Rising Publicity of Polygamy Case Continues

• This ABC News video transcript talks about the discussion on polygamy that continues to gain media attention, due to the polygamous family in the T.V. show "Sister Wives" and their quest for freedom from the law
• A young woman tells her story of growing up in a polygamous, Fundamentalist Mormon family in Christianity Today's article, her escape from the 'cult', and her struggles in redefining her life outside of the flds community.
• Jonathan Turley, lead counsel in the "Sister Wives" polygamy case, shares his thoughts in this Washington Post article.  He says that this issue is more about morality than anything else, and how the United States is fighting to keep a grip on an outdated idea simply because of the fear of losing control and changing the status quo.

Shifting Views on Polygamy Rights

• This ABC News article highlights the legal struggles that accompany charges of bigamy.  The T.V. show 'Sister Wives' has sparked a public debate about whether making polygamy illegal is a violation of the First Amendment, or a civil service that will help protect women and children.
• The legal implications of plural marriages are also touched on in the Salt Lake Tribune's article, where the commonly voiced opinion is that polygamy should be legalized; not only in regards to religious freedom, but because some think that the LDS Church will continue to be unsupportive of the practice and will not be effected anyway
• The LDS Church's website page provides background information on Mormon families practicing polygamy in the early years of the Church, as well as how the practice became illegal 

KISS: Polygamy and Fundamentalist Mormons

Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse, especially wife, at one time, according to Dictionary.com.  The crime of marrying while one still has a living spouse, known as bigamy, makes polygamy illegal in all 50 states of America.  Grey areas such as the possibility of treading on religious freedom, as well as the suggestion that polygamous men marry one wife legally and others ‘spiritually’, have caused some discussion on the matter. Though duel marriage is illegal in the United States, there are still some groups of people, such as American Muslims, that believe in the practice and carry it out today.  

The people we will focus on are called Fundamentalist Mormons; they claim to hold holy the Mormon scriptures used today, as well as the teachings from early leaders like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.  Polygamy used to be encouraged and expected in the early years of the Mormon Church, but the state law quickly shifted that instigation to condemnation.  Mainstream Mormons, known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are said to reject the practice of plural marriage, and any members of the church found to be in a duel relationship is excommunicated from the church. 

Fundamentalist Mormons, however, claim that God encourages polygamy and that he is the greatest authority there is.  A Shield and Refuge Ministry says that Fundamentalist’s “embrace the doctrine and practice of polygamy…it is a central tenet of Mormon fundamentalism, and is considered a requirement for achieving salvation or "exaltation" which is the highest "degree of glory" in Heaven—godhood.”  There are at least 30,000 Mormon Fundamentalists living in North America, most of them in the Intermountain western states (Utah, Idaho, and Arizona, Nevada).

http://www.shieldandrefuge.org/fund_overview.htm

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/2730-polygamy-in-mormonism

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bigamy?s=t

http://www.polygamy.com/is-polygamy-illegal.html

Real Quick Recap: History of the Mormon Church

The article I am using is “”Sister Wives” explained: A fundamentalist Mormon polygamy primer”, and it can be found here: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/25/sister-wives-explained-a-fundamentalist-mormon-polygamy-primer/.  The article provides a concise history of polygamy in the Mormon Church and highlights one woman, now 72 and widowed, who was part of a dual marriage.

The sight is informational; CNN is a reliable and well-known news provider.  This particular article was posted to the Belief blog, which focuses on religious news and conversations revolving around religion’s role in society. 

Jessica Ravitz authored the piece, and I found her bio here: http://www.gfwc.org/images/gfwc/ravitz%20bio%20web.pdf.  She has extensive experience with long-term research and stories, and writes mostly on religious topics women’s issues.  She received her master’s degree from UC Berkley’s Graduate School of Journalism, joined the CNN staff in 2009, and has won many awards for her work.

“Sister Wives explained…” was published on October 25^th, 2010, and I believe the information is still relevant.  The history of the Church has not changed, nor has the issue of polygamy.   

The article provides accurate, concise, and easily digestible information.  There are no details provided that are out of the blue or unheard of.

The point of view is that of a journalist; it is largely unbiased and does not interfere with the facts of the story.  Had Ravitz wanted to write an opinionated article, she could have included more quotes that supported her view, whatever it may have been, and inflamed diction.  The article provides information about a topic and allows the reader to form their own opinion based on the facts.

The evidence Ravitz provides is mostly the history of the Mormon Church.  She does not provide sources for her information on the church’s influential leaders and journey through changing doctrine in light of state laws and polygamy.  She also has a few quotes from one woman who was involved in polygamy and educates the public about the topic.

As my previous paragraph states, there are no sources provided by the author for the historical information she shares, which could lead to questionable credibility.  However, the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s history can be found online.  Also, she quotes a woman who is well versed and heavily involved in the Church, which is a direct source.

I find that this article is credible and reliable, despite the lack of referenced sources.  Ravitz provides information without a cloying bias or voice, and uses quotes from a woman who is very involved in the topic.  Although she could have included quotes from someone who is on the anti-polygamy side, that view point is the most commonly expressed and not entirely necessary for this article.