My hat goes off to the show “Big Love” for depicting the legacy of Joseph Smith’s misguided revelation. Joseph Smith by all accounts lusted after other women besides Emma. He was charismatic and driven by power and all the other enticements men of today are tempted by. He found a way to sanction his lusts through legitimizing unions. He was God’s voice and the creator of Mormon Law. Unfortunately, as the past has shown, “there is no such thing as a free lunch.” Many have paid a dear price, including bad PR and negative connotations that continue to haunt the larger mainstream LDS religion.

Biologically speaking we men are driven by youth and beauty. No amount of praying and self control will make us think or feel differently. That divorce occurs at such a high rate and at times when the beauty of ones spouse begins to wane is no accident. Smith was ahead of his time and on to something that the fundamentalist still adhere to.

“Big Love” is shining a bright light on the culture that is often hidden from would be investigators of Mormonism. Im not saying the show has 100% got it right but its pretty close in my opinion.

As all cultures who are on the fringe of the mainstream, Utah Mormons and Mormons in general shouldnt feel slighted by the show and think themselves any different than say the Black or Italian communites and the way in which they are typecasted and mischaracterized in all forms of Media.

Just as the mainstream LDS church has a right to edit out and sugar coat the past in their own movies and books, mainstream media has the right to draw their own conclusions as to how things really are and let the public decide. What do we have to hide?

I think that mormon efforts would be better spent getting Utah and federal law enforcement officials to go after the polygamists for welfare fraud, child abuse, child abandonment, bigamy, financial fraud and all the other laws that the polygamists are breaking.

I would like to see HBO actually demonstrate the real degredations that are going on in the mormon polygamist cults such as the continuous congugal relationships between uncles and nieces so that generally uncommon genetic diseases are now very common in the mormon polygamous cults.

Get real, HBO.
EAM in L.A.

Note that I don’t have HBO and haven’t seen the show.

My understanding is that the disclaimer would only air with the first episode.

There are certainly polygamists in Sandy. I have a co-worker that grew up in Sandy and can name several. Another co-worker lives a few blocks west of Sandy and has a polygamist family next door. You would never guess it driving by. It is an upper middle class neighborhood and they don’t live in a compound or anything.

And so, assuming that the show was an HBO depiction of real LDS people, I was very offended. It seemed to stress sexuality and also a subjective role of the wife(s). I can assure you that although my wife and I enjoy an active sex life, it is very private (as I am sure most married people understand) – also it has a proper balance in our lives. Believe me our 5 children keep us very busy. And as far as the role of the mother and wife the show was way off from reality. My wife and I are equal partners – I get the same list of honey-dos that any man can expect each weekend. I change my fair share of diapers and sometimes do the shopping to help out. My sweetie would express her appreciation to be a stay-home mother. Between us, she has the college degree where I do not. She could easily have a career outside the home, but has chosen (on her own) to focus on our children for now.

Men in the church perform much of the leadership duties, however women also play key roles. An average Sunday LDS worship service would have both men and women giving the sermons and Sunday School teaching. The church calls members from the congregation to perform all the requirements to run the ward – both men and women.

My wife would never beg me for a car like I saw depicted in this episode. Like any real couple, we would discuss our needs together and what we could afford and decide together what to do. If I ever tried to give my wife an ultimatum – I would reap the whirlwind!

I was also bothered by the secretive conversations the dad had with his other polygamist friend. I am sure that most mormons who might happen to surf onto the show would probably switch to other channels (as I did before the episode was over) just due to the conflicting and half-truth messages and the focus on sex.

Big Love may mislead the unwitting public about the mainstream LDS churches position on polygamy but it does shed light on the woman’s role in the religion and hierarchical patterns that have existed since the banning of the practice.

Besides, most cultures within this country have been deemed fair game by the entertainment industry. We only need to look at the history of the Italian, Black and Native American cultures and the gross misrepresentations that have been displayed at their expense. You cant tell me that many a Mormon hasnt gotten his kicks off of seeing the volume of entertainment bastardizing these cultures.

In the meantime the masses will decide if “Big Love” lives or dies just like any show. Until then enjoy the free advertising…