Liberal Mormon

So the LDS blogs, Internet Movie Database, and LDS Discussion boards wont stop talking about Big Love and the "temple" episode. No, I haven't seen it yet. Stupid bit torrent downloader is taking all day, only at 50% so hopeful by the time I get home for work tonight it will be ready to watch and I can more accurately weigh in on all the fuss.



However, I've been keeping up what is being said in 2 major forums and the general consensus is that HBO got several things right but the plot and reasons for Barb (the main character) being in the LDS temple in the first place is totally wrong. So, great accuracy in what it looks like, most likely from the Ex-LDS consultant they employed, BUT the show's sub-par writers apparently really messed up the story.







Heres a clip from an LDS member who saw the show on mormonapologetics.com:

A few thoughts on the episode:

1. The whole "Barbara going through the temple" thing is really confusing. The Big Love writers would have us believe that she had never been through the temple before. That being the case, borrowing her mother's or sister's temple recommend wouldn't do anything for her. She would need a recommend for a live ordinance. Her participation in the temple ordinance would be as a proxy for someone else, not for herself.

2. She apparently borrowed a temple recommend from her pious mother or pious sister. It seems pretty unlikely that they would do this.

3. Her mother and sister are in the temple with her. How do three women get into the temple with only two recommends between them?

4. They are sitting in the Celestial Room for a while, then one of the temple matrons approaches and tells them they’re 15 minutes are up. Wha???

5. Apparently there is a fictional letter that purports to be written by Wilford Woodruff. This letter states that the LDS Church never intended to stop practicing polygamy. It's apparently a fairly important plot device to the entire show. And it's fictional.

6. Apparently the people on the show have been arguing over the letter, but somehow the letter ended up with the LDS Church. Some crazy polygamists (modeled after the Ervil LeBaron clan, I think) find out about it and kidnap the young daughter of some LDS character, demanding the letter in return for the girl. The girl's father contacts the LDS Church with the crazies' demands. The LDS Church responds that they will never release the letter (even though they are told that a little girl's life is at stake). Nice.

Also, the shows writers made a major factual error. Barb and Bill are apparently inactive LDS members who apparently were "married in the temple". Both Barb and Bill would have gone through the temple for their own Endowment prior to being MARRIED IN THE TEMPLE. So the fact that she was their doing an endowment for herself (instead of someone who is dead aka proxy) is totally bassackwards.

Plus what upsets me, is that the writers would have us believe that 2 faithful LDS women would simply allow their apostate sibling to USE their temple recommend, like it's a day pass to the spa! Give me a small break. Only an apostate member would care so little about what goes on in the temple to just let anyone do that.

Plus, from what I hear, cause I haven't seen the episode yet, a temple worker apparently tells the ladies "their 15 minutes is up" in the celestial room! LMAO that is truly hilarious. Unless the temple is closing, overloaded, or a member is causing a disruption, would a temple worker as someone to leave.

The Celestial Room, for those of you not in the know, is a very peaceful, celestial room for prayer, meditation, and communion with God. It takes about 2 hours to get into the room in first place, I'm darn well going to spend as much time as I can. It's very Holy, spiritual place. When I'm there I loose sense of time, I am a total peace.

Anyway, I'm sure there will be a follow up to this post once I see the actual episode for myself,

Until then

Liberal Mormon.