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.