Why do LDS Mormons hate 'Big Love'?

[_zeezrom]

This is going to be my first post! So forgive me for not introducing myself properly.
It's not just the LDS who don't really enjoy "Big Love". My husband's family are polygamists and they don't really care for it either. But for different reasons. I agree that the church doesn't want to bring up the fact they ever practiced polygamy. But the polygamists I know don't like it on the basis that it is too "sensationalized" to them. They think that the way they practice polygamy in the show is not the correct way, 3 women in different houses, and that the women aren't as respectful to their husband as they're supposed to be. When I started watching it out of curiosity my husband was actually kind of opposed to it! But while watching with me he admitted that it's not anything awful.

Thanks for the insight, greentam! And welcome to the board.

[_Blixa]

This is going to be my first post! So forgive me for not introducing myself properly.
It's not just the LDS who don't really enjoy "Big Love". My husband's family are polygamists and they don't really care for it either. But for different reasons. I agree that the church doesn't want to bring up the fact they ever practiced polygamy. But the polygamists I know don't like it on the basis that it is too "sensationalized" to them. They think that the way they practice polygamy in the show is not the correct way, 3 women in different houses, and that the women aren't as respectful to their husband as they're supposed to be. When I started watching it out of curiosity my husband was actually kind of opposed to it! But while watching with me he admitted that it's not anything awful.

There is no introduction section on this board, greentam, so you just have to jump right in! Nevertheless, welcome and hope you post more!

Are your husband's family independent polygs or are they affiliated with one of the larger groups in Utah (or elsewhere)?

[_madeleine]

This is going to be my first post! So forgive me for not introducing myself properly.
It's not just the LDS who don't really enjoy "Big Love". My husband's family are polygamists and they don't really care for it either. But for different reasons. I agree that the church doesn't want to bring up the fact they ever practiced polygamy. But the polygamists I know don't like it on the basis that it is too "sensationalized" to them. They think that the way they practice polygamy in the show is not the correct way, 3 women in different houses, and that the women aren't as respectful to their husband as they're supposed to be. When I started watching it out of curiosity my husband was actually kind of opposed to it! But while watching with me he admitted that it's not anything awful.

Yes, the non-submissive females are not acceptable to them.

It is, of course, why there is so much conflict and not so much peace in the TV show Big Love....because the women are uppity.

[Guest]

Mormons see polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, that isn't weird or deviant. Big Love makes a good effort at portraying polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, but the weirdness and deviant aspects come through. Perhaps that's the part they don't like.

I'm not sure I agree with the first part of this statement. After dealing with many people's opinions, I've found that the LDS people in my life really do struggle with the "morality" part of polygamy. Everyone I know personally have felt it their responsibility to inform me of how improper or disgusting the practice of plural marriage is.
My family is not part of a larger sect of FLDS. Rather, it is the immediate family of a very high profile polygamist. (My father in law)
And to add on, thanks for the welcome!

[_Blixa]

Mormons see polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, that isn't weird or deviant. Big Love makes a good effort at portraying polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, but the weirdness and deviant aspects come through. Perhaps that's the part they don't like.

I don't agree madeleine. I think many, even most, contemporary Mormons don't see polygamy as valid: they associate it with the compound culture of strange hair-dos, prairie dresses,child brides and welfare crime and thus, something they want nothing to do with.

In terms of Big Love, what do you see as the "weird and deviant aspects" in the lives of people like the Hendricksons (and not the Grants and the Greens)?

[_madeleine]

Mormons see polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, that isn't weird or deviant. Big Love makes a good effort at portraying polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, but the weirdness and deviant aspects come through. Perhaps that's the part they don't like.

I'm not sure I agree with the first part of this statement. After dealing with many people's opinions, I've found that the LDS people in my life really do struggle with the "morality" part of polygamy. Everyone I know personally have felt it their responsibility to inform me of how improper or disgusting the practice of plural marriage is.

Thanks. I was thinking more along the lines of what society accepts as normal. Western society views polygamy as deviant. That is the appeal of the TV show "Big Love", in the first place...people enjoy watching what is taboo.

[_madeleine]

Mormons see polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, that isn't weird or deviant. Big Love makes a good effort at portraying polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, but the weirdness and deviant aspects come through. Perhaps that's the part they don't like.

I don't agree madeleine. I think many, even most, contemporary Mormons don't see polygamy as valid: they associate it with the compound culture of strange hair-dos, prairie dresses,child brides and welfare crime and thus, something they want nothing to do with.

In terms of Big Love, what do you see as the "weird and deviant aspects" in the lives of people like the Hendricksons (and not the Grants and the Greens)?

How many LDS say they would practice polygamy if it became allowable to them again? MADB asks this once in a while, most say they would...so I see lip service...or at the very least, a lack of convictions, one way or the other.

[_madeleine]

Mormons see polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, that isn't weird or deviant. Big Love makes a good effort at portraying polygamy as a valid lifestyle choice, but the weirdness and deviant aspects come through. Perhaps that's the part they don't like.

I don't agree madeleine. I think many, even most, contemporary Mormons don't see polygamy as valid: they associate it with the compound culture of strange hair-dos, prairie dresses,child brides and welfare crime and thus, something they want nothing to do with.

In terms of Big Love, what do you see as the "weird and deviant aspects" in the lives of people like the Hendricksons (and not the Grants and the Greens)?

I never said the Grants and Greens weren't deviant. lol. They are probably even more so, in that, girls and women are viewed as property. Switched and swapped around like pieces of furniture.

Hendricksons....come on, the guy goes lusting after new babes, and all the women are, "OK, the more the merrier!"

[_Blixa]

How many LDS say they would practice polygamy if it became allowable to them again? MADB asks this once in a while, most say they would...so I see lip service...or at the very least, a lack of convictions, one way or the other.

Well, MADB represents a nearly lunatic fringe or at least the cutting edge of modern day zealotry. I'm not sure your average Mormon would answer in the same way. I don't think most are aware of the implications of section 132 or think much about things like that.

[_madeleine]

How many LDS say they would practice polygamy if it became allowable to them again? MADB asks this once in a while, most say they would...so I see lip service...or at the very least, a lack of convictions, one way or the other.

Well, MADB represents a nearly lunatic fringe or at least the cutting edge of modern day zealotry. I'm not sure your average Mormon would answer in the same way. I don't think most are aware of the implications of section 132 or think much about things like that.

Yes, LDS tell me all the time that polygamy is not a doctrine...funny that the practice is in Mormon scripture...but then, what is and is not Mormon doctrine baffles me.

My Mormon ancestors were polygamous. One guy, married to three sisters. I'm descended from one of those sisters. That, to me, is creepy as hell...Mormons seem to romanticize this sort of creepiness as "sacred"...I don't get it.