Texas Polygamist Ranch

I will admit that I have a strange fascination with polygamy. It may or may not have stemmed from watching "Big Love". I like to read books about it and watch news reports about it. Of course, "Big Love" is a very romanticized version of what really goes on and from the books I have read the real life polygamist relationships that take place in FLDS communities are abusive on one or more levels. These people separated from the Mormon church and live in religious communities that mainly cater to men's needs.

One book that I read, "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop is an account of how she was forced to marry, at age 18, a man that was in his fifties who already had 3 wives. It is a very interesting book in which she details her life as a "sister wife" and all of the abuses that came with it. She had a lot of courage to take her 8 children and leave. She was hunted down and threatened to come back but she stayed strong and received custody of her children. It is a very interesting read about a culture that I couldn't believe actually exists in America. The man that this lady was married to is one of the leaders at the ranch that the FLDS built in Texas that was raided over the weekend.

To think that all those young girls are forced to live there and see no way out makes me realize how lucky I am. Hopefully, the child welfare system in TX can help these girls so that they don't stay in the same harmful cycle.

So basically, the point of this post was to say that I have a strange fascination with polygamy and that I find the news about this raid very compelling. So I think you should try reading that book. I also read another book called "Shattered Dreams" by Irene Spencer. She was married to one of the Lebaron brothers. This is another interesting read that I would recommend. There is a lot of history of the inter workings of polygamy and she also lived on a ranch in Mexico, which was interesting to read about.

Anyways, that's all I have to say on the subject right now but I am sure I will have more to say. It's just good to know that those women and children in TX may be given a chance at a more normal life that is under their control.