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Story of a Girl's Escape from polygamy

glamour.com — I started sewing my wedding dress when I was 14 years old. Most girls would never think of marriage at such a young age, but some of my peers were already wives and mothers. I knew it wouldn ’t be long before I was married off, just like my mother had been, to a man who would eventually have three or more wives.

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  • vroom101, on 10/10/2007, -9/+231Started reading, couldn't and didn't stop until I reached the end. It's an excellent article definitely worthy of -- The DIGG Front Page!
    • Mylonite, on 10/10/2007, -0/+23Seriously - this is a very powerful piece. I actually thought it was fiction - it seemed too well written. Towards the end she says that stories like these are usually brushed off as ramblings of the devil. She did an excellent job of hitting just the right notes - I hope the article gets through to some people.
      • Shorties, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Yeah it was amazingly written, hell I think this would be an amazing movie, so original and completely true!
    • kmpr326, on 10/10/2007, -0/+19This is amazing. I wish I could digg this a more times for this woman's courage. I never really thought about how bad it was. I always felt horrible about how the children of those super religious families would learn to hate those not like them. Now, I see this and I see what it is to be a slave in America. My heart goes out to these people.
      • toonworld, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Yes they are thought to hate or distance themselves from anyone outside of their circle. I can see right through it actually. It's all about control and it goes something like this:

        If they reject and distance themselves from the rest of the population, the rest of the population will treat them as outcasts.. an equal and opposite reaction.
        Follow the faith or you go to Hell... control through fear.
        If you don't follow the faith, you risk being rejected and out casted by your inner circle... so the result would be that you are rejected from your religious circle AND the rest of the population, you're alone.

        What this woman went through... it was beyond courage. Good for her, well done!
    • h4mx0r, on 10/10/2007, -0/+19It had a great ending too. The prophet = owned.

      Good riddance.

      Well written indeed.
    • 2shae, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Saw this story and women on CNN today.
      she was pretty hot on tv :P
    • philconow, on 10/10/2007, -0/+14Haven't read something of this quality on digg in a long time.
      80% of digg "stories" have a (pic) at the end of the title.
    • felidaeus, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9I read this article, and the first thing that popped into my mind was:

      God created adam and eve,
      not adam, eve, lucy, and marge.
  • lordtyros, on 10/10/2007, -19/+165This was a really interesting and well written piece. Also, she has the Tig Ol' Bitties.
    • spoiled1, on 10/10/2007, -6/+101Yeah! .. She should go pose for Playboy and become one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriend ... wait ... whats polygamy?
      • Zerocool.956, on 10/10/2007, -22/+2wasn't sure if you were being sarcastic but polygamy = marrying several people
      • tim04, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6you weren't "sure"? my god retard...you think he just mentioned Hugh Hefner by accident?
      • PacoDEmu, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I think Heff's situation would be considered polyamory not polygamy since they're his girlfriends not his wives.
    • bobcrotch, on 10/10/2007, -3/+18***** dude thats the only reason why I clicked, thanks!
    • vSuperLuminal, on 10/10/2007, -9/+6Mmmmm. Bitties.
    • thexaspect, on 10/10/2007, -18/+32seriously? wtf? the girl has had a seriously screwed up life, and has overcome enormous challenges and issues, and all you can focus on is the size of her breasts? grow up man.
      • spoiled1, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8so did Anna Nicole ... oh I see a connection between these two.... what could it be?? mmmm boobies.... http://www.msu.edu/course/isb/202/ebertmay/images/boobies.jpg
      • tsotha, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12Who cares? I mean, good for her and all, but it's not like I'm gonna date her. However, I can look at her picture and apreciate what I see.
      • hmunkey, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9He's joking... welcome to Digg.
      • shanevendrell, on 10/10/2007, -7/+6Thats all I can focus on, in fact i jacked off to it *not lying*
      • shanevendrell, on 10/10/2007, -13/+3Thats all I can focus on, in fact i jacked off to it *not lying*
      • shanevendrell, on 10/10/2007, -13/+3Thats all I can focus on, in fact i jacked off to it *not lying*
      • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8Lighten up. Before he said she had big ol' titties, he said it was a very well written piece. And indeed, it was very well written, and I'm glad that something like this still has the chance of hitting the front page.

        With that said, she DOES have nice breasts. Nothing wrong with that. We're men. We can appreciate a good story, and we can appreciate a good rack.
    • Dulcinea80, on 10/10/2007, -0/+41Ya... something tells me it wasn't her "long blond hair and warm eyes" the boys liked.
    • WorfoSAUR, on 10/10/2007, -1/+13No probably not....I've never seen a polyg that looks very good. I live in Utah and they are all over the place. Fridays and Saturdays are polyg days at Wal-Mart
      • PacoDEmu, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1oh god, that is a scary mental image...
    • houndeyex, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2I'm not sure how you can claim that. The one little picture doesn't give a great look at them.
      • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Once you are as experienced as we are, you can spot a set from a mile away. Once you get real good, you can spot a fake set from a real set.

        You can tell by how her shirt sinks, and how the right one is sticking out a little, that is for all you newbie breast spotters
    • pixelbasic, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Sucks for him.
  • brklynmark, on 10/10/2007, -39/+9I can haz hymen?
  • CaptMonkey, on 10/10/2007, -6/+63A very good read. I'm all for letting people live however they want, but I'm kind of against polygamy, at least the one man to many women style. Sure, it sounds cool to have lots of wives, but in reality, when men are marrying three or more women, that's leaving a lot of the rest of us men with no one. If half of the men have just two wives, that leaves the other half of us alone. And most of us think it's hard enough to find a woman as it is...
    • soulmist, on 10/10/2007, -6/+58obviously you've never been in a long term relationship with a woman- i can't stand ONE wife, i couldn't imagine having three
      • trouble916, on 10/10/2007, -4/+6I think the theory is if one wife is being a bitch... at least you have 2 others to turn to instead. Which should eventually lead to her not being a bitch if it happens enough?

        I can't for the life of me imagine a day when all three or however many of them are being... well, wives :)
    • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -1/+65I'd allow consenting adults to be in whatever relationship they want, the point with this sort of thing is there is rarely consent and these aren't adults.

      Personally I think polygamy (at least in the traditional sense as opposed to mere consenting open relationships) is disgusting but freedom is freedom. It is important to be able to dislike something and still recognise where consenting adults have the right to choose their own path. I don't like polygamy so would never become a polygamist.
      • Vicissidude, on 10/10/2007, -2/+13Polygamy creates an unstable society. For every extra woman that one man takes, it leaves another man without. At some point, there is a significant population of single men who will never marry and never settle down and possibly never have sex. These single men disrupt their societies. Polygamous societies either have to eliminate these single men or go to extraordinary lengths to control their sexual urges that will never be satisfied. Fundamentalist Mormons do this by banishing boys and labeling them as lost. Islamic countries that allow polygamy go the route of extreme control. If you want a stable society, polygamy must be outlawed.
        • GGoldberry, on 10/10/2007, -7/+5That is the silliest thing I have ever heard. Many people in our society choose to be single, and stay single. Whether or not they decide to have sex is not your problem. I don't think allowing polygamy will cause chaos and tremendous uncontrolled sexual urges. Consenting adults should be allowed to do as they please.
          • Vicissidude, on 10/10/2007, -0/+15Choosing to be single is fundamentally different than being forced to be single because of a lack of available women.

            Want to see violence in society? Take a group of men and tell them they'll never have sex in their lives because another group of men are hoarding the women. It's like you're asking for murder.
          • quillis87, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7You are wrong to think that polygamy won't lead to tremendous uncontrolled sexually urges leading to chaos becuase it already does in many islamic societies. There are many fascinating articles about polygamy being the cause of many to all suicide bombers becasue in those religions, martyrs are promised 100 virgins when they go to heaven. They do not choose to live single sexless lives, they are forced to. Their only option, in their minds, to satisfy urges that come from the deepest most controlloing part of your brain, and that is kill yourself in the name of god to be rewarded with 100 virgins. Sex is more than an urge, it is a necessity according to our bodies. Sex is necessary for the survival of our species and it is an animalistic instinct that humans need.
          • polyphonic, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4disagree. a polygamous society would be quite unstable when 2/3 of the men are single and have been taught all their life that the only way to get to heaven is to have 3 wives.
        • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Who is to say there won't be equal number of many men sharing one woman. It swings both ways.

          //edit - and in most cases things would carry on with normal 1-1 relationships. Polygamy would probably be less than an error value.//
          • Vicissidude, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5No it doesn't. Take a look at human societies worldwide. Take a look at nature. It's extremely rare for multiple males to share one female. Without monogamy, the males generally beat up on each other until one wins and takes all the females he can. That is, until someone finally beats him.
        • MrSteamTank, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5@GMorgan, sorry but it's different than you believe. Men and women usually get into these relationships often to have children. When 1 man has many women at least everyone in that partnership is guaranteed to have children which are their own. When 1 woman has many men then not every man is guaranteed to have their own child and it leads moreso to jealousy as the men don't know which child is their own.

          Personally, I want to start a family but it would drive me crazy if I didn't know which child was actually mine and which wasn't(maybe I'd end up with 0 children if I was unlucky). That fact in itself would completely stop me from entering into such an arrangement.

          Due to biological reasons polygamy generally is a few powerful men with many women and due to that reason it leads to an societal unrest.
        • pintomp3, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4we have a tried and true method of getting rid of extra men: war.
    • eatbeefjerky, on 10/10/2007, -2/+26Oh yes, nevermind the fact that the WOMEN are always forced into such marriages, and at the age of ***** FOURTEEN. Jesus Christ, nevermind THEIR plight, just think of yourself. Jolly good. I hate people.
      • ricree, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3Ah yes, because the situation you described is between consenting adults. Seriously, I agree with GMorgan here. Consenting adults should be able to enter into whatever relationships they want. The issue here is that it wasn't with consenting adults. Even if you completely eliminated polygamy from this story, it would still be ***** up because of the forced marriages. The polygamy seems to be the least of the issues she faced.
    • Chongo, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Awwwwww
  • ajacobs, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7Good story!
  • Yuo122986, on 10/10/2007, -1/+83I was suppose to leave work, damn you informational narrative!! Now I'll have to sit through traffic... but at least I'll be happy knowing she broke free of her oppressive religion and lived life her own way
  • Hananda, on 10/10/2007, -0/+71"The idea behind polygamy in the FLDS is that a man must have at least three wives in order to go to heaven."

    So, they condemn roughly two out of three men of their own faith to hell right from the get-go, eh. I can't believe this group has survived as long as it has.
    • rnnbob, on 10/10/2007, -8/+3No they just have more children to marry off to save them.
      • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+14Yes but 50% of those kids are male. You could pull it off by massively expanding the population by 300% each generation so perhaps it is just a clever tool.
        • eskay, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Well, maybe that is the plan: the article said that she was one of 13 children, which is more than 3x the four 'parents'.
    • Terr01, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6Perhaps wives from elsewhere. Dunno, mail-order?
    • Jshnlsn, on 10/10/2007, -1/+20It's similar in case to the Jehovah's Witnesses - who believe that only 144,000 members of their faith will actually get to the "real" heaven. It's like a ladder ranking system, the more people you bring to salvation, the higher your ranking. So, as you bring more people to salvation you condemn them to not heaven and knock your family and friends out of the running for heaven.
      • iDragonFly, on 10/10/2007, -0/+25Sounds like a video game.
      • dorianh49, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1Sounds like he has absolutely no idea what he's talking about. At all.
      • derforseti, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Isn't it quite specifically mentioned in the bible that 144,000 people will make it into heaven? There's also something in there about the fall of Babylon. I don't suppose they meant Iraq.
        • Vicissidude, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Actually yes, that number is quite clear.
        • felidaeus, on 10/10/2007, -3/+5Correct, and it is 144000 JEWS only.

          Shame Christ says all can come to heaven who believe in Him and follow His ways. This is why you can't pick and chose. The 144000 refers to something else.
          • ostracize, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5It is 144 000 ISRAELITES. Only 12 000 are Jews (Judah).
    • raitchison, on 10/10/2007, -0/+48Which is why they excommunicate boys like there's no tomorrow, to reduce competition for wives.
      • groovin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Excellent strategy for disseminating ones genes.
    • StarManta, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5It survives because the men that do have children, have ridiculous numbers of them.
    • NikoKun, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6What's described in this story... is the bad end of the spectrum...
      But there are ways in which polygamy can work well... It's just not a clear issue...
      I know people who live in a consensual polygamy relationship and things work great for them... hell I had 2 dads and 1 mom... my brother and me share different fathers, who both lived with us at the same time. lol ***** weird... but it worked out alright.
    • Sdiggmatism, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Only one rule is needed to make polygamy work well. Your next wife must be older than the oldest one you already have or older than you if you don't have any. The retarded part is where some 90 year old is about to kick off but has only scored twice.

      "Can you hook me up with that 14 year old with the huge jugs?"
    • jer2eydevil88, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6George Bush was elected to a second term by a slim majority of Americans, I lost all faith in mobs being intelligent after that one. Scientologists are becoming more mainstream and there is a creationism MUSEUM so forgive me on this but its not even registering on my shock scale that people are stupid enough to belong to these kind of prejudicial cults.
  • iDragonFly, on 10/10/2007, -0/+92This was a well written article.

    What is not discussed much - yet - is the tragedy that follows many of the 'lost boys'.
    Boys are not of much value to the so-called 'Prophet' or some of the other polygamist husbands, and are often treated like unwanted drones kicked from the hive, and left to fend for themselves at an early age.

    Girls however, are a valuable commodity as they can be used for trade/favors with other men looking to add young females to their fold.

    The lack of choice for the women and children caught in this web of fundamental hypocrisy is what I find so horribly disturbing.
    • Antha, on 10/10/2007, -0/+16I've known a couple of the Lost Boys who wandered up to Salt Lake and subsequently got strung out on drugs. It's very sad to me that their families completely turn their backs on them.

      I'm glad she got out. I wish more would. She would have ended up nothing more than a breeding cow, cleaning houses for rich ladies for extra money to bring home to their huge families in overcrowded dumpy houses in West Valley. (My aunt had polygamist cleaning ladies.)
  • tucsonsun13, on 10/10/2007, -44/+11America: Read this and other Mormon "experiences" before voting for Romney, seriously.
    • stukdog, on 10/10/2007, -3/+27Of course, this has nothing to do with the Mormons. I'd say that's a good thing for Romney.
      • Vicissidude, on 10/10/2007, -7/+7You've got to be joking. Romney is descended from polygamists. The only reason the Mormons eliminated polygamy from their cult is because that was a prerequisite for Utah statehood. Otherwise, the Mormons would still be polygamist and there would be no separate FLDS churches.
    • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -9/+31The FLDS religion is as Mormon as the Catholic, Protestant or Lutheran religions are.

      Maybe you should read more about the Mormon religion and break your ignorance.
      • BillyB0b, on 10/10/2007, -4/+16The FLDS church is an off-chute of the LDS (Mormon) church and any ties between the two churches have been denounced several times by the LDS church. That would be like saying the USA is part of Brittan because the original members of the USA (the colonies) were British.
        • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1Which is kind of what I said :)

          Lifelong Mormon here.
          • st3vo, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Same here, glad to see others setting comments straight.
      • Antha, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I recommend "Under the Banner of Heaven" if you want more information on the FLDS church.

        I'm a life-long Utahn, but I am not Mormon.
    • nirv117, on 10/10/2007, -1/+32Romney isn't a member of the FLDS church that the article talks about.
    • Terr01, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10I don't consider the Westboro Baptists as representative of Baptists either:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church
      • MacEnvy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I guess you and I haven't met the same Baptists then. But I suppose that's due to me growing up in the sticks, where the pastor of the Baptist church would have been fully behind Westboro.
    • BryanUT, on 10/10/2007, -10/+3exmormon.org
    • Pfhreak, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9I won't be voting for Romney, but not because he's Mormon, because he's, well, Romney. The "Mormon Church" (LDS) renounced polygamy in 1904, which is when this FLDS group left, so the two are not associated anymore. Especially when you consider that the Mormon Church excommunicates polygamists now.
    • Kyouto, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7wasn't the difference between the LDS and the FLDS discussed in, like, the 2nd paragraph?
  • Hetman, on 10/10/2007, -28/+13I dont like mormones because they give polygomy a bad name. Im all for polygomy or monogomy. I am just against forcing anyone to marry any person they do not wish to. Trading young women as a commodity is just horrible.
    • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -2/+20Then you should be with the Mormons. They condemn modern-day polygomy just as anybody else does. It's the Fundamentalist LDS church you shouldn't like.
      • jesuscrust, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6The LDS church might decry polygamy during interviews and public statements, but the 'Principle' is still very much believed, if not outright taught. Although I've since left the Mormon church, I was raised in it, and I remember it being taught as a law that men would have to obey in order to enter heaven. It was assumed that if it couldn't be lived in this life, they would have multiple wives in the hereafter.
    • Terr01, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8"I dont like mormones because they give polygomy a bad name"

      With phrases like that and such spelling, I must ask: Are you trolling?
      • Hetman, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3I am not trolling I have bad spelling im sorry. I am not going to go out of my way to correct it. I just believe in personal choice. If three people want to get married they should have that choice. Do I think it is right to to trade femal kids like they are personal property No. But I beleive that polyogamy can be a personal choice that people want to make and they should be allowed to do it.
        • GGoldberry, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2But the point still stands.. this article is NOT about the Mormon church, it is about the Fundamentalist LDS. The Mormons have already denounced the practices of the FLDS, and have not officially practiced polygamy since Utah was allowed into the United States.
    • Hetman, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8That is what i meant to say. I did read the article. I just have a problem with anyone in general who is against Polygamy. It seems wierd that if three consenting adults want to get married they cannot. And personally I do not care if it is two guys and 1 women or 2 women and 1 men.
    • skankyBacon, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Young kids and their mormones, always getting into trouble.
  • westfork, on 10/10/2007, -31/+20I didn't read TFA, but when I lived close to Pinesdale, MT (polygamist Morman town), I came to know and rub elbows with some of the practitioners... Let me tell you, the men have it made, most of the men I knew had hobby businesses, while the "wives" were out there earning the real money in a real (drudgery) job.

    I knew one guy with 3 good looking "wives" one, brunette, one blond, and one redhead, the income they brought in allowed him to pretty much live a life of leisure, the pimp.
    • Speciou5, on 10/10/2007, -0/+17Maybe you should read the article. The way these people treat their women and boys is horrible and shouldn't be admired.
      Besides, I wouldn't want three "wives" if it means I have to be brainwashed and yelled at after wasting an entire day on a mountain waiting for god to lift the warren to heaven.
      • Antha, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Well, in his defense, there are different polygamist factions in Utah and the surrounding areas. FLDS is the one that gets the most press, because they're so far out there, it's unreal. But I have known one family of polygamists that live pretty normal lives, dress normally, and live quite happily, not trying to force their lifestyle on anyone else, or their kids.

        The Jessops and Kingstons are also huge polygamist clans, but I don't know much about them.
        • jer2eydevil88, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3In Antha's defense it is not uncommon to look through what we know of Christian History and find tales of Polygamy. What is terrible is when the culture of it forces oppression and discrimination amongst the weakest members of the cult.
  • wildchild77, on 10/10/2007, -15/+3damn. nice rack.
  • Magillicutti, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9Great article.. I'm going to go watch season 1 of Big Love straight through now.

    No, I'm just kidding.
  • DiggzDE, on 10/10/2007, -23/+3I hate emo people. I hate brats as well.
    • jamangold, on 10/10/2007, -8/+0Emo is Goth for pussies.
    • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7Yeah they should so get over the fact they were forced into marriage as a child. I mean that's nothing to be pissed off about.
      • DiggzDE, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I was talking about the person who posted this Digg, not the story.
  • 7Mystery, on 10/10/2007, -1/+33

    Why some men would marry more then one women is beyond me. The thought of one gives me the creeps.
    • crispee, on 10/10/2007, -5/+8If you haven't noticed, many men have a hard time keeping their schlong in their pants. This is simply a way for a guy to ***** around and still feel like they're moral, upstanding people because their BOOKS tell them that sex outside of marriage is a sin.

      Protestant Christian pastors do the same thing, only gayer and high on drugs.
    • jer2eydevil88, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3A relationship with one women could be for Sex, Family, Love and Companionship but most of all its about sharing your life with someone who means everything to you.

      Find that person and the only thing that will creep you out will be life without them.
  • RocketSeason, on 10/10/2007, -24/+6Wow. My wife was raised mormon and she knows nothing about this. It's interesting how mormons shelter themselves from their past and their beliefs.
    • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -2/+12FLDS isn't a part of the Mormon relgion. If your wife was raised Mormon she should know this.
      • RocketSeason, on 10/10/2007, -7/+6FLDS is what the Mormon relgion USED to be and there for, the fundemental roots and beliefs of the Mormon religion can be found in the FLDS My wife knows very little about the Book of Mormon. They gloss over the polygomy and they gloss over the racisim. (the tribe turned against God and so God turned their skin brown so that all could see their wickedness) They deny the very beliefs that make them who they are. It is as if Mormons are a people without a religion, because if they were to really study and reflect on their beliefs, they would come to the realization that what they belive just isn't right.
        • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4Again you don't seem to know what you're talking about.

          The FLDS religion branched off when the LDS church banned polygamy but they have gone a LONG way since then, changing many more beliefs than just their views on polygamy.

          As for knowing the Book of Mormon, it is very thoroughly studied in Sunday School and individual study is always encouraged. I was raised Mormon and I know all about the polygamist history and the issues of race and the Revelation of 1978.

          If your wife was raised Mormon she wasn't paying very much attention in church.
    • Pfhreak, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3"FLDS isn't a part of the Mormon relgion." Yes and no. Joseph Smith's church splintered when he died, Brigham Young's group was just the largest faction. The founders of the FLDS church then left the mainstream Mormon religion when polygamy was banned in 1904.
      • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3When Joseph Smith died his family, believing that his sons should be the next prophet, formed the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, often referred to as the Reorganized Church. It has now been renamed the Community of Christ.
  • skyfire1, on 10/10/2007, -24/+7Wow. Erotic stories reach the front page. Thanks Digg.
    • osmaker, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5I guess I'm just not sick enough to joke about girls (many underaged) being forced to marry (and have sex) with someone they don't love.

      Dugg your comment down.
  • Talphin, on 10/10/2007, -21/+4I say we abolish marriage completely. It is a ridiculous religious tradition which attempts to prevent nature from taking its course... FREE SEX!
    • Jwoey, on 10/10/2007, -1/+11I'd just be happy if we got rid of the religious aspect. The undeserved sanctity that it carries. Its completely worthless and as I said, undeserved.
    • GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10...and those who want marriage?

      There's this freedom thing you see...
    • tsunamitomi, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4There is no such thing a "Free Sex" ask any honest woman.
      • MacEnvy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Closing time at the bar after your buddy bought her 10 drinks then passed out. That's as free as it gets.

        Oh nevermind, you said honest woman, not average woman.
    • elnerdo, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8That would be a good idea, if it wouldn't entirely screw over the next generation. From what I understand, most people prefer to grow up with parents than without.
    • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2elnerdo

      Just because marriage joins 2 people, does not mean that 2 people can't be joined otherwise.

      I happen to also think that marriage is a ridiculous tradition. I mean seriously, 75% of marriages end up in divorce anyway, what is the point?

      Why do people feel the need for something like marriage to validate their love for someone? One of the many misconceptions of people in America (from someone who lives there)..
      • Tabris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+175%? Two days ago the average was 50%, and the actual average is estimated to be lower, because that 50 includes all marriages from 3 days ago to 50 years ago.
      • Tabris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1down
      • iDragonFly, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Actually, marriage affords a contract between two people that give each party a measure of legal protection in regard to collective assets and shared liabilities.
        For that reason it makes sense.

        Personally, I think the religious aspect of marriage is what is ridiculous in it's tradition. (That is, unless both parties desire it.)
        I find it tiresome to have religion so tightly woven into nearly every aspect of the human experience that few ever question it's presence in most traditions.
  • Roguecop, on 10/10/2007, -4/+67Interesting to note that Islamic extremist terrorists get there stock of suicide bombers from young impressionable middle eastern males who are poor, uneducated and largely single. Largely single due to polygamy. Every attractive young lady in the neighborhood is swept up and taken to the local sheik/oil mogul/whatever palace. Simply add in the promise of 75 virgins in heaven and presto you have a lonely and horny fool without much to lose ready to die for his 'religion'. Most people think that polygamy favors men, they could not be more wrong.
    • iDragonFly, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11Pardon me for disagreeing with you, because in way you are right.

      Polygamy most certainly does favor men.
      The favoring revolves around only a tiny percentage of the male polygamist population however.

      Women, children and the 'Lost boys' are the real victims in this picture.
      • centerblack, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I know what I would do if I were a lost boy. I'd form an entire band of lost boys, but with more guns and ammunition than we started with.
    • Bajeda, on 10/10/2007, -1/+11Polygamy is not very common at all in Islamic countries today. You want to know why so many terrorists come from Saudi Arabia and dont care if they die? Go to Saudi. No alcohol, no music, no dances, no fun of any kind because Wahabism is like puritanism reborn in Islamic form. Add in the fact that most young Saudis have little to no chance of getting jobs even after getting out of college since the country is a huge welfare state where all the important oil jobs are left to foreigners, the government posts are held by urban notables in favour with the royal family or with family ties, and whats left is menial labor done by expatriate workers, plus the fact that Saudi Arabia forces its citizens to practice such an extreme form of Islam as it is, its not hard to explain why so many suicide bombers come from there.

      To blame it on polygamy and the promise of virgins in heaven is stupid. *****, do you think people over there ride camels to school and have oil drills in their backyard as well?
    • theotherbastard, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1So, polygamy leads to terrorism?
  • kurtwinter, on 10/10/2007, -0/+30How these societies continue is completely incomprehensible. This is no different than other misogynistic cultures that place blame for rape on the victim, cut out girls' clitorises or give up their daughters for sacrifice to Kali. Although this is more palatable than those, is it really different? Mothers sending their daughters out to be abused, because they believe themselves to be less than. Makes me sick. We should arrest the men as pedo's, parents as abusers and send the kids to grow up with normal people.
    • Pfhreak, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10"In May 2006, Warren Jeffs was placed on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list for crimes against children, but he avoided capture for many months. Then, in late August 2006, he was arrested near Las Vegas. Among other charges, Warren faces two felony counts of rape for performing the spiritual marriage of a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old cousin in Utah. He is awaiting a trial date. Technically, Warren is still the Prophet, but it’s been reported that record numbers of people are abandoning the FLDS."
    • GUTTS, on 10/10/2007, -3/+0"Send the kids to grow up with normal people" Riiiiiight.....you mean the normal people like us? Who have bigger trash cans then some people have houses? People like us with our stereotypical thoughts and prejudices, who can't get over the fact that some people have a different color to their skin than our own? Oh yes send those kids to grow up with us. So that "WE" can teach them how to cuss out their parents, get pregnant by the age of 16 and dump the fetus in the local restaurants bathroom trash can. Sure send those kids over and lets gets started. News flash a-holes look to your own houses before you start berating someonelse's life-style. I'm not saying it's right, but I'm pretty sure there's a flip side to this one-sided story. Live and let live.
      • nreynolds, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3uhm... my trash can is much smaller than any house I've ever seen. I don't call myself a racist but no one can claim to be completely unprejudiced. I've never gotten a girl pregnant(I'm 17). And I've only cussed at my parents once. But uh.... sure....
        • GUTTS, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Obviously my sarcasm was a little too thick for some people. So I'll put it in layman's terms. Sure in her situation that type of lifestyle didn't work out. But, there are thousands if not millions of people that choose to live like that and so it obviously can't be that bad all the time. Bashing polygamy and calling people who live that lifestyle ignorant or stupid is rather rash and judge mental. And saying that we are normal and they aren't is quite laughable. Seeing as how our society is so ***** up. And yes I can say that I'm completely unprejudiced, is that so hard to believe? Kinda proves my point.
        • kinneas666, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1@GUTTS
          No your attempt at sarcasm just sucked
      • centerblack, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Gutts, you might be a racist prick with a massive garbage can and a 16 year old daughter who gave birth in a toilet and killed her kid by throwing it in a trashcan, but I would hazard a guess that most of us do not share that in common with you.

        Edit: Oh I forgot to call you a moron, moron.
        • GUTTS, on 10/10/2007, -4/+0Holier than thou attitude noted. Thanks for proving my point, you self-righteous *****.
  • stronglikedan, on 10/10/2007, -13/+1I'd do her.
  • NinjaBoy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+46“Learn how to keep a house, behead a chicken and cook it up for your husband!”

    Get back in the kitchen and behead me a chicken!
    • eatbeefjerky, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3Mind your mouth, son, or some woman will come and behead your "chicken".
  • spraguep, on 10/10/2007, -4/+8I love brainwashing.
  • colonels1020, on 10/10/2007, -15/+3Pics or it didnt happen
  • MozzieTS, on 10/10/2007, -6/+37I dugged this, and I hope my 5 other wives will too
    • crispee, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8They will if you tell them to.
    • joshuba, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8well, at least they dugg your comment :)
      • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I am guessing his comment had 5 diggs at the time. I will take your word for it.
  • traceelemental, on 10/10/2007, -15/+23 wifes or more...WHERE DO I SIGN UP!

    ........of course i'll have to magically disappear for atleast 4 days per month to avoid being murdered
    • nreynolds, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I doubt they'd all have it at the same time....
      • Tabris, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2If they all live together, their cycles end up synchronizing
  • colonelpanic, on 10/10/2007, -1/+24Well written, worth reading.
  • Ghoztt, on 10/10/2007, -29/+7It's insanity how people concentrate on the most disgusting people who practice polygamy - and choose them to represent it. This country allows homosexuality, serial monogamy, and orgy's... BUT NOO... we can't have a man take three wives into his arms before God. All these broken families around America, men cheating on their "monogamous" marriages. It's all BULLCRAP. If a man loves a woman, and can respect her, he should be allowed to love three woman as long as he loves and respects them. Go take your socialist, anti-family homosexuality, anti-family serial monogamy, AND child rape polygamy and see it for what it IS - UNGODLINESS. Judge each and every man by his actions and the content of his character. Polygamy can be right if it's practiced with LOVE and RESPECT between CONSENTING ADULTS.
    • vSuperLuminal, on 10/10/2007, -10/+2Right on, Ghoztt.

      I am not a Mormon but I really don't see the problem with polygamy if all involved are adults. Well, there is one slight problem...most women suck and not in the good way. I can't imagine dealing with more than one at a time.
      • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2It wouldn't matter if you were Mormon or not. The Mormon church no longer practices polygamy.

        Some stereotypes just never die.
    • afruff23, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0MHK8ntKqk
    • Dulcinea80, on 10/10/2007, -0/+17If a guy and 3 chicks want to get married, and they're all happy and excited about it, that's one thing. I honestly couldn't care less. But if women aren't given a choice and being forced into marriages with old men they've never met, now that's a completely different story. This isn't simply a matter of polygamy is wrong. The problem is girls are brainwashed and threatened with eternal damnation if they don't buy into this *****.
    • phoggey, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3If it were as socially acceptable as "a man loving a woman, just several more times" then we'd be pretty much screwed. You'll need a limit on how many wives or husbands you can have eventually, regardless, why not start at 1?

      The reason for no polygamy is actually to the benefit of men. Every man in the US is pretty much assured that he can eventually find a woman for him, as there are roughly 50% men and 50% women here. Top 10% owns 90% of the US. You put the stats together, I for one wouldn't be lucky enough to find a woman at that point because either the brad pitts or the bill gates would quickly marry the largest majority of attractive women. Think your woman would stay with you knowing that Johnny Depp is looking to make his wife count an even 100?
      • RealityMonster, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Man, that's a bad reason. If a man or woman has the resources, desire and capacity to have another spouse, let them. There shouldn't be a limit on the number of spouses a smart, rich, stable person can have, just so the dumb, ugly, poorly socialized people in society can have a go at having a bad relationship, and having a bunch of mistreated, poorly raised kids.

        If you're too dumb and ugly to attract a mate, that's your problem. If you can make up for it somehow (maybe you got rich scaring kids at the fair) and attract someone, that's fine. Just don't suggest that everyone deserves a mate, or even deserves a chance by limiting someone else's freedom to make relationships.
    • prgrmmr736, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4WOW, did you even RTFA? "socialist, anti-family homosexuality, anti-family serial monogamy", It's statements like this that really piss me off, I hope someday you are forced to marry an abusive older person so you can see what these young girls have to deal with. Oh and there is no "GOD" and there never was one, that was just for me.
    • johnpatron, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3But they didn't love each other. In Fact they took turns. In fact the girl's father didn't actually like the 1st wife, then started loving the 2nd (her's) then Wife #3 came & he was like ***** that bitch wife #2, she's just another bitch. Then she only liked her. Also it had nothing to do with Homosexuality or whatever. (Though I do support the right for same-sex marriage, cuz it seems like they actually love each other). Also It seems the more strict the marriage is the more unhappier it is. In Fact my parents had an arranged marriage. (China, 1990, It's a wonder how much China changes in 8 years) They have an ok marriage (lots of sex, judging by the amount of blue wrappers & packages of Ortho Evra I see in the trash). I think they would have been happier without the arrangement.
    • DryerBiscuit, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Did you bother to read the article? If so, you'd note that not all those involved were consenting. It's a well written, true account. I hope you'll take the time to look it over before replying.
      • DryerBiscuit, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I meant to write "weren't" consenting, sorry.
  • romulusmaximus, on 10/10/2007, -3/+4Good read.
  • 7Mystery, on 10/10/2007, -29/+2How many people really finished the article?

    Dugg me if you didn’t.
    • Kazanoe, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4It was a good read, very interesting, extremely well written.
      How the hell do you bear with /not/ finishing?
      • pintomp3, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1seriously, not to give anything away but the ending is extremely satisfying. comuppance FTW!
    • MarkOfTheDead, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4not tryin to be a dick buuuuut... buried because i finished it.
    • Georgery, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1As of this time, by how dugg your comment is, negative 27 people didn't finish the article. So I suppose that means 27 more who haven't even read it somehow finished it?
  • kinerry, on 10/10/2007, -6/+47Polygamy is ok, forcing it isn't
    • pintomp3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5it's screws up the ratio. polygamy is like someone parking across 3 parking spaces. it shouldn't be illegal, but it's extremely selfish. wanna have multiple sex partners? don't get married.
    • p0tent1al, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5If it wasn't forced, it wouldn't exist. Most of these beliefs hinge on the premise that anything you hear from society is wrong, effectively locking in any existing believers of the religion, and their children, and their children, and so on.

      If these people were allowed to watch TV, read newspapers, question beliefs, and not be forced to do anything, they definitely wouldn't exist though.
    • johnpatron, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Once I read or saw a article in the NY times/WSJ/NYMag/other non tabloid nyc publication about this 3 person couple (2 men, & one wife). They did it on choice & (also social experiment). They did it on Love for each other. That should be allowed. Now forced love with a dude that is somewhat/ or very older than you when you are underage is wrong. I see nothing wrong with a male or female marrying another male or female that is very younger than you is okay as long has he or she is older than 18 & you never raped her.
  • Pissoff, on 10/10/2007, -16/+3"Drinking and substance abuse would dominate my life for years to come. "

    Divorced twice, mother from marriage 2, on her third marriage.

    She's a winner.
    • filth, on 10/10/2007, -0/+16Lot's of good people, with interesting stories to tell, didn't lead perfect lives. Also, she was married twice and divorced once. If you had actually done more than skim the article you'd notice that her marriage at 18 to a boy who helped her escape an abusive and controlling community probably didn't have the necessary foundations to survive. Her tales of substance abuse are a common downfall of many in similar lost and isolated situations. During that period she had a child out of wedlock with a serious partner who fell further into alcoholism and later died sometime after they'd split. After all of that she was still able to eventually find a real relationship and a stable marriage.

      Yea, I'd say she actually is a winner.
  • john2kx, on 10/10/2007, -5/+15i'd give up polygamy for that chick.. damn she's hot.
    • pintomp3, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3she's once, twice, three times a lady?
  • coreydb, on 10/10/2007, -23/+10mormons are crazy as *****. My Aunt and Uncle are mormons.. it's insane.
    • thorlin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9Mormons are polygamists. It's an false assumption. These are the FLDS, not the Mormons (or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Ask your Aunt and Uncle about polygamy...
    • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6You don't know your aunt and uncle or their religion very well.
  • celticparadox, on 10/10/2007, -4/+10For more info on this kind of thing check out stories about Bountiful, British Columbia. The Bishop of the town Winston Blackmore has been a huge media draw with his beliefs and his disagreements with the Jeffs family that hold sway over that sect of Mormons. Women are being imported from the US to marry high ranking members of the Bountiful community.
    www.cbc.ca/fifth/bustupinbountiful
    www.rickross.com/reference/polygamy/polygamy65.html
    www.canada.com/vancouversun/features/polygamy/index.html

    One of the big issues here is the fact that people who are brought up in this community are not being educated past a grade 7 or 8 level and cannot cope with life outside the community. Therefore they are kind of forced to stay within and conform to the church's guidelines
    • saygen, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I hate the way people use the term Mormon, because as a Mormon this story was as shocking to me as anyone. I'd like to be lumped in with them as much as I'd like to join the NATZI party, I wouldn't.
  • evillawngnome, on 10/10/2007, -12/+5Interesting and well written. I personally find Mormonism fascinating, and this article also has the "behind the scenes" aspect. +1.
    • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8Except it has absolutely nothing to do with Mormonism.
    • andytheidiot, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4spyraled speaks the truth. The people discussed in the article are so-called "Fundamentalist Mormons", who actually have NO affiliation with actual Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). In fact, many of their teachings are completely different from those of members of the actual LDS faith.
  • treed, on 10/10/2007, -20/+3***** Headline.

    How about "Story of a Girl's Escape from a Forced Marriage".

    Polygamy has nothing to do with it.
    • DapperDave, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8If by "nothing to do with it" you mean the social construct she lived/grew up under...then you are correct. Gold star for you.
    • tdp05, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8you really think she would have been someone's first wife? You didn't comprehend the article then. The young girls got married off to older guys as wife #2 or #3. So yes, she escaped polygamy.
    • filth, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5She escaped her polygamist community. And her first marriage, though likely doomed from the start, was not forced. Don't let the actual article get in your way though.
    • AliStar137, on 04/22/2008, -0/+0forced marraige, which happens most probably in polygamist communities... dur.
  • lurcio, on 10/10/2007, -10/+6Why on Earth would you want to have multiple wives? I have more than enough hassle from one...
    • cakeface, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Why a man would want a wife is a big mystery to some people. Why a man would want two wives is a bigamystery.
    • ostracize, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1This joke got less funny every time I read it. This must be like the fourth.
  • LifeIsARhythm, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10an excellent book that expands on Mormon fundamentalists is Under the Banner of Heaven. It reveals a lot on both sides of the religion and differences in a fundamentalist and a regular Mormon.
    • raw10, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Agreed. This is an excellent, if sobering and occasionally shocking, book. If you found this article fascinating, you can read about many other people whose lives have been defined by polygamy and/or Mormonism, including the founder of the LDS church, Joseph Smith, and others from Brigham Young all the way to Elizabeth Smart. It's astonishing how otherwise intelligent and free-willed people accept and grow to emulate everything around them, eventually accepting even the most painful and degrading beliefs. It's extreme cases like this that make me want to challenge every notion of establishment, religious or otherwise. It's amazing how easily people are brainwashed.
  • digitallysick, on 10/10/2007, -18/+1mormon religion really works well for the men, polygamy rocks!
  • night000, on 10/10/2007, -17/+13#3422344 why religion is bs.
    • ahawks, on 10/10/2007, -2/+14Way to take a fundamentalist branch of a minority religion, and generalize it to the beliefs of 99% of the planet.
    • quaxon, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3my count is much higher than that.
  • daelic, on 10/10/2007, -2/+18When it's called "swinging" or "polyamory" people just laugh and call it weird. Personally, if *CONSENTING ADULTS* choose to extend their version of commitment beyond the christian based 1 man 1 woman version of marriage, let them have at it.

    I'm not saying it's ok to force young girls into anything like this, nor am I saying adult girls should be forced. That's the part that should be dealt with judiciously.
  • meretricis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+14That was by far one of the better articles I've read in awhile. DUGG for spreading the word of choice.
  • rhabd0mancer, on 10/10/2007, -10/+4Now those are some *really* loony christians.

    They make David Koresh look rational.
    • jordan1, on 10/10/2007, -11/+5Dude, Mormons aren't Christians...it's a cult.
      • rhabd0mancer, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8"Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"

        Notice the words "Jesus Christ."
        • felidaeus, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3So if I called it the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Nazis" that would make it OK?
          • zBeasty, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1If its the Church of Jesus Christ, then it must be Christian. In fact, it is.
          • zBeasty, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Ok for what. If Mormon's profess a belief in Jesus Christ, then they are Christian, and as it is called "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" they are Christians.
          • felidaeus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You missed the point entirely. Tacking "Church of Christ" on it doesn't make it Christian. Anymore than calling pork 'chicken' makes it chicken. It just doesn't work that way.
          • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0@felidaeus

            But actually educating yourself about the religion and learning about our belief in the plan of salvation as set forth by Jesus Christ, then you would realize the Mormon church is christian. However, you'll probably just remain ignorant and continue spouting off stereotypes.
          • felidaeus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1@spyraled I am not trying to criticize anyone here. It is not that mormons are not christian, I can hardly know enough to make that claim, and to do so would be presumptuous beyond belief. I am trying to make the point that people need to stop accepting something as christian because someone tacks 'Jesus' to it. I'm not going to argue that here, go read "Mere Christianity" if you are interested in why.
      • otakushark, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman
        • felidaeus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The point is not whether they are Christian or not, the point is rather that calling yourself a "church of Christ" does not just make you one. The line needs to be drawn somewhere. Besides, you just copy pasted that from another thread, otherwise you would know that it does not apply.
      • ostracize, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Jordan1 is correct. They have Jesus Christ in the name to try and pawn it off as Christian.

        I don't know how exactly to define a Christian but this is definitely not it.
        • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0And you're reasoning for Mormons not being christian would be.......
  • wishninja, on 10/10/2007, -7/+1Makes me want to go out and get me another.
  • LogicBomB, on 10/10/2007, -1/+13FTA: "in the FLDS, sex between a husband and wife is meant to be strictly procreative"

    What next? Putting children in a candy store to live and telling them it's forbidden to touch it? 3 wives and no action sounds a lot more like hell than heaven to me.
    • orlyfactor, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4All the nagging, none of the sex. Sounds GREAT!
    • tsotha, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Not at all. You get plenty of action - it's just that your "action" results in yet another child.
    • crispee, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Who said no action? They just don't use birth control and they pop out babies left and right. It's a good strategy for expanding a religion quickly since by-and-large children adopt the beliefs of their parents. Supposedly, there's all these spirits in heaven waiting to come down to earth and see if they can find and follow God. Mormans feel it's their duty to help them find the RIGHT religion by having as many children as possible -- even non fundamentalist mormans believe this which is why they have such large families.
  • orlyfactor, on 10/10/2007, -8/+5Damn she got away!
    • jonathanho, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0are those the words of bill o'reilly?
  • fohf, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11good 'ole Colorado City. worth a trip just to see all the unfinished plywood houses.
    • spyraled, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3That place is actually slightly creepy to drive through from what I've heard.
  • TheWretched, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3This article loosely speaks about polygamy but it's really not the focus of the article. It has more to do with the oppression, manipulation, and downright lies religious culture and their leaders have oppressed on women in order for them to be obedient in their so called ideal-culture.

    Yet another example as to why religious organizations (not the spirituality thereof) can have a detrimental effect on one's personal and family upbringing.
  • chipset, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Those are some seriously ***** up people.
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