Secrets of Polygamy

Last updated
Secrets of Polygamy
Genre Documentary
True crime
Directed byMyles Reiff
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
CinematographyIgor Kosenko
Christopher Mitchell
EditorBrandon Dumas
Running time45 minutes
Original release
Network A&E
ReleaseJanuary 8, 2024 (2024-01-08)

Secrets of Polygamy is an American documentary series on A&E, surrounding the subject of various Mormon fundamentalist groups that follow polygamy. [1] The series began airing on January 8, 2024. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Premise

The series exposes the lives of people living in polygamous marriages within Mormon fundemantalist groups such as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the Kingston clan (or The Order) and the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB). [5] [6] [7]

Episodes

No. [8] Title
1"The New Prophet Part 1"
FLDS leader Warren Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for sexual crimes against minors, and his imprisonment has created a power vacuum that several new prophets have stepped in to try and fill.
2"The New Prophet Part 2"
Despite his incarceration, Warren Jeffs continues to control the lives of his followers, issuing edicts that have linked to allegations of missing children within the church.
3"Bleeding the Beast Part 1"
Members of the Kingston Clan, also known as The Order, have been convicted of incest, fraud and assault yet the group continues to thrive with a business empire estimated to be worth over a billion dollars.
4"Bleeding the Beast Part 2"
With The Order being tipped off regarding the exercise of search warrants related to the churches illegal activities, the Utah government is called into question.
5"Holy Bloodline"
The Order claims direct descent from Jesus Christ, three former members share their knowledge
6"Abuse of Power"
Lu Ann Kingston, founder of Hope After Polygamy meets with former members of The Order to discuss the abuse within the group.
7"Indoctrination"
An exploration into indoctrination being forced on the youth of The Order.
8"Secret Militia"
The Priesthood Protection Team, an alleged group linked to the Apostolic United Brethren is investigated
9"The Lost Boys"
Stories of the young men who are exploited for labor, given limited education, and kicked out of their communities.
10"Child Brides"
Despite Warren Jeffs incarceration, young girls within the FLDS are still in danger of forced marriages

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints</span> Latter-Day Saints denomination

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a Mormon fundamentalist group whose members practice polygamy. It is variously defined as a cult, a sect or a new religious movement. The FLDS Church has been involved in various illegal activities, including child marriages, child abandonment, sexual assault and human trafficking including child sexual abuse. The sect is not connected to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest Latter-day Saint denomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mormon fundamentalism</span> Advocates of some early Mormon doctrines

Mormon fundamentalism is a belief in the validity of selected fundamental aspects of Mormonism as taught and practiced in the nineteenth century, particularly during the administrations of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and John Taylor, the first three presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon fundamentalists seek to uphold tenets and practices no longer held by mainstream Mormons. The principle most often associated with Mormon fundamentalism is plural marriage, a form of polygyny first taught in the Latter Day Saint movement by the movement's founder, Smith. A second and closely associated principle is that of the United Order, a form of egalitarian communalism. Mormon fundamentalists believe that these and other principles were wrongly abandoned or changed by the LDS Church in its efforts to become reconciled with mainstream American society. Today, the LDS Church excommunicates any of its members who practice plural marriage or who otherwise closely associate themselves with Mormon fundamentalist practices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Jeffs</span> American sex offender and cult leader (born 1955)

Warren Steed Jeffs is an American cult leader who is serving a life sentence in Texas for child sexual assault following two convictions in 2011. He is the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a polygamous cult based in Arizona. The FLDS Church was founded in the early-20th century when its founders deemed the renunciation of polygamy by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be apostate. The LDS Church disavows any relation between it and the FLDS Church, although there are significant historical ties.

Bountiful is a settlement in the Creston Valley of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, near Cranbrook and Creston. The closest community is Lister, British Columbia.

Flora Jessop is an American social activist, author, and advocate for abused children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ervil LeBaron</span> American murderer

Ervil Morrell LeBaron was the leader of a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist group who ordered the killings of many of his opponents, both within his own sect and in rival polygamous groups, using the religious doctrine of blood atonement to justify the murders. He was sentenced to life in prison for orchestrating the murder of an opponent, and died there in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost boys (Mormon fundamentalism)</span> Term for young males excommunicated or pressured to leave a polygamous Mormon community

"Lost boys" is a term used for young men who have been excommunicated or pressured to leave polygamous Mormon fundamentalist groups, such as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Although sometimes officially accused of apostasy or disobedience, it is thought that they are mainly pressured to leave by older adult men to reduce competition for wives within such sects, usually when they are between the ages of 13 and 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short Creek raid</span> 1953 mass arrest in Arizona, US

The Short Creek raid was an Arizona Department of Public Safety and Arizona National Guard action against Mormon fundamentalists that took place on the morning of July 26, 1953, at Short Creek, Arizona. The Short Creek raid was the "largest mass arrest of polygamists in American history". Law enforcement arrested polygamist men and removed children from their families. Arizona governor John Howard Pyle had invited journalists to view the raid, and the resulting media coverage from multiple outlets was negative, criticizing the raid's tactics and the intrusion upon children.

Carolyn Jessop is an American author and former Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints member who wrote Escape, an autobiographical account of her upbringing in the polygamist sect and later flight from that community. She is the cousin, by marriage, of Flora Jessop, another former FLDS member and advocate for abused children. Carolyn Jessop now lives in the Salt Lake City area with her children.

Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time. Specifically, polygyny is the practice of one man taking more than one wife while polyandry is the practice of one woman taking more than one husband. Polygamy is a common marriage pattern in some parts of the world. In North America, polygamy has not been a culturally normative or legally recognized institution since the continent's colonization by Europeans.

Merril Jessop was a high-ranking bishop in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly referred to as the FLDS Church. He was briefly the de facto leader of the FLDS. Jessop was also in charge of the YFZ Ranch during the 2008 raid.

Winston Blackmore is the leader of a polygamous Fundamentalist Latter Day Saint religious group in Bountiful, British Columbia, Canada. He is described as "Canada's best-known avowed polygamist". He has 150 children with his 27 "spiritual" wives, some of whom he has admitted were underage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Current state of polygamy in the Latter Day Saint movement</span>

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, privately taught and practiced polygamy. After Smith's death in 1844, the church he established splintered into several competing groups. Disagreement over Smith's doctrine of "plural marriage" has been among the primary reasons for multiple church schisms.

Wendell Loy Nielsen was the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, replacing Warren Jeffs, at that time imprisoned on charges related to sexual assaults against minors.

The Centennial Park group is a fundamentalist Mormon group, with approximately 1,500 members that is headquartered in Centennial Park, Arizona. The Centennial Park group broke with Leroy S. Johnson, leader and senior member of the Priesthood Council of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in the early 1980s. There is no formal relationship between the FLDS Church and the Centennial Park community. The group is also known as the "Second Ward", "The Work of Jesus Christ" and "The Work".

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of God is a Mormon fundamentalist church in the Latter Day Saint movement. The sect was founded by Frank Naylor and Ivan Nielsen, who split from the Centennial Park group, another fundamentalist church over issues with another prominent polygamous family. The church is estimated to have 200–300 members, most of whom reside in the Salt Lake Valley. The group is also known as the Neilsen Naylor Group.

Ruby Jessop is an American former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and child bride known for her family connections, her 2013 escape from an FLDS-controlled polygamous community, and the criminal probe prompted by her escape.

The Church of Jesus Christ Inc. is a Mormon fundamentalist denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement, and is also known as the Blackmore Group. There are approximately 700 members of this group.

Rachel Jeffs Blackmore is an American author and former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She is the daughter of the church's prophet, convicted pedophile Warren Jeffs.

References

  1. Dill, Ashley (2024-01-08). "How to watch the premiere of A&E's new series 'The Secrets of Polygamy'". pennlive. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  2. "A&E's 'Secrets Of' Franchise Expands with New Documentary Series 'Secrets of Polygamy' Premiering Monday, January 8 at 10PM ET/PT". A&E. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  3. "Scott D. Pierce: New docuseries delves into the 'secrets' of Utah polygamists". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  4. Fishman, Scott (2024-01-08). "'Secrets of Polygamy': Former FLDS Member Opens Up About Revisiting Past Trauma". TV Insider. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  5. "A&E's Secrets of Polygamy Goes Inside Religious Sect's Dark Secrets — and Woman's Daring Escape". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  6. "Secrets of Polygamy". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  7. Yandoli, Krystie Lee (2024-01-09). "She Escaped Her Father's Polygamous, Child-Abusing Mormon Cult". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  8. "Secrets of Polygamy (TV Series 2023– ) - Episode list - IMDb". IMDb .