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One of the stars of "Big Love" is defending the show's depiction of a sacred temple ceremony. Sunday night's episode featured one of Bill Paxton's wives in an endowment, something that Latter-Day Saints feel is private and not appropriate for public viewing.
Paxton told CBS that the show "really wasn't meant to be offensive". He defended HBO for taking a chance in exploring plot lines that other networks won't touch.
Not only did he tell "The Early Show" that Sunday night's episode was "one of the best episodes we've ever done," he added that it would be a bad thing to censure a show that presents people and their beliefs set in the real world.
When the series premiered three years ago, HBO executives assured Latter-day Saint Church leaders the storylines would be about polygamists, not Mormons. But the episode blurred that distinction by taking viewers inside a temple, revealing sacred Latter-day Saint clothing and ceremonies.
The show's executive producer said, "That's never been shown on television before." An ex-Mormon consultant helped him with all the details.
In a lengthy statement called "Publicity Dilemma," LDS Church leaders recognize with the faith's prominence, such film and TV attention is inevitable. The statement reads, in part: "Certainly, Church members are offended when their most sacred practices are misrepresented or presented without context or understanding."
According to the Church, it "as an institution does not call for boycotts..." and "Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves with dignity and thoughtfulness..."
E-mail: athomas@ksl.com
