Faith

Polygamous ‘Sister Wives’ Family Continues Utah Legal Battle Despite Promise Not to be Prosecuted

Sister Wives Family Continue Legal Battle Against Utahs Bigamy Law

SALT LAKE CITY (The Blaze/AP) — Kody Brown and his four wives want what any family wants, to live in the privacy of their own home free from government intrusion, and out from under the threat of criminal prosecution for — as they see it — just loving each other.

The polygamous family, stars of the TLC show “Sister Wives,” has sued Utah and the county they fled from, hoping to persuade a federal judge to overturn the state’s bigamy law as unconstitutional.

(Related: No Charges to Be Filed Against Polygamous ‘Sister Wives’ Family — But Why?)

The case could potentially decriminalize a way of life for tens of thousands of self-described Mormon fundamentalists, most of whom live in Utah where bigamy is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

The state, meanwhile, has publicly said it won’t prosecute consenting adult polygamists unless there are other crimes involved, but insists the law doesn’t overreach.

“It is not protected under religious freedom because states have the right to regulate marriage,” said Paul Murphy, spokesman for Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.

A hearing was set for Wednesday on a motion to dismiss the case after prosecutors in Utah County, where the family had been living until last year, announced no criminal charges would be filed against the Browns under the state’s bigamy statute. In June, TheBlaze first reported that Utah prosecutors decided not to pursue criminal charges against the family.

Sister Wives Family Continue Legal Battle Against Utahs Bigamy Law

In this undated file photo provided by TLC, Kody Brown, center, poses with his wives, from left, Janelle, Christine, Meri, and Robyn in a promotional photo for TLC's reality TV show, "Sister Wives." A Utah county attorney says he will not pursue criminal charges against this polygamous family made famous by a reality TV show. Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman says he has closed the case against Brown and his four wives. (AP Photo/TLC, Bryant Livingston, File)

The move came after Shurtleff assured the Browns they wouldn‘t be prosecuted by the state under his policy that consenting adult polygamists won’t be charged as long as they’re not committing other crimes.

U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups then dismissed Shurtleff and Gov. Gary Herbert from the lawsuit, but allowed it to continue against the county since, at the time, prosecutors there hadn’t officially adopted the same policy. That changed in May when Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman announced the closing of his criminal investigation into the Brown’s lifestyle, simultaneously adopting the state policy.

Buhman, who didn’t return a call from The Associated Press, is seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed outright. He claims the Browns have no standing since they are no longer subject to prosecution.

No matter, claims their attorney, Washington, D.C., constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley.

Brown and his wives — Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn — remain victims and continue to live under the stigma of being considered felons, Turley said, noting they fled to Nevada last year.

It’s no longer just about being prosecuted, Turley argued.

“The underlying statute is facially unconstitutional,” he said.

Turley argues that under previous U.S. Supreme Court rulings, such as one that struck down Texas’ sodomy law, private intimate relationships between consenting adults are constitutionally protected.

Sister Wives Family Continue Legal Battle Against Utahs Bigamy Law

While all states outlaw bigamy, some like Utah have laws that not only prohibit citizens from having more than one marriage license, but also make it illegal to even purport to be married to multiple partners. Utah’s bigamy statute even bans unmarried adults from living together and having a sexual relationship.

The latter provision could include same-sex couples, unmarried heterosexual couples and those, like the Browns, who don’t have multiple licenses but live in a marriage-like relationship.

Their lawsuit doesn‘t aim to challenge Utah’s right to refuse recognition of multiple licenses, nor are the Browns seeking them, Turley said. They just want to be left alone, he added, and not labeled felons.

In fact, Utah’s statehood was granted in the 1890s under the condition that plural marriage — which was then openly practiced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) — would be banned in the state constitution.

The practice has been illegal under federal law in the U.S. since the 1860s. In 1887 and 1890, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected legal challenges of the ban that argued that First Amendment protections should guarantee the right to continue the practice.

On its web site, LDS clarifies its stance against plural marriage:

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. At certain times and for His specific purposes, God, through His prophets, has directed the practice of plural marriage (sometimes called polygamy), which means one man having more than one living wife at the same time. In obedience to direction from God, Latter-day Saints followed this practice for about 50 years during the 1800s but officially ceased the practice of such marriages after the Manifesto was issued by President Woodruff in 1890. Since that time, plural marriage has not been approved by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and any member adopting this practice is subject to losing his or her membership in the Church.

The Browns, however, are members of the Apostolic United Brethren and say they practice polygamy as part of their religious beliefs.

And like most polygamists, Brown only has a valid marriage license with his first wife, Meri. He married the other three in religious ceremonies. They consider themselves “spiritually married.”

Fewer than a dozen Utah cases have challenged the law — none successfully. It has most commonly been used to prosecute polygamists typically when the defendants were also charged with other crimes, like child abuse. The criminal investigation into Warren Jeffs, for instance, and his polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints group, began as a probe into child sex abuse allegations.

Sister Wives Family Continue Legal Battle Against Utahs Bigamy Law

He is now serving a life sentence in Texas after convictions on child sex and bigamy charges.

Some experts liken the issue to gay marriage or sodomy bans, but note neither carries the historical stigma that comes with polygamy.

“In many ways, the movement for the rights of polygamists has just not advanced enough to the point where the claim is going to seem legitimate to the courts,” said Stanford University constitutional law expert Jane Schacter.

She noted there is “much more acceptance of gay couples, of homosexuality in general.”

Polygamy “opens up a whole can of legal worms that is not really opened with the same sex marriage issue,” Schacter said, noting polygamy throughout history has been associated with underage marriages and child sex abuse.

Regardless of whether there are polygamous relationships among consenting adults where no other crimes are occurring, the historical stigma persists, she said.

“It’s not an issue I think will be laughed out of court, but I don’t think it is poised for a victory at this point,” Schacter added. “Contemporary law under the First Amendment regarding the exercise of religion is just not very friendly to the claims of polygamists.”

Comments (104)

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  • face.chewer
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:45am

    They are merely perverts using religion to mask their perversion. Many of these polygamists marry underage children.

    Report Post »  
    • Constantine Ivanov
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:13pm

      Don’t generalize, please.
      Do you see here any “underage” children? I don’t.
      I see very happy faces of four pretty women who enjoy being in one family with a man who loves them.
      No homosexuality, no rape, no violence, no compulsion.
      With your love for generalization, you can accuse anybody of anything, because it will be enough you to say: “Many of these [....... ] do [..this...]” and the sentence is ready. Firing squad?

      Report Post » Constantine Ivanov  
    • wildchild
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:26pm

      Talk about a broad brush! Who are you to judge? Since when did anyone elect you God? I’m pretty conservative. I believe in Jesus Christ and what he teaches. I also believe that other people have the right to choose (sin in this case) what they do. God will sort it all out. I believe people should be able to do whatever they choose in the privacy of their home, so long as they are not affecting anyone but themselves. That includes, but is not limited to, drugs, sex, exercise, watching tv, playing with their animals, etc, etc. It is not the governments role to tell us how to live. We are endowed with the right to be free, and we write laws to limit that freedom. We are not free to kill other people, and I believe that is a good law. Other laws have the same intent. To make it so everyone is able to pursue a happy life.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowandmo
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 1:36pm

      These are adults and they have absolutely nothing to do with that pervert Warren Jeffs and his band of child abusing old men!

      Report Post »  
    • alinmatt
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 4:13pm

      @wildchild, you said, “I also believe that other people have the right to choose (sin in this case) what they do”. While I agree that people have the right to choose what they do, how is it that the Browns are choosing sin with polygamy? In the Bible, there is not one verse condemning it, but God does seem to endorse it in 2 Samuel 12:8.
      I’m not endorsing polygamy, just pointing out what the Bible has to say about it.

      Report Post »  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 6:25pm

      Some polygamists are perverts and some are not. You are right about the misuse of religion in this matter, though.
      The quote in the article is right, too: “It is not protected under religious freedom because states have the right to regulate marriage,” said Paul Murphy, spokesman for Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
      Note, however, that the First Amendment is not ONLY about religion. These folks would have a much better argument under the First Amendment’s guaranty of “Freedom of Association.” Under Lawrence v. Texas, I can’t see how they could lose at the Supreme Court. Still, Roberts might get a memo from Obama to the contrary, and that would change everything.

      Report Post »  
    • CAPTAINAMERCA1
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 7:15pm

      Polygamy has been around since the dawn of civilization! It’s how we have grown. Who is anyone to say “How many Wive’s a Man can have?” Except for the Wive’s!
      The only Men that would object to Polygamy are the ones that are married to Jealous, selfish, bit-chi wive’s, or maybe men that can-not attract plural relationships, but the truth is that In reality every man would love the variety throughout the week, the extra help with the kids at home! Let me tell you what! Your a bunch of Biggott’s. You all hate what you dont know because you are all wrapped up in your little small pathetic world. You dont deserve Freedom because you don‘t respect other people’s Freedom. Polygamy rules, multiple partners without “Cheating”, less sin, more Love! Whoowah!

      Report Post » CAPTAINAMERCA1  
    • mcsledge
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 3:24am

      CAPTAINAMERCA1 – I agree that polygamy has been approved by God to people the earth. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are prime examples and all three will return to the presence of the Father. Yet at other times God has prohibited polygamy. Christ taught that marriage was between one man and one woman. This did not mean that Abraham lived in sin. Rather, it meant that Abraham was able to live a higher law at his time, which the Jews were not capable of living in the Meridian of time. None of us live the Law of Consecration today, but they made attempts during the life of the Apostles. This Law will be lived by God’s righteous in the last days. The only way man knows when a practice is acceptable before God is through divine revelation given through Prophets and Apostles.

      Report Post » mcsledge  
    • aboushey
      Posted on August 6, 2012 at 5:42am

      This is to everyone who is throwing the bible around: The bible also allows two people from the same family to marry. So should I go marry my brother? Am I a bad catholic for thinking that marrying my brother is a sin? If being married to more then one person at a time was okay would be legal. And people would not have to hide it or live in the middle of nowhere. Your children wouldn’t be ashamed of you or your lifestyle and from what I have seen not all of their children are happy and the wives are not all that happy except robin who seems to be living in the land of rainbows and sugarplum fairies. And cody is abo9ut the ugliest man I have ever laid eyes on.

      Report Post »  
  • Harpotoo
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:33am

    With DOMA being tossed, gay marriages being performed on Military Bases how can anyone DISCRIMINATE against Polygamy?

    Report Post » Harpotoo  
  • Tell_it_like_it_is
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:56am

    Who in their right mind would want to share the same man? These women have issues. What man in his right mind would want more than one wife? These men are out of their minds!
    Come on mormon fundamentalists. You are just mormons that have stayed with the beliefs that Joseph Smith started. The mormons have “changed” their stance only because it became a legal issue. When, or if polygamy becomes legalized the mormons will be the first to change their stance once again. In the mormon or lds temples they are allowed to be married or sealed to more than one spouse. So really the mormons are hidden mormon fundamentalists.

    Report Post »  
    • Matt
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:22pm

      sort of….but not really.

      Even when polygamy was practiced in mormonism, it was only a very small fraction of mormons who actually married multiple wives.

      And yes, the church’s stance was changed at the same time as the governments started cracking down on it. But that is because the church never saw polygamy as something that was necessary for salvation, or even desirable for most people. They didn’t really see it as that big of a deal when it became illegal, and they figured that teaching the principles of the gospel, namely, accepting Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, etc. Were all far more important. So they let it go, because really, its not a big deal. There is nothing in the scriptures that gives the idea that polygamy is a big deal one way or the other, Jacob had multiple wives, Abraham had multiple wives. Its not like homosexuality, where there are MANY verses condemning vehemently its practice.

      Polygamy never was a big deal, and never will be.

      The general consensus of most mormons these days is that if polygamy were entirely legal, they would not be polygamists.

      Because really, who WANTS to be married to more than one woman?

      Source: I am a mormon.

      Report Post »  
    • Constantine Ivanov
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:29pm

      It seems you never heard about ditching one wife/girl-friend and getting another one.
      It seems you never heard about ditching one husband/boy-friend and getting another one.
      Do you ever leave your room? Do you ever read books, newspapers, watch TV?
      Maybe, it’s you who has issues?
      And since you started talking about religion (you seem to condemn Mormons), have you ever read the Bible? Thousands of the Bible “inhabitants” had more than one wife. And God personally gave “additional” wives to some of them (to David, for instance: read Samuel I and Samuel II).
      Are you willing to condemn God for that?

      Report Post » Constantine Ivanov  
    • Constantine Ivanov
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:36pm

      @TELL_IT_LIKE_IT_IS and MATT:

      “who WANTS to be married to more than one woman?”

      If you are fed up with one wife and anticipate that another one will be the same, if not worse, then it’s true: who wants that nightmare….

      But if to tell it like it is, many men and women actually have more than one spouse at the same time. It’s called “LOVER.”

      Report Post » Constantine Ivanov  
    • walkandtalk
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 2:48am

      @ matt there is inaccuracy in your post. Abraham did not have multiple wives. He married Sarai. She gave her maidservant Hagar to him because she was barren and asked him to have a child with her so there would be an heir. It was not an unusual custom. Sarai gave Hagar to Abram as his wife. At this time his name had not yet been changed to Abraham and her’s had not been changed to Sarah. Problems between the maidservant and Sarah developed. When Isaac was young the maidservant and her son were sent away as Sarah wanted. Jacob worked seven years for Rachel and was tricked by his father-in-law and given Leah instead. Jacob worked seven more years for Rachel He did not intend to marry Leah and this was the cause of much saddness for Leah. She was blessed with sons but Jacob loved Rachel deeply. We know he loved Rachel more than Leah. The other two women he had children with were maidservants of Rachel and Leah who gave them to Jacob.as wives. Rachel and Leah named the sons of their maidservants because they belonged to Rachel and Leah.

      Report Post »  
    • mcsledge
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 3:35am

      Not really. Polygamy was practiced during the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was also practiced during the time of David and Solomon, yet it was not practiced at the time of Christ. Why? Because the people were unable to live the law. This is a similar concept with the law of consecration. It was attempted during the time of the Apostles, but was short lived due to apostasy. It is not lived today, but it will be lived by God’s elect before the end.

      You may want to read Isaiah 4:1. This prophecy was about the last days (Millennium).

      You will know when a practice is acceptable through divine revelation by Christ through Prophets and Apostles.

      Straight is the gate and narrow is the way to life (eternal) and few there be that find it.

      Report Post » mcsledge  
    • joel228
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 3:37am

      walkandtalk
      Abraham did have multiple wives and was contantly held up by Christ as being an example for his diligence to obeying the voice of God. His multiple wives did not make him an adulterer because they were given to him by God. Just permission from the first wife would make it adultery. The bible does not tell every detail of every event. Notice this scriptures said the had concubines which as wives of lesser status than the first. Notice it’s plural and means more than one besides Sarah.

      Genesis 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

      Report Post » joel228  
    • Komponist-ZAH
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 4:46am

      Would you rather he had married the first woman, then took the second on as a mistress, divorced the first, married the second, cheated with the third, and so on?

      Report Post »  
    • joel228
      Posted on July 26, 2012 at 11:31am

      Komponist-ZAH, that’s very funny because I assume you are referring to Newt the quasi polygamist but real thing adulterer. I‘m glad he’s out.

      Report Post » joel228  
    • walkandtalk
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 2:05am

      @joel228 Abraham took a wife named Keturah after Sarah died. Not all translations of Genesis read the same. Some are translated as “..sons of the concubines..“ and others translate as ”..concubine-children..’ after listing the names of the children Abraham had with Keturah. He left all to Issac his son and gave gifts to the others and sent them away. When Abraham died Issac and Ishmael buried him in the cave he had purchased where Sarah was buried. To say he had multiple wives would imply he had several wives at once which is not the case.

      Report Post »  
  • The_Cabrito_Goat
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:45am

    So five selfish people want to change the laws just for themselves? This is no different from the gay agenda. If I were them, I’d be smart and put all unconventional partnerships under an umbrella term.

    Organization is how these delinquents make themselves heard. Yelling a rancor in unison is a lot more likely to be heard than scattered voices yelling heterogenously.

    Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • AndYetItMoves
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:53am

      ‘Organization is how these delinquents make themselves heard. Yelling a rancor in unison is a lot more likely to be heard than scattered voices yelling heterogenously.’

      Sounds an awful lot like the Bible-thumping propagators of the Christian agenda. You know, the ones that want to drive intellectualism, diversity, technology, and civil rights out of the country?

      Report Post »  
    • MemphisViking
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:53pm

      Moves, you mark yourself as the typical hater of Christianity by repeating the same tired lies the left continues to tell about Christians.

      Report Post »  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 6:35pm

      @ Goat

      Hard for me to consider a woman who agrees to be “one of four” wives as “selfish.” Quite likely she wants to have children and the father of those children living in the same house. As I see it, the “selfish” ones are not even in the picture — they are the young men who will not accept the responsibility of family life. Those guys are putting thoughtful and loving women in a very difficult spot.

      Report Post »  
  • pap pap
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:06am

    You’d have to be crazy to have more than one wife at a time. I’ve had a few wives but not at the same time, which doesn’t exclude me from being crazy. I’m a crazy right wing conservative.

    Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:36am

      I bet he sleeps with that big fat one the least……..,ughhh.

      Report Post »  
    • Alex
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:25am

      So you’re a serial polygamist? It is ironic that I am Mormon and have only had one.

      I guess the difference between you and them is divorce.

      Report Post »  
  • Individualism
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:59am

    they better hope Romney wins so they can get polygamy legalized.

    Report Post » Individualism  
    • Alex
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:53am

      Let us assume that that is what Romney wants. How do you figure Romney would get that done? Do you really think the Congress is going to pass a bill repealing the antipolygamy laws of the 1800′s? Do you really think the Congress would be in lockstep with that? Come on. Let’s be realistic.

      Report Post »  
    • Airabella
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:29am

      @Individualism

      What make you think Rommy will change the law when the LDS (Mormon) Church does not support this? To say all Mormon do this is to say that all Catholic are responsible for what the Lutheran do. This people belong to a group that pulled away from the LDS church in the 1800′s. They are not the same religion. And did you miss the part the the LDS church kick people out for practicing polygamy?

      Report Post » Airabella  
    • MemphisViking
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:55pm

      Individualism, you do realize that Romney is farther removed from family that practiced polygamy than Obama is, don’t you?

      Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:54am

    What about divorce ? What about collecting welfare ? What about child support ? What about the tax payers’ costs regarding all of the above ?

    Report Post »  
  • SocialistSlayer
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:52am

    It’s called Freedom people! They are hurting no one – leave them be! Go round up illegal aliens or terrorists, do something productive!

    Report Post » SocialistSlayer  
    • THERAPTURCOMES
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:03am

      Freedom, REALLY.

      This is the slippery slop that leads to the next step of people marrying their dogs. This all starts with homosexuality and its militant movement

      Report Post »  
    • kent grotz
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:12am

      If they are not collecting from the gov’t it follows that they must be paying. If he can keep those women happy on their own dime, go for it!

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:35am

      I have a lot less problem with this than Steve and Bill getting married.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • AndYetItMoves
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:37am

      Amazed that Slayer here actually knows what conservatism is, nobody else on the threads seems to have a clue. They claim to want smaller government, but at the same time want the government to enforce their puritanical moral code. The irony is enough to make one’s head explode.

      Report Post »  
    • kishmael
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:28am

      Well said ANDYETITMOVES

      Report Post » kishmael  
    • term limits for congress
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:05pm

      Wrong! (sorta) Who cares about the marriage thing, but they should be prosecuted for welfare fraud and food stamp fraud, and any other entitlement fraud. Kody’s pay check should be entirely garnished to pay for his children. The most criminal thing about polygamy is abuse of govt assistance programs. These are technically unmarried single mothers without jobs. When you’ve got four checks going to the same household, they’re doing pretty good and guess who pays. That’s right, the Chinese.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:52am

    The guy has all his bases covered, even has a fat one for when he’s drunk.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Platonician
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:52am

    Polygamy could be a very fun way to outsmart and undermine the arguments of same-sex-marriage ideologues in the current culture wars. They want openness ok? Let’s be open about marriage. Straight men can only win from this, not to mention that this has been a common practice for centuries.
    God bless the Browns.

    Report Post » Platonician  
  • vaman
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:46am

    Plural marriage has nothing to do with love. It is about control. Another in a long line of reasons, why church should have NOTHING to do with marriage. Marriage is a legal contract, with legal implications if there is a divorce. Have your marriage in a church if it makes you happy, but it is nothing without the state saying it is valid. The church is just a nice place to have a ceremony, but so is Vegas. There is no difference.

    Report Post »  
  • freedomnetworker
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:42am

    “And in that day
    seven women shall take hold of one man,
    saying,
    We will eat our own bread,
    and wear our own apparel:
    only let us be called by thy name,
    to take away our reproach. ”
    Isaiah 4:1.

    Report Post » freedomnetworker  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:40am

    He loves all of his wives, but I bet he loves some more than others.

    Report Post »  
  • Polarized America
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:39am

    This guy had 6 wives and it didn’t turn out to well ..5 of them raped him to death lol

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178201/Uroko-Onoja-death-Husband-raped-death-5-wives-paying-attention-sixth.html

    Report Post »  
  • freedomnetworker
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:39am

    Fun facts your pastor did not tell you
    Sometimes, people are indeed honest enough to admit that the Bible really does not prohibit polygamy (polygyny). However, as a hedge against that admission, such ones may then resort to saying one of the following assertions:

    “Yes, but God never condoned polygamy.”
    “Yes, God allowed it, but He was against polygamy.”
    “Polygamy was only man’s idea, not God’s”.
    “Yes, but God never approved of polygamy.”

    The passage involving 2 Samuel 12:8 rather clearly reveals otherwise.

    “And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.”
    2 Samuel 12:8.

    The context of the verse is that of God, speaking through a prophet (Nathan), calling out David for David‘s sin of taking another man’s wife (Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite), which is adultery indeed, and for setting up the death of Uriah the Hittite to try to hide David’s sin.

    Also, at the point in time of this situation, David had already been married to at least seven known-named wives. (1_Samuel 18:27, 25:42-43, 2_Samuel 3:2-5.)

    But, in this verse 12 (above), God was not condemning David for all his wives! In fact, this verse 12 shows God Himself actually saying that HE was the One Who had GIVEN David His wives.

    If God was against David’s polygamy, He certainly would not ha

    Report Post » freedomnetworker  
  • robspectre
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:35am

    So if the guy just cheats on his first wife with several other women…Sure, it’s ok. In fact, why not have children with the women you cheat on your wife with and not take care of them. Thats legal. If he moves them all in and takes care of the women and the children he is a criminal. If he doesn’t, he’s just a man with needs. Give me a break.

    Report Post » robspectre  
    • kent grotz
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:23am

      Rob, like the guy in Ark. with 30 kids, ?many ladies. Full house. LOL

      Report Post »  
  • Mutiny
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:32am

    Government should have no role in marriage.

    Report Post » Mutiny  
    • AndYetItMoves
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:51am

      Never in a million years did I think I‘d see that idea expressed on this ’conservative’ website. People don‘t seem to understand that ’gubmint off my back‘ and ’outlaw gay marriage‘ aren’t exactly in tune with each other.

      Report Post »  
    • teddrunk
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:18am

      Andy, the key word in your rant was “conservative”. So of course no same sex applies, as it’s offensive to Him who gave us this country.

      Report Post »  
    • AndYetItMoves
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:35am

      Which ‘him’ are you talking about? Thomas Paine? Thomas Jefferson? Adams? Washington? None of these men had an opinion on gay marriage, but they all had very strong opinions about the government knocking down people’s doors to harass them over victimless crimes. That is true conservatism; to each his own. God has very little to do with it, considering he wants you to help him convict your neighbors of thought crime. God is a Stalinist if there ever was one.

      Report Post »  
    • teddrunk
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:30am

      Andy, notice Him was capitalized.

      Report Post »  
    • AndYetItMoves
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:36am

      I noticed that. The idea that god gave us this country is so childish and asinine that I figured I would move the conversation along to the people that actually gave us this country.

      Report Post »  
  • Listen_then_think
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:28am

    This guy is as much a naccisist as oblamer is. He LOVES the attention and these TV idiots play right into it. These “sister wives” are liars and co-dependant freaks. Also there is so much tension between them you should cut it with a knife. Stupid, loser guy, stupid nuts woment and stupid people who this crap on TV.

    Report Post »  
    • Platonician
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:44am

      LOL you are jealous.

      Report Post » Platonician  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:04am

      Thank you, my feelings are the same. He is an attention kind of guy. It’s all about him. Dumb women in my book, and that is my opinion.

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  • otoa
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:27am

    john 4 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

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  • barber2
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:17am

    Ah, just play the Discrimination Card ! Call the ACLU. Seems to work for everyone else. Anything goes today. It’s all about ” you.” Pedophiles next in line ?

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  • teddrunk
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:17am

    If women can kill their innocent babies, and people can marry with the wrong plumbing parts, and men can become weak women, and women start looking and acting like men, whats next. Marrying your lab retriever? Revelations is coming soon.

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    • AndYetItMoves
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:41am

      Sounds like someone has no concept of religious freedom. How do you ever expect to convince them to teach the book of revelations in schools if you can’t put up with this fundamentalist mormon tradition?

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    • teddrunk
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:32am

      I don’t expect them to teach Rev. in schools. Heck they can’t teach U.S. history truthfully. Imagine what the satanic Commie public school teachers would do to the Bible.

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    • AndYetItMoves
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:50am

      They wouldn’t have to do much. The best antidote for Christianity has always been simply reading the Bible cover to cover. As Mark Twain said,
      ‘Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.’

      If Bible study were required in school, I sincerely believe Christianity would disappear from this country.

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  • ZAP
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:06am

    He had 5 wives ,but that one ate her

    Report Post » ZAP  
    • ZAP
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:10am

      Most likely the other 3 will be eaten to

      Report Post » ZAP  
    • teddrunk
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:14am

      Er..ah..well..what did you mean..er..ah..well…

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  • Locked
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:01am

    I really don‘t see the state’s issue with them. He can only LEGALLY marry one of the women. The state should just give them all a pat on the head and say “You can call yourselves whatever you want, we only care about the first one you married.”

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    • Red1492
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:40am

      Agreed. As long as they aren’t getting tax benefits, tax payer assistance and aren’t breaking any laws, they “call” themselves whatever they want.

      Report Post » Red1492  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 8:57am

    Comrades, why not? If homosexuals can marry, why can’t a man have several wives? After all the Koran say’s he can and it is permitted under Sharia law.

    Report Post » historyguy48  
    • Locked
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:02am

      Old Testament says the same thing, so Jews should be able to continue polygamy if they want. Christians can’t, though, as per the words of Christ.

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    • johnjamison
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:05am

      he article claims “It is not protected under religious freedom because states have the right to regulate marriage” Marriage is a religious institution not a governmental institution. Marriage performed by a religious member are protected by the First amendment.

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    • Locked
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:12am

      @Johnjamison

      “Marriage is a religious institution not a governmental institution.”

      You keep saying this, but it doesn’t make it true. Marriage is both a religious and governmental institution. The government doesn’t care about the religious part; they can call themselves whatever they want, but a man can only have one wife in Utah by law.

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    • mtfunk
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:23am

      Sorry, though the Old Testament reports on those wh o had many wives it clearly sanctions one wife one husband unions. Everywhere we read of multiple wives the families are wrought with heartache and turmoil.

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    • isur5ed
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:54am

      @MTFUNK
      At last check, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s families were blessed and prospered.

      Report Post » isur5ed  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 10:14am

      Dude you need to spice it up,use a picture of Stalin or the hammer and sickle for your avatar.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • justangry
    Posted on July 25, 2012 at 8:52am

    Man, I can’t imagine the “Honey Do” list this man must have.

    Report Post » justangry  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:02am

      Bigamy laws are Unconstitutional. There no reason why 5 consenting adults can’t be married together
      where are all the protest groups defending theseconsenting adults rights to freedom. Where in the Constitution does it grant government the power to deny people the right to marry.

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    • Mutiny
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 9:29am

      LOL, I love my wife with all my heart but I couldnt handle 2 or 3 more of her.

      Report Post » Mutiny  
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