[reaganaut]

While never ideal, IMO, the lifestyle is not inherently completely abusive of women and children.

- - — - -
Wow. Just WOW. You came to that conclusion based on reading a few books?

I have known several FLDS (and other Mormon breakoff groups) families. I know even more people who left. My husband and I are registered as a ‘safe house’ for women who leave and My husband has offered to do legal work for these women pro-bono.

I have discussed and listened to their testimonies for hours on end. I have spent years researching Polygamy in Mormonism (and the breakoffs).

To say that it is not inherently abusive is absurd. Women are not valued except as cattle, there is widespread sexual abuse (often by preteen boys) against little girls. Rape is common and the women are blamed. There is lack of education for women, in part to control them, God is used to condone rape, violence, physical abuse and to ‘keep them in their place’. I have seen these things even in ‘independent’ polygamous families (ie no prophet). And that isn’t even starting on the abuse of young boys.

There are re-education camps where women are starved and isolated if they dare to speak out or contradict a man or to assert any independence. It is also a fallacy to state that underage marriage is a recent development. Underage marriage goes back to Joseph Smith (in this theology) and was common in the 19th century. In the breakoff groups, underage marriage has continued since the 1920’s. I know at least two women who were ‘married’ early to mid teans in the 1950’s.

Shame on you for reading a few books and asserting it is not inherently abusive, because the truth is completely different from your assertions.

[Tennessee Nana]

There are re-education camps where women are starved and isolated if they dare to speak out or contradict a man or to assert any independence.
_______________________________________

Brigham Young did something like this

He had a house where they put the women who went crazy or were “difficult” a prison of sorts

and he would put his unwanted cast offs out on lonely farms and expect them to slave for him without supplies etc

at least one of his women starved to death...

[Pebcak]

G-d bless the reaganauts for all you do.

[Terry Mross]

My question is why isn’t the “regular” LDS church screaming it’s condemnation of this? Salt Lake City is awfully quiet. And one public statement would not suffice.

[KosmicKitty]

To say that it is not inherently abusive is absurd. Women are not valued except as cattle, there is widespread sexual abuse (often by preteen boys) against little girls. Rape is common and the women are blamed. There is lack of education for women, in part to control them, God is used to condone rape, violence, physical abuse and to ‘keep them in their place’. I have seen these things even in ‘independent’ polygamous families (ie no prophet). And that isn’t even starting on the abuse of young boys.

Wow. sounds a lot like the ROP, except for honor killings.