Polygamy is outlawed in utah, both by the states constitution, and in statute, where it is a thirddegree felony, with a possible punishment of five years in prison. Once i allowed myself to honestly evaluate biblical polygamy outside of the lds lens and the assumption that its practice was ordained of god, i came to the conclusion that old testament polygamy was tolerated and regulated like divorce and slavery. Rebecca was one of 39 children born to her fathers six wives in a polygamous cult called the apostolic united brethren aub, an offshoot of the utahbased fundamentalist latter day saints flds. But for their part, the order and other fundamentalist sects believe the lds church exists in a state of apostasy for abandoning what they see as a bedrock principle of their faith. Polyamorous marriages have been in existence for centuries. It is a truth universally acknowledged, or at least widely accepted in south sudan, that a man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of many wives. May 30, 2016 nate eaton speaks with carolyn jessop and her escape from polygamy and the flds church. Because of the number of people in the home, meals in the jessop home are not unlike holiday meals in other homes.
King solomon is said to have had 700 wives and 300 concubines 1. Life after the culta survivors lessons carolyn jessop, laura palmer on. To the contrary, the old testament and rabbinic writings frequently attest to the legality of polygamy. Jan 25, 2017 posted in year of polygamy join lindsay as she interviews mormon fundamentalist moroni lopez jessop, about his life as an indiepunk rock youth, living as a latino mormon fundamentalist and polygamist, being a father, and former social worker. Her family was part of the fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latterday saints flds, a radical offshoot of the mormon church. Ten to 12 adults and older adolescents sit at the main table, and six or seven children, toddlers to teens, sit at two tables in the adjoining room. Apr 20, 2009 bullies and abusers use god to support and sustain their reigns of terror. Does anybody know of any good books fiction and nonfiction. He does not call simple marriage to another adultery. If he had a revelation that in order to get a wife in line physical violence was required. My story of growing up in a polygamous sect, becoming a teenage bride, and breaking fr. She was raised in a polygamous family, with two mothers and twentyseven siblings, all members of the fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latterday saints flds. She is the cousin, by marriage, of flora jessop, another former flds member and advocate for abused children. President who performed the sealing that the order of calling forward after this life was the man would call for his wife, then he.
May 15, 2012 having myself been raised in a polygamous home i could relate to the article in the salt lake tribune law stays out of polygamous sects homeschooling that explores the need for improved educational opportunities for polygamous children. It discusses jessops upbringing in the flds polygamous community. Ed pilkington uncovers a closed world of sisterwives and. Who is flora jessop and why is she coming to eldorado. Soon after ann elizas story begins, a second exquisite narrative unfoldsa tale of murder involving a polygamist family in presentday utah. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. See more ideas about books to read, books and sister wives. I was wondering if you could explore how joseph smith got the idea of polygamy from the bible.
Jan 01, 2008 critical debate on these novels has been more divided about polygamy than the novels themselves. Abraham and sarah would have been monogamous apart from a low point in their faith when hagar became a second wife note how much strife this caused later. Polygamy is classified into two categories, polygyny, and polyandry. Oct 24, 2007 polygamy was the norm in carolyn jessop s life. In this and other books written by former polygamist wives, including church of lies by flora jessop or escape by carolyn jessop, polygamy is hardest on the women. Carolyn jessop born january 1, 1968 is a former fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latter day saints member who wrote escape, an autobiographical account of her upbringing in the polygamist sect and later flight from that community. She wrote in her book that her goals are to end child abuse in polygamous cults and. Horizon host ted simons introduces the interview conducted by merry lucero. Since 911, we have observed that certain groups have tried to capitalize on that tragedy by attacking islam from all sides unfortunately, even some christian tv channels have joined in this islambashing and are trying to tarnish the image of islam and th. These book on topic polygamy highly popular among the readers worldwide. I was born into six generations of polygamy on my mothers side and started life in hildale, utah, in a fundamentalist.
The pros and cons of polygamy essay 1543 words bartleby. It discusses jessop s upbringing in the flds polygamous community. Flora jessop born 1969 is an american social activist, author, and advocate for abused children biography. Carolyn jessop escaped from a polygamous marriage with her eight children and. Carolyn jessop was raised in the polygamist community and her family practiced it as well. Those who use this passage for that pervert it and add to the text proverbs 30. Fascinating and crazy, or maybe the order should be reversed. Theyre all trying to overcome an entire lifetime of intense control and indoctrination. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Carolyn jessop stated in her book that she endured regular unwanted sexual. The story carolyn jessop tells is so weird and shocking that one hesitates to believe a sect like this, with 10,000 polygamous followers, could really exist in 21stcentury america. Like most polygamist children, she grew up hiding her identity and lived in constant fear that strangers would.
The more power warren jeffs loses, the more desperate he becomes. As jeffs former bodyguard, jessop is one of the dojs most important witnesses, a key to taking down the flds. The author of the new york times bestseller escape returns with a moving and. Dec 30, 2008 escape provides an astonishing look behind the tightly drawn curtains of the flds church, one of the most secretive religious groups in the united states. Jessop talks about her flight from the fundamentalist mormon. The principle of polygamy as taught by the founders of the lds church, holds that a womans salvation depends on her being a plural wife and having as many babies as possible. In the cavernous hall fonetas sons form a receiving line at the foot of her open. Her father was arthur blackmore, and had only one wife, nurylon, for several years after carolyn was born. Life after the culta survivors lessons carolyn jessop, laura palmer. My story of growing up in a polygamous sect, becoming a teenage bride, and breakin. Even when they come out, they find it difficult not to be drawn back in, flora said. Jessop, 38, tells her extraordinary story in a riveting new book, escape broadway. Works on multiple marriage as a criminal offense are entered under bigamy see also whats at wikipedia, your library, or elsewhere. Carolyn jessops story of her life in the polygamous community the flds is.
So, are you legally married, you didnt get divorced. Liu ming, since he was young, lived in a savage prison named savage island where the prisoners arent controlled by any guard or security. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Ive read many of the popular books on this subject flds, and flora jessop s book, church of lies, is another excellent read. Never may an act of possession be exercised upon a free being. But the trial of a fundamentalist mormon for assisting in the rape of a minor could change all that.
After all, her own father had three wives by the time she was in fourth grade. Nov 20, 2006 over the years a blind eye has been turned to the practice of polygamy in the united states. When a man is married to more than one wife at a time, sociologists call this polygyny. The mourners have come for a viewing of 68yearold foneta jessop, who died of a heart attack a few days ago. Her story, which has been described as devastating and tragic, led author. A crosscultural analysis provides an examination and analysis of historical and contemporary polygamy. Escape is a book by carolyn jessop and laura palmer.
On july 26, 1953, soonthreeyearold val jessop lay asleep in his bed in the familyas cozy tworoom shack in short creek, arizona, on the utah border. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Jessop has spent much of her life fighting for others wishing to escape. Polygamy from late greek, polygamia, state of marriage to many spouses is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. A historical background stephanie coontz professor of history and family studies the evergreen state college director of research and public education council on contemporary families the new hbo television show, big love, has led many people to contact the council on contemporary families for background on polygamy. Adults and children, members of the fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latter day saints, gather beneath a covered porch at their temporary housing in san angelo, texas. It outlines polygamys place in anthropological theory and its rich sociocultural diversity in countries ranging from the usa and uk to malaysia, india, regions of africa and tibet. Jordan scott, a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect years earlier, must reenter the world that cast him aside in order to discover the truth behind his fathers death. Here are entered works on the practice of having more than one spouse. Two years after helping laurene escape, anti polygamy activist flora jessop says shes not surprised that women who escape polygamy sometimes go back.
Jessop is the author of a book, church of lies, telling her personal story. She is the eldest of her father and mothers children, born on january 1, 1968. Polygamy is a type of marriage that is often practiced around the world specifically in asia, middle east, and africa. I was home schooled up to the fifth grade and was pulled out of school to. At 88, joe jessop is an elder of the fundamentalist church of jesus christ of. How i escaped polygamy, the flds cult, and my father. When the island sinks due to mysterious events, only a handful of people survive those survivors are then pursued by the government. Her childhood was affected by the sects suspicion of outsiders, the division that took place in that flds in the 1970s and 80s and by the increasing strictness of the sect her family belonged to. She launched a group called the child protection project through which she worked to educate the public about the horrors of polygamy. When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry. Yes this is gritty, but its not so crude that you should be afraid to read it.
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