HBO Recreates Portions of Temple Ceremony

[aspenmgy]

Ah, but you didn't read my post close enough... I said specifically "for THE episode". As I wrote it I thought about how I had to word it to not leave the impression the I believed they gained viewers for the show.

It's very important to carefully read one another's posts.

Indeed it is...which is why you missed me stating "I watched it off the internet. I doubt HBO will be able to count that as a rating."

edit - you are probably right, Maureen. Sorry :)

Edited March 17, 2009 by aspenmgy
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[Just_A_Guy]

Maybe a nice note to end things on is this piece from the Huffington Post, written by a non-member. A tidbit:

By contrast, the endowment ceremony was portrayed as a sacred and powerful expression of pure religious faith. As an outsider, I could only watch it as a piece of theater, but it struck me as incredibly beautiful. . . Those aren't my rituals, but I do have rituals, so I can appreciate how stirring the endowment ceremony must be to someone who believes in it. . .

. . . I feel sullied by what was shown. It's the same way I felt when I saw a performance of a Native American tribal ritual as a teenager. Everyone is demeaned when something so powerful is put on display as entertainment.

[lusciouschaos]

I received this and it seems appropriate as this thread begins to run it's course:

Even though everyone may discover what goes on in the temple, and many have already revealed it, the important thing is that I do not reveal these things; they must remain sacred to me. I must preserve a zone of sanctity which cannot be violated whether or not anyone else in the room has the remotest idea what the situation really is . . . . No matter what happens, it will, then, always remain secret: only I know exactly the weight and force of the covenants I have made--I and the Lord with whom I have made them--unless I choose to reveal them. If I do not, then they are secret and sacred no matter what others may say or do. Anyone who would reveal these things has not understood them, and therefore that person has not given them away. You cannot reveal what you do not know!

Author: Hugh Nibley, Source: The Temple and the Cosmos, p. 64

[Jasmin]

Yes it is a soap opera but it is definitely not boring. Of course you're not going to be interested in a show after one episode. Big Love grows on a watcher because you get to know the characters, you find out little tidbits of background information for each character and every so often, crazy dramatic scenes happen that give it that cliff hanger feeling. I like it because it offers a Mormon-ness story because I am familiar with the terminology and history. I have no particular affection for polygamy in general but I love this particular polygamous family because they are fascinating and their interconnected relationships are touching and thoughtful. Big Love is a series that must be watched from the beginning to really appreciate its strange sweetness.

M.

Big Love really got me interested in LDS. Without it I wonder if I would have wanted to write a paper on polygamy and later start reading the book of mormon.

[Fiannan]

Big Love really got me interested in LDS. Without it I wonder if I would have wanted to write a paper on polygamy and later start reading the book of mormon.

A friend of mine has kind of lost her initial interest in investigating the Church but she said she was asked in a university class to write a paper on something that is socially out-of-the-norm but would actually benefit society. I suggeested polygamy and she went for it. At least now she's talking about church stuff again with me.

I had a visitor in my sunday school class who really loved the show because it introduces people to many LDS prinicples and terms and at the same time de-mystifies polygamy and makes it more normal (therefore making the Gospel in total easier to accept). Remember, God works in mysterious ways.:)

[Book_of_Mormon_Warrior]

Indeed it is...which is why you missed me stating "I watched it off the internet. I doubt HBO will be able to count that as a rating."

edit - you are probably right, Maureen. Sorry :)

I'm interested... which website did you watch it on?

[aspenmgy]

I don't remember. I just googled "big love outer darkness" and went through the results until I found one that worked.

The scene in question is on youtube if anyone is interested in seeing it.

[Celica]

My husband is very against the church and won't talk with me about it. However i started watching Big Love and i really enjoyed because i felt it shed a good light on the 'mainstream lds charaters' that you see on it from time to time. Such as the main characters neighbors & friends. My husband started watching it with me and would ask me questions about the LDS Church, it was a useful tool to open up conversation about it.

If HBO does decide to air this episode, we won't be watching it anymore.

[Celica]

My husband is very against the church and won't talk with me about it. However i started watching Big Love and i really enjoyed because i felt it shed a good light on the 'mainstream lds charaters' that you see on it from time to time. Such as the main characters neighbors & friends. My husband started watching it with me and would ask me questions about the LDS Church, it was a useful tool to open up conversation about it.

If HBO does decide to air this episode, we won't be watching it anymore.

I did'nt realize it has already aired.

[pushka]

I watched the 3rd series complete this week, I found the whole Temple scene a bit of an anti-climax after all the hype on the boards about it. The scenes only lasted around 2 minutes or so in total..

[Dravin]

The scenes only lasted around 2 minutes or so in total..

When I and my Mom were talking about it and she quoted that someone or other involved it would be as accurate as possible I pointed out the real deal is like 1.5 to 2 hours (I've never paid that close attention to just exactly how long it takes), no way they can show all of it let alone a significant portion of it in a TV show.

[lilered]

I think the issue is not the amount of time HBO devoted to the Endowment scenes, but rather the fact that they showed any of at all. Especially after they indicated to the Church Leaders, they would respect those things we hold Sacred and then they violated that trust.

[beefche]

I went to the Temple yesterday and while waiting for the session to start I thought about this issue.

I don't think non-LDS realize that endowed LDS do not speak of temple things outside of the temple at all. And, it's not spoken of except in the Celestial Room (and maybe occasionally with the Temple president or matron in another room). It's not like we walk in the temple, stand in the foyer and then start discussing temple rites and ordinances. I go to the temple with a friend of mine--we drive about 2.5 hours to get there and on the way there, we don't discuss temple rites or ordinances. No one else in the car--no one to hear--no one to know. But we don't do it--we hold it sacred so we don't talk about it except in the appropriate place at the appropriate time.

[Dravin]

I think the issue is not the amount of time HBO devoted to the Endowment scenes, but rather the fact that they showed any of at all. Especially after they indicated to the Church Leaders, they would respect those things we hold Sacred and then they violated that trust.

Trust me, I understand that (endowed member here). Its just my own thoughts at the idea of something that takes an hour and a half (or longer) being accurately represented in a few minutes. Even if they'd taken the whole show (which wouldn't have made for a well written well paced show) they'd only have been able to get half of it in there. Its kinda like if somebody said they were going to accurately represent the Constitution of the US (or Bible, or War and Peace or what have you) with utmost attention to detail in 10 words or less. Gives you the, "Uhuh, riiiight." reaction.

[Churchmouse]

I never expect much from HBO and I'm never disappointed