BYUtv Now and Then

When I got back from my mission in 2003, I was excited because BYU had a new station called BYUtv at first I thought it was really cool just coming home from a mission, it was all LDS based programming, not just public broadcasting like its KBYU counter part. After a while I started getting tired of Scripture study, General Conference, Education Week, and Simply Living. It was like I was watching general conference all the time. I epsecially disliked the show “Simply Living” the name of the show should have been “Simply Feeling Guilty” it basically just gave you some lady’s opinion on how she thought you should live your life and wanted you to feel guilty for all the things you were not doing right, like spending too much, over eating, and not having your food storage.

About 2 years ago I started noticing that the programming was starting to change. BYU began to branch out and get a bit more “hip” (so to speak) they left the old 24/7 general conference format and moved towards other entertainment. They created a show called “Studio C” which was kind of the “genesis” of this new move, a comedy troop that does a Saturday Night Live type of show with family friendly humor. 5 years ago that would not have even been considered. They created show called “Granite Flats” that it also fun, and “American Ride”.

They have even created great movies like “Silent Night” and the “Letter Writer” I am pleased with the change.

This is what the LDS community wants to see, I am so glad that the old ways of the Church only creating show that make you feel guilty and sermons have been replaced with shows to entertain and inspire. You think that it would have happened sooner but all in the Lord’s timing.

I can now watch all this stuff my ROKU which allows me to stream it to my TV.

For information about lds art and artist visit http://www.prophetpaintings.com

Roku a Good Idea for Mormon Families

Back in 2011 I was trying to find some information on some old television shows that I used to watch when I was a kid. I found that I could watch those episodes on Amazon Instant, however, I was not going to

get them becasue I thought that I would have to use my computer to watch them. I did some research and found that I could stream them to my TV, now I am not much of a streaming kind of guy I prefer owning the DVD because that way I get more freedom. The way I could stream them to my TV was from a little device called the Roku. When I say little device I mean it is a little device. The device is about 3 inches by 3 inches and about 1 inch deep, it can connect through HDMI or regular inputs. My wife was not sold on the idea but I got a Christmas bonus and purchased one and now my wife is hooked too. The reason it is such a valuable tool for Mormon families is:

1. You can get access to the Mormon Channel 24/7
2. You have access to BYUTV
3. You have access to PBS and KBYU shows
4. You have access to cooking channels
5. They are all FREE

There are paid services but most of things that you would want to watch would be free, the box itself ranges from $60 – $100. I do pay for a few services such as the Story of Liberty. There are tons of great stuff I would not hesitate to get one again.

 

My Home is Not My Home

One Saturday something particularly irritating happened, I got really angry about it, I began to yell and scream and honestly it ruined my whole day. My sister-in-law was visiting, she quickly left realizing that she probably ought to leave. A few days later I saw my sister-in-law again and told her that I was sorry that I was yelling. She said “It is your house”

“No it is not” I responded, “The house is the Lord’s house on loan”

My home is not my home it is the Lord’s home!

Pollyanna an LDS Perspective

I was watching the movie Pollyanna (the 1960 Disney version) with my children today. I watched the preacher preaching hell, fire, and damnation. It was quite funny. Wonder what our sacrament meetings would be like if we had fierce preachers yelling at us.

What a great movie, this movie takes me back to my childhood. I watched this movie over and over again, however, now that I am older and an adult my perspective on the movie has changed.

I just downloaded the book by Eleanor H. Porter from http://www.gutenberg.org and the movie is quite different from the book.

For some reason this movie strikes a chord with LDS members. I am not sure why but coming from a film background the movie is almost perfect everything from the costumes to the music. This is almost a perfect movie.

Recently BYU-TV has been playing lots of old Disney movies on Sunday nights like Toby Tyler, The Cat From Outer Space etc. The channel used to be general conference 24/7 which was okay for a while but I am glad they are showing other things. They have had several presentations on LDS art and LDS artists like Del Parsons and others. LDS members love to watch great movies that are okay for the whole family to watch I guess that is why I like Pollyanna.

Coming from a film background I found it interesting there was an old silent version of the film. I still like my old Disney version that I grew up with.