What’s the Big (Love) Deal?
With the increasing buzz over this coming Sunday’s episode of “Big Love”, which is supposed to feature elements of the LDS Temple Endowment, I found myself wondering if there wasn’t some sort of hidden agenda going on. A quick search on the web turned up that Mark V. Olsen and WIll Scheffer, the executive producer and lead writer of the series, are in an openly gay relationship.
Maybe they’ll do an episode where the Henricksons visit the stock exchange and see the addresses and phone numbers of all the contributors to Prop 8 scrolling on the quote boards. Better yet, they can use the names and addresses of all the Mormons who contributed to Prop 8 as the guest list for an upcoming episode featuring the largest polygamous wedding in history. But that wouldn’t be about Mormon’s either now, would it? 
It seems to me that the secret/hidden agenda in this is in Olsen and Scheffer’s script, not the Latter-Day Saints Temple ceremony and this not so subtle manouver is an attempt at blackmail of the lowest grade. On another blog I saw a comment which read; “Stay out of my bedroom and I’ll stay out of your temple.”
That is a very interesting comment as it contrasts what goes on in the bedroom of gay couples with what goes on in the temple. It is that association that illustrates the pettiness and deceit in the airing of what are sacred ceremonies.
I think the bigger question is whether it’s even possible to have a dialog on a higher level. The Latter-Day Saints and homosexuals have a clear disagreement regarding what does and does not constitute appropriate expressions of human sexuality, marriage and family. In terms of numbers; there are about 1.5 million Big Love viewers and 6 million Mormons in the U.S. The CDC estimates that 2.3% of of the U.S. population is homosexual, so does that make the LDS a protected minority too?
At the same time, perhaps it’s time to become more familiar (and open) with what is in the scriptures regarding the temple and temple worship. For example, here are Moses’ instructions regarding the clothing to be worn by the sons of Aaron who were to serve in the House of the Lord:
Exodus 28:40 “For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics; you shall also make sashes for them, and you shall make caps for them, for glory and for beauty.
Exodus 28:42 “You shall make for them linen breeches to cover their bare flesh; they shall reach from the loins even to the thighs.
Leviticus 16:4 “He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and the linen undergarments shall be next to his body, and he shall be girded with the linen sash and attired with the linen turban (these are holy garments). Then he shall bathe his body in water and put them on.
Later, the Savior said: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven…”
“Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops”
It is left to the reader to decide who in this story is revealing things that are done in darkness.
-df
Mark V. Olsen must not be very honest in his dealings with others, his promise to avoid linking the LDS Church with his show Big Love keeps getting more and more a show against or about LDS practice or doctrine even though the polygamist angle of the show has nothing to do with accepted doctrine. I suppose if he and others involved with the show are openly gay, then they might wish to use their platform as a bully pulpit so to speak.
BTW, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on my site.
Comment by T F Stern — March 10, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
“for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.”
Please tell me you see the irony in quoting this scripture while complaining about the depiction of temple rites on Big Love. Please.
As for the “gay agenda” nonsense, I have to wonder if you have actually seen the show. There is a depiction of a closeted gay character that is extraordinarily unsympathetic. The mainstream Mormon characters, for the most part, are portrayed with much more sympathy and in a much more positive light than many of the polygamists, especially the fundamentalists on the compound.
Should we comb the Internet for producers of shows who happen to be Mormon and assume from that they are secretly trying to plant pro-Mormon ideas and themes into their TV shows?
Comment by Equality — March 10, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
Equality - I’m not sure I’d call the “gay agenda” nonsense - they appear to be quite serious about it. The show hasn’t aired yet, but I have seen the pre-show publicity with Bill Paxton in a white suit and Jeanne Tripplehorn in a white dress and green apron. It’s hard to tell from a publicity still what the rest of the story will be. I’m willing to defer judgement until the last day.
If you’re interested in shows with LDS writers you might start with the web site “Battlestar Galactica and Mormonism” or http://www.ldsfilm.com/lds_sw.html.
As for my being ironic; thank you for the compliment. It’s my intention to challenge conventional thinking, both pro and con.
-df
Comment by dwmfrancis — March 10, 2009 @ 9:36 pm