Exploring the Complex World of Religious Polygamy in "Sister Wives" - Review of Season 18 Ep 5&6 

Robyn is such a hypocrite, she preaches for plural marriage and sister wives but never practiced or lived it, both her and Kody planed their lives and what they wanted by using the other wives and somehow their religion was a way to justify it, Kody set out to show how this lifestyle was different and worked but in reality showed how horrible it was for any wife and children that were not the favorites.

Thank you! 😊

Christine didn't want the one house because she felt like the basement wife. Her apartment was in the lower level and Mary was a control freak.

@@bbrundage3409 That was way back in the very first season in Lehi that she had a huge basement apartment. Kody always wanted one big house, too. Christine always rejected it because she wanted privacy to show affection without the other wives seeing it. Christine has always been disagreeable and angry. I don’t know why she ever stayed so long in polygamy.

@@bbrundage3409 basement wife would be a good topic. Christine mainly had girls so are they viewed as equal or lesser then boys . Plus Christine was the one speaking out on how things were working . The production needed to see both sides on how to work on the struggles or keeping sweet would not have keep this show on for 18 seasons . Ppl got tired of seeing trips . The girls were all married now it's to the boys . They all went military . To the next tier of kids who are just now finding partners . I testing backgrounds on how fast you knew the local areas compared to non locals .

@@andeeq666 for the kids is why many stay . They want kids to be grown before they announce I'm done .

Yah, I think you’ll find that in quite a few religions. It can also go both ways: the person leaving the faith doesn’t want to associate with their family any longer, or associates very little.

@andeeq666 Oh absolutely. There are some cults/religions where the separation is forced by way of doctrine or policy (many fundamental Mormon communities, Scientology, JWs, Amish, etc.). But I think a lot of people have been so hurt that they need the distance. In my case, it was always made incredibly clear that leaving is the equivalent of familial and communal death. Unless your family also leaves, you no longer have a family. It was drilled into me my whole childhood that people living outside of the Catholic religion are dangerous and that associating with them brings in evil. It's crazy to me.

Maybe because my dad wasn’t Catholic when he met my mom, converted to get married, I never thought of my grandparents as dangerous. My grandfather’s advice to my dad when he was getting married… “Whatever you’re going to be, be a good one.”

@@MsMolliesMom What perfect and sweet advice in that moment! My kids are raised much differently than I was, and they very much know that I'm not here to teach them how to think or who to be, aside from people I'm proud to send out in the world. As they grow, I get so much positive feedback that I feel hopeful that in their way, they'll all do their best to better their communities. And there's no getting rid of me. They come to me with anything and everything (sometimes a bit too much lol!). But unlike me as a kid, they know that there's nothing they can say to change/diminish my love for them, and I've thankfully earned their trust, working to maintain it all the time! ❤️

This is why it's important to work out your own salvation. My convictions aren't the same as someone else and I shouldn't force those convictions on them.

mgs, are you implying that a pastor and parents shouldn’t teach their congregations or children in ways they believe are a higher standard of conduct?

Interesting how her new husband has ties to the AUB.

​@@andeeq666She also has ties to the AUB. Makes sense to me. 🤷‍♀️

Are these people in the weird Warren Jeffs cult? If they are I wonder why they are not wearing those creepy dresses and hair?

MM, what does that have to do with what I said?

You're welcome! Thanks for watching 😊

Thank you! 😊

So honestly just curious does the show fabricate things or are you supposed to get along with ur sister wives or js it not as necessary as kody makes it?

@@LynnVon3443 well it’s like my kids. I want them to all get along all time, but their human and that’s not realistic. The show , especially now depicts a lot more drama Than what most plural families experience. I really can only speak for our family when I say we’re pretty normal, probably way too boring for reality television. It’s a lot of work, but life in general is a lot of work. My sister wife are very different. I’m more outspoken and adventurous whereas she is more reserved and practical. Do we get along all the time? 99% of the yes. We relate more to the day to day stuff of the brown family vs the drama. Thankfully

@@ladybugmom10 thanks for answering. Do you think the browns were brave coming out or do you think they actually made things worse because of their behavior or do you think he's not the great leader he proclaims to get everyone outta hiding and normalizeing the life style

@@LynnVon3443 I know a lot of my polygamous friends were not happy at all about it. They felt like it wouldn’t help the view of our lifestyle. But it actually helped me through some difficult times as I adjusted to having a sisterwife. Unfortunately I think it really did contribute to the demise of the Brown family. Being famous went to Kodys head and put way too much pressure on the kids and the wives. Even if Kody fell completely in love with Robyn, he made a lifelong commitment to love and care for the rest of his family. He doesn’t know what loyalty and respect even means and how you get it, which has been frustrating to watch. It’s really sad to see them fall apart like this in front of the whole world, but it does show how not to live plural marriage. At least Janelles and Christines relationship has put a positive light on the blessings we have from living this way. Thanks for your interest.

She wouldn’t need one if she left the church.

I believe that she married Meri's brother in the mainstream LDS church. I assume that she either resigned from the LDS church or was excommunicated. I assume (though somebody who is LDS might actually know) that your sealing is no longer valid if you are excommunicated.

They were married in the LDS church. She left to join the AUB so she wouldn't have needed a release from that

They are the best!

The viewers are gullible so their perspectives are skewed. Many believe the editing job of production presented the whole truth. Hahaha!

Ooohhhh good insight! We will see if these upcoming episodes shed more light on Kody's faith. When he was talking about prayer and meditation it seemed that his faith has definitely shifted in some way.

What do you mean by “officially?” What makes one “official?” Kody left his association with the church when he moved to Vegas, so it’s not like any church authority is “checking up” on him or that he’s accountable to anyone. He seemed to hold on to many of the beliefs, however. But, he’s the only one who knows where his faith and beliefs are and how he feels about his spiritual marriage.

Thank you so much!! We're so happy you found us and are enjoying our videos 😊

Yes and she gave that to Robyn with the legal marriage. I think explains her grieving of the divorce even though I believe she was absolutely manipulated in to doing it

@@Melissa_Badhorse Janelle and Christine need to take Kody and Robyn to civil court for fraud. They were defrauded out of millions. At least Meri has a house in southern Utah in her name. Christine sold her house and is renting that over priced duplex in Murray Utah. While Janelle lives who knows where today??? Stupid…

Thank you so much! ❤️

Great question! It probably deserves its own video, so I put it on our list! The short answer is that they were being threatened by the federal government if the practice didn't cease in Utah. Then the Prophet received revelation that it needed to end.

FYI the catechism of the Catholic Church does state that some situations require married couples to separate for the safety of one/both spouse(s)

@@rachelhenry2328 That’s separating, I was Talking divorce. One particular case , my girlfriend married 4 yrs , 2 babies, and her husband was arrested for transvestite prostitution. The Priest told her she could not divorce, she could separate,but would always be married to him in the eyes of the church. He would not leave the home . She did divorce, and moved far away so her kids would not grow up where he was carrying out his fantasies. The Priest was her Brother . Of course this is 60 yrs ago . The Church was much more disciplined

Think Catholic's bad, Mennonite CANNOT get a divorce EVER even with infidelity.

My friend got married in the Catholic Church. She legally divorced her first husband. But, when she found her second husband, she had to leave the Catholic church in order to get married again because the church didn’t grant her a Catholic divorce. The church may have relaxed a little by now, this was 30 years ago.

I was a divorced Catholic. My priest referred to what happened to me as "marital fraud". During pre-marital counseling I was led to believe one thing by my soon to be husband, and within a few days of the marriage, the opposite happened! We didn't stay married long!

I always felt they became lazy in not making an effort to do things together as a family. It was just easier to do nothing.

I agree. I think they did what came easiest, too.

That context and thought have been in the show all along. It was no secret that they practiced polygamy due to religious beliefs and their belief in God.

Thank you so much! We hope you also have a lovely weekend 😊

The FLDS kick out their men, especially the younger ones, whenever they feel like it for the smallest of reasons. The young ones are called the “lost boys of polygamy.” You may be able to find programs on that to watch.

In other cultures where polygamy has been practiced continuously for thousands of years, the math is much easier: wealthier men can afford to support more wives and children; generally, as time goes on, there is usually more of an age gap between a man and his most recent wives -- after living to an old age, some of his widows may still be fairly young and want to marry again. Poorer men will tend to marry their first (and perhaps only) wife at a later age than they might had they been born into wealth. Between economic pressures and the potential age gap between spouses, these societies have reached a stability in the sex ratio of their populations that can't be found in most (any?) of these newer, smaller polygamist communities. With a smaller population of potential marriage candidates and with the religious understanding that a widow married in these communities is only a man's wife for the time they're together here on earth and that she and her children are really members of her first husband's family, and with the religious pressure to marry someone that will still be one's spouse in the next life, young men tend to be out of luck unless they have strong economic and community support: even marrying a pretty young widow does nothing to help a young man attain his exaltation in the next life.

@andeeq666 I have seen some things about that. What I am really wondering though, is how they sell it to the community. I mean, if they say this is essential, then how do they get around the hard news that the majority of the men will numerically be shut out?

@@MR-or6yv The ones kicked out are always found to be "unworthy" etc.

The series earned money for her and most importantly, Kody, and helped her BnB and clothing business.

@@joerudnik9290 I dunno if it's just that. I really don't think it's that Meri has actually been winning this whole time.

Aww thank you so much!

The catfish incident happened after the legal divorce that really tore Meri up. I don’t think anyone knows Meri’s motivation for staying.

I agree with so much of what you're saying but also I feel like her guilt over it and trying to make up for it by renewed loyalty. Especially since Leon was so angry

Meri suffered a lot, but she still stayed ‘Team Kody’!!! However in the meantime she started rebuilding a separate life, thankfully!!

Thank you so much! I use like a W shaped hair crimper thingy haha. I tagged it in the video description for you since my own description is not the best haha. I will say that my hair will not hold regular curls for more than a couple of hours, but these waves it will hold for DAYS! =)

LDS church is the same. But… it’s pretty sexist. Mormon women need to get church approval for Temple divorce before marrying another man in the temple. While a man doesn’t need a temple divorce to marry another woman. Lol

You're welcome 😊

Can't wait to hear those!

Thank you so much!! ☺️

@@GrowingUpinPolygamy your so welcome

Wow, I didn't know that the Bishops had so much control over it. So sorry that you had to go through that. So happy that your second bishop did the best thing for you!

@@GrowingUpinPolygamy they have to initiate the paperwork and call the former spouse for permission to go forward with the process, so I guess if they don’t want to do that they can stop the whole thing 🤷🏻‍♀️

A Bishop may have his own ideas about things, but a member may always go up the authority line - next being the Stake President- if he/she disagrees with the Bishop. But, I’m glad you got a new Bishop soon after and got it done with him!

@@andeeq666I’ve done this before (was told in college that my “sins” before my baptism made me unworthy to serve a mission, even though I was baptized… so Bishop genuinely didn’t understand the gospel 😂) but I don’t believe SP can start sealing cancellation paperwork.

Thank you so much!

The Browns left the AUB when they moved to Las Vegas in the first season. That could’ve been their downfall- leaving their support system in order to have a tv show and more money. AUB is a religion/church that practices polygamy. Why would a member of the AUB, a church the Browns left behind, know why the Browns’ marriages fell apart? Their marriages fell apart for the same reasons other marriages fall apart. Pick a few of the obvious reasons. There’s no cords tied around anyone’s necks forcing them to stay.

Thank you so much!

Thank you so much! We're glad you found us 😊

There’s no proof that Meri was violent!

I read somewhere that Meri was also the instigator of several bad fights with Janelle and Christine, not just the children.

@@twovirginiacats3753 Of course you did, so it must be true! None of them are saints.

Interesting question!

We will be releasing a video next week discussing this topic. Thank you for the question! 😊

The basics- religions aren’t strict disciplinary cults with religious police and ministers butting into everyone’s lives and keeping notes, multiple background checks, etc. on individuals. There may be some cults like that, but usually a person is on the “honor system” and responsible for their own lives, regardless of what the religion encourages, believes, or teaches. Yes, there are people who lie their way through religion and the honor system.

Are you sure? Wasn’t this one of the big reasons activists screamed and yelled for promoting same-sex marriage - because they weren’t able to adopt each other’s children without marriage? Are you aware of the adoption laws in each state?

Thank you so much!

LOVE THIS!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! It is so true! - Melissa

Communion is a symbol of God's death and resurrection, not actual drinking and eating body & blood. Never been to a church where this isn't explained during the service.

No. I did not “realize”, or think, it’s fascinating then or now. Your words sound nit-picky. The mainstream LDS do NOT believe polygamy is a “requirement” for celestial exaltation. I don’t recall Sam saying it was a “requirement,” though, he’d be wrong if he did. What religion says we “eat & drink the body and blood of God” so literally? In the New Testament, Christ taught to eat and drink “in remembrance” of Him. A person should be weirded out when someone says it in a literal way. I don’t know what your point is, but I’m of the opinion that one’s mind, personality and individual self-expression have more to do with one’s speaking in an open, closed, or assuming manner rather than does “culture,” “family,” and whatever ideas you presented.

@@andeeq666 Celestial marriage is essential to exaltation. In order to obtain the highest degree in the celestial kingdom, "a man and a woman must enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage" (see D&C 131:2-3). Celestial marriage, as Joseph explains to Emma, *is* plural marriage. The righteous can get to the Celestial kingdom, but for final exaltation there's outlined requirements. Final exaltation is reserved for only *some* already *in* the Celestial kingdom. The exalted go on to become the God of one's own planet. If you would like additional information you can read the journal of discourses or Adam-God teachings by Brigham young. In regards to the Body & Blood of Christ, I have explained the concept of transubstantiation in my other reply. 51% of the World's Christians are Catholic. Another 12% are Greek or Russian Orthodox. Their religious teachings/edicts include the miracle of transubstantiation, or in simpler terms, the *literal* blood & body of Christ. 63% of Christians in the world, nearly *two*-*thirds* of Christians believe this teaching. While it is clear that what I wrote did not resonate with you, your presumption that Christianity has a universal belief about sacrament is the exact point of the comment I left. You are likely in the US & your understanding of "Christian" is biased towards protestant factions of Christianity, ie. Baptist, non-denominational, etc. You do not realize that protestant denominations are a global minority by a longshot. You may even take issue with the word "sacrament", & perhaps think it's called "communion", or "eucharist", or whichever vernacular that your mind considers "normal". The bias I have laid out for you is the precise concept that you've indicated "has no point & is incorrect". The reason you came to the false conclusion about what the body & blood means by presuming it means the same thing to all Christians is BECAUSE of where you were born & raised. A person's birth country, birth region, where they were raised, their family of origin ARE the foundation of a person's thoughts, feelings, & perceptions of the world. It's a cultural relativity that shapes *every* facet of one's concept of "normal" or "creepy" or "socially acceptable" or "apostasy" or "righteous indignation"...the list could go on & on. It's your assertion that the new testament's reference to "in remembrance of me" somehow conflicts with the teachings on transubstantiation? How does "taking upon the body & blood of Christ" conflict that one is doing it *in* *remembrance* *of* *Christ*? They are not conflicting statements. But perhaps even more importantly, we must remember that many Christians take the words of the Bible in a very literal and NOT symbolic way, whatsoever. So when Jesus says, literally, "This IS my body" and "This IS my blood" it's not an up-for-interpretation thing. The book of Mark, the book of Luke, 1 Corinthians *all* say "this IS my body/blood", & consequently, a lot of Christians take eucharist/communion as a miracle which Jesus himself grants each Sunday for believers to take in remembrance of him. If you think that is weird but that your beliefs wouldn't be considered the same level of weird to others then you're sorely mistaken. As for me, I have no dog in this fight because I do not judge or condemn any religions or beliefs as "weird". I'm not LDS, or Catholic, or person who pretends to know the mysteries of Jesus or mysteries of miracles. I don't pretend to know what's literal or what's symbolic, or bounce between the two like I am at a Christian-buffet picking & choosing what's on a plate. I'm just someone who is deeply fascinated by religion (all religions) & have studied world religions extensively. Cultural anthropology & systems of belief are a large component of my academic/professional expertise. Melissa & Sam have cultivated a community that embraces using empathy towards the beliefs of others instead of disparaging someone for having beliefs different than their own. It's a departure from the "holier-than-thou, my church is the one *true* church, there's over 3,000 religions on earth but somehow *my* team is the only one smart enough, or righteous enough". This community doesn't take an intolerant position while also not shying away from hard truths that not everyone is going to like all the time. Something I will make 100% clear is that if your aim is to arrogantly march into this community as a person who watches sister wives to gawk at mormon fundamentalism as if the people born into those beliefs are a circus freak show then this is not going to be the channel for you. Your comment makes it *very* clear that you aren't LDS nor FLDS since D&C 131-132 are something that you apparently don't know exists or are taught. I'm also pretty sure you don't realize that in the LDS church "exaltation" *specifically* refers to *CELESTIAL* exaltation, as in Celestial kingdom, it's NOT the way many Christians define exaltation as one going to heaven. Celestial exaltation is a VERY specific thing in the LDS church. One of the most frustrating things about the Brown's in general is that they've propagated some harmful fallacies that have caused many viewers to think they're qualified to tell others what the LDS church does or does not teach, or that the AUB or Kingston's or FLDS are like "degrees of fundamentalism" where the FLDS "prairie dress" women could choose a "modern, progressive polygamist path" like the Brown's. They don't realize that the Warren Jeffs group has it's own distinct branch of prophet succession, unique beliefs, & any deviation IS a complete rejection of "the one true gospel & Christ's prophets" that will damn themselves & their children to perdition for all eternity. The general public's failure to understand the veracity of conviction makes escaping the FLDS harder, disrespects victims by implying they weren't smart enough or brave enough. The only reason YOU aren't in their shoes is the sheer luck of where/when you were born. Every single person in any of these high-control high-demand groups could be one of us & understanding that is the definition of loving empathy. That "loving empathy towards all" is a core tenant of *my* beliefs, & the reason I admire the teachings of Jesus as I understand them to be.

Absolutely! I get questions all the time about things that they have seen on television shows, when in reality my experience in the FLDS was waaayyyyy different than that of the Sister Wives. haha

“Butt” also, heaven forbid!

I’m 70, raised Catholic, and we swore like sailors since I was a teenager-especially my mom. There are Catholics, and there are Catholics!

That is my cousin 😊

I was thinking you did some changing! 😀@@GrowingUpinPolygamy It was a very interesting documentary.

All the wives agreed to let Robyn in the family and said Kody deserved a “trophy” wife like Robyn. It was never Robyn’s fault if the other marriages were old and stale after 16, 17, 20 years, but the wives chose to stay to raise their children as one big family. Robyn should have her 15+ years of “good” marriage that the others got.

Meri specifically called Robyn Kody's "trophy" wife. They were laughing about it. Neither Janelle or Christine called Robyn that. @@andeeq666

Sorry.....you answered that ? later in the video. Just hadn't gotten there yet.

Very interesting! Thank you for commenting.

They all wanted to, but it didn’t come easy, so they gave up.

We agree, but it gets the point across of how they view him.

I don’t know exact details, but In the LDS church, it’s up to the couple to decide to repair their marriage or to divorce. Even though keeping the family together is the goal of the religion, no one is “forced” or “expected” to stay if repair isn’t possible or desired. Church discipline would consist of temporary disfellowshipment (certain member privileges/participation taken away) or full excommunication (membership taken away, all privileges removed.) There is no physical punishment or removing of the wife from her family that’s done by the LDS church. Don’t know all the details for FLDS, either, however, the elders of that religion decide punishment. The woman may be sent away without her family/children to another location for a while; or booted out of the church and having to leave her children behind. She can leave her marriage and religion, but would have to leave her children behind unless she sneaks them out.

After one legal marriage, there can’t be anymore legal marriages to the other wives, it’s against the law.

@@andeeq666 I mean the first one.

It is combined for the first one typically. Sam and I had our legal marriage and sealing as the same ceremony. In the case of the LDS church though, if you have family that cannot enter the Temple then a lot of times couples will do a civil ceremony followed immediately by a Temple sealing. Unfortunately for us, this was not an option when we were married so we had many friends and family that were not able to attend. =( Melissa

A sealing is a religious ordinance in which you are "sealed" to your spouse for "time and eternity" instead of "until death do you part". They believe that it is only with proper authority that you can be with your family forever, in this life and the next.

@@GrowingUpinPolygamy If a wife dies and a man remarries does that mean mormons think that he thinks he will be a polygamist in eternity? What do mormons think will happen if a husband dies & his wife remarries? A widow & a widower?

Great question! Yes, you are sealed to your children, but the ultimate goal is for them to grow up and be sealed to their spouse to create their own eternal family. The way I had it explained to me growing up is that when you reach the highest degree of glory, you get the power to go from world to world in the eternities, meaning that you would be able to visit all family (including parents) if you are both Gods yourself. If you are in a lesser degree of glory, then you would be stuck there and therefore cut off from all family that made it to the Celestial Kingdom. - Melissa

@@GrowingUpinPolygamy thanks for clarifying. Although I don't agree with the religion, it still intrigues me to learn about it and gain the perspective of others.

Just does not seem to be an Inclusive religion for single or unmarried persons when it glorifies marriage sealing and plural Marriages.

We will have to put it on our list!

I did until I read their book

@@user-nw4op5im1i okay, so I wonder what stops Kody from just being monogamous, other than the show? From a faith perspective, he's good. And then, what keeps Robyn attached to polygamy? She was willing to live plural marriage (we assume), is that enough for her? Especially since the AUB teaches its not required

There isn’t time on a tv program to show all the time one parent spends with their children. You’d be surprised by how little the cameras capture of these people’s lives. Think about it. On average, you see less than 24 hours of their lives PER YEAR! Production is happy to edit a story and viewpoints for you out of what little footage they get, though.

That is a long story, but we cover quite a bit in our video "Our Spiritual Journey" if you want to check it out. =)

@@GrowingUpinPolygamy thanks!

We are not currently a part of any religious organization. =)

Yay! Thanks for being here! 😊

Is there a prize for being first or something? I see this “first” comment so often, it’s ridiculous.

@@andeeq666 its a game 🙂 Just for fun. And it helps the algoritme.