I have first heard of HBO''''s ''''Big Love'''' a couple of years ago. I was so interested to read reviews about it
because it''''s supposed to feature Bill Paxton and Gunnifer Goodwill, two of my favorite actors. Plus, the superstar Tom Hanks is producing it. So, I read a review or two, and yes, it mentioned about a story of lives in Utah (that time). It did not really emphasize that time that it would mainly talk about Latter-day Saints'''' lives (or more known as Mormons). For the first time, I was able to see an episode of Big Love two nights ago while having an hour break with some friends. I was not able to eat at all because I heard everything that they''''re saying and it''''s purely about members of the church, particularly about Joseph Smith, etc. Polygamy, as what the show would point out, is not practiced by the church, I just had to point that out this early...
That''''s not the end of the story. The morning after, I went to Powerbooks just to check what''''s cooking. The very first book that I saw was by Martha Beck. Yes, I know her! She''''s one of the O! magazine''''s in house writers. But I never knew that she''''s a mormon, or at least, used to be one. It, again, intrigued me to see her novel ''''
Leaving the Saints: How I left the mormons and found my faith". I bought it.
As a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, it is very sad that these things are happening. Somehow, I took it in a personal level and never saw these two incidents far from being coincidences. It made me examine my testimony once more. From my perspective, it is so hurtful that what Big Love''''s showing is farfetched from I have personally learned and still learning in our church. I had hoped that author Martha Beck would lay out a sound argument too for leaving the church and build the credibility to shore up her abuse claims. I was disappointed to read that she did neither. While I enjoy her narrative style, the book spun out of control and cast a bad light on those who have left the church for other reasons I won''''t know. An interesting read even if one must read between the lines at time. But I just have wished she could have respected the
beliefs of the church, the least thing she can do. Respect, esp. she was talking about things she has not fully understood. But oh well, i still respect her points of view. That''''s her own map in her head.
These have both strenghthened my testimony of the church. I know that it has the fullness of the gospel. I respect those who belong to other churches and their beliefs as well.