To get involved or not to get involved… That is the question I often ask myself when controvery erupts. For example, today I learned that HBO plans to air an episode of Big Love where they depict sacred temple ceremonies. I was invited to join the Facebook group Stop HBO from showing LDS temple ceremonies!, which now has over 11,000 members. In that group, there is a link to HBO’s feedback page, with the admonition to ask HBO to refrain from airing the episode.

Today, Church Public Affairs issued a statement on it’s Newsroom Web site about the dilemma of responding to such events.

• Should we tell all our friends to write to HBO to ask them not to air the show?
• Should we cancel our subscriptions to Time Warner products (the producer of the show) to cause them economic pain?
• Should we watch the show out of curiosity to see how much of the temple ceremony they portray?

The Church as an institution leaves it up to individuals to take the actions they feel are appropriate. However, the dilemma is that these very actions may generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end may increase audiences for a program that currently has a narrow audience.

The Newsroom commentary reminds us that “if the Church allowed critics and opponents to choose the ground on which its battles are fought, it would risk being distracted from the focus and mission it has pursued successfully for nearly 180 years. Instead, the Church itself will determine its own course as it continues to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.”

Therefore, the Church as an institution tries to stay out of such controversy. But what is the role of individual members? What is our individual role in standing for truth and righteousness? What kinds of actions do you feel are appropriate and helpful?

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