Game of Thrones:

[Pain-of-Salvation]

Ok, so I'm a huge Fantasy/Science Fiction Fan and I see that HBO has a series called "Game of Thrones" after the book series by Martin.

So the question is can you be a good Mormon and watch this show? I see that it has nudity/sexual situations. Should I just totally avoid it? It's so tempting, but I'm just not sure.

[Windseeker]

I read most of the series and there is some pretty edgy stuff in that. I've heard great things about this series but it's pretty telling when one of the stars of the show has never seen a single episode because she is too young for the content.

I personally won't watch it. I guess if you want options you could probably get ClearPlay and rent the DVD's and watch them. This will filter out all the sex and nudity.

My brother uses this for his family and its amazing.

[Anddenex]

I totally love Fantasy and Science Fiction movies and I watched a few short clips of Game of Thrones because it looked really cool; however, I haven't touched it since one of the clips showed nudity and overtly sexual scenes.

My personal opinion, avoid it, however this is a personal decision you must make yourself.

[Wingnut]

I've heard really great things about the books, and I know that HBO's big shows are often really well done and high quality, but also quite edgy and definitely not suitable for all audiences. I've been wondering about this particular series lately, so I'm glad to see this thread.

[Pain-of-Salvation]

Thanks! I'll have to check Clearplay out. I went to the site and Game of Thrones was there. Nice! I wonder if it works for blu-ray.

[RipplecutBuddha]

Here's my take; Lots of things in this life are legitimately entertaining and fun. However some of them are either directly against God's laws, or have elements in them that are. So the question could be framed in this way; I've heard that Game of Thrones is a well-made, entertaining, and high-quality production. However, due to its content, are the consequences of watching it worth the entertainment I'm seeking?

A friend of mine recommended a series produced by HBO (I won't honor the program by naming it here) and I made it a few seconds in. It was just way over the top for my tastes, and I'm no prude.

I'm sure it was high quality through and through, however the entire environment of the show was, well, wrong...in every possible way, language, sex, violence, abuse, etc....I just couldn't tolerate it.

So I didn't watch it. Instead I watched a different program that was uplifting and peaceful, yet funny and very engaging. I think I came out a winner.

That's just my experience though.

[dahlia]

I happened to see an episode the other week and wondered the same thing - would Mormons watch it?

There were nude people in 'Rome' and I watched that without needing to take my clothes off in public; I could probably watch 'GoT' without going nuts.

You might not want young kids, maybe even young teens, to watch these types of shows, but one of the benefits of being an adult is making your own decisions.

[mikbone]

If you haven't already, Go get The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

Best Fantasy book I've ever read. The kindle version is on sale now for $2.99

Way better than the Game of Thrones and it was written by a Mormon, Brandon Sanderson.

[SanctitasDeo]

If you haven't already, Go get The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

Best Fantasy book I've ever read. The kindle version is on sale now for $2.99

Way better than the Game of Thrones and it was written by a Mormon, Brandon Sanderson.

Everything I have read by him so far has been extremely impressive. I am looking forward to the end of this semester; I plan on picking up a few more of his books.

[Backroads]

I read the books (those that were out) in college--pretty much fell in love with the book series. The books are quite racy, but I skipped over those parts (not justifying anything, just simply stating what I did).

So when the series came out, I did want to watch it. And I watched the first season.

But while my eyes could skip over printed words, the series was simply too sexual for me.

[mirkwood]

I really like the books. There is a great story. I too have skimmed certain parts and wish they were not in there. I will not watch the shows based on what I know to be in the books as far as sexual content and what the entertainment industry will choose to show.

[skalenfehl]

Ok, so I'm a huge Fantasy/Science Fiction Fan and I see that HBO has a series called "Game of Thrones" after the book series by Martin.

So the question is can you be a good Mormon and watch this show? I see that it has nudity/sexual situations. Should I just totally avoid it? It's so tempting, but I'm just not sure.

You really need to ask this question?

[Wingnut]

You really need to ask this question?

Obviously the OP felt a need to.

[skalenfehl]

Ok, so I'm a huge Fantasy/Science Fiction Fan and I see that HBO has a series called "Game of Thrones" after the book series by Martin.

So the question is can you be a good Mormon and watch this show? I see that it has nudity/sexual situations. Should I just totally avoid it? It's so tempting, but I'm just not sure.

The light of Christ, i.e. His Holy Spirit is telling you something. Listen to it!

[Windseeker]

If you haven't already, Go get The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

Best Fantasy book I've ever read. The kindle version is on sale now for $2.99

Way better than the Game of Thrones and it was written by a Mormon, Brandon Sanderson.

I love Brandon Sanderson and consider his writing a gift to mankind. He's in many ways redefined the fantasy genre while honoring the masters (Tolkien, Lewis).

My favorite book of his was Warbreaker. It's also a bit edgy in that a girl is nightly forcibly thrown less then half naked as a sexual offering before a demi-god. Of course Sanderson handles it with his typical brilliance and tact and adds a clever twist.

If that was ever a movie it would probably difficult to pull off anything less than an R rating.

So it's interesting what we allow ourselves to read (or write in this case). I think it's because we have much more control over our imagination then we do with what's displayed on our tv screens.

The violence depicted in the Book of Mormon would certainly earn it an R rating. Yet we can feel the spirit strongly when we read it.

[Backroads]

To answer your question: Yes, I believe you can still be an excellent and faithful member of the Church and still watch this show. Heaven knows I watch and read stuff I probably shouldn't, but I still consider myself faithful.

However, (and I also say this to myself) is it really the best thing you or I or anyone else could be watching? Just thinking of a certain article of faith.

[Wingnut]

As a result of this discussion, I chose to remove Game of Thrones from my Netflix queue this morning.

[classylady]

I watched the first season of Game of Thrones. Even though I got caught up in the story line, I do not plan on watching the subsequent seasons. There's too much nudity and other explicit adult themes. I don't want to expose myself to it again.

[Bini]

Ok, so I'm a huge Fantasy/Science Fiction Fan and I see that HBO has a series called "Game of Thrones" after the book series by Martin.

So the question is can you be a good Mormon and watch this show? I see that it has nudity/sexual situations. Should I just totally avoid it? It's so tempting, but I'm just not sure.

This show is not appropriate. It shows full male and female nudity and sexual inter course. Also shows explicit scenes of rape and incest.

[NightSG]

I really like the books. There is a great story. I too have skimmed certain parts and wish they were not in there. I will not watch the shows based on what I know to be in the books as far as sexual content and what the entertainment industry will choose to show.

That's the key. Some of the nudity was artistically justifiable and relevant. A fair amount of it seemed to just be "we paid good money for this hot actress, so we gotta show her naked more."

[skalenfehl]

One more two penny's worth from me to the OP:

I am also an avid sci-fi/fantasy nerd. Love, love, love it. I wanted to watch Spartacus, Game of Thrones, and all those movies, too when they started airing a few years ago. It was about this time that I decided to unplug from the world, cancelling cable TV and now Netflix/Hulu. I probably watch an average of one hour of any kind of programming per week (wife and I have watched Survivor since season one) online.

I love Star Wars, Firefly/Serenity, reimagined BSG (I have all the DVDs of the new series). But about a year ago or so, I just stopped watching them. I will likely sell them. I don't need them. I love the story, and everything about it, but it is just too sexual. I could tolerate the Cylon Toasters and Galactica's finest trading fire. There's not a lot of blood/gore either. But I just can't sit through an episode with suggestive scenes for the simple reason that it drives the Spirit away.

Now this is what each member has to ask him/herself. How great is the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life? Personally speaking, I strongly feel the Lord's Spirit in my life. I have learned truly that as I draw near to Christ, He draws near to me as He promised. The light of Christ in our lives (Moroni 7); our conscience, that still small voice, is literally the voice of Christ that beckons us closer to the veil and it becomes more powerful and brighter until the perfect day.

So can we still be members of the LDS church in good standing while watching such shows? I suppose it depends how much we can tolerate small spots and stains on our garments ever week. On a side note, being members of the LDS church is not the same at all as being members of the Church of the Firstborn as Enoch is. Few have found themselves ordained to such because their hearts are so set upon things of this world that we'd rather have our fun. We can always go to church and partake of the sacrament. But partaking of it won't truly sanctify us as the prayer invokes because we have not truly been reborn, having stripped ourselves of all ungodliness. And what constitutes ungodliness? Anything and everything OF this world. So it boils down to being a foolish or a wise virgin. There is a storm coming. Will we be standing in holy places when it arrives? Will our homes be a holy place and a refuge when it all hits?

Okay, so it was much more than two cents. We may avoid pitch darkness, but we truly never attain the white end of the spectrum as long as we rationalize living in the gray area. It is a huge lukewarm area. And this is where we are lulled into believing that all is well in Zion. But we read in the BoM and D&C that we are under condemnation as spoken directly from Deity. I for one ache for Zion and am laboring daily in the world where family and callings are concerned. I hope and pray that everyone feels the same.

Edited April 11, 2013 by skalenfehl

[Bini]

I found it interesting that one of the GOT actresses walked off set when she was instructed by the director to do a scene that she described as "soft porn". She did not return to the set but did an interview about it. She said that she understood that there would be nudity and depictions of sex but what she was instructed to do was not what she had signed up for. I was actually impressed by that - good for her.

Nudity and sex isn't a biggie for me. I'm just not offended by it. That said, I think that GOT and Spartacus, are two shows that throw in excess of graphically explicit material. Watching two fully nude actors simulate foreplay, intercourse and then showing partner A dismounting partner B is too much and leaves nothing sacred. My husband and I stopped watching both shows and for awhile, we missed the drama but in the long run, we missed nothing at all. (I actually feel a bit cleaner having not continued watching either).

[Windseeker]

Hey Bini

Here is the link to that story.

Breasts Not On Show In "Game of Thrones" | News | Dark Horizons

"It was my own fault really because I didn’t research the show properly. The money was amazing and the idea of it all was so glamorous but I’m glad I walked away because now I have my dignity intact.”

[Bini]

Hey Bini

Here is the link to that story.

Breasts Not On Show In "Game of Thrones" | News | Dark Horizons

Thank you, Windseeker.

[Bini]

This topic got me thinking some more..

I remember seeing something on TV about how authorities cannot charge companies that manufacture/simulate fake teen porn. Basically, these companies use CGI to create material that depicts child sex in context of rape/incest/whatever-fantasy and it's apparently legal because the performers aren't real people, yet, the material can be damaging and for various reasons.

I'm opposed to pornography but I understand that it's legal in some areas and for those that choose it, that's their business and not mine. The problem with this CGI child porn is that it's also legal but can be a breeding ground for feeding the thirst of predators. That's scary to me..