On 15 March 2009, HBO’s series Big Love depicted parts of the LDS temple endowment ceremonies. Although Deseret News editor Joel Campbell called the portrayal “religious pornography,” and a campaign was launched to boycott HBO, some Mormons felt the depiction was in good taste—even inspiring. We will shift away from the HBO depiction to explore the debate surrounding the show, asking ourselves: What does the controversy say about how the world perceives the Church, the Church perceives the world, and how Mormons perceive themselves? The temple ceremony itself will not be discussed.

Hugo Olaiz, David C. Knowlton, Margaret M. Toscano, John-Charles Duffy