HBO and "Big Love" Exploit the Sacred

I have had a few people alert me to the fact that HBO's television show "Big Love" is about to air an episode where they reveal what members of my Church deem very sacred ceremonial clothing for sacred ceremonies. First of all, I looked into it. It seemed unreal to me that someone would have such utter disregard for what an entire people deem sacred. However, true to the century and year we are in, they are indeed airing a show and "revealing" what I find to be very private, personal, sacred things.

There are calls out there to write HBO and request/demand that they NOT air this episode. But I wonder what good that would really do. Not to say that you shouldn't act for righteous and just causes just because you don't think it will do any good. But I feel like these people are what the scriptures call "past feeling." And striking out with words, even requests that something very sacred NOT be revealed, will not do what those taking action probably hope it will. Does HBO need to be told that what they are doing is offensive? Is there, in fact, any word/written message that you could send to stop them from doing this? No. They know it's offensive. They know these things are sacred to us. They're banking on that fact to win over more popularity and get people to support their show. They've admitted to having gone to great lengths to get the information and re-create it for their television series. So, telling them we are offended doesn't really seem to be a course that is going to do any more than pat them on the back. In addition, the more we react like THAT, the more attention we will draw to their show, igniting curiosity in place of ignorance and increasing, if only in the number of people watching it, their popularity. I will not be watching it, even out of curiosity for what they are doing/how they will treat these things. I will not increase their numbers and serve as their audience, supportively or in opposition, for such disregard.

I think situations like these are better faught Ghandi style -- the peaceful, silent protest often hurts the most. And the one-on-one conversations and individual battles will add up to more than the television/internet audience they hope to attract.

What CAN we do to fight back? Well, if you are supporting them in any way that will contribute to their and related companies' financial success, you could withdraw your support and choose a different means of obtaining entertainment and/or information that comes from companies associated with HBO, Time Warner, AOL, etc. I don't already, so I don't need to withdraw anything. But that is one thing that some people are doing. And it's probably a good thing for them all around, since this type of entertainment is probably not worth watching and bringing into our homes and families anyway.

But I think that this speaks more about society than it reveals about some of the sacred aspects of our Church. Society is deadened to sacred things, choosing to exploit rather than respect, to scream for tolerance rather than take a stand on just and righteous principles and stand firm even in the face of unpopular opinions, persecutions, riots, etc. What we need to do more than anything else to fight this foe is to evaluate where we stand, what our actions and attitudes are towards other people and what they reverence as sacred and holy and are willing to protect with everything they have; even their lives, if necessary. And then we need to make sure that we return respect to them and honor their beliefs and deeply-rooted values. Let's not be hypocrites about these types of issues just because they are not personal for us.

At the same time, we need to make sure we are living close to the Spirit, that we are establishing a firm foundation in all that is right, good, and just. Then, when faced with the battles that CAN and MUST be won, the battles that MUST be fought outwardly and openly, the battles that may occur on a one-on-one basis with people who are NOT past feeling and who ARE open to truth and justice and the Spirit of the Lord, even if they do not realize it themselves, we will win! And by we I mean God and those who choose to be His children by following His will and keeping His commandments and responding in HIS way to those who would oppose and openly deface HIM. In the current situation, it may be as simple as requesting that our friends and family members NOT watch this episode and NOT support it with numbers that suggest popularity.

As I have read e-mails and other reports of this upcoming event, the one thing that keeps coming back to my mind is what Joseph Smith once said, what we refer to as the Standard of Truth. He said that "no unhallowed hand can stop the work [of God] from progressing; . . . the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

We must ALWAYS remember whose work this is! God, our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, are at the head of it and will guide it forward to touch the hearts of and gather as many of God's children as will listen and obey. It is their will that ALL people, everywhere, DO listen and obey. But they will not force anyone to do so. And we must continue to extend hands of love and invitation to those who would and DO follow Christ EVERY DAY.

We have a living prophet of God on the earth today who will lead and guide us and help us know what battles need to be fought, when. He may not come right out and tell us, "Fight this battle"; but he WILL remind us of God's will, he WILL guide us in principles of truth and righteousness so that the Spirit, if we are willing to follow, can and will guide us to know how, what, and when we should act.

And the unhallowed hands will fail; their work will be cut off; their purposes will be thwarted; their television shows or magazine articles or books or internet postings or whatever else they use against God and His work will falter, will be forgotten, will stand as witnesses against them and their works -- not only to God but to others who see what they are doing and recognize how wrong it is!

If we stand by God in all things and continue to do all we can to spread the "good news" that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored; that God is our Father and wants all of us to return to Him and has provided a means whereby we CAN do that if we WILL follow the example of Jesus Christ in ALL things and continue steadfast until the end of our lives, WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS!