Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005, Page 60
Former LDS members say there is ―quiet respect‖ for polygamists because men with
multiple wives are living the life commanded by LDS founder Joseph Smith. Mormons,
therefore, refuse to provide substantial assistance to those fleeing the fundamentalist
polygamist communities on the Arizona-Utah border. (John Dougherty, Phoenix New Times,
Internet, 10/7/04)
Issue in Campaign
When candidates for attorney general in Utah this fall debated Polygamy, Democrat Greg
Skordas called the institution ―an embarrassment ...not so much a crime about religion as
it is about crimes against women and children.‖ Republican incumbent Mark Shurtleff
agreed, noting that women in the polygamous communities of Hilldale, UT, and neighboring
Colorado City, AZ, are treated as ―chattel.‖ Both candidates agreed on the need to enforce
the law.
Libertarian Andrew McCulloch, who campaigned four years ago for less intrusive
government, argued: ―While there are some abuse problems going on down there, I think
the practice of polygamy in a religious setting is protected by the Constitution.‖ (His law
firm filed an amicus brief on behalf of convicted bigamist Tom Green.) ―I don‘t think you can
look at a polygamist community and say crimes against women and children are any more
prevalent than in any other community.‖ (Nancy Perkins, Deseret Morning News, Internet,
10/8/04)
“Groupthink” and “Brainwashing” Alleged
Andrea Moore-Emmett, author of God’s Brothel, based on her interviews of 18 women who
left polygamous families, says: ―This is an issue of violence and oppression against women
...and abuse against children.‖ Speaking at a program sponsored by the Women‘s
Resource Center in Salt Lake City, she denied the ―myth‖ that plural-marriage families are
constituted by consenting adults. She says women succumb to ―groupthink,‖ which
―brainwashes‖ them. Moreover, polygamous wives socialize their daughters to conform to
the system.
Moore-Emmett also said the Department of Child and Family Services doesn‘t want to break
up polygamous families because it‘s hard to find homes for so many children. She adds that
politicians are afraid to prosecute polygamists for fear of committing political suicide.
(Amanda Fritz, Daily Utah Chronicle, Internet, 11/18/04)
Book on Alleged Harms Given to Lawmakers
Utah State Senator Ron Allen has given copies of Andrea Moore‘s book on polygamy, God’s
Brothel, to 104 colleagues in the legislature, saying he wants to dispel the idea that
polygamy is harmless or ―a laughing matter.‖ The book, which contains 18 vignettes about
women who escaped polygamous families, is called by a critic ―a stinging indictment of the
hidden practice.‖ (Kirsten Stewart, Sal Lake Tribune, Internet, 1/19/04)
Guide for Public Service Personnel
The Utah Attorney General‘s office has produced The Primer, a manual aimed to assist law
enforcement and social services personnel who are called upon to help victims of domestic
abuse coming from polygamous communities. The manual, which contains a history of
polygamy, a glossary of terms, descriptions of fundamentalist groups and their practices,
training exercises, and a list of resources, is on line at
http//attorneygeneral.utah.gov/polygamy.html.
The Executive Director of the Utah Domestic Violence Council said the manual ―will help us
reach out and respond to calls that are coming in from polygamous families.‖ The widowed
plural wife who heads Principle Voices of Polygamy, a Utah group that represents
Former LDS members say there is ―quiet respect‖ for polygamists because men with
multiple wives are living the life commanded by LDS founder Joseph Smith. Mormons,
therefore, refuse to provide substantial assistance to those fleeing the fundamentalist
polygamist communities on the Arizona-Utah border. (John Dougherty, Phoenix New Times,
Internet, 10/7/04)
Issue in Campaign
When candidates for attorney general in Utah this fall debated Polygamy, Democrat Greg
Skordas called the institution ―an embarrassment ...not so much a crime about religion as
it is about crimes against women and children.‖ Republican incumbent Mark Shurtleff
agreed, noting that women in the polygamous communities of Hilldale, UT, and neighboring
Colorado City, AZ, are treated as ―chattel.‖ Both candidates agreed on the need to enforce
the law.
Libertarian Andrew McCulloch, who campaigned four years ago for less intrusive
government, argued: ―While there are some abuse problems going on down there, I think
the practice of polygamy in a religious setting is protected by the Constitution.‖ (His law
firm filed an amicus brief on behalf of convicted bigamist Tom Green.) ―I don‘t think you can
look at a polygamist community and say crimes against women and children are any more
prevalent than in any other community.‖ (Nancy Perkins, Deseret Morning News, Internet,
10/8/04)
“Groupthink” and “Brainwashing” Alleged
Andrea Moore-Emmett, author of God’s Brothel, based on her interviews of 18 women who
left polygamous families, says: ―This is an issue of violence and oppression against women
...and abuse against children.‖ Speaking at a program sponsored by the Women‘s
Resource Center in Salt Lake City, she denied the ―myth‖ that plural-marriage families are
constituted by consenting adults. She says women succumb to ―groupthink,‖ which
―brainwashes‖ them. Moreover, polygamous wives socialize their daughters to conform to
the system.
Moore-Emmett also said the Department of Child and Family Services doesn‘t want to break
up polygamous families because it‘s hard to find homes for so many children. She adds that
politicians are afraid to prosecute polygamists for fear of committing political suicide.
(Amanda Fritz, Daily Utah Chronicle, Internet, 11/18/04)
Book on Alleged Harms Given to Lawmakers
Utah State Senator Ron Allen has given copies of Andrea Moore‘s book on polygamy, God’s
Brothel, to 104 colleagues in the legislature, saying he wants to dispel the idea that
polygamy is harmless or ―a laughing matter.‖ The book, which contains 18 vignettes about
women who escaped polygamous families, is called by a critic ―a stinging indictment of the
hidden practice.‖ (Kirsten Stewart, Sal Lake Tribune, Internet, 1/19/04)
Guide for Public Service Personnel
The Utah Attorney General‘s office has produced The Primer, a manual aimed to assist law
enforcement and social services personnel who are called upon to help victims of domestic
abuse coming from polygamous communities. The manual, which contains a history of
polygamy, a glossary of terms, descriptions of fundamentalist groups and their practices,
training exercises, and a list of resources, is on line at
http//attorneygeneral.utah.gov/polygamy.html.
The Executive Director of the Utah Domestic Violence Council said the manual ―will help us
reach out and respond to calls that are coming in from polygamous families.‖ The widowed
plural wife who heads Principle Voices of Polygamy, a Utah group that represents
