After three years on HBO, “Big Love,” a show depicting a polygamous Mormon family in Utah, has certainly hit the mainstream. Factoring in viewers who DVR the show, “Big Love” draws in roughly 5 million a week, the network estimates. Maybe the high ratings are thanks to the massive advertising in Chicago over the last few months. It seemed like every bus stop downtown had displayed this ad? “Big Love” has become enough of a pop culture phenom to: 1. Elicit controversial drama with the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Earlier this week, #0085cf; text-decoration: none">the organization reacted with outrage and offense at#0085cf; text-decoration: none">news of an upcoming episode that shows a temple ritual. Characters in the March 15 episode are reported to participate in an endowment ceremony, an LDS practice kept secret by members. This controversy brings up how unfamiliar Americans are with Mormon belief and practice. We’ve become satisfied just thinking of Mormons as conservative-valued religious folk wearing strange underwear and waiting for their own planet in the afterlife… rather than actually seeking out information on their theology. Perhaps this will encourage some to do their research (not into church secrets necessarily, just to discover some of the#0085cf; text-decoration: none">information that’s out there). I recommend #0085cf; text-decoration: none">this book, (it’s free online!) by my former professor Ken White. 2. Become synonymous with Mormonism in general. On “House M.D.” (a show that’s been running for years, but I’ve just begun to watch thanks to reruns on USA), House nicknames one of the hospital’s recruits, a Black Mormon doctor who attended Brigham Young University, “Big Love.” To me, this association between “Big Love” and today’s mainstream Mormons seems problematic. For over 100 years, the church has banned polygamy and those who still practice multiple marriages belong to fundamentalist communities, so the “Big Love” example shouldn’t be immediately associated with LDS. 3. Make me want to complain to Comcast about scratchy pictures in hopes that they will throw in free HBO. I miss watching “Big Love!” Nothing else is on Sundays at 8!
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Kate Shellnutt
I’m a freelance religion reporter and blogger for the Little Things. I majored in religion and journalism as an undergrad, and I'm now completing my master's in journalism at Medill.
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thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's cable plan.
Forgive me TV gods, for I have sinned...
Since faithful Mormons promise not to disclose details about the temple ceremonies, HBO's presentation could only be based on information from those who have broken this promise. By definition, these sources are undoubtedly untrustworthy and unethical. This alone should make them suspect.
Those of us who are temple going Mormons will neither supply, nor correct, the information HBO presents. HBO MUST rely on ex-Mormons, apostates and the disgruntled for its information -- these are not reliable information sources in my opinion.
There is no way anyone who practices polygamy would be temple worthy or even allowed to retain membership in the L.D.S. (Mormon) Church.
The “authority” to marry a man to one wife is not the same as the “authority” to marry a man to more than one wife. No Mormon since the 1890 change has had the authority to marry any man to more than one woman. So, in the Mormon view, none of these so-called polygamist marriages are valid, religiously or legally. None of these “polygamists” are Mormons.
Membership in the L.D.S. Church is not a vague identification or feeling of alliance; it is an actual membership record. You either have a membership record or you do not. You either are a Mormon or you are not. There is no gray area. If you try to practice polygamy your membership is canceled and you are kicked out of the Church (excommunicated).
Polygamists are not Mormons period. Since their marriages are neither valid nor legal, real Mormons consider the polygamist lifestyle not only illegal but immoral as well. No one doing something illegal and immoral would be allowed inside a temple or allowed to retain Mormon membership.
The whole "Big Love" story line is completely implausible.
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