tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post7630488399243794486..comments2023-10-02T00:28:29.335-07:00Comments on Gay LDS Actor: The Book of Mormon Musical: An AfterthoughtGay LDS Actorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-9610776426802529852012-08-25T23:46:22.104-07:002012-08-25T23:46:22.104-07:00Thanks for your comment, shelbz. I appreciate you...Thanks for your comment, shelbz. I appreciate your thoughts.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments to Jettboy, too. I think you make some good points.<br />Gay LDS Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-6168036974316699012012-08-24T11:18:40.645-07:002012-08-24T11:18:40.645-07:00Haha I liked the "equal opportunity offenders...Haha I liked the "equal opportunity offenders." It's worth mentioning I'm an inactive member, and I haven't seen the show (yet.) But I've watched South Park for a long time, and even though I get offended almost every week, I will always commend Trey and Matt because these crazy men will defend to the death our 1st amendment right even if it makes them "the bad guys." In my opinion, they are true Americans. They may depict Mormons as crazy but never as bad people, and I'm ok with that.<br /><br />And to Jettboy:<br />Being Mormon is much, MUCH more than embracing organized religion. Just because one is ex-communicated doesn't mean he has to stop following the gospel. I am a Mormon by your definition, and gay LDS actor probably lives a more righteous and wholesome life than me, so suck itshelbzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12931505668686078278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-45968094193314913662012-02-19T18:50:18.706-08:002012-02-19T18:50:18.706-08:00Thanks for your comments, SimplyDavy. I really ap...Thanks for your comments, SimplyDavy. I really appreciate your thoughts.Gay LDS Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-49162064199968136222012-02-19T16:28:27.021-08:002012-02-19T16:28:27.021-08:00I love this discussion. You are all awesome. Thank...I love this discussion. You are all awesome. Thanks for shining your light and not hiding it under a bushel. I was raised Methodist and converted to Unity/New Though Christianity. We have a central believe that God is in all things and that no matter what path you choose you will find God because well God is so big and all encompassing that it's impossible not to. You just may take a long winding path or a direct one. At any rate, I love the music and message of this show. Parker and Stone actually offended me once when I watched thier full length feature because the devil and Saddam Huessein were gay and I am gay and I was like, "Those Bloddy blah blah blah....". Then I stepped back and laughed at myself becuase that is their thing. They offend everyone equally. After I thought of that I sat back and enjoyed the show just as I did on this musical.SimplyDavyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15198566775278775482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-62257381357287409772011-06-09T09:53:30.069-07:002011-06-09T09:53:30.069-07:00Thanks, Elder. Stop by anytime. :-)Thanks, Elder. Stop by anytime. :-)Gay LDS Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-91137131990647668192011-06-08T05:27:40.936-07:002011-06-08T05:27:40.936-07:00You're very right about the missionaries in th...You're very right about the missionaries in this show being types - what RM didn't know an Elder Price and an Elder Cunningham? The Elder Prices were usually the APs. I saw the show (in NY) about a month ago. The first half is amazing, and second half is good (but not amazing). You'll love it.<br /><br />Great blog, by the way!Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15079454136550702255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-57925955067733553302011-05-15T15:29:05.370-07:002011-05-15T15:29:05.370-07:00You don't have to apologize for calling yourse...You don't have to apologize for calling yourself "Mormon". Sorry Jettboy, but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doesn't own a monopoly on that term. There are dozens of belief systems that trace their origins back to Joseph Smith and a belief in the Book of Mormon. Just because the LDS are bigger doesn't mean they have ownership over the term "Mormon."<br /><br />I'm Mormon in the same way that my 2 best friends are Catholic and Jewish....but don't believe in the orthodox religion. <br /><br />Just because you still believe it, doesn't mean you own it.Dad's Primal Screamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04807184528508955936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-89759532118592258742011-05-13T16:37:54.053-07:002011-05-13T16:37:54.053-07:00Thanks, Sara and Av. I, too, think Stone and Park...Thanks, Sara and Av. I, too, think Stone and Parker have both a fascination and a certain respect for Mormonism even if they think it's kind of wacky.<br /><br />CentralParkWesterner, I too can understand the offended's point-of-view, but I also feel like I can see things from Parker, Stone's, and Lopez's even though I very much believe in God and still hold many Mormon values and teachings dear to my heart. I guess a show like this can cause one person to put up a wall and another to embrace it and find good in it. And I guess that was one of my points: to say there is absolutely no good to be found in the show seems closed-minded to me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.<br /><br />Jettboy, ah yes, there is that minor technicality that I am not a Mormon, and I thank you in your very Christ-like and nonjudgmental way for reminding me that I no longer belong to the club.<br /><br />However, while I am not officially a Mormon and while I suppose it is true that, as such, I cannot claim to speak for Mormons, I still consider myself very much a Mormon in my heart and if I want to call myself a Mormon, there's not much anybody can do to stop me.<br /><br />I'm not being sly about it. I clearly state in the post that I have been excommunicated, and anybody who takes the time to read this blog can see exactly where I stand in my relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.<br /><br />Even if not a Mormon on record, I still live my life very much as a Mormon might (well, except for the gay sex) and still attend church and do many of the things Mormons do. My church leaders and fellow members have been very welcoming and kind, so you'll forgive me if I still identify myself as a Mormon.<br /><br />But you're right, I'm not a Mormon. I won't apologize for still feeling like one, though, and I won't apologize for identifying myself as such. Like I said, anybody can read the blog and know that I'm not (it says so very clearly in the "About Me" section). But I've been a Mormon for so much of my life and it's influenced who I am in such a way that to deny that I am one at heart seems false to me.<br /><br />So, yes, Jettboy, I'm not a Mormon, but I'm going to call myself one anyway (even if it's just in my mind, as you say), but still fully disclose that I've been excommincated, and others can process that information as they wish.<br /><br />Have a nice day and thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Sean, thanks for your comments. I think you make some good points.Gay LDS Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-800986747552013372011-05-13T16:13:02.437-07:002011-05-13T16:13:02.437-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gay LDS Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-56920414948234511372011-05-13T16:11:00.912-07:002011-05-13T16:11:00.912-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gay LDS Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-46049146005254896072011-05-13T16:08:28.410-07:002011-05-13T16:08:28.410-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gay LDS Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-18584172804630087882011-05-13T16:06:07.266-07:002011-05-13T16:06:07.266-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gay LDS Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-91157026291509052312011-05-13T16:04:20.752-07:002011-05-13T16:04:20.752-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gay LDS Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841236084753512311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-52630647393466074422011-05-12T12:28:48.109-07:002011-05-12T12:28:48.109-07:00The Seattle reviewer had rather positive comments ...The Seattle reviewer had rather positive comments while obviously the show pokes at Mormonism. I think the issue that some stalwart members have is to show that the church, its members, and leaders are like all the rest of us... flawed human beings and creations.<br /><br />No religion, regardless of how well followed dogmatically, will make one perfect... But the organization, or religion in general. should make people and life on this little planet better. Its only if it fails to meet that humble measure should anyone be concerned.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04561860729984232424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-65385181060004002582011-05-12T11:33:19.681-07:002011-05-12T11:33:19.681-07:00Who is "we" here as you have been ex-com...Who is "we" here as you have been ex-communicated. That makes you no longer Mormon (other than in your own mind). Now if you are to repent for what got you ex-communicated and then re-baptized, then you can again call yourself Mormon. Not until then. They say the Church is for the sick along with the healthy, but what if the sick don't want to be healed? What then, is the use of the hospital?Jettboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00300495482595955440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-2900716792549361222011-05-12T11:30:35.088-07:002011-05-12T11:30:35.088-07:00Who is "We" as you have been ex-communic...Who is "We" as you have been ex-communicated. That hardly makes you a Mormon anymore (other than in your own mind).Jettboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00300495482595955440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-67445350485298784252011-05-12T08:59:58.508-07:002011-05-12T08:59:58.508-07:00Because I had never had the experience of hearing ...Because I had never had the experience of hearing language used and conclusions reached about Mormons and Mormonism, I was actually stunned when I saw the show on the famous electric night of March 25 (the night after the opening) with about 50 other Mormons (or ex or post, etc). <br /><br />I was even quoted in the NYTimes a few days later (the anonymous one who feared for my job because I was born Jewish/work at a Jewish college and I would then hit the glass ceiling if I identified myself as the Mormon convert) as having felt that it was sacrilegious. Why? Because I had been surrounded by men like our offended poster for the years I lived in American Fork. Because I have unknowingly surrounded myself live and on-line with LDS friends. And because I work 14 hour days, I don't really go out here in NYC. <br /><br />So a LOT of the offended one's reaction is actually understandable to me. With the torrent of F-bombs, with the stunning sarcasm (remember, in married Utah County life, that genre almost never shows up), and with the power of superb lyrics/music, I, too, almost shut down, racing around in my mind as to the collateral damage that I was experiencing. (Yes, my suspension of disbelief which was a large part of my conversion at age 31 was completely rocked, leaving me with this amazing feeling that my "testimony" was unraveling before my eyes by the end of Act I - thank goodness for a lecture the following day at the Book of Mormon Stories conference which helped me to gain a new foundation based on utility rather than validity). <br /><br />So, the play IS powerful. And it IS possible to be really thrown by the show. This man, apparently, walled up. I had a hugely different reaction. The key is that BoM Musical is a lot of things besides an exceptional Musical Comedy. So, don't be surprised if some people are hit so hard that their circuitbreaker goes off!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10578958824655009125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23563380.post-63268811960705494442011-05-12T07:27:48.422-07:002011-05-12T07:27:48.422-07:00I really liked this post. I haven't seen the s...I really liked this post. I haven't seen the show, flipped through the music a little after your last post. <br /><br />I think my view of LDS members is similar to Stone and Parker's. What I like is that I'm glad you can understand that point of view and even appreciate it - that ok, we don't believe in the religious stuff, and think all religion is kinda wacky, but see good in what comes out of it, and can admire and joke at the same time. I wish more people of faith could see that. I saw an interview with them - and I think they do respect Mormons as a particular American subculture - and being intrigued and wanting to look into the culture/religion/worldview is a form of loving, teasing respect.Sara and Avhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10271230612628690470noreply@blogger.com