Ex-Polygamist Reacts to "Sister Wives" Season 2: Comparing the Brown's Polygamy to the FLDS 

Robin IS a villan from the start. Janelle's side of the Lehigh house had two levels. She offered half of her side to Robin. Robin refused it. Her saying she is jealous of the other wives being together while she had her own home elsewhere was classic Robin manipulation.

Absolutely not. Robyn is absolutely a villain from season 1. First off, she and Kody began courting without Janelle or Christine knowing or agreeing. Meri Kody and Robyn just had their little secret which is so deeply not okay. Secondly, Robyn was having Kody drive 5 hours every weekend to spend time with her (OVERNIGHT MIND YOU) when they were not yet engaged, and Kody was bringing other wives children along in batches to babysit Robyn's kids. Keep in mind, Christine was pregnant and taking care of 12 kids. Then, they seal the engagement with a kiss which is a HUGE no-no. To kiss someone who is not one of your wives is not allowed, their religion expressly forbids romantic contact prior to marriage ESPECIALLY if the man has a wife or wives. Then, she organizes a FAKE WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING TRIP to bond with the sister wives and goes back to pick out her dress with Kody and she asks him to keep it a secret, so she made them think that they were really bonding and that they're having this really special, important moment together, when in reality that's not at all what was happening; Robyn was just putting on a show for them. Then there's the fact that when Kody and Robyn went on their honeymoon they took 11 days while Christine was home taking care of a newborn baby as well as 12 other kids. And Robyn wouldn't even allow Christine and the other wives to take care of her kids while they were away even though Christine very clearly said that she wanted to take care of the kids. She even expressed afterwards how much it hurt her that Robyn didn't want the other moms to have that time with the kids and Robyn continued to do the same thing time after time KOWING how it made Christine and the others feel. This is a pattern with Robyn from season 1 all the way to season 18. Robyn makes claims about wanting the big family and just wanting the family to be happy etcetera but all she actually does behind the scenes is do things so that that can't happen because her Sister Wives can't trust her, the kids don't have a bond with the Sister Wives because she won't let them and Kody is not spending time with all of the kids equitably.

If you noticed, Robyn was offered to move into the Lehigh house. She declined stating she didn’t feel she should prior to marriage. Robyn didn’t have a problem kissing Kody prior to marriage.

I totally remember that Kody really did try to be a good polygamist husband and father back in those days. It is really hard to understand why he stopped trying. I guess he just decided he only wanted to be with Robyn. It is really sad. And he and Robyn act like they have no idea why it all fell apart.

I was sad to learn later down the road that it was all hyped for the show.. can you imagine the scare the kids had to think their parents could go to jail for their religion.

I love you call it “Fresh Eyes On Sister Wives”!!

When you broke out into "I am my own grandpa" 😂😂😂 lost it!! These sisterwives reviews have y'all coming out of your shells on camera and I'm loving it!

Holy moly, I'm so used to you guys being so lovely and diplomatic about people's lifestyles (within reason, you do call out things that are just objectively harmful and wrong) - so I literally screamed with laughter when Sam just bluntly and unapologetically cracked out the song about Kody becoming his own grandpa. 🤣🤣

I feel like it must have just been lies and a mask when she's saying that. She used Mykelti and then a paid Nanny instead of Christine to watch her kids, and Christine said this was a huge obstacle for her because Christine was the one who raised the kids. And Robyn's reaction to this revelation that it hurt Christine so much? Cry and change nothing and then cry victim that her children weren't cared about. If Robyn cared so much about the family, she wouldn't have taken such a long honeymoon, she would have waited until Christine was comfortable with her before moving forward, she wouldn't have had Kody pick out the wedding dress. She seems sweet, but in hindsight, you can see that she was always this person.

After you finish watching Sister-Wives, you need to do a watch of Big Love. It would be interesting to see this show from both of your prospectives.

Kody loved (and still does love) the drama… he knew that the show being successful would put them in a comfortable position financially so he put on a show for the cameras with the whole fleeing the state to avoid prosecution storyline.

Sam, I get such a kick out of your brutally honest moments. 😂 Sister Wives seems to motivate you to turn off your filter, and I love it. 🤣

I really like your take on the sister wives family. You have true backgrounds to contribute. Its easier to understand the polygamist communities

I have often wondered if Mariah’s involvement with the church had to due with their later coming out and transitioning to Leon. Leon was the only child who ever expressed interest in polygamy and I have wondered if because that was an acceptable way of life and would limit future intimate contact with a man making it a “safe” way to exist in the world.

Robyn was definitely the villain from day 1. One thing you’ll start to see, at least I saw it from the beginning, is that she will try to deflect attention away from her favored status, by complaining about situations when she is clearly getting what she wants or is clearly favored by Kody. This example you brought up when she was complaining about being away from the rest of the family, that is her master manipulation tactics in full view. She constantly deflected and complained and compared herself to the other wives and tried to always make it seem like she was jealous of them when she was getting everything she wanted. She played all of them from the beginning!

Robyn’s being deceptive because Janelle offered to make space for her in the big house.

Janell offered to share her living space with Robyn so she could be with them and save money. She couldn’t live under the same roof as a married man ,but, she was cool with that same man sleeping over even before the marriage…

"oh multiple aunts! they must be on vacation..." 30 girls in prairie dresses

What Robin says is very different from what she does

This was really interesting to me, thanks for making this video. It's been years since I've watched season 2 and it was nice to hear things like the mainstream LDS sign in their house. That's something I would never know about otherwise. They definitely seemed more into their faith in these early seasons. It slowly disappeared for sure, Vegas was definitely not good for their faith, like you said. They shouldn't have left. I wonder if Kody just wanted a new living arrangement for Robyn and that was the main reason why and he used fear to get his wives to agree to move. Kody is not that bright. He allowed his family to be ruined and seems to have no ability to predict the future from his actions or draw any connections between the two, as if there is no such thing as cause and effect.

So funny you mention FLDS folks being told not to speak to outsiders. We rode an Amtrak train in upstate NY last year with many Amish passengers, and when we disembarked, we entered an elevator right in front of a large group of Amish. They did not want to get into the huge elevator with us and I beckoned them forward, like, hey there is a lot of room for more. The man traveling with the group told several women they could join, but it seemed like they really didn't want to. My feelings weren't hurt, but I did want them to know that we wanted to be neighborly/friendly with them regardless of their background/beliefs.

I feel like Meri absolutely should’ve had a very nice home. Should she have used the family resources to build a house the size she had in my opinion no. For me if you’re entering in to a polygamist marriage, you’re looking out for the benefit of the children and their futures, and not just wanting a big empty house for yourself, the family resources would have been better spent supporting all of the children entering into their teenage years. This is one of the many examples of Meri dominating allowing it.

Janelle is also Meri's former sister-in-law. She was married to and divorced from Meri's brother.

Regarding your comment that the Brown family should have purchased a small hotel, the Osmond family had an apartment complex in the Los Angeles area and then when they moved to Provo. They knocked out some walls inside for the larger family groups, and some of the older married used Apartments within the complex as well.

I am very much enjoying this series you are doing. For the non-LDS you're providing a lot of clarity for their belief's

So Christine is polygamy royalty. Her paternal grandfather was Rulon Allred, the leader of the AUB and her maternal grandfather was a leader in the Labaron Group . In fact, her paternal grandfather, Rulon was murdered by the wives of her maternal uncle , Ervil, at his direction.

This took me back to some of your early videos where Sam would tell us about his childhood. I really appreciated his insight. It's been a long time since I've seen season 2 and it was nice to go back and revisit it. Thanks for doing this!

They were probably so happy just to have plenty of food once the TV show started. It seems they were heavily in debt, and Kody was extravagant, considering their income and expenses.

Janelle offered Robyn and her kids space in the house multiple times. Robyn always had an excuse to refuse her offer. Robyn never wanted to live in the Lehi house. She just used it to say "poor me I'm excluded". And had Kody rent a bigger house for her.

It came out years ago that when the Browns were creating the first season, being paid they didnt report the income and not only received food stamps 5k worth but also declared bankruptcy. Both actions are illegal.

Love these reviews you guys are doing. You’re so thoughtful. Some of the future seasons drag on painfully slowly, so you may want to just watch the tell alls for those seasons or the more interesting episodes.

Very interesting on how you guys incorporate your lives and life experiences into what is happening on this reality show. Also fun to see you guys watch the first seasons knowing how they end up!!!!

She speaks for Kody all the time. Also Robin never lived with another wife. Not even temporary not even a week until they found other homes. She was always separate and Robin always had a caregiver and didn’t include Christine in raising her children or helping with Christine’s children

You are right on top of how they were in the beginning of the show. Love your show, information and analysis.

Thank You 💕 I appreciate your perspective 💕

Thanks so much! You’re giving so much great information

My thoughts on polygamy.... as a very young married woman I could not understand polygamy and thought a lot about it. My husband could not answer my questions (poor guy, I really went after him) because I felt like I could not be a good member if I couldn't accept polygamy. I went through years of stress related to that. When I prayed about it, I finally understood that I did not have to understand right now. I guess it is like compartmentalization, but i basically decided I did not have to know now. I can learn about it more in the next life or whenever the current prophet talks about it.

Y’all’s insight is always SO interesting!

Meri and Kody Brown referred to Janelle publicly as Kody's step-sister (which was true) who lived with them instead of Kody's other wife for years.

I wanted to mention how much I appreciate your approach in your videos. I really like the way you talk about Fundamentalists and the mainstream LDS community as human beings, not just as lost sheep or victims. You acknowledge that they are shaped by their beliefs and the time and place they come from, which is a refreshing perspective. It's quite different from the bitterness you sometimes see on other channels, which, while understandable for those who've been hurt by the church hierarchy, can turn FLDS and LDS people into caricatures. By the way, you briefly mentioned independent fundamentalists, and I think you should consider reaching out to Anne Wilde. She's a well-known academic with deep knowledge of both LDS and Fundamentalist theology, culture, and history. Having a conversation with her could be really interesting.

The thing with meri was that she had the same budget as the other moms for one kid verses 6. Same size house when the kids didn't visit her

Personally, I’m happy to be apart of your sister wives journey. It’ll be interesting to see how or if your opinions of the women and kody change overtime. When I first started watching I really liked meri and that’s never changed. If anything I love her more. I use to like robin, my opinion of her slowly shifted after the divorce due to her behavior towards the other women. I think around season 15/16 she really settles into a villain role. Janelle has always been a calm force. Christine use to annoy me but slowly shifted as well.

Can someone please explain to me what it means to "have a testimony"

Great video!!

I've heard that there was never a problem of them being even charged with breaking any laws in Utah. It was just show drama.

Well the LDS church denounced polygamy in order to have Utah become a state. It was because of pressure not because God told them to stop practicing it. Like God would all of the sudden say oh yeah by the way I changed my mind. John Taylor refused to sign the paper denouncing something he firmly believed what God’s law. It is a true true testament to your father. Sounds like he was an extraordinary person. I agree 💯 about the drama that was added about the police. I mean if the police wanting to round up a big group of law breaking polygamists, they could have made a hard right and come after my community which we live very openly and have never worried about being arrested.

Love to hear your opinions on things! Have you ever watched the show on Rockland Ranch? I would love to hear your opinion on that!

You guys are awesome ❤️ I really enjoy your channel 🤗

I found a report that was claiming that they actually left because their church excommunicated them and wanted the house back NOT for fear of prosecution from the state.

I heard that the AG said he wouldn’t procecute.

Issue with going back to watch on TLC is scenes have been cut , miss interactions and other stuff

Well, no, vinyl on the wall, is not a NY thing. Never mo here. Love your channel! So informative.

They should have just bought a 4-plex. I lived in one when I was a kid for about a year…

My understanding of the origin of the term "Sister Wives" comes from the practice of a man marrying his wife and if the husband of his wife's sister dies he then is required to marry the sister of his wife also. This is they way it was explained to me by a Navajo woman.

From someone who has never really been that into church, was barely raised in it, I find it so interesting the way you speak about your religion and just know Soo much off the top of your head. I just like to hear about your lives. Lol

Christine’s grandpa was Rulon Allred.

I thought their original church asked them not to come anymore? Because of the show?

I started watching it from the very beginning back when it aired 15 years ago. Even from the first season I got a bad vibe from Robyn. I’m surprised you guys aren’t seeing that at all.

I recall when Kody was all into love should be multiplied not divided. Do you recall that,

Ice Blocking? Oh, man... I forgot about that. That was a very popular activity when I lived in Cache Valley going to USU. I never did it... I always thought it was a quick and easy way to break a limb watching those idiots slide down Old Main HIll in a block of ice.

I never did polygamy was a huge reason why I left the church!!!!

When you add in Kody already had 3 wives. He’s already getting into Celestial heaven.

I have a legit question. Janelle appears to be hesitant to “divorce” Kody. What happens to a divorced polygamist wife if she doesn’t leave FLDS yet doesn’t marry again? Also…what about “old maids?” Do they go to heaven or wherever they go with their husband? What about their grown kids who do not continue with the same church? You may have covered on another video I haven’t seen yet. Thanks so much

Why didn’t they move where there was an AUB? Because they got kicked out for going public.

Not sure that Kody tried to be a good father or husband. Meri was the fav until Sobyn replaced her. Christine said that her kids didn’t really notice a change in him because he was never around but that it was really hard on Janelle’s boys because they had been so close. So sad for the kids.

Do the flds and aub still do temple rituals and token and the other things we typically hear about when learning about mainstream Mormons?

It was layer found out that the law wasn't really coming for them. Kody made it up as an excuse move

Iceblocking is not just a Utah thing. I did it growing up in australia 😃

Quakers ice block in Oregon :)

ice blocking is not just a Utah thing. I think it’s a church youth group thing across denominations

I was a huge big love fan. When sisterwives came started we were at Ft Hood and my husband was deployed (my neighbors husband was deployed too). My friend was having a huge Halloween party. My neighbor and I went as sisterwives (because during a deployment you kind of team up with others) I was meri, she went as meri (we had similar hair styles lol). We are there everyone laughs but this husband and wife were giving us dirty looks. If we went in to a room they would literally run out of the room. I asked the my friend what I did to offend them. She's like they are mormon and hate that you guys came as sisterwives. It was funny to me. I thought Mormons vs mormon fundamentalist were like Protestants vs fundamentalist Protestants or catholic vs Protestants. So catholic get stones thrown by Protestants in the south. Protestants get stones thrown by the Protestant fundamentalist. So I just assumed Mormons wouldn't care as much about mormon fundamentalist.

Robin was definitely the villain in season 2. If you can spot a narcissist you will see it.

I would love to see you guys have Gwendolyn Wyne on your show! She has a RU-vid channel under her name “Gwendolyn Wyne” and a series of videos called “An Enemy Has Done This”. She is an active Latter-Day Saint who believes polygamy was NOT from God, but a Tare sown in by the enemy. I think most active members feel it came from God to be practiced sometimes (and in the afterlife), but there is a growing movement of those active in the faith who believe God sees it as an abomination and whoredom (Jacob chapters 1, 2, and 3 for starters).

39:59 I really wish you talked about how The family proclamation was written in direct Opposition to legalizing gay marriage as it was a hot topic att because of hawaii. The mormon church wrote it out of bigotry.

Oh it’s definitely the Browns who overstated the danger of their situation. When they go to the pro-polygamy rally, it’s very clear that they felt in danger.

Meri's family might also have been LDS until she was 5 years old? Not certain.

Maybe they should have bought a Bed and Breakfast, rather than a motel. Although I think none of them really wanted to live together. Christine especially, you'll see in coming seasons, never wanted to live in one house again and put her foot down hard.

they are horrible with money

I'm curious about whether you two are still members and believers in mainstream Mormonism. (I'm not Mormon and may have worded that incorrectly)

The police were never looking for them nor were they going to prosecute them. They were saying that for TV! Utah county prosecutors we’re never going to take them to court.

Well, it wasn't true. The police were not trying to take him away.

Hello Sam and Melissa! I've been watching your videos for a while, especially now your reviewing the Brown family. But I notice every time that your sound always sounds so hollow. Like you're in a big empty room. Great show though!

Are you both LDS now please

Never-mo here, but I listen to the channels, and there was an hilarious debate raging recently regarding whether JS ever practiced polygamy. The true believer still-Mormons are the ones arguing that polygamy was false doctrine brought in by Brigham. The people who have left the church offer the convincing pile of evidence that Smith had multiple wives, including pointing out that this is acknowledged now on the official LDS website, including a list of the wives. But, no, the current church members manage to reject that outrageous claim. Truly hilarious to me.

The law was never really after them directly. Not like they make it sound at least. They didn't need to escape during the night or anything This has been debunked. Just part of the storyline. Tlc wanted that protesting footage!😂💯

well, Robin is a villain from jump which y'all have not realized yet is that robbing is very much calculated with everything she's been doing and saying on camera and when you start watching all the finale interviews, you can start getting a picture of how what's on TV was not what life wasand you're gonna find out 10 years from now or so when they actually the women start expressing themselves without holding him as a God as in Cody

You seems to know how things work, so Janelle is Married to Meri's bother and poor Meri brings her new boyfriend to introduce him and Janelle stated she was sprung on Kody while Married, and they flirted not sure if in front of Meri or not, I would think this is a no no in their beliefs being they clearly stated the woman needs to go the church leader and state she wants to be in the "family" so being Janelle told Kody this while Married is this not CHEATING flirting with a married man, and who know what else he did. And Janelle stated Meri was abusive, if I was Meri I would of said of course you jezebel your lucky to be alive. Plus being a cheater I doubt she is honest about anything.

I don’t understand how polygamy can be prosecuted. If fraud is involved, yes. But since subsequent marriage licenses (legal doc) are not sought, where’s the fraud/crime? Is it any different than Nick Cannon having several children with multiple women?? What about men (or women) having affairs? Again, if there is financial fraud, I get it. Otherwise, leave it be.

Don’t the LDS also believe that they will be polygamous in the afterlife?

really what about the dress, truely being born and the 10 day so badly needed honeymoon?

Yes, but the only thing that is illegal is having more than one legal marriage certificate with one man or woman. You can have as many concubines as you want and have children with them. There are other reasons why these men have gone to prison most the time it’s having sex with underage children.

From what I read the owners of the first casinos aka the mob- wanted Mormons to handle the financials because they were perceived as trustworthy. Maybe that is still why there are mormons in Vegas.

Will you be covering the 8 passengers child abuse. I was just wondering since you are part of the LDS church.

Hi Mariah, now goes by Leon pronouns they/them. I recommend not using their dead name. As so I think it’s clear they missed their mission statement from season 2 onwards. They started the show to show they are ordinary and normal polygamists. But it was also a way to show their community they can be open and accepted. I think there was no threat but they needed drama for the show to continue, people don’t watch sunshine and rainbows. So they pushed this we are risking our family if we stay story. This could have scared some members of their community, into being more secretive.

Sam = vegad homes dont have alot of bedrooms. They should have bought a motel in vegas. 😅😅😅 amazing comment

I know it’s not mentioned on the show yet, but Mariah goes by Leon now, with they/ them pronouns. I know you are watching with fresh eyes, just don’t want people coming at you. I wasn’t sure if TLC changed that yet on the earlier episodes, with their name.

You'd like the commentary channel "Without a Crystal Ball".

Several of my ancestors were polygamists, I have no problem with that principle when it was enacted. I believe it was to grow the church. As with Abraham and his many wives and concubines.

I don’t know if you are aware or not but “Mariah” now goes by Leon and uses they them pronouns and has asked that when people identify them they don’t use their dead name :) xx

Friendly reminder, please try and be aware to not use Leon's dead name😊