Time-Warner, Inc. is the parent media company for the Home Box Office television company. Before the first season of the HBO series Big Love aired more than two years ago, the show’s creators and HBO executives assured members and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) that the series wouldn’t be about Mormons. However, many disrespectful Mormon themes are woven into the show, and Mormon characters are rendered as unsympathetic figures who are narrow-minded, confused, or self-righteous. According to TV Guide, the March 15, 2009 episode of Big Love sacrileged the faith’s most sacred temple ceremonies.
We are offended when the most sacred practices are misrepresented or presented without context or understanding. We view this programming as a form of religious pornography. Therefore, we encourage all who share our viewpoint to take the following personal choice actions against Time-Warner entities.
1. Cancel subscriptions to:
* AOL (formerly America Online)
* Time Inc. publications (Fortune, Time Magazine, Mad Magazine, Money, People, Sports Illustrated, Sunset, among many others)
* HBO and Cinemax ... both heavily oriented toward R-rated (violence, nudity, profanity) movies and unrated pornographic-action series that air nightly
2. Discontinue purchases of video DVDs bearing the Time-Warner, Warner Bros., or New Line Cinema labels.
3. Avoid patronizing the following Time-Warner movies (among others):
* Watchmen
* The Dark Knight
* Sex and the City
* Journey to the Center of the Earth
* 10,000 BC
* Get Smart
* Body of Lies
* Yes Man
* Four Christmases
* Gran Torino
* All “Harry Potter” films
Big Love is not "big," and it it knows nothing about real love.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
The foundation of our faith
We anchor our faith by a firm belief in a personal, loving God.
We know that there is a God in heaven, who is Father of our spirits. We know this because 1) the scriptures tell us so, 2) righteous prophets both ancient and contemporary testify of Him, 3) all His creations, on earth and in the vastness of our universe, declare his handiwork (Psalm 19:1), 4) He hears and answers our prayers, and 5) His spirit whispers to us that He is real.
We knew God before we were born, and we hope to return to God after completing our lives. We believe that we can if we are worthy once again to stand in His presence.
The prophets tell us how we should live to please God, and we strive to understand and follow those teachings. God does not compel us to believe in Him or to do His will. Instead, we have the gift of personal choice, the freedom to choose, and the opportunity to charter our own course through life. We believe that obedience to God will bring the ultimate happiness.
We trust in God and know that He loves and cares for us. This faith in God brings peace and assurance--even in the midst of troubled times.
We oppose all that is ungodly: the immoral, the unjust, the dishonest, and those who betray our trust.
Creation and evolution
No scientist ever created life; none completely understands the scientific process of death. To appreciate life, we must contemplate both science and God's divine role.
We believe that God created this earth, filled it with plant and animal life, and provided it with an abundance of resources to sustain the populations that reside on it. He set the earth in its precise orbit, axis tilt, optimum distance from the sun, and speed of rotation to make the days and nights, and the four seasons. He alone controls the climates and weather patterns--the storms, floods, draughts, hot summers, and cold winters.
The earth is billions of years old. Scientific data do not support the old sectarian notion that God created and populated the earth in just six 24-hour periods. Evolution on a limited scale can be observed in nature. However, that observation does not extend to the absurd hypothesis that life began spontaneously from a sea of nucleic acids and a sudden bolt of lightening from which all life forms evolved, or that man evolved from lower life forms.
We know that there is a God in heaven, who is Father of our spirits. We know this because 1) the scriptures tell us so, 2) righteous prophets both ancient and contemporary testify of Him, 3) all His creations, on earth and in the vastness of our universe, declare his handiwork (Psalm 19:1), 4) He hears and answers our prayers, and 5) His spirit whispers to us that He is real.
We knew God before we were born, and we hope to return to God after completing our lives. We believe that we can if we are worthy once again to stand in His presence.
The prophets tell us how we should live to please God, and we strive to understand and follow those teachings. God does not compel us to believe in Him or to do His will. Instead, we have the gift of personal choice, the freedom to choose, and the opportunity to charter our own course through life. We believe that obedience to God will bring the ultimate happiness.
We trust in God and know that He loves and cares for us. This faith in God brings peace and assurance--even in the midst of troubled times.
We oppose all that is ungodly: the immoral, the unjust, the dishonest, and those who betray our trust.
Right to life
We support the rights of children to be born and experience life, to be nurtured by both a father and a mother in a stable and supportive home environment, and to learn the value of prayer.
Creation and evolution
No scientist ever created life; none completely understands the scientific process of death. To appreciate life, we must contemplate both science and God's divine role.
We believe that God created this earth, filled it with plant and animal life, and provided it with an abundance of resources to sustain the populations that reside on it. He set the earth in its precise orbit, axis tilt, optimum distance from the sun, and speed of rotation to make the days and nights, and the four seasons. He alone controls the climates and weather patterns--the storms, floods, draughts, hot summers, and cold winters.
The earth is billions of years old. Scientific data do not support the old sectarian notion that God created and populated the earth in just six 24-hour periods. Evolution on a limited scale can be observed in nature. However, that observation does not extend to the absurd hypothesis that life began spontaneously from a sea of nucleic acids and a sudden bolt of lightening from which all life forms evolved, or that man evolved from lower life forms.
While acknowledging the changes that result from mutation and natural selection (survival of the fittest), we do not overlook the Designer, the Creator, and the Provider who made all things possible.
We find no contradictions between true science and true religion, for God is the author of all truth. Our challenge is to discover the marvelous creativity of God in all its majestic diversity, form, function, and beauty: the computational power and memory of the brain, the stamina and endurance of the heart, the visual acuity of the eyes, hearing sensitivity of the ears, smelling by the nose, tasting by the tongue, and the overall magnificence of physiological processes in man and all other plants and animals.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
What matters most
Our mission is to build and strengthen our eternal family. We start with the principle of love and respect for each other--and total commitment to our marriage. We honor the example set by our parents. We strive to set that same example for our children and grandchildren.
The House of the Lord
Temple marriage is the foundation of an eternal family. The ceremony contemplates a marriage based on covenents with God and each other. Great promises are sealed on man and woman in a temple marriage. Therefore, the quality of the marriage relationship takes on great importance. Realizing the promised blessings depends on how well we understand and keep our covenants.
We were married in the Seattle Temple in Bellevue, Washington (pictured above). Our anniversary date is June 23. We find peace in the temple.
Peace and Comfort
We all seek peace in our homes, in our hearts, and in all parts of our lives. People of all faiths and cultures seek inner peace. But real and abiding peace comes from personal purity, integrity, and character traits that nurture peace. Richard L. Evans observed: “To find peace—the peace within, the peace that surpasseth understanding—men and women must live in honesty, honoring each other, honoring obligations, working willingly, loving and cherishing loved ones, serving and considering others, with patience, with virtue, with faith and forbearance, with the assurance that life is for learning, for serving, for repenting, and improving." Parents have an important responsibility to provide a peaceful and nuturing home for each other and for their children.
One Man, One Women
True love requires mutual respect and consideration. Fullfillment of that love and the life-long need for one another bind husband and wife together by ways in which all of the attributes of masculinity are complemented by the feminine virtues of womanhood. That part of life has no equal in human experience: one man, one woman----no counterfeit alternative subverting the Divine plan for happiness. The unity achieved through true love is much more than physical attraction. We place the highest value on kindness, loyalty, admiration, and appreciation for each other and for the ways in which the man complements the woman. Loyalty to each other is paramount. When the marriage covenant is made and kept, this deepest form of love can last forever.
Our Love for Each Other
Romantic love is exciting and our love for each other increases with time. "The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a glowing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing, it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of Divine accident" (Sir Hugh Walpoe). We have been married to each other for more than 20 years. Our commitment to each other extends through this life and through all eternity to come.
Our Love for God
We express love for God when we honor marriage and love others above self.
Unity is Strength
No difficulty is insurmountable, and no challenge is so great that we cannot overcome it and achieve success if we are one in heart, mind, and spirit. We have discovered the power of unity for taking on every challenge that comes to us in life. These include such simple tasks as moving the furniture, putting the boat in the water, or towing a disabled vehicle. The elegance of unity is something like a Viennese waltz: the dance is magnificant when the we hold each other just right, look into each other's eyes, and move together in synchrony and harmony over the hardwood.
Happily Ever After?
Love is the glue that binds two heart together as one. However, mere love is not enough during inevitable times of difficulty. Our life experience will test us with many disappointments and hardships. Just as the weather is not always sunny, dry, and warm, marriage is not a constant state of wedded bliss. We notice that about one day in every eight or nine seems more difficult as the relationship is tested. Life is stressful. The periodic storm is normal and maybe even a vital part of every good marriage. What is most important is how we deal with difficult situations. These are times to readjust, recalibrate, and strengthen our 'forever' relationship.
Good communication is the best healing remedy, but sometimes we also need a little space from each other to develop talents, focus on other friends or family members, read a book, exercise, enjoy the outdoors, or get necessary work done. We try to recognize each other's need for appreciation and affection. We tackle projects together. We take time off for special moments--a dinner out, a dinner in, a walk along the river, a trip to someplace far away, or something as simple as a movie at home near the fireplace. Above all, we avoid criticism of each other and negative attitudes. We are courteous to each other in private and in public.
The 'Blended Family' Challenge
Our marriage blended two sets of children, a situation that none of them wanted. So we have had to set realistic expectations, and work to overcome their resentment and mistrust. It hasn't been a fairytale experience for the kids. They've had difficulty accepting their new step-parent and making smooth adjustments to our priority values based on "marriage first and children second." We've come to realize that building a strong and happy blended family is difficult, even after working on it for many years.
The 'Empty Nest'
Many couples with children fear the day when children finally grow up, leave the nest for school, a mission, a job, or marriage. We discovered that our marriage grew stronger when the nest emptied and we could refocus on each other. Most parents feel the need to continue supporting children as they struggle to build their own families. However, we found that children do best when motivated to figure out their own support and to chart their own path to success.
We don't know why it takes such a long time for children to really love, admire, and appreciate their parents. Sometimes it never happens, and that is tragic. But on the other hand, maybe that's why God gave us the magic of 'grandchildren.'
The House of the LordTemple marriage is the foundation of an eternal family. The ceremony contemplates a marriage based on covenents with God and each other. Great promises are sealed on man and woman in a temple marriage. Therefore, the quality of the marriage relationship takes on great importance. Realizing the promised blessings depends on how well we understand and keep our covenants.
We were married in the Seattle Temple in Bellevue, Washington (pictured above). Our anniversary date is June 23. We find peace in the temple.
Peace and Comfort
We all seek peace in our homes, in our hearts, and in all parts of our lives. People of all faiths and cultures seek inner peace. But real and abiding peace comes from personal purity, integrity, and character traits that nurture peace. Richard L. Evans observed: “To find peace—the peace within, the peace that surpasseth understanding—men and women must live in honesty, honoring each other, honoring obligations, working willingly, loving and cherishing loved ones, serving and considering others, with patience, with virtue, with faith and forbearance, with the assurance that life is for learning, for serving, for repenting, and improving." Parents have an important responsibility to provide a peaceful and nuturing home for each other and for their children.
One Man, One Women
True love requires mutual respect and consideration. Fullfillment of that love and the life-long need for one another bind husband and wife together by ways in which all of the attributes of masculinity are complemented by the feminine virtues of womanhood. That part of life has no equal in human experience: one man, one woman----no counterfeit alternative subverting the Divine plan for happiness. The unity achieved through true love is much more than physical attraction. We place the highest value on kindness, loyalty, admiration, and appreciation for each other and for the ways in which the man complements the woman. Loyalty to each other is paramount. When the marriage covenant is made and kept, this deepest form of love can last forever.
Our Love for Each Other
Romantic love is exciting and our love for each other increases with time. "The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a glowing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing, it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of Divine accident" (Sir Hugh Walpoe). We have been married to each other for more than 20 years. Our commitment to each other extends through this life and through all eternity to come.
Our Love for God
We express love for God when we honor marriage and love others above self.
Unity is Strength
No difficulty is insurmountable, and no challenge is so great that we cannot overcome it and achieve success if we are one in heart, mind, and spirit. We have discovered the power of unity for taking on every challenge that comes to us in life. These include such simple tasks as moving the furniture, putting the boat in the water, or towing a disabled vehicle. The elegance of unity is something like a Viennese waltz: the dance is magnificant when the we hold each other just right, look into each other's eyes, and move together in synchrony and harmony over the hardwood.
Happily Ever After?
Love is the glue that binds two heart together as one. However, mere love is not enough during inevitable times of difficulty. Our life experience will test us with many disappointments and hardships. Just as the weather is not always sunny, dry, and warm, marriage is not a constant state of wedded bliss. We notice that about one day in every eight or nine seems more difficult as the relationship is tested. Life is stressful. The periodic storm is normal and maybe even a vital part of every good marriage. What is most important is how we deal with difficult situations. These are times to readjust, recalibrate, and strengthen our 'forever' relationship.
Good communication is the best healing remedy, but sometimes we also need a little space from each other to develop talents, focus on other friends or family members, read a book, exercise, enjoy the outdoors, or get necessary work done. We try to recognize each other's need for appreciation and affection. We tackle projects together. We take time off for special moments--a dinner out, a dinner in, a walk along the river, a trip to someplace far away, or something as simple as a movie at home near the fireplace. Above all, we avoid criticism of each other and negative attitudes. We are courteous to each other in private and in public.
The 'Blended Family' Challenge
Our marriage blended two sets of children, a situation that none of them wanted. So we have had to set realistic expectations, and work to overcome their resentment and mistrust. It hasn't been a fairytale experience for the kids. They've had difficulty accepting their new step-parent and making smooth adjustments to our priority values based on "marriage first and children second." We've come to realize that building a strong and happy blended family is difficult, even after working on it for many years.
The 'Empty Nest'
Many couples with children fear the day when children finally grow up, leave the nest for school, a mission, a job, or marriage. We discovered that our marriage grew stronger when the nest emptied and we could refocus on each other. Most parents feel the need to continue supporting children as they struggle to build their own families. However, we found that children do best when motivated to figure out their own support and to chart their own path to success.
We don't know why it takes such a long time for children to really love, admire, and appreciate their parents. Sometimes it never happens, and that is tragic. But on the other hand, maybe that's why God gave us the magic of 'grandchildren.'
Our children
"Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them." -- Oscar Wilde
Bryan (wife Heather) is an MBA student at the UCLA Anderson School of Business in Los Angeles. He previously worked in marketing at Dell headquarters in Austin, Texas. Heather is a confectionary artist. They spent the Fall in Barcelona, Spain.
Jenny (husband Chance) is a homemaker in West Richland, Washington, with two exceptional children. Chance is a manager at Costco in Kennewick.
Aaron (wife Erin) is a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the Army, stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia. They have two cute children (Logan and Harlee).
Brit (wife JeriLynn) is a 1st Leutenant in the Army, stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. They have two cute girls (Liesl and Mirabelle). JeriLynn is a homemaker. They are expecting a little boy.
Jake (not yet married) drives long-haul trucks, and he is an excellent mechanic. His home is Conrad, Montana.
Kimberly (husband Brenn) is a dental hygienist in Arlington, Virginia. Brenn is a first-rate law student at George Washington University.
Bryan (wife Heather) is an MBA student at the UCLA Anderson School of Business in Los Angeles. He previously worked in marketing at Dell headquarters in Austin, Texas. Heather is a confectionary artist. They spent the Fall in Barcelona, Spain.
Jenny (husband Chance) is a homemaker in West Richland, Washington, with two exceptional children. Chance is a manager at Costco in Kennewick.
Aaron (wife Erin) is a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the Army, stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia. They have two cute children (Logan and Harlee).
Brit (wife JeriLynn) is a 1st Leutenant in the Army, stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. They have two cute girls (Liesl and Mirabelle). JeriLynn is a homemaker. They are expecting a little boy.
Jake (not yet married) drives long-haul trucks, and he is an excellent mechanic. His home is Conrad, Montana.
Kimberly (husband Brenn) is a dental hygienist in Arlington, Virginia. Brenn is a first-rate law student at George Washington University.
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