Read an Excerpt from 'Favorite Wife'
Susan Ray Schmidt was just 15 when she became the sixth wife of Verlan LeBaron, one of the leaders of a rouge Mormon cult. After years of oppression and violence, Susan escaped along with her children. In her riveting memoir, "Favorite Wife: Escape from Polygamy," she tells her story of growing up on the inside... and her ultimate escape.
An Excerpt from "Favorite Wife: Escape from Polygamy" by Susan Ray Schmidt:
"Where was the excitement I had anticipated as the wife of a leader in God's church? We were supposed to be an army for the Lord, and yet babies, back-breaking work, and never enough money to go around were the lot of a polygamist's wife. All around me were poverty-stricken homes filled with lonely women and children, living for the scattered moments when our husbands could find time for a hurried visit home. And yet the time Verlan spent at home was the most frustrating time of all. Knowing he was close, yet sleeping in another wife's bed only blocks away, was the purest form of torture. The irony of it all was the fact that when he was with me, I felt sorry for the others."
Reprinted by permission, Lyons Press, Guilford, CT
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Comments
Cooper,
I am surprised that nobody commented about the possiblity of multiple husbands. It is sickening that this guy can have more than one wife....and the two "wives" were OK with it...even over-joyed! Hey, what about the girls having multiple husbands? I'd more agree to that! (I'm a gal) Perhaps that is against God's will.
I wanted to comment on the "sister wives" show (6/12), when you asked why this may upset people nobody seemed to give a specific answer...I see abuse. These men seem very controlling and abusive, and when the women are all willing at this point in their lives to be controlled and abused with a smile on their face, it is hard to label it.
Honestly, I don't see how anyone can live that way. My ex-husband's family (on both sides) are polygamist backgrounds. I have meet most of them. Although they seem to be nice people, their way of life in no intrigues me. And after seeing todays show plus seeing the show about Sister wives, I'm even less intrigued. It's a jealousy thing with me. I would want my husband all to myself.
Why can't the wife have multiple husbands instead? That would limit the number of children and with all the men to support all of them, the children would never be without a father. Just put the husbands in a dorm and let the wife play favorites and see how they like it! Either way there will be way too many problems. What will happen if wife one decides she can't stand wife 2? Will wife 1(or 2 and 3 etc.) have a say in who is allowed in as a new wife? If the some of the wives are employed will they be willing to support the others? If the husband dies will wife one be the only one to collect social security benefits on him? Without a legal marriage, can wives be dumped if they get sick and old. If he doesn't want to be married, can he just send them all away. Let the law suits begin! Even without a legal marriage this would be a legal nightmare. New questions keep popping into my mind. This would make women "chattel" again.
i was waiting for someone in the audience to ask the woman why in all these relationships , the woman arnt alowed to have another husband. it seems to me the only one who benifits here is the man. he can pretty it up what ever way he wants but what it boils down to is the man just wants a lot of woman. on sister wifes shows, the woman do it all and the man does nothing. they all cook and clean and take care of the kids etc and all he does is visit who ever he wants and i see a lot of jeously there. they all seem to have so many children and the woman are the ones who have to take care of them. what woman in her right mind would do that. when my kids were small i would have given anything for a few minutes of peace. on sister wifes they dont have a minute to themselves.
The world continues to show its ignorance about polygamy. Anyone who is a polygamist is NOT a Mormon of any kind. The Warren Jeffs polygamist group, even though they call themselves, FLDS, (Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saint) or any other "break-off" Mormon church has nothing, I repeat, NOTHING to do with the LDS (Mormon) Church. Polygamist churches are no more a part of the Mormon Church than calling Protestants "Fundamentalist Catholics."
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you don't have to be a mormon to have experienced this.
I watched the show on polygamy today and I was wondering why no one brought up the subject of why it's ok for 2 men or 2 women to be married and bring children into that kind of relationship. I would think it would be more normal to have a dad and 2 moms, rather then 2 dads or 2 moms. It would certainly be easier to explain. We need to go back to the Little House On the Prarie type of living. Make these kids know what real work is.
I have read this book and know the author! Her story is riveting and the book is an excellent read! It was one of those books you can not put down until you are done! What makes the story so amazing is that it is true! Families still are living this way even in this day and age. Please take the time to read this amazing story from Susan! It comes from her heart and you will be blessed by her experience, her strength and her faith! Thanks Anderson for bringing truth and knowledge to your viewers and I hope they are enlightened!