Polygamy: A World Apart

A Provocative 360 Degree View Of This Intricate And Mysterious World

(CBS)  CBS News delves into the clandestine world of polygamy and the FLDS in a 48 Hours special with insider accounts, harrowing escape stories, interviews with law enforcement officials and an explosive interview with high-ranking FLDS member Willie Jessop.

The YFZ Ranch

What is next for the members of this Texas compound? Correspondent Peter Van Sant goes in search of answers as he interviews neighbors of the compound and Willie Jessop, who discusses life in the church in a confrontational interview. Read more.

Escape

Correspondent Erin Moriarty catches up with Sarah, who fled from the FLDS community in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1999. Her escape came at the expense of her family. As she prepares to reunite with Laura Chapman, the woman who helped them break free, Sarah recalls life in the FLDS: "One of the things we kept hearing over and over again was that they needed to break my spirit. I laughed too much. I was too happy." Read more.

Warren Jeffs: The Godfather

Correspondent Susan Spencer sheds light on the sect's practices and self-styled prophet, Warren Jeffs, who, despite being in prison for his conviction as an accomplice to the rape of a minor, continues to lead the FLDS empire in a number of states. Read more.

The Bold And The Beautiful

Correspondent Troy Roberts explores the modern face of polygamy. With one husband three wives - two of them twins - and 22 children living in a suburb of Salt Lake City, they have jobs, wear make-up and their kids go to public school. They do, however, face challenges fitting in. Read more.

Broken Ties

While the allegations of abuse against young girls have taken center-stage, what about the experiences of young boys? Correspondent Seth Doane reports on the emotional journey of four boys who studied under Jeffs. Now excised from the sect, they struggle to find their way in the outside world, separated from the security of their families and homes. Read more.

[hotnfla]

My comments are for the 4 ladies that consider themselves mordern polygamist...Honey quite kidding yourself..yes you deserve your own husband without sharing him with another woman, and if you think it is making you a stronger woman because you keep telling yourself in those lonely hours it''s ok to share his love.. that is a bunch of bull,, you will never convince yourself of that, no matter how much you want to believe it. It''s ok and natural to desire a single married life with your own family..God made Adam and Eve for each other not another to share their bed... you keep mentioning Jacob, Abaraham..and yes those are true..but why didn''t he create more than one woman in the beginning? Think about this !!

[kelly3882]

HOW SAD THIS IS
IS THERE AN ADDRESS OR AN E MAIL ADDRESS THAT WE CAN USE TO CONTACT THOSE WOMEN WHO HELP THE KIDS?

[edward1975-2009]

Had the government not turned a blind eye to this practice since the 1800''s, this may not have happened. We have laws for a reason. This is one of the most tragic stories in a while.

[kelly3882]

SADLY ENOUGH
YOU ARE RIGHT

[ksimo17]

I just don''t understand why anyone thinks the government was wrong stepping in.
First of all it is illegal to deny any child an education. I have heard a few of the young adults say they had no education past the 5th grade or 8th grade. This has been reported over and over again.
Second, these people still live in America, why do they not have to follow the state and government laws like the rest of the US citizens?
You know hiding behind religion is not right. If that is the case then all the Catholic priest should be forgiven. The Catholic God forgives it''s sinners. Where is it all going to end? Make the adults responsible for their action and bring justice and safty to each of them kids. Those kids being pawn off at an early age have no idea what is about to happen cause they are not educated and the adults know that. Give those kids a chance. They don''t know any different, but we do and its up to all of us to save the kids. Let the adult women stay if they want. They are just as guilty as the men for the abuse. I can''t believe this day and age this continues.
Finally, I really want to say is my tax dollars feeding those lazy law breaking citizens. Where is social service and no home check done? Come on state officials get off your *** and get aquainted with the laws.

[freeyamni]

It''s getting really old to see the same story about polygamy over and over again. Polygamy isn%u2019t just for Mormon%u2019s, LDS or to have children!
There are some of us that are polygamists not because of what a religion tells us to do but because we work and function better having more than one partner. My partners make my life better! They have made me strive for more than mediocrity and to want to be more than just the ordinary. They have NEVER oppressed me in any way; as a matter of fact they have helped me break many glass ceilings I didn%u2019t even know I had.
True polygamy isn%u2019t easy! It requires relationships to be open and honest, to acknowledge feelings and needs and to work them out and not leave them on some back burner. My relationship with my partners has lasted longer than many marriages because we live, play and work together. They balance me like no one person ever did or could.
I live in a country where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were considered important enough to break away from our safety net and mother land. It%u2019s a shame that just because we are different we have to hide who we are and what makes us truly happy. I happen to live by a few simple rules: do unto others as you would have done to you and harm none. Too bad the rest of the world can%u2019t live the same way.
To the media: Please stop beating a dead horse and tell a different story!!

[paris1969]

From another news story on NPR, polygamy is being practiced by immigrant Muslims. Looks like our government has imported the problem as well. How can we punish native-born Mormons and turn a blind eye to immigrant Muslims?

[edward1975-2009]

Just for stuff and giggles, the Latter Day Saints (Mormons), gave up the pratice of poligamy in I believe 1859. This practice has been carried over by off shoots of the main LDS. It has never been deemed legal nor sanctioned by the U.S. government. Though they have done little to discourage the practice.

[kelly3882]

I FEEL FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THINK THAT YOU NEED MORE THAN ONE SPOUSE TO BE FULFILLED. THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN (ON THIS SHOW AND OTHERS) AND THAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED HERE CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN A MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIP. I GUESS I WONDER WHY IN THE WORLD YOU WOULD WANT THOSE ISSUES OVER AND OVER AGAIN....HOWEVER, THERE IS NO CALL TO MISTREAT, ABUSE, OR THREATEN, NOT ONLY YOURSELVES, BUT YOUR CHILDREN TOO...ANYONE DOING THAT TO ANY OF YOU SHOULD BE PUNISHED AS THEY WOULD FOR A HATE CRIME...I MIGHT DISAGREE WITH THE WAY YOU LIVE, BUT IF YOU AREN''T LIVING ON MY DIME, OR AREN''T HURTING YOUR CHILDREN, THEN GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE THE BEST FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.
BUT I DO HAVE TO ADD. IF THIS IS THE LIFE YOU CHOSE AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE BEING ''HURT'' IN ANYWAY BY IT,,,,THEN WHY DO IT WHILE THEY ARE YOUNG? WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE 18 AND THEN DO WHAT YOU WANT.

[janeyre-2009]

Just a bunch of used, stupid women. Nothing good about giving one man, such power. You are sharing him in a sexual way. How filthy, hopefully, your children are being taught differently. What a bunch of really stupid women, you are. How does it feel to live together and sleep with the same creep? Ugh, how filthy and unnatural. Just stupid and debasing. You are nothing more than used women. Only one wife per man in this country. Everyone after that real wife, is just a woman, shacking up with a immoral male.

[sweepmeoffmy]

Now that one crazy group is gone, Lets go after the rest. Take down the Catholics they are well known to rape boys and I am sure girls. Then the hell and damnation Baptist they tell kids they will go to hell, That causes psychological problems and inhibits growth. When that%u2019s done we need to start grabbing every young looking girl who is pregnant put them in foster care because you know the parents allowed that teen to have *** and demand DNA test to make sure the father of the unborn Childs father is not a middle aged man.

[nonayabiness]

For years, decades, even, maybe more, these ''ranches'' or ''compounds'' have been nothing but trouble, sinning in the name of ''religion.''

If they had nothing to hide, they would be productive members of society and educate their children.

They''re still following the teachings of Jeffs, in prison for an underage rape involvement. Plain and simple, its classic brainwashing. If my pastor were convicted of lewd acts or carnal knowledge of a minor and such, I''m afraid I''d be looking for another church.

[thor601]

normally i realy enjoy this program, not tonight. i thought you were supposed to be objective? apparently not so. tonight one of your female reporters stated "the "FLDS" was a church and an off shoot of the"qurorky LDS church", not true. we have not beleaved in polygamy since the 1850''s, i think. we follow the laws of the land now days. i think that you investigate the true church right there in salt lake city. then chechout your stories throughly before you air them.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by freeyamni at 12:00 AM

Actually, polygamy is defective in many ways. First of all, even in societies around the globe where it is permitted, it isn''t used frequently because it is so expensive. Second it cause extreme feelings of jealousy and is hardly fair to the partner who is less loved. Take the example of Jacob. Finally, in the Hebrew Bible it was never encouraged, but instead discouraged.

[nonayabiness]

If just one of them gets AIDS, watchout! How many others will?

Also, polygamy is a like a pyramid scheme, except they are breeding their own ''customers.''

[milesbrown49]

Funny how polygamy is an issue with us as gay marriage is legalized. We are such a hypocritical society.

[ndg1979]

Many of you are just confused. It seems as if some self-reflection is in order. Who are you to say that another person is right or wrong? And where is it written that having more than one wife is uncivilized? Do you attend church? If so, read on. If not, go away.

Let''s think about something for a second here. It was mentioned that some polygamists are following the way that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived in the bible. For all of you religious followers who say that polygamy is immoral - Abraham, "the father of many nations", had several wives and therefore, polygamy was very prevalent even in man''s early history as recorded by THE BIBLE. So, is polygamy really immoral if you live your life according to the bible? Should it be considered unclean by any human who can trace their lineage back to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Could your ancestors be the result of an ancient polygamist relationship? If so, that would make you "children of polygamists", no matter how many generations removed you are.

I don''t endorse polygamy, nor do I show hatred to those who practice it, but you must all consider the hard truth and evidence of its causes and effects. And if in the end, you still hold hatred for polygamists, then you should also stop going to church and reading your bible for two reasons - polygamy existed in ancient times and GOD says you should not hate! If you dislike polygamy %u2013 change the bible yourself %u2013 the Catholics did.

Here endeth the lesson.

[milesbrown49]

If just one of them gets AIDS, watch out! How many others will?

Also, polygamy is a like a pyramid scheme, except they are breeding their own ''''customers.''''

Posted by NonayaBines
______________________________________________

It doesn''t'' seem that Aids would be a problem with people who are amongst each other. This isn''t about promiscuity.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by ndg1979 at 02:11 AM

Excuse me, but just how many wives do you claim Abraham had? Please cite your information.

[jusamom]

We should all be concerned about the state taking away these children from their families, especially their moms without abuse being witnesses or reported, maybe even proven, before hand---you cant just take someone''s children because you think they might be--might be- doing something illegal and or immoral. Listen, I was taken away from my parents when I was 12 years old along with three brothers and a sister in California in 1975. My case had nothing to do with religion or illegal activities---It was a very famous case, very henious, very wild allegations were made and the whole thing turned into a fiasco of unbelievable proportion---the media, police, courts and others fabricated and twisted every aspect of the case to try and control the situation.Our faces and lives were splashed all over the Tv and in Newspapers until a homegrown protest was launched by my parents'' friends and family to stem the tide. My parents had to agree in writing not to sue San Joaquin county or the state of California for false arrest and deframation of character to get us back. I know that this deal was hatched and completed under the control of a judge and law enforcement because I was present at the closed hearing when it happened. Maybe in the FLDS case really bad stuff was happening but some sanity must prevail. You cant just round up everyone and figure out the details later.

[jusamom]

We should all be concerned about the state taking away these children from their families, especially their moms without abuse being witnesses or reported, maybe even proven, before hand---you cant just take someone''s children because you think they might be--might be- doing something illegal and or immoral. Listen, I was taken away from my parents when I was 12 years old along with three brothers and a sister in California in 1975. My case had nothing to do with religion or illegal activities---It was a very famous case, very henious, very wild allegations were made and the whole thing turned into a fiasco of unbelievable proportion---the media, police, courts and others fabricated and twisted every aspect of the case to try and control the situation.Our faces and lives were splashed all over the Tv and in Newspapers until a homegrown protest was launched by my parents'' friends and family to stem the tide. My parents had to agree in writing not to sue San Joaquin county or the state of California for false arrest and deframation of character to get us back. I know that this deal was hatched and completed under the control of a judge and law enforcement because I was present at the closed hearing when it happened. Maybe in the FLDS case really bad stuff was happening but some sanity must prevail. You cant just round up everyone and figure out the details later.

[jusamom]

We should all be concerned about the state taking away these children from their families, especially their moms without abuse being witnesses or reported, maybe even proven, before hand---you cant just take someone''s children because you think they might be--might be- doing something illegal and or immoral. Listen, I was taken away from my parents when I was 12 years old along with three brothers and a sister in California in 1975. My case had nothing to do with religion or illegal activities---It was a very famous case, very henious, very wild allegations were made and the whole thing turned into a fiasco of unbelievable proportion---the media, police, courts and others fabricated and twisted every aspect of the case to try and control the situation.Our faces and lives were splashed all over the Tv and in Newspapers until a homegrown protest was launched by my parents'' friends and family to stem the tide. My parents had to agree in writing not to sue San Joaquin county or the state of California for false arrest and deframation of character to get us back. I know that this deal was hatched and completed under the control of a judge and law enforcement because I was present at the closed hearing when it happened. Maybe in the FLDS case really bad stuff was happening but some sanity must prevail. You cant just round up everyone and figure out the details later

[clew37]

Have you ever noticed that polygamy is 99% about men having multiple wives and not women having multiple husbands? The ratio between ages of husband and wife is very high as well. This is just another way for guys to have their own harem. If *** weren''t involved, it wouldn''t happen. It''s lovely how they teach their female children that they will be a collectors item for some man someday.

[jordyn111]

I am not saying I agree or disagree with polygamy, and Im not one to judge people on their religious beliefs, or how they choose to live their lives...However....what I do disagree with is forcing people into a marriage, and I do not feel that at the age of 13, a young lady knows who they want to spend the rest of their life with....However if she does indeed feel that this is what she wants, then we should not interfere...But what I do not believe in, is making someone live a life that they dont want. Life is about love and laughter, being who you are, following what you believe in...But when you have someone come in and step in for a previous person, and they start changing things....because everyone should believe what this person does. No thats not right..If they want this group, and have it be about religion, then make it about religion, and not about what the leader wants or believes in..I dont feel that 13 and 14 yr old girls, should be having a husband chose for them. Marriage is not about obeying your man...Its about 2 people, or more if someone chooses....But NEVER just about the man...and obedience. I am a married woman, who loves her man, and loves to make him happy, and yes I would do anything for him, that I could...But he also loves me and will do anything for me....OUR marriage is a 50 50 deal. Not all about him, and I can guarantee you, I dont obey NO ONE... I am who I am, and I have never been one to OBEY someone directly....

[jordyn111]

I just think that if this whole thing is supposed to be about religion, well in all honesty, for most of what ive seen and heard on the news and from former members, its not really about religion, its about what Warren Jeffs wants...and LOOK where he is...Hes in prision for raping a 14 yr old...Unwanted *** is rape....I dont care how old you are...NO MEANS NO, no matter the BELIEFS...there is NO GOD in this world, NO HEAVEN above us, that believes in rape. Make is about religion, and then let them be, but it needs to be about religious beliefs, and let children be children, let them have their education....let them be who they are, and let them help in the choosing of whom they want to marry....EVERY person in this entire world, is an individual, who can think for themselves if given a chance to be who they are, and not what THE PROPHET wants them to be......get a new PROPHET and go back to the REAL religious beliefs, and then let them be.....And let the girls be of an older age before marrying them off, give them a chance to be a child, and grow into who they are meant to be

[keithle1]

22 children! Give your uterus a break, woman. How do they afford it? Where does the money come from? What happens when the kids graduate high school & want to go to college?

Tough enough to keep one woman happy let alone three. Why would any man want to put himself through that?

Any woman who wants to be part of polygamy has issues. It goes against female nature.

WEIRD.

[kesac4650]

Homosexual marriage is to be allowed, but plural marriage is not? What logic justifies that? What ever happened to "their not hurting anyone?"

[sleepyric]

these folks are nuts! It''s not about religion, it''s about variety, possessions and domination. These guys want to boink as many women as possible and pass on their seed as many times as possible. All this religion cover is just Krap. I have always thought that they should have arrested the men and left the wives and kids there on the compound. After all, the men are the ones who committed crimes against minors. Freaks!

[ninaann-2009]

This is sickening! How they support their kids....polygamy is not legally recognized so all the "mothers" are considered single parents and get FOOD STAMPS!??!?!?!? And WHO is paying for that.....you and I! PATHETIC!! This whole outfit should be arrested and sent to jail! How people can be so brainwashed is beyond me!

[joe1022joe]

Folks, if homosexual marriage becomes legal, it is inevitible that polygamus marriage will become legal. The exact same logic that the left is using to push homosexual marriage will make it impossible not to legalize polygamous marriage. I think there are a lot of liberal women who will wake up one day and say, "Oh my god, what did I do?!" I they don''t like what they consider theie domination by men, wait until polygamous marriage becomes commonplace -- and legal.

[tootall10142]

It is betterto cast your seed upon the ground than ito the belly of a ***.Dress them any way you want it still the same thing .wasnt manson a polygamist?

[patriotic9]

According to a Medical study at the University of Illinois, men a genetically programmed to cheat on their wives.
It''s clear that a man can either have more then one wives or can get involved in extra-marital affairs. It''s not a nature of a man to be satisfied on one woman''s body. Any man who supresses his natural temptation as a resut of his genatic makeup, goes through extreme psychological stress which effects his job performance in negative way.
This is the reason why men involved in polygamist relation ship are good for their jobs and country, like former president Bill Clinton, and how religious radical mess up their job and country!

[hotnfla]

These woman are brain washed!!!Sick...and this is illegal...your own member''s are turning on your way of life...

[bdrlnt4rl]

ok, people, we can all thro the first stone, but my wife says everyone has it wrong. in her ideal world she would have multiple husbands, 2 at work, 1 in the kitchen, 1 in the living room, 1 in the bathroom, 2 outside in the yard, 1 babysitting......get the idea.....

[edward1975-2009]

patriotic9:You gotta be kidding, what an asinine thing to say. Do not use an excuse for immoral behavior. What a sad excuse for a person you are.

[mediabrat60]

patriotic9 is a polyg....DUH!

[mediabrat60]

Posted by bdrlnt4rl:

Your wife has it wrong, men are just big kids, no offense, i wouldn''t trade my "big kid" in for nothing, but if you children, why would you want that many more "big kid" around???
If I must, I would rather have multiple wives......maybe a couple of husbands......you would get much more done, the right way and besides, men can''t multi task!

Oh ya and tell het she definitely does not want one in the living room...two in the bedroom, but none in the living room! LOL!

[bdrlnt4rl]

think about it. the bible talks about more than one wife, even tho i do not condone the act or even believe in it, who is brainwashed? us who have listened to our religious intolerant preachers, or these people who believe it to be part of the bible?

as strange as it sounds, it has made me think, just who is brainwashed.

minors and keeping people uneducated is another story because that goes against what the bible teaches. but more than one wife does not.

unless it is in the new testament stating 1 man and 1 woman, then i would say this goes against the bible.

[mediabrat60]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with polygamy......it''s the sexual abuse of underage girls that is the focus here.......who cares how many wives people want to have!!

keep focused here people!

[bdrlnt4rl]

mediabrat60

her idea is one in the living room to give her massages and she would go for 2 in the bedroom, 1 in the bath to bathe her, 1 in the kitchen to cook and clean it, 2 outside doing the yard, and 2 at work bring in 2 paychecks......

and she would agree that men cant multi task and that is why she would spread them all over the house!!!lololol

[mediabrat60]

Okay...I can handle the one in the living room....as long as he doesn''t touch the remote! LOL

[franchize44]

Hey, if people want to have multiple wives so be it- but most of these wives are brainwashed at an early age that this is what they are supposed to do. There is nothing right about that. Of course the underage abuse is the worst, but polygamy is no better when you break it down. And really, this is not about religion here. It''s not.

[bdrlnt4rl]

and you have to remember that they all have to be muscular, so the remote would have to be off limits.



and i absolutely agree with you on the stating that it is about underage girls and mistreating of the women and young men. even if it is mistreating by keeping them uneducated and on welfare, or even in the fields. that is just wrong. no matter what church you belong to.

[milesbrown49]

It is so silly to me how people comment on these logs as if they are Gods judges. They all do as they please and judge others. People talk about the FDLS commmunity haveing young women pregnant, however, teen pregnancy is a great big problem outside of FDLS for sure. I wonder if we should raid a city projects for corupting the youth. We just legalized gay marriage and we forbid polygamy??? What were the reasoning and principals for legalizing gay marraiage? Would it not too apply to polygamy??? Doesn''t one have rights to their family to live as they choose? I for one see no offense by the FDLS community. I have never seen them parading around, trying to solicit my children, or walking around kissing each other in my view as to sicken me. I have never seen them try to change my schools, or insist that I accept them. I for one think this was a big witch hunt and I want no part of it because I am no part witch.

[bdrlnt4rl]

franchize44

the group of women they interviewed last night were not at all brainwashed. this is what they want to do and they were very well educated. it is not for me, but if it is working for them, who am i to say anything. as long as the children are treated with respect and left to make up their own minds. they did say that they are teased at school by the local mormon kids being that the mormons do not practice multple wives.

[drinuk]

I''ve got more than enough with one woman let alone two or three of ''em. Just one getting her hands on my credit card is quite enough.

[mediabrat60]

Sadly though, they do make it about religion and church and keeping them uneducated.....i watched that special last night and was upset that those woman from the "new day" polyg family outside of Salt Lake, kept making it about multiple wives thing and not about the underage girls. people don''t know much about the families all over the place that live polyg lifestyles, there are hundreds here in Utah...no one cares about them cuz they do their own thing and let their children grow up "normal".
it''s the traditional ones that get all the attention, as they should, because they are nothing but predators!
Sick disgusting predators!
Sadly, utah doesn''t care about them either cuz most people in the ranks have ties to the traditional polygs.
Brain washed and educated is right.

[bdrlnt4rl]

well, as funny as this sounds, gotta go mow the yard.lol

[jbhardman1]

bdrlnt4rl:

When did it say that they were "teased at school by the local mormon kids"? I saw it said they were teased, but not specifically by mormon kids... Are you just assuming that? If so, stop making assumptions about people you don''t know.

[mediabrat60]

bdrlnt4rl:
.......as your wife sits at the patio table, under the umbrella enjoying her lemonade!