A Focus on Plural Families
Presented by
Principle Voices
~Do Nothing About Us, Without Us~
History of Polygamy
Polygamy began thousands of years before
it was re-established as a Mormon
doctrine. Many patriarchs of the Old
Testament had plural wives – Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob and others. To this day,
Islam, a religion with millions of believers
worldwide allows the practice of plural
wives. Many other societies and world
religions also allow the practice.
Early Mormonism and
Plural Marriage
Joseph Smith, Jr., (1805-1844) was the
founder or “restorer” of the latter-day gospel
of Jesus Christ, commonly called Mormonism.
The Manifesto
• In 1890 the fourth LDS President, Wilford
Woodruff, issued a press release known as the
“Manifesto.” The Manifesto, along with a
proposed state constitution which promised to
prohibit polygamy “forever,” opened the way
for Utah to achieve statehood. Plural families
that stayed together after the Manifesto
became stigmatized. Polygamous children
were teased and ridiculed by children of
Mormon monogamists, a situation which never
would have existed or been permitted before
the Manifesto.
Fundamentalist Mormons by
Affiliation
• There are many different groups that call
themselves Fundamentalist Mormons.
• This is a general term that applies to
those who believe in the fundamental
principles and doctrines of the LDS
Gospel as taught by Joseph Smith and
Brigham Young.
Fundamentalist Mormons by Affiliation
Fundamentalist Mormons by Affiliation
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
15,000
10,000
7,500
1,500
Independents
FLDS
AUB
1,500
Centennial Park Kingstons
1,500
Others
Diversity
• As you try to understand the polygamous
culture, it is very important to realize the
tremendous diversity that exists among
those who today refer to themselves as
Fundamentalist Mormons. As a whole,
Fundamentalist Mormons are peaceloving, hard-working and very dedicated
to their beliefs.
Diversity
• Independents: Independent Fundamentalist Mormons do not
belong to any organized group.
• FLDS: Fundamentalist Latter-day Saints
• The AUB: Apostolic United Brethren, or Allred group
• Centennial Park: The Work of Jesus Christ
• Davis County Co-op: Kingstons
• Others: Missouri communities, Nielsen/Naylor group, Winston
Blackmore group, True and Living Church of Saints of the Last
Days
Beliefs and Practices
• Dress and hair: Probably the most noticeable are
the pioneer dress and hair styles of the women in
the FLDS. The appearance of most other
Fundamentalist women who have assimilated into
society is less distinctive, keeping in mind that
modesty is very important.
• Authority: From group to group there is a
difference in their claims of Priesthood authority.
Each group has its own organizational structure.
Doctrines: There are even some differences
in doctrinal beliefs and many variations in
how those doctrines are practiced.
LDS Church: They also differ in their
feelings about the LDS Church – with some
being very sympathetic and others more
antagonistic.
Why Secrecy?
• The 1935 Arrests – On August 16, 1935,
Arizona authorities raided Short Creek,
arresting six of their most solid citizens.
After court trials, two polygamists served
jail time.
• The 1944 “Boyden Crusade” – In 1938, the LDS
First Presidency conducted surveillance of known
suspects living polygamy and ended up turning
those records over to the Attorney General’s office
for use in legal prosecution. The 1944 raid was a
combined effort of local, state, and federal
governments to eradicate polygamy “once and for
all” in a massive round-up of polygamists. At
6:00 a.m. on March 7, 1944, law enforcement
pounded on doors throughout Utah, Idaho, and
Arizona. Some forty-six men and women were
taken into custody, mostly on charges of unlawful
cohabitation and conspiracy. After many months
the courts convicted fifteen men of unlawful
cohabitation.
• The 1953 Short Creek Raid – On July 26, 1953 at 4:00
a.m. a huge contingent of law enforcement raided Short
Creek. Arizona officials who staged the raid believed it
was their job to “rescue 263 children from virtual
bondage” and “from a lifetime of immoral practices
without their ever having had an opportunity to learn of or
observe the outside world and its concepts of decent
living.” The plan was to send the fathers to jail and to
place mothers and their children in LDS homes, where
“they could live a proper and normal life.” Five
commercial Trailways buses with no bathroom facilities
hauled 56 women and 153 children on a 17-hour journey to
Phoenix and Mesa. Most of the families were then
scattered among strangers in LDS homes. Eventually,
almost all the women and children were returned to their
homes because of violations of due process by authorities.
STEREOTYPES
• As with any culture, there are certain
stereotypes that unfortunately tend to label all
those within that culture.
• Because of the secrecy in which many
polygamous families have lived for over 100
years, those outside the culture have often
substituted speculation and sensationalism for
real knowledge and understanding.
Awareness of Personal Biases About Polygamy
• What is your picture of a polygamous
culture/family?
• What are the sources of these biases?
(religion, social traditions, media,
personal experience, something you
heard, other)
• How could you apply the principles of
cultural responsiveness to polygamous
families?
• Name two or three ways you could find
some kind of common ground with the
people of this culture.
Family
• What is a plural family?
– Average number of wives is 2 to 3.
– There is no required number of wives.
– One household vs. separate households.
Financial
• How do they support large families?
– Budget conscious.
– Shop in bulk.
– Older children contribute to family.
– Sometimes one wife will work and one will stay home
to take care of the children.
Education
• As each group is varied, so are their
approaches to education.
–
–
–
–
Private school
Public school
Charter school
Home school
Myths and Stereotypes
• Myth: Polygamists form a tightly-knit,
homogeneous community.
• Fact: There is significant variability among and
within groups which practice plural marriage.
• Myth: Women are totally submissive to their
husbands, with little control over their life
choices or circumstances.
• Fact: While this may clearly describe some
plural wives, many women are highly
independent and well educated. They often help
financially support their families as well as the
day-to-day care of their large families.
• Myth: Men have a “really good deal” – caring for, and ruling over,
a virtual harem.
• Fact: Men bear extraordinary responsibility- not only for their large
families, but also to support their respective churches.
• Myth: Girls are typically encouraged (or forced) to marry in their
early to mid teens to a man who has been selected for them, often
without their knowledge or consent.
• Fact: The age at which women typically marry varies widely among
and within groups, as does the process by which their husbands are
selected. In some traditions young women “date” men to whom they
are attracted much as they would in the monogamous culture. They
may initiate the relationship by indicating to the man that they would
like to join his family. In other groups, a marriage may be arranged
by the young woman’s father and/or church leader, similar to
arranged marriages that take place in other cultures.
• Myth: Domestic violence, physical and
sexual abuse of women and children is
common within polygamous groups.
• Fact: There is currently no known
evidence that abuse is more prevalent in
polygamous societies than in mainstream
society. But because of fear of prosecution
for practicing polygamy, many are afraid of
reporting abuse, thus continuing the cycle of
violence and the risk of exposure.
Fear of Government/Legal System
• Fear of being imprisoned.
• Fear of being separated from/losing children
because of polygamy.
• Fear of losing jobs, customers, or contracts.
• Fear of losing home.
• Fear of law enforcement/not being treated
fairly.
Plural Communities/Barriers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fear of being portrayed as “strange” or “perverse.”
Fear of those in the “system” not understanding.
Hate crimes.
No frame of reference for service providers.
Embarrassment.
Fear of being judged.
Not knowing how to fill out paper work for help or
services. (Due to family dynamics, individuals
maybe accused of lying when, in fact, they are just
confused on how to answer questions.)
Note: These barriers are similar to barriers faced by undocumented immigrants
and the GLTBQ communities.
Suggestions When Working
With Plural Families
• Recognize that substantial diversity exists among
and within polygamous groups, families and
couples.
• Recognize that additional time and effort may be
necessary to establish trust and understanding.
• Be sensitive of the individual’s “comfort zone,”
specifically when gathering background
information about other family members.
• Be aware that each relationship is unique and
confidential within the extended family and the
community.
• Dress modestly.
• Focus on the issue at hand – example DV.
• Assure confidentiality.
• Acknowledge the relationship without making
assumptions.
• Be aware that many, but not all, polygamous
families prefer to use alternative methods of
health and healing in regard to prevention, i.e.,
naturopathy, herbs, etc.
• Be aware that a significant number of
Fundamentalist Mormons are opposed to
immunizations; nearly all obtain birth
certificates; many prefer home births with an
attending midwife.
• Respect each person’s beliefs and customs, whether or
not you personally agree with them.
• Keep in mind that just because people are part of the
polygamous culture, it does not necessarily mean they
are living plural marriage. Probably most of the families
are monogamous. Most men who do have plural wives,
probably have only two or three.
• Recognize that the vast majority of plural families are
otherwise law-abiding citizens who do not marry
underage girls and who take pride in supporting
themselves without outside assistance.
• Be truthful about your limited knowledge of the culture.
Listen, learn, try to understand and empathize before
determining proper course of action.
Proper Terminology
Negative Terms
More “Politically Correct” suggestions
*Clan
*Fundamentalist group or community
*Compound
*Neighborhood; enclosed community
*“Creekers”
*Residents of Hildale, Colorado City
*Cult
*Culture
*“escaped” from polygamy
*“left the polygamous lifestyle” or
escaped from and abusive situation.
Negative Terms
More “Politically Correct” suggestions
*Polygamist groups
*Fundamentalist groups or
Fundamentalist Mormons
*Polygamy (derogatory
term for some)
*Plural marriage (used more
frequently within the culture)
*Second Ward(ers)
*Residents of Centennial Park,
AZ.
*Spiritual wife
*Plural wife.
Closing
• Remember that working with plural families takes
time. Bridges must be built and trust must be
established.
Contact Principle Voices at www.principlevoices.org
Mary Batchelor or Anne Wilde
[email protected]