Mormon in America: Rock Center in Ruins

What is wrong with NBC? I used to live and breathe by the peacock. Now I'm just as disgusted as I am with every other 'lamestream' media. When I first head about NBC's Rock Center special "Mormon in America" a lot of people were promoting it to their non-LDS friends on Facebook. Instantly red flags went up for me and I felt like all my fears came out over the course of the hour.

I studied communications and took a news writing class at BYU and so I understand some basics on where NBC was coming from and where it was trying to go...but as an active Latter-day Saint, they totally missed the mark. Before it was even on in the Mtn Time Zone, my friend in New Orleans tweeted that it was out of control.

What bothered me most:

Jon Huntsman's daughter, Abby. Oh boy. What a train wreck. Okay, there are people that leave The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lots of them. But why are you interviewing them and asking them very important questions that should be answered by a current active member of the LDS faith. It's perfectly valid to discuss her concerns and frustrations and reasons for leaving the Church. But find a bishop, stake president or other Church AUTHORITY to answer questions on the temple, priesthood, and actual factual tradition. Her story was sad, her bishop should have not said those things to her and that's not Church Doctrine, but she chose to be offended and to leave on her own. Segue to Mitch Mayne, San Francisco's very own openly gay Executive Secretary. OH MY GOSH. Yes the Exec Sec is privileged to/required to attend meetings where very important, sacred and confidential matters are discussed. BUT the Exec Sec doesn't sit on the stand and doesn't make policy or worthiness decisions for the ward and it's members. Gay members should be able to hold any normal position (Bishop/Mish. Pres/GA unfortunately excluded because you need to be married). But making a huge fuss out of an executive secretary is ridiculous.

Joanna Brooks. Our Favorite Book of Mormon Girl. Okay, I've listened to several interviews with her now and read several blog posts including one specifically in regards to her Rock Center interview. I'll be honest, I struggle understanding Mormon Feminists. Why a woman would want to be bishop or high councillor is honestly beyond me. I have no problem with women leading organizations, events, etc., but it gets to a point where I don't see the need to have completely equal callings, keys and authority (and it's not cuz I'm trying to greedily keep them for myself). Then I went to the temple and was able to participate in all the ordinances. The very first time I was shocked at how much equality exists in the gospel and each time I've attended temple services since, I've felt the same way. I would welcome the chance to talk to a Mormon feminist in the temple about the subject. In Brooks' response she pithily acknowledges this equality but quickly dismisses it, but I don't know why. Back to her appearance in Rock Center. I guess the main thing, is that even she said afterwards that the editorial process was very selective in their final portrayal. Frustrating.

***Today, (8/28/12) my friend Katrina shared the transcript of a speech given about a Cooperative Paradigm in Mormon Gender Equality and Feminism. It was a fascinating examination of the situation faced by many Mormon women that I simply didn't understand before and I think part of that was being the only child and never having sisters examine these questions as they grew in the Church. I appreciated several things about the speech given by Neylen McBaine, 1) She did her research and showed her thesis, methods, results and conclusions very clearly and succinctly. 2) She covered all sides of the topic from men, leaders, women content with their place in the Church and women who feel deep pain over their place in the Church today. 3) She avoided extremist language. That gets so old so quickly and it really turns me off to the subject. (Unfortunately, I can make no such assurances in my blog) ;-) 4) She highlighted historical activities of women in the modern Church including Eliza R. Snow and offered ideas on how we can return to more Christ-like existance citing Mary, the woman at the well and others in the ministry of Christ. And as someone who has studied public relations I understood her processes on how the story we tell, how we tell it, and how we act it, must be synchronized and meaningful so all the "audiences" buy into it and accept it as their paradigm. You can find the complete transcript here and I urge you to read it, especially if you have no idea what Mormon Feminism is all about like I did. http://Jimmer.it/lQ4AEI

Al and Juleen Jackson. Most people in the church marry a person of their own ethnic background. It's traditional, it's practical, it's what happens. I personally know many people who are married to someone from a different race/ethnic background, and I think all of them are amazing and have amazing spouses. But they are in the minority and they do often face challenges due to differences in cultural upbringing. So when Rock Center singles out the Jackson family...they are getting a slightly different perspective. Fine. BUT, then they hound Al on racism in the church. He was awesome. As I remember he said he never felt discriminated against, never hated, never excluded. But they kept at it. What the crap? Oh and near the end of that segment, they showed the Jackson's at church and the congregation was standing, swaying, singing and clapping their hands. Say WHAT? Uh...

The Book of Mormon: The Musical. This was kind of a wash. Brian Williams did say that it was raunchy and awful, but the boy they interviewed was a former member of the Church though they billed it as simply a "member" for most of the interview/program. However, Clark Johnson, who is gay and no longer active in the church gave some very thoughtful and meaningful responses. And because The Book of Mormon: The Musical has been such a success, it was definitely something I feel needed to be addressed in relation to The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. 

I think the worst offense really had to come down to their display, albeit brief, of "the magic underwear". Fine, go google Mormon Underwear and that is the picture that comes up, but after discussing the issue, (with Abby Hunstman, a former member), is there really a need to put it up on screen? I don't think so.

There were a few things I liked:

David Neeleman. Wow, what a great guy. I know his son Daniel and Daniel is the kind of guy who is just solid. I never would have guessed his dad was a 'titan of industry' changing the way people fly and do business. He dressed modestly, was genuine and sincere and just an overall good guy. And after watching an interview with his dad, I see why. Mormon's can be successful and human. I felt David really highlighted a lot of the good in a modern Mormon family. Tight-knit, self-sufficient, giving and caring, sustaining and supporting.

Welfare Square. Man, I really did love this segment. The Church has a world class, second to none, temporal support welfare system. And finally we got some good interviews. Talking with the directors at Welfare Square, missionaries volunteering at The Bishop's Storehouse, people in need and receiving help...great interviews. I especially liked listening to the senior couple missionaries. I hate to use the term stay on the message, but they did. They talked about how we (as Mormon's) care about each other and use fast offerings to help our brothers and sisters all over the world. I also read and I think it was mentioned, that, sure, the cannery could install machines to triple production and reduce jobs by 2/3 but that's not the point. The point is to also provide those people an outlet to a) give back for what they receive and b) learning skills and working with others. Times are tough in the world. But whether it's Deseret Industries or The Bishop's Storehouse or Employment Centers, the Church's system is designed, not for free handouts, but for a hand up and way out of the stress and disappointment plaguing families across the world. That's powerful and something Rock Center actually accurately portrayed in my opinion.

Overall...well, it wasn't pretty. I really wish every person that doesn't belong to our Faith could have watched the program with a active Mormon to clarify statements and answer unanswered questions. I guess it's nice we're getting some attention, but...mmm.

You can watch the whole program here: http://Jimmer.it/GFxZZO
You can visit http://www.askmormongirl.com/ for Joanna Brooks response dated Aug 26.