One of the most disturbing Mormon causes I have seen

[_moksha]

So will this episode be the highest ratings share Big Love has gotten to date?

.

[_Seven]

This is slightly-off topic, but did anybody read the rather lengthy MAD thread dealing with all of this? I have to admit, I was struck by the sheer bloodthirstiness of the TBMs. Many of them were praying that HBO would suffer blows to its profits, and things like that. One could detect a real thirst for vengeance.

That thread was very entertaining. Here's one of my favorite reactions from "Buckeye" on Big Love exposing the temple ceremony:

Jaybear,

Would you have any problem with a Michael Moore-style expose on the abortion industry in which the artist planted hidden cameras in planned parenthood offices?

Would you be surprised to find some significant portion of the population deeply offended by such an artistic act?

[_Chap]

That thread was very entertaining. Here's one of my favorite reactions from "Buckeye" on Big Love exposing the temple ceremony:

Jaybear,

Would you have any problem with a Michael Moore-style expose on the abortion industry in which the artist planted hidden cameras in planned parenthood offices?

Would you be surprised to find some significant portion of the population deeply offended by such an artistic act?

Planned Parenthood? You mean some LDS think contraception is disreputable? Or do they think 'Planned Parenthood office" = "abortion clinic"? (Not that I think that abortion is necessarily disreputable under some circumstances).

[_cinepro]

This whole episode is really revealing of the pyschology of the Temple.

Why is going through the Temple like a honeymoon when it comes to privacy? Why is going through the Temple like an abortion when it comes to privacy?

I can understand the argument that sex=sacred, and (most people) don't want other people to watch them have sex, so somehow that means that the Temple should be kept private, like sex. (Which ignores the fact that some aspects of Temple worship are kept very private, like sex, while others are done with a roomful of people.)

But how is an abortion like the Temple? Most people wouldn't want it to be known that they had an abortion because they would be ashamed that they got pregnant, and then aborted the baby. Abortions are secret not because they are "sacred", but because they are shameful.

As I've said before, I think much of this indignation comes not from people holding the Temple ceremony sacred, but because they are embarrassed about the clothing and rituals. No one cared when Big Love showed sacred baptisms, because that's not embarrassing.

How will the world of Mormonism be different when instead of the Temple being someplace mysterious and unknown to outsiders (and younger LDS), these people have a solid, mental picture of exactly what is going on in there? When my coworkers find out that I'm going "to the Temple" on Friday night, they will know how I will be dressed, and what I'll be doing. When parents tell their kids they are going "to the Temple", the kids will imagine their parents dressed in their Temple clothing, going through a ceremony.

And when kids (and teenagers) are told over and over about going "to the Temple", instead of the highly idealized, ambiguous pictures and stories that we are used to, they will have a specific image of themselves in Temple clothing. And when young women think of their wedding day, will they start to imagine the specific room (which they have seen in pictures) with them and their husbands dressed in Temple clothing? And will this change their feelings about Temple marriage? Could this information discourage some people from going who might have otherwise gone?

[_The Nehor]

All Im asking is that this person keep their covenants they made in regards to keeping the temple content secret and sacred.

There were penalties involved.

I thought those were only symbolic.

So you're admitting that the ex-Mormons have been right all along?

It's symbolic in the sense that the LDS themselves are under no obligation to fulfill the penalties of broken oaths. We leave that entirely up to God. In that relationship, I do see them as symbolic but as accurate symbols depicting something very real.

[_cinepro]

It's symbolic in the sense that the LDS themselves are under no obligation to fulfill the penalties of broken oaths. We leave that entirely up to God. In that relationship, I do see them as symbolic but as accurate symbols depicting something very real.

Wait, are you referring to "symbols" that are no longer part of the Temple ceremony?

If so, does this mean that God had a change of mind over the punishment awaiting those who talk about the Temple details? Or is everyone under the same risk, but newer initiates just don't know it? Or is there something different about people going through the Temple today, where they don't need such a graphic incentive to keep their mouths shut? Or were those aspects of the Temple ceremony never supposed to be in there in the first place, and it took God 100+ years to get the word out?

Just what do (material) changes in the Temple ceremony mean about the nature of the ceremony in general?

[_The Nehor]

It's symbolic in the sense that the LDS themselves are under no obligation to fulfill the penalties of broken oaths. We leave that entirely up to God. In that relationship, I do see them as symbolic but as accurate symbols depicting something very real.

Wait, are you referring to "symbols" that are no longer part of the Temple ceremony?

If so, does this mean that God had a change of mind over the punishment awaiting those who talk about the Temple details? Or is everyone under the same risk, but newer initiates just don't know it? Or is there something different about people going through the Temple today, where they don't need such a graphic incentive to keep their mouths shut? Or were those aspects of the Temple ceremony never supposed to be in there in the first place, and it took God 100+ years to get the word out?

Just what do (material) changes in the Temple ceremony mean about the nature of the ceremony in general?

Can't answer, answering most of these questions would violate my Temple covenants.

[Anonymous]

[cinepro ] This whole episode is really revealing of the pyschology of the Temple.

Why is going through the Temple like a honeymoon when it comes to privacy? Why is going through the Temple like an abortion when it comes to privacy?

I can understand the argument that sex=sacred, and (most people) don't want other people to watch them have sex, so somehow that means that the Temple should be kept private, like sex. (Which ignores the fact that some aspects of Temple worship are kept very private, like sex, while others are done with a roomful of people.)

But how is an abortion like the Temple? Most people wouldn't want it to be known that they had an abortion because they would be ashamed that they got pregnant, and then aborted the baby. Abortions are secret not because they are "sacred", but because they are shameful.

As I've said before, I think much of this indignation comes not from people holding the Temple ceremony sacred, but because they are embarrassed about the clothing and rituals. No one cared when Big Love showed sacred baptisms, because that's not embarrassing.

My thoughts exactly and it's why I found the comment from Buckeye comparing the temple ceremony to abortion so funny and revealing.
Great post!

How will the world of Mormonism be different when instead of the Temple being someplace mysterious and unknown to outsiders (and younger LDS), these people have a solid, mental picture of exactly what is going on in there? When my coworkers find out that I'm going "to the Temple" on Friday night, they will know how I will be dressed, and what I'll be doing. When parents tell their kids they are going "to the Temple", the kids will imagine their parents dressed in their Temple clothing, going through a ceremony.

And when kids (and teenagers) are told over and over about going "to the Temple", instead of the highly idealized, ambiguous pictures and stories that we are used to, they will have a specific image of themselves in Temple clothing. And when young women think of their wedding day, will they start to imagine the specific room (which they have seen in pictures) with them and their husbands dressed in Temple clothing? And will this change their feelings about Temple marriage? Could this information discourage some people from going who might have otherwise gone?

You nailed it. I really believe that it will have a significant impact on future temple marriages and endowments if members are exposed to it.

Temple marriage has been the "Celestial carrot" for faithful church members, and part of the excitement is because of the mystery and unknown. Now that the mystery is gone and weird ritual and clothing revealed, much of the incentive to get married there is lost. It's not exactly what girls dream of when they hang their favorite temple on their bedroom wall.

[_beastie]

Since the covenants in the temple were undertaken under false pretenses - ie, the LDS church claims it represented God in those covenants, which is false - exmormons are under no moral obligation to honor those same covenants, whether the covenant in question is being willing to donate one's money to the church or the oath of secrecy.

I also predict that for every Mormon who happened to have HBO despite the sex and swearing therein and now boycotts it, there will be another individual who signs up just to see this show. (my boyfriend being case in point)

We all know HBO is thrilled by all this attention - you really can't pay for this type of advertisement.