New TLC Show to Feature Polygamist Family

By GossipGirl. Published on 08/07/2010 - 12:56pm

TLC, the network that brought us the Gosselins and the Duggars with "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and "19 Kids and Counting", are adding another interesting family show to their line-up this fall. This fall, the network will air the show "Sister Wives" which features a fundamentalist Mormon family that includes one husband and four "sister wives."

HBO's fictional "Big Love" gave many American television viewers their first glimpse into the lives of polygamists, but left many wondering if that's how their lives really are. "Sister Wives" will give us the reality TV version of polygamy.

Starring in "Sister Wives" is Kody Brown, who is married to Meri. He also has two other "sister wives", Janelle and Christine, and is bringing a fourth wife, Robyn, into the family. Altogether, they have 13 children. The family lives, of course, in Utah.

But wait a minute, how can TLC get away with this, isn't polygamy illegal? Kody explains that his family is not breaking the law. He says:

"It's one legal marriage and the rest are commitment marriages."

When asked why the family decided to do the show, Kody explained:

“I felt like the secretiveness of the society has been a little bit dangerous for the society, as well as the public. This is part of our reason for essentially coming out. This is a story that needs to be told. I think that by simply telling this story and not getting into prejudices it actually helps the society to understand.”

Sister Wives premieres on TLC on at 10pm on September 26.

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Comments

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on August 7, 2010 - 9:43pm

#1

The Associated Press guide for journalists states that the term Mormon is incorrectly applied to any person or groups or ororganization other than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and it's members.

Submitted by Mel Johnson (not verified) on August 8, 2010 - 12:56pm

#2

In fact, the terms "Mormon" and "Mormonism" are applied historically and sociologically to any individual who follows the way of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. One LDS president tried to emphatically state that no such person as a "Fundamentalist Mormon" exists. He is now dead and just as wrong.

One cannot understand the West without understanding Mormonism's impact on it. One cannot understand Mormonism without the West's impact on the religion. The fact is that one of every seven of those who "went West" sometime between 1847 and 1869 was some type of a Mormon. Among some of the denominations were the Strangites in Michigan and Wisconsin; Wightites in Wisconsin, Texas, Indian Territory, and now some of their descendants are in Utah and Canada; Cutlerites in Iowa and Nebraska; Hendrickites and Temple Lot in Missouri; and the Community of Christ (once the Reorganized LDS) from the Midwest to California.

And, of course, the incredible LDS "kingdom" from Utah Territory to the Gila River in Arizona, to San Bernadino to Sutter's Fort in California, to Carson Valley and Las Vegas in Nevada, to the Snake River valley in Idaho, and Star Valley in Wyoming.

And all of them were, and are, Mormons to this day.

Submitted by Joe Geisner (not verified) on August 8, 2010 - 3:15pm

#3

It might help "guest" argument if he or she knew the correct spelling of the Salt Lake headquartered Church. It is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" with a little "d". Not as guest wrote: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with a big "D".

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on September 23, 2010 - 12:26pm

#4

Who cares how you spell it?! What people want to know is what they are about!

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on August 8, 2010 - 5:23pm

#5

No, they're Mormon polygamists, just like Joe Smith, Brigham Young and the rest of the pre-apostasy Mormon Church.

Submitted by The Deviant Wife (not verified) on August 10, 2010 - 12:10pm

#6

I for one am very excited about this show.
I am a second wife in a polygamous relationship and I have hopes that "Sister Wives" will help generate a positive outlook on polygamy. It seems we see WAY too much of the 'bad polygamy' in the media and not enough of the good. And it really can be good! It might not be for everyone, but monogamy isn't for everyone either. Plural marriage is a lifestyle choice...simply stated.
As for my own family, we are a bit different. We do not live in Utah, we are not religiously motivated, and we do not have 21 children. We are just two happily married women who happened to be married to the same man. The love, honesty, and freedom that we experience as a group is something that should not be looked down upon or shunned by those who don't understand. So much hatred out there...when all we are about is love.
I hope that 'Sister Wives' can illustrate the great things that can come of a plural relationship. We are happy, and we are happy to see a family willing to step out of the 'poly shadows' and share their story.

Submitted by Just a Christian (not verified) on September 24, 2010 - 5:08am

#7

The Old Testament shows what men did and said not what God condones. They all fall short of God's will and needed Christ, the one holy one, to pay for their salvation. Men still fornicate and commit adultery as Kody Brown is doing. Numerically it is selfish and covetous also, leaving other men without any women to marry. And they also practice selfishness, not wisdom, as they are birthing more children than will economically be plausible to support with the current dwindling resources, not to mention the effects on the children who love their father.

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on December 17, 2010 - 3:58pm

#8

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I only have one mom, my dad was a member since birth and he only has one mom. My mom was also a member since birth and she only has one mom. All those that I know in the church have only one mom. Those that are polygamists are those that dissented from the church within the beginning of the church. Latter-day Saints are NOT polygamists. Check some valid sources, not crappy websites that are obviously biased to be against the church, or just ask a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on January 10, 2011 - 10:21am

#9

From what I've been told and understand, the Polygamists are know as FLDS, which stands for, Fundamentalist Ladder Day Saints. Now when the Mormons arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, they utilized polygamy to help re-populate and grow their numbers. It is also, now frowned upon by the church, not accepted. Yes there are still polygamist families in utah, but there are even more living in Colorado City, Colorado. Look it up before you speak.

Submitted by 5aa5 (not verified) on February 8, 2011 - 10:46am

#10