Political Crossfire Forums

Rubris · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 29

I currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah and was recently watching HBO when a program came on representing polygamists in Utah. While I am not mormon and do not agree with almost any of their ideals, I still think that this show is giving a bad name to mormons and Utah. I may not be supportive of their religious beliefs but I have many friends here that are steadfast mormons and good people, so I think stereotypical programming like this gives a bad view of this group of people and my entire state. What do you think about this?

snow · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 669

Rubris wrote: I currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah and was recently watching HBO when a program came on representing polygamists in Utah. While I am not mormon and do not agree with almost any of their ideals, I still think that this show is giving a bad name to mormons and Utah. I may not be supportive of their religious beliefs but I have many friends here that are steadfast mormons and good people, so I think stereotypical programming like this gives a bad view of this group of people and my entire state. What do you think about this?

Television is rarely kind or a representation of the truth. Unfortunately, people still watch it as if it is.

Rubris · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 29

Agreed, as long as the television stations can get viewers to get hooked on their show and make them money, I guess it truly doesn't bother them who they offend....

Disciple_of_Common · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: Mormonism and Utah

Rubris wrote: I currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah and was recently watching HBO when a program came on representing polygamists in Utah. While I am not mormon and do not agree with almost any of their ideals, I still think that this show is giving a bad name to mormons and Utah. I may not be supportive of their religious beliefs but I have many friends here that are steadfast mormons and good people, so I think stereotypical programming like this gives a bad view of this group of people and my entire state. What do you think about this?

What exactly or how exactly did it portray Mormons/Mormonism ? My wife and her family happen to be Mormon and if you read their history you will find that those practicing polygamy today are actually closer to the original founders of this group. As a matter of fact their founding prophets (J Smith and Brigham Young) claimed in a revelation from God that polygamy was a requirement to gain access to the "Heavenly Kingdom".

But elaborate if you would on how this program portrayed them in a bad light ? I didnt get to witness this program you speak of.

Rubris · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 29

What exactly or how exactly did it portray Mormons/Mormonism ? My wife and her family happen to be Mormon and if you read their history you will find that those practicing polygamy today are actually closer to the original founders of this group. As a matter of fact their founding prophets (J Smith and Brigham Young) claimed in a revelation from God that polygamy was a requirement to gain access to the "Heavenly Kingdom".

But elaborate if you would on how this program portrayed them in a bad light ? I didnt get to witness this program you speak of.[/quote]

It merely shows how the polygamist family is treated in their community, how they blend in with their neighbours but are still treated with disrepect, and it several times refers to the mormon religion and how it condones this practice, and don't misread me, my ENTIRE family, besides my father mother and sisters are mormon, my great grandpa was an apostle in the church, the first senator for Utah who pushed greatly for polygamy, and was a polygamist himself. All I'm saying is that if the world views mormons as polygamist law breakers, it gives them bad light that I don't believe is necessary.

thebreadloaf2003 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 213 Location: Texas

Rubris wrote: I currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah and was recently watching HBO when a program came on representing polygamists in Utah. While I am not mormon and do not agree with almost any of their ideals, I still think that this show is giving a bad name to mormons and Utah. I may not be supportive of their religious beliefs but I have many friends here that are steadfast mormons and good people, so I think stereotypical programming like this gives a bad view of this group of people and my entire state. What do you think about this?

i know where you are ocming from, I live in Texas, and whenever i got to a state in the north, they either think I'm a cowboy or a redneck.

Disciple_of_Common · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: Mormonism and Utah

Rubris wrote: It merely shows how the polygamist family is treated in their community, how they blend in with their neighbours but are still treated with disrepect, and it several times refers to the mormon religion and how it condones this practice, and don't misread me, my ENTIRE family, besides my father mother and sisters are mormon, my great grandpa was an apostle in the church, the first senator for Utah who pushed greatly for polygamy, and was a polygamist himself. All I'm saying is that if the world views mormons as polygamist law breakers, it gives them bad light that I don't believe is necessary.

Rubris,

You are aware that there are a couple different sects of Mormonism right ? There is the RLDS (reformed) who still practice the original core belief system and Mormon doctrine back in its infancy (1820's style) and the mainstream LDS which has migrated or attempted to migrate towards a more widely accepted form of mainstream Christianity. One's based in Missouri (RLDS) and the other Salt Lake (LDS).

Are this nations laws concerning marriage different than the Exalted One's laws ? If He has spoken (according to Mormonism) that polygamy is required to gain entry into heaven and you have a group who is not adhering to this commandment then they are in direct opposition to His will right ? But if He in fact has stated (according to His word) that each man take unto himself "one wife" then those who are in opposition to such a commandment are then in violation of that commandment.

As far as my knowledge of scripture He has commanded "one wife". As for this nations laws, it states "one wife".

There are well known incidents of Polygamist communities in Northern Arizona (Colorado City,AZ) as well as pockets of polygamy in the Phoenix metro (Mesa,AZ) where men have taken not only multiple wives, but underaged wives (some as young as 14) in these communities. If i recall correctly both Joseph Smith himself along with Brigham Young took multiple wives, some under the legal age.

My stance on polygamy is that its wrong (against the laws of God) ethically and morally. But thats just my opinion.

LiveWire · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 35

Rubris wrote: I currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah and was recently watching HBO when a program came on representing polygamists in Utah. While I am not mormon and do not agree with almost any of their ideals, I still think that this show is giving a bad name to mormons and Utah. I may not be supportive of their religious beliefs but I have many friends here that are steadfast mormons and good people, so I think stereotypical programming like this gives a bad view of this group of people and my entire state. What do you think about this?

I am a non-mormon living in Park City, Utah. So not quite up to certain Utah and LDS things. But still I have heard about this show in Time Magazine. It was said in there how this was meant to be more focused on a good ideal sort of show with the polygamy as a backdrop. I have not seen the show but from what I understand it never says anything about Polygamy being right. All of my understanding of this does come from political magazines though so I am not certain. besides I believe they have a right to show it. HBO might just get hit by its Mormon viewers(I believe there are few)

ideal · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 213 Location: Wyoming

If the only thing they're doing to 'show Mormonism in a bad light' is showcasing a polygamous family, I think you have a pretty poor idea of bad. There are, of course, many instances where polygamy has lead to horrible crimes against girls and women, but aside from that it's simply an alternative lifestyle which should be respected the same as any other.

thebreadloaf2003 · Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 213 Location: Texas

Man, I hate it when peoplerag on poygamysts. It's not any worse than being gay or atheist. It's just another way of life. If a man wants to have multiple wives, and multiple women dont mind being married to a songle man, then let it be. Stop ridiculing the people for their beliefs and way of life. Treat them as an equal as every should be treated. and shame shame *scrapes fingers at you* for those who discriminate and segregate people based on their way of life, you can argue whether what they believe is right or not, but dont fling comments at them without a reasonable justification attached

thank you....

and i think that polygamy is just fine!!(if thats your thing) :dance: