considered a pretty dramatic reaction. HBO feels that they used the scene in good taste and claims it didn't wish to offend anyone and many others ask what it is that Mormons have to hide.

First, what goes on inside Mormon temples, though not discussed Mormon's themsleves outside of the temple, are by no means secrets. Obviously the U.S. government is not going to allow a religion with millions of members across the United States go into a secret place where no one knows what goes on inside. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints disclosed a fairly detailed discription of what takes place in temples to U.S. library of congress years ago.

Plus, prior to a temples dedication anyone can enter to see for themselves what it looks like. Although these temple "open houses" (as they are called by Church members) don't teach about ceremonies which take place inside.

So a logical question to this is why? Why not simply let everyone know what takes place inside? Why the secrets?

To reiterate my first point, technically no part of the temple ceremony is secret. There is a discription in the library of congress as well as a number of other books which do objectively discuss temple endowment sessions. But despite the fact that this information is available you LDS neighbor probably isn't going to sit down and go through the "play by play" of what they do in a temple.

They will probably instead give a general overview of what takes place. But why be so vague? Why not just go into detail and that way nobody has any questions?

And that is the real question. Not why do Mormons keep secrets but why is it that when something isn't secret Mormons still are reluctant to go into great detail?

This is a difficult question to answer. I suppose the closest thing I could compare it to would be a very emotional experience. These emotional experiences I am speaking of could be a whole array of different possibilities.

It could be when you had your first child, falling in love, having a special moment with a family member, perhaps you had a best friend that you shared a lot of experiences and yourself with. Even though others may be aware of these events often times to go into great details with others makes one feel a little odd. And for there are just some experiences we as human beings don't just walk around sharing becuase of how special and inexplicable these experiences are.

At times perhaps we will talk about these experiences in more detail, but generally its with someone who has been through a similar experience. (i.e. had fallen in love, recently had a child, had a relationship to a best friend similar to you.) It just generally feels instictively odd to us as human beings to share experiences which to us are so special and wonderful which others may laugh at, not care about, be confused or perhaps even creeped out and offended. We as human beings genrally have topics which aren't secrets per se, but we just don't go into great detail with any given person.

And that would be my closest analogy to why we members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are a little annoyed with HBO's choice to air the episode. I believe that HBO had good intentions and by no means is trying to make a mockery of what is sacred to me. But here are a few things to consider:

1) Ceremonies performed by Mormons in temples are very symbolic. Unless someone is explained what the ceremony is and means it would look a little odd, and turn, once agian, something which is considered so special that Mormon's don't discuss it much out side of the temple into a specticale. It seems highly unlikely that as part of the episode of Big Love that there is going to be a segment trying to help viewers understand why Mormons do these ceremonies and what the ceremonies mean. Without explaining either what is sacred to me will be made to look wierd. Perhpas unintentionally, but it look wierd either way.

2) The temple itself is a very peaceful and spiritual place. It is impossible for viewers to understand how it feels to be inside a temple. It is a very peaceful and spiritual place. It's a place where I and others go to pray, feel God's love and learn about our purpose on earth. So once again, viewers will not be able to understand what is going on becuase they will not be able to have the experience of being in a temple.

I suppose both of the reason why so many Mormons are annoyed with HBO's decision to air the episode is in short it will make, what to us, is a very spiritual, special moment of worship into... well entertainment. Since afterall that's what television is.

On a personal note, I am against boycotting (not just on this issue but in general as well.) People don't usually respond well to threats or force and boycotts are both. HBO has a right to air the show. No law was broken. So I would hope you understand that although I support their right to free speech I would hope that in the future such controversies could simply be avoided by perhaps keeping in mind the thoughts and feelings of others.

Jason Bentley is just a punk college kid who is attending Brigham Young University.