Comments about ‘Road show: New movie stars Jessica Lange as LDS widow traveling in Utah’

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Published: Friday, Feb. 29 2008 12:18 a.m. MST

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Mom in MO

I've always wondered why it takes so long from wrap to premier in the movie industry. That being said, I can't wait to see the movie. That is, if a film about L.D.S. people gets any distribution out here.

Carole Knowles

Looks like an interesting and fun film. Can't wait to see it.

Homework?

I guess the writer missed the part about Mormons and ashes...... uh, they don't mix.

Dovie

I have know several active LDS people that chose cremation after they passed away. It is not a common choice in Utah, but in some places it is the only choice available, it is not the most preferred LDS interment but it is considered respectful and is not in conflict with LDS doctrine.

Debbie

I guess homework didn't do her(his) homework!!

This quote directly from the church public affairs department "Generally, cremation is not encouraged. However, in some countries the law requires it. The family of the deceased must decide whether to cremate the body"

See where it says the family must decide!? My husband is a bishop and we have dealt with this issue a number of times. With counsel and prayer each family must decide. Hopefully, before they die people make their wishes known. My mother chose to be cremated but my dad wants to be buried. My mother's ashes are buried in their plot.

Be careful when you assume a "good" mormon would not choose cremation and do your homework completely!! The assumption that the church says no to this is not the case today!!

DayJob

Homework should check the facts. There is no official LDS doctrine or direction that prohibits the cremation of remains. As long as the body is treated with respect before, during and after creamation The Church has no problem with it. Creamation is, after all, just speeding up the process of "ashes to ashes".

Funeral Director

Speaking of facts... Cremation is spelled CREMATION and not creamation.

Spellcheck

DayJob should check the spelling of "cremation." It has nothing to do with whipping cream.

Gary S.

Debbie: don't be too hard on "Homework." He or she was not asserting official doctrine, and it is true that cremation is very unusual (not wrong, just unusual) among LDS.

Yes, we see where it says the family must decide. See where it also says "cremation is not encouraged"? None of my relatives are bishops so what do I know, but when the Church says something "is not encouraged," it is unusual for members to interpret that as unhindered permission to do it.

Now, it sounds like cremation is central to this movie's plot (no pun intended), so I don't fault the writer. Besides, comedy is all about surprising the audience with unusual stuff. (Which begs the question...which has the funnier potential for a movie: driving ashes across the West when your religion does not encourage cremation, or driving a corpse across the West regardless of your religion? The latter has already been done, by the way.)

Jessica Lange is HOT

Still HOT as ever.

Creamy ashes?

Perhaps they want to be "cream" ated.......you know, like put it in a mixer and cream it???? Kind of messy, though.....and where would you find a mixer that big? And cleaning the beaters, wow!

K

If the movie is half as funny as some of the comments on here, I can't wait to see it!

Daniel

Sounds like a great movie.
"The Daily Verse: New Testament"

Anonymous

I have to agree with Gary S. I don't think "homework" is making a judgment call on members of the LDS faith who cremate deceased family members. The first thing I thought about when I read the word "ashes" was that we might have another film about Mormons written by a non-Mormon who does not understand the culture. It would be slightly unusual for a Mormon woman to transport her husband's ashes, not wrong, unusual. It calls into question the authenticiy of the movie, that's all.

Slim

I've given a lot of thought about burial and cremation, and decided that I want to be buried sitting in my recliner. A remote in one hand, a can of Bud in the other, and my golf clubs right by my side.

observer

I think Slim has it right.

Johnson

I myself would prefer cremation, but with that mildly prohibitive guidance from the church, cannot really consider it. It would be nice to have a bit more direction, or some clarification as to why it is discouraged.

BobP

I am an Active LDS who is getting on. I have nothing against cremation and I don't like any emphasis on a fancy funeral - its a waste of money.

One thing that I do insist on is that the ceremony include Amazing Grace of the bagpipes. My present BP is a little hesitant on the bagpipes.

Looks like a great movie. I live a 4 hour drive from a theater so I will have to wait for the DVD.

You're all assuming....

...that the woman's cremated husband was Mormon.

As for cremation: what's more honorable?
1 - Draining the blood on a stainless steel table, filling the veins with chemicals, sewing the orifices shut so they don't leak, and putting wax and heavy makeup on the body so they look "asleep"? THEN, you put all of this in a sealed container and bury it underground...where you end up with a box of meat in a sealed container, buried underground. All this after being sold a little piece of land (at a proportional rate approaching $3-$5 million per acre?)
OR
2 - Hastening the eventual process by burning the body at high temperatures, then spreading those ashes in a beautiful place where they become part of nature?

I vote for #2.

Seen it

I've seen the movie "Bonneville" on Princess Cruise coming back from Hawaii. It is funny and show some great scene from around the state of Utah.

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