When Bad Things Happen To Bad People

The last few days I’ve been working through some thoughts on the unfortunate events that are a part of everyone’s mortal living. I make it no secret that I’m not the best Mormon, nor do I want to be and several family members who are more devout, not to mention seminary teachers and bishopric members, really dislike that about me. So, often when negative things happen in my life, and so far they’ve all been health-related having nothing to do with our family’s lifestyle choices, just the randomness of biology, I get a strange vibe from some people. Their off-hand comments have led me to believe that they think we somehow deserve to be punished. Is it just me or is this somehow a perspective brought on by the Mormon culture? Just as God grants blessings to those who practice a certain outline of obedience, he can zing those who have different ideas of faithfulness ? I’m not sure, it could just be them, but where would they get this? It all strikes me as, well, a little Medieval. Remember in your history class when they talked about the dark ages and how they thought mentally ill, handicapped, or ugly people were being punished by God for their sins---well, sometimes I can relate and it’s been over a thousand years.

Do As I'm Doing, Follow, Follow Me

Tonight I went to a mother’s gathering where I met some other mothers and when they heard I’m from Utah, they immediately wanted to know about polygamy, which happens to be something I know quite a bit about. To give you some background, in 2001 I met Tom Green, a polygamist who was married to five women and was convicted of four counts of bigamy later that year. I’d expected to get an uneasy feeling from him, you know that letchy creepiness that sends a shiver down your spine? Well, I didn’t come away with that at all and after several years of being in the presence of criminals and misfits of every sort, I consider myself a good barometer of people. What I did find was a man who deeply believed in his religion, loved his family, and was socially awkward so his interview left me wanting to better understand the principle he was willing to go to prison for. In 2005 I found myself with a free summer and I started researching polygamy which lead me to writing a novel that I’m still working on, and working on, and working on.

Anyway, one of the women I met tonight asked why the FLDS thought it was okay to marry girls who were around fourteen-years-old and it’s a complicated answer with many reasons, but the most important one hasn’t gotten much coverage in the media and it’s bothering me. The FLDS take everything literally from the Book Of Mormon (except the Word of Wisdom) and the life of Joseph Smith. Those of you who read church history undoubtedly know of the prophet’s polygamy, including his marriages to two fourteen-year-old girls- Helen Mar Kimball and Nancy Winchester (may have been fifteen), five of his other wives were under eighteen. In light of Joseph Smith’s example, the FLDS view this as God saying it’s acceptable to marry teens, so you can understand my doubts when the FLDS spokesman stands on a dusty road outside the YFZ ranch and says they will no longer marry underage women.

I just wanted this noted so a handful of years from now when they find out girls are still being married underage (or promised)—but might be waiting until the legal age to consummate it, I can say, “I told you so” and feel bad about having to say it. Do you believe the FLDS when they say they won't marry underage girls and how young is too young to marry?