Discovering the Truth About ’Sister Wives’

Why is TLC's ‘Sister Wives‘ so popular? What is at the root of why a woman would engage in polygamy or a plural marriage?  What does God's Word say about Mormonism?

While teaching Andy Stanley's Twisting the Truth Small Group Curriculum to our ladies Bible study, I focused on this subject and was surprised by the results. I struggled with the thought process of women who engage in polygamist marriages.

This was a subject I had to explore.

I began to research this topic of polygamy and why any woman in her right mind would not only engage in but promote and endorse it.  My research lead me to the heart of the matter.  In my opinion, the twist on this topic factors down to this one verse:

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
– I Timothy 6:10

In the article ‘Why Do Women Choose Polygamy?’ posted on Principle Voices, a fundamentalist Mormon Web site, I found the following statements. Please note the emphasis on rewards and/or status.

  • She believes that plural marriage is a divine and holy law, absolutely essential, not optional, for the rewards promised.
  • She believes that a monogamous marriage, even though it may be solemnized in a temple, is insufficient for her to achieve the promised rewards.
  • She believes plural marriage is one of the laws of God designed to help her achieve her full potential, including her rightful status as a goddess in conjunction with her husband as a god.
  • She believes that the rewards for living plural marriage within the above context are immense and worth the effort.

Further on this website and from the ‘Handout‘ section, a summary list of reasons why women choose polygamy. Included are 15 reasons, please note the following reason and the emphasis on status and/or rewards.

  • To live so as to gain greater eternal rewards and blessings.
  • To qualify for exaltation in the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom.

In The Paradox of Polygamy‘ posted on Psychology.com, the mindset of these women is revealed. When asked if they would rather be wife 2, 3, 4 etc., to Matt Damon or be monogamous with Willard Scott, the answer was clear.

Many women are willing to share a husband of means (financially, professionally, socially) rather than devote their lives to a blue-collar worker.  So the net-net not only in the literature but also in the concepts these women have is basically rewards, the love of money.

What is the twisted thinking in polygamy?  For women, it seems to be to convince them of a secure future both now on this Earth and in the next life.  It is a works-based concept of God.

Am I railing and lashing out at these women who appear on Sister Wives? No, just considering their motives against what Scripture reveals about rewards and realizing that the deception they are experiencing is the same as it was in the garden. 

Consider this, the serpent suggested gain to Eve. He lied to her by saying “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” – (Genesis 3:5)

Eve wanted to be like God, who wouldn’t?

The prayer lifted up by Andy Stanley is a good one. It is something to pray for each and every day.

“Remove far from me vanity and lies..”
– Proverbs 30:8

Need some biblical references against polygamy?  Here are a few. Join the conversation. Add yours to the comments.

  • Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
    Genesis 2:24
  • Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
    – Romans 13:1-2
  • And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
    – Exodus 19:6
  • A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife…
    – I Timothy 3:2
  • Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
    – I Timothy 3:12

The Sister Wives:

  1. Meri – wife – 39, married 20 years with one child
  2. Janelle  – additional partner -40, married 17 years with six children
  3. Christine – additional partner -37, married 16 years with five children
  4. Robyn – additional partner – 31, soon-to-be-fourth wife with three children from another husband
 

Be First to Comment

  1. 1234aussie said:

    A few references from the book of Mormon may get their attention? Book of Jacob 1:15 And now it came to passthat the people of Nephi under the reign of the second king began to grow hard in their hearts, And indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices,such as like unto David of old, desiring many wivesand concubines , and also Solomon his son; Jacob 2:33 “Behold, David and Solomon truely had many wives and concubines,which thing was abominablebefore me ” saith the LORD; Jacob 2:36 Wherefore my brethren,hear me and hearken to the words of the lord: “for there shall not any man amoung you have save it be one wife , and concubines he shall none; I suggest that every one read the book of Jacob http://www.centerplace.org as with the bible “traditions replacethe truth”

    October 13, 2010
    Reply
  2. All references you quote are, of course, not from the bible so while your reference is from your literature, we may agree. If you boil all reasons down to why a woman would engage in polygamy, it all comes down to the ‘love of money or status.’ Which is why I couldn’t find any woman willing to engage in a polygamist lifestyle with a man of simple means. It is a sad thought but the truth is that without monetary status and/or the hope to achieve some higher level of status in heaven, these women would not participate.

    October 13, 2010
    Reply
  3. Rev. Tim Lehmann said:

    Well, I have been married to the same lovely woman for over 37 years. We have one daughter and two granddaughters. To share her with another, for me, would be unthinkable, so I cannot understand how women can share their husband. While I know that many Bible characters have had multiple wives, we need to remember that one of the reasons behind Solomon’s downfall was his many wives.

    October 13, 2010
    Reply
  4. Latayne Scott said:

    Keiki, I appreciate your citation of the article from the fundamentalist Mormon site and also the article from Psychology.com. Very insightful. However, as a former Mormon who believed as a young woman that I should prepare myself for plural marriage (the mainstream LDS church does not practice earthly polygamy of course but does command its practice after death) I believed I might be able to enjoy the exclusive attentions of my husband while on earth but must be mentally ready for eternity as a plural wife. That produced a kind of dichotomy in my thinking, looking forward to the mysteries of sex and marriage but seeing these things not as most women see these two things (inherently fading and temporary respectively, so to speak) but rather prone to constant acceleration. As I’ve conversed with others who like me once fervently yearned for an eternity of polygamy, we at the same time expressed some relief that it would be preceded by a period of exclusivity. I didn’t believe it would bring me wealth but rather expected that if earthly polygamy were legalized it would mean the dividing of attentions and resources. I believed the propaganda that unmarried and unattractive women would be integrated into families almost in the sense of an adoption. I also think it’s important to understand the worldview of someone entrenched in such thinking. As I mentioned, I expected no earthly enrichment, and saw my submission to an eternity of polygamy as half trial and half triumph, hoping that by that time I’d be much purer in heart and able to fully enjoy it. Latayne C. Scott author, The Mormon MIrage, Latter-day Cipher, and other books on Mormonism www dot latayne dot com

    October 22, 2010
    Reply

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