"Polygamy USA" Some Family Trees from Centennial Park to the Dargers

A Little Genealogy of Centennial Park: 
A little bird's been helping with the genealogy. I hope to have a complete one soon. As with all genealogies, they may be errors, but this is to the best of our knowledge.

**Do you know that ISAIAH THOMPSON is actually ISAIAH BARLOW?
**"Wife" BECCA or REBBECA is REBECCA TIMPSON, father RAY TIMPSON, which would of some relation to JOHN W. TIMPSON, one of CP's leaders.

**HYRUM "BURTON" TIMPSON recently married KELLIE. I have to say I thought the tree HYRUM made was really sweet. KELLIE is not KELLIE THOMPSON.
KELLIE is KELLIE BARLOW, the sister of ISAIAH "THOMPSON" BARLOW. The BARLOW name goes to JOHN YEATES BARLOW, who was a Mormon fundamentalist leader in Short Creek.

**ISAIAH BARLOW and KELLIE BARLOW are siblings!

Which leads us to HYRUM's curious parentage.

Source say that HYRUM BURTON is actually HYRUM TIMPSON, son of Centennial Park leader JOHN W. TIMPSON. Also according to reports, SUSIE was not his mother, Sister wife mother, yes. Full Aunt yes. But we've been told his mother is actually another wife JOHN W. TIMPSON'S and SUSIE'S full blooded sister, Arthur Hammon's half sister. We will call her Mother HAMMON TIMPSON, which also would be ARTHUR HAMMON'S half sister. It wasn't his mother that passed, but his aunt, or other mother. That was a definite "white lie" on the show if this is true. We have been told that all the children were to call SUSIE mother, whether she was their actual mother in the home or not. 

HYRUM's grandfather hence is ALMA A. TIMPSON. His home was the initial Centennial Park group meeting place. He was an influential part of the group, and Centennial Park leader from 1988 until his death in 1997.

While we are speaking of Aunt Susie's passing, here is her obituary. One thing polygamists love to do is to leave out the names of their children!

SUSIE TIMPSON

Sep 13, 1946 - Nov 15, 2012

 Our beloved wife, mother, sister and friend, Susie (Hammon) Timpson, age 66, passed away peacefully in her home in Centennial Park, Arizona, surrounded by her family.  She was born September 13, 1946 in Hildale, Utah, the oldest daughter of J.M. Hammon and Alice (Barlow) Hammon.  She spent the early years of her life in Salt Lake City, UT and Farmington, UT, then moved to Colorado City, AZ in 1960.  She married John W. Timpson on September 7, 1964.

Susie graduated from the Colorado City Academy in 1964. She then attended Stevens Henager College of Business.  She spent the first years of her married life living and working in Salt Lake City, supporting her husband as he attended the University of Utah.  After he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Physics, they moved to Colorado City, AZ, where they raised their family.  Again, she supported her husband as he completed his mission of educating the young teenagers of Colorado City Academy for 20 years.  She was employed several times over her life time, most notably at Polyseal in Salt Lake City.  She worked and interacted with many people she cared deeply about, and they loved her as a loyal friend and mentor. 

She then returned home to Colorado City and, together with her husband and family, built a home in Centennial Park, where she lived the remaining years of her life.  She was relied on to put her mind, heart and hands wherever she was asked to participate: in family life, in community life, in religious life.  She was intelligent, beautiful, strong, passionate, full of life and humor and compassion.  She loved administering to her husband, her family and her community.   She loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the opportunities and blessings it brought to her life.   She was a strong and valuable advocate for women, loving them and encouraging them to strive for a greater life and destiny.  She is a beloved friend and counselor to so many.

She is survived by her husband, John, her children and numerous grandchildren, and a large, loving extended family.  She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband's parents, who she loved deeply.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at 1:00 pm at the Centennial Park Chapel in Centennial Park, AZ.  There will be a family gathering from 7:30 to 9:30 pm on Monday, November 19th.  Friends and family are welcome to say goodbye to Susie on Tuesday, November 20th from 7:00 - 9:30 pm and again on the morning of Wednesday, November 21st from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm, prior to the service at 1:00 pm. Interment will be in the Centennial Park Cemetery, Centennial Park, AZ.

The family wishes to thank all those who assisted in the care of Susie over the last five years.  It is deeply appreciated.

Brethern Leader JOHN W. TIMPSON and SUSIE HAMMON

Speaking of JOHN W. TIMPSON, on of the leaders of Centennial Park, we found an interesting relationship between him and Creepy Crawly MICHAEL CAWLEY.
Remember when poor ROSE was talking with the Brethern, *Cough* Grandpa CLAUDE TOMKINS CAWLEY? Buckle you seatblet, 'cause he we go again!!

Brethern CLAUDE T. CAWLEY is the father of MICHAEL CAWLEY.
CLAUDE T. CAWLEY has a number of wives, one being another sister of ARTHUR HAMMON. One of ARTHUR'S unnamed sister is another wife of JOHN W. TIMPSON. Boy, ole ARTHUR has sisters everywhere!

Now here comes the connection between Brethern CLAUDE T. CAWLEY and Brethern JOHN W. TIMPSON....they are brothers from the same mother!!
Meet  GUINEVERE CAWLEY TIMPSON, mother of both CLAUDE T. CAWLEY and JOHN W. TIMPSON. They are brothers from the same mother.

Born: 20 Jan 1914-Died: 17 Mar 2012 **First wife of Cawley, not of Timpson. Guinevere Woolley Timpson was born on January 20, 1914 in Ogden, Utah, and died on March 17, 2012, in Colorado City, Arizona. She was the daughter of Franklin Benjamin and Ellie Seegmiller Woolley, the youngest of their 12 children, all of whom she survived. Her early years were spent in Ogden, where she married John C. Cawley, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in December, 1937. She married Alma Adelbert Timpson on April 25, 1944, leaving Ogden to live with him in Salt Lake City, Utah. During subsequent years, she operated the True Method Reducing business in Salt Lake. She has lived briefly in Los Angeles, California, Boise, Idaho, and Riverside, California, returning to Salt Lake City in 1956, where she resided until her move to Colorado City, Arizona by 1970. Her life was marked distinctively by her loyalty to the priesthood authority she recognized as presiding over her, under whose guidance she performed ordinance work during most years of her long life for hundreds of young women. They and many others of her extended family and acquaintances came to love her as a wise counselor and dear friend. She is survived by her two sons, CLAUDE T. CAWLEY and JOHN W. TIMPSON, and numerous grandsons and granddaughters. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon in the chapel at Centennial Park, Arizona, on March 25, 2012, and a viewing open to the general public from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. March 24, as well as 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the day of the funeral. (Source: Deseret News, Mar 2012) Which makes JOHN W. TIMPSON an uncle to MICHAEL CAWLEY, and HYRUM "BURTON TIMPSON" and MICHAEL CAWLEY first cousins. MICHAEL CAWLEY is married to TERESA KNUDSON, who is a sibling to ROB KNUDSON, husband of AMANDA DARGER, daughter of JOE DARGER. See how this ferris wheel rides? It gets interesting.  TERESA KNUDSON'S parents are KENNETH C. KNUDSON and unnamed HAMMON. There's that HAMMON surname again. The KNUDSON family have that HUGE home in Centennial Park. Before we leave the DARGER'S - here's JOE DARGER'S Father's obit:  Our friend, brother and loving father, Joseph Lynn Darger, passed away December 13, 1995, at his home in Herriman, Utah. Lynn was born December 24, 1946, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to David Brigham Darger and Virginia Beth McDaniel Darger. His mother died in 1958. Lynn's life was the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he lived and loved it to the very end. His selflessness and sacrifice blessed him with many friends and a large family who love him and will miss him.He is survived by his wives, Shauna, Melinda, Brenda and Debbie; children, Joseph, Jason, Danielle, Dustin, Rachel, Levi, Lucas, Moroni, Kristina, Eliza, Shauna, Brigham, Melinda, Rebekah, Ethen, Heber and Heleman; sons-in-law, Matthew Jessop and Ryan Jessop; daughters-in-law, Cindy, Vicki, Alina, and Rhonda; other mothers, Celesta, Violet, Deborah; brothers, Ronald, Brigham, David, Allan and Richard Darger; sisters, Dawn Boss, Janet Williams and Kaylene Barlow; and 29 other brothers and sisters. Preceded in death by his father and mother; special mother, Aldora ("Lizey") Darger; brother, Lee Darger, and sister, Ann Kelsch. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 16, 1995, 2 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple. Friends may call Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to services. Interment Elysian Burial Gardens. (Source: Deseret News) Remember how JOE DARGER said "Big Love" was based on his family? Here's an interesting artile I came across about JOE'S father JOSEPH LYNN DARGER'S wife SHAUNA: Seems like the ole Mother of the Year award scenario really happened! POLYGAMOUS MOM SLIPS OUT BACK DOOR OF CEREMONY As Gov. Mike Leavitt and his wife Jacalyn honored 24 Utah women as "great examples and symbols of motherhood," another nominee quietly slipped out the back door of the Governor's Mansion because her polygamous past had become known by ceremony organizers. Shauna Lynne Darger -- nominated by her son for the award -- arrived for Saturday's ceremony along with two dozen of "Utah's Remarkable Mothers" from around the state. But the Riverton mother of 10 never stepped up to accept her tribute. Informed that Darger had been a polygamist, ceremony organizers confronted her. Darger acknowledged having a past polygamous relationship, then left the mansion with three grown children who had accompanied her, said the governor's spokesperson, VickiVarela. "I'm declining the award," Darger tolda Salt Lake Tribune reporter, refusing comment about whether she currently is in a polygamous relationship. Darger was one of four wives of Joseph Lynn Darger, of Herriman, until he died in 1995. The woman was pictured along with the 24 other nominees in a full-page ZCMI department store ad in Saturday's Tribune.The governor learned of the controversy only after the ceremony, Varela said. "He respected this as the best choice for this person to make under the circumstances," Varela said. Organizers did not try to persuade Darger to stay. "It was clear she was choosing to leave the event," Varela said, adding Darger did not want to attract negative attention to the ceremony, nor to herself. Varela said the focus on polygamy was unfortunate for the other mothers "and for this mother's mothering which, have no doubt, is honorable." Family and friends nominated Darger by submitting letters to ZCMI and the Governor's Initiative on Families Today. Criminal background checks were run on the nominees, Varela said, "but there is nothing that would have brought this to our attention." Laura Chapman, a former member of the anti-polygamy group Tapestry of Polygamy, said: "There are some good mothers in polygamy. I don't think that should exclude her from an award. But if she's indoctrinating her children to break the law, that's not a good mom." Polygamy was renounced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1890, and six years later outlawed by the Utah Constitution. Darger won a place among the list of 25 women, in part, for starting a successful catering business after her husband died. The business has allowed Darger to support and nurture her children at home, according to a son's nomination letter. Added the son: "Her daily heroism both inspires me and epitomizes the high office of motherhood."  (Source: Salt Lake Tribune: 2 May 1999. pg. C.1) Now Back to the Polygamy USA Bunch! MICHAEL CAWLEY had a great grandmother named FAWNETTA JESSOP. That leads his family into the ALLREDS, JESSOPS, BARLOWS and past leader JOHN YEATES BARLOW. ROSE CAWLEY probably has to do a lot of genealogy before finding that inspiration about a husband!  I'll stop there for now. We will go into the HAMMON family tree next. The same names keep popping up over and over in this small town. When another generation is added, you can connect about anyone-from the Browns, Dargers, Jessops Allreds. This is one interconnected group!  Some information is left out to protect those not on the show. If you'd like to add information, please email us at the right! Be sure and check back for a new post coming...a perspective of what it's like inside Centennial Park and other polygamist sects, from Ed Kociela, author of "Plygs" who was in a scene of Polygamy USA.   Interested in the family history of the Browns? Click these. Meri's family Meri's sister Teresa Kody's family history Janelle's grandmother Speaking of "Big Love" are you a fan? Then check out the fun comparisons between Sister Wives and Big Love - here and here. Cynical Jinx is our resident Big Love Expert! Just In: INTERESTING Video from Nightline: 'Ole MICHAEL CAWLEY talking about adding another wife (just what he needs) and ROSE MARIE talking about getting a husband with none or ten wives, so nonchalantly! MICHAEL says he would sleep good at night if ROSE MARIE married a 70 yr old man, that's what father in heaven wanted. RUN ROSE RUN! God has multiple wives according to ISAIAH BARLOW cough Thompson. Watch his wife REBECCA TIMPSON BARLOW roll those eyes when interrupted by MARLEEN!

Big Love and Sister Wives: A Brief Comparison Between the Family Matriarchs

Here's a brief comparison of the grandmothers of Big Love and Sister Wives.

Yes, I know Lois and Adaleen are fictional characters, but they do present some common characteristics with  Genielle; mainly hospitality and love of family. Well, perhaps Lois not so much on the hospitality.

Anyway, one thing for sure, they certainly love their children, although I don't think Adaleen nor Lois would be as kind as Genielle if their son tried to eat half of her breakfast.

Genielle Brown	Lois Henrickson	Adaleen Grant
First wife of Winn Brown, mother of Kody Brown. Has 2 other sister wives.	Second* wife of Frank Harlow, mother of Bill Henrickson. Had 5 other sister wives (one deceased).	Sixth wife of Juniper Creek’s prophet Roman Grant, mother of Nicolette and Alby Grant. Had 13 other sister wives.
According to Kody, his mother would “fall on her sword for me.”	Sliced off the right arm of Hollis Greene with a large serrated knife when he dared to put a hand on her son Bill.	Conspired to have son Alby murdered in a rest stop men’s room. (Tap...Tap...Tap)
Was LDS, and converted to fundamentalism when Kody was in his teens. Was later excommunicated from the LDS church while Kody was on his LDS mission. Her sister wife Sheryl is Kody’s wife Janelle’s mother.	Lois’ father Orville Henrickson was prophet of Juniper Creek who died under mysterious circumstances. He was succeeded by his accountant, Roman Grant.	Adaleen has a complicated family tree. As she explains:“I'm 32 out of 56 children. And when I married Roman, I became my own step grandma as my father married Roman's daughter Faylene.   When I had Alby, he became my great uncle and I became his great great grandmother. Which of course makes me my own grandmother." Not to mention she also married her daughter’s ex-husband J.J.
Had problems with jealousy when Sheryl joined the family. As she puts it “I took care of kids and Sheryl took care of Winn.” Later, she got to know Sheryl better, and now considers her one of her very best friends.	Was notorious for her ill treatment of her sister wives. Of the concussions her sister wives suffered at her hands, she explained  "The Principle brings up our jealousies for the purposes of healing."	When Adaleen was asked how she could stand a particularly loathsome sister wife, she replied “I love her, and we are all equals. But last night I did dream I was trying to push her out the car  while driving along at a pretty quick clip.”

'Sister Wives' stars fight for the right to... polygamy: Is America ready?

Get your fill of the Sister Wives court proceedings yesterday right here! Not that anything...um...happened...or they showed up. Browns can't mess with court when they have a LIV party going on!!!
oday Kody Brown — star of polygamist reality show Sister Wives — reported to court with his four wives Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn, intending to prove their challenge Utah’s polygamy laws. Nearly two years after Big Love‘s Bill Henrickson ran for Senate expressly to take “The Principle” (a.k.a. polygamy) mainstream, it seems a curious case of life imitating art. We know how things ended for poor Bill, but what of the Browns, whose own series was spun off of Love‘s popularity? Do they have a chance that their love might be one day accepted by the public?
Said the Browns’ lawyer, Professor Jonathan Turley, “We believe that this case represents the strongest factual and legal basis for a challenge to the de ever filed in the federal courts. We are not demanding the recognition of polygamous marriage. We are only challenging the right of the state to prosecute people for their private relations and demanding equal treatment with other citizens in living their lives according to their own beliefs.”
It’s a tricky topic. Polygamy, as of now, certainly falls under the delightfully dismissive (and very large) umbrella of “alternative lifestyle” for the vast majority of Americans. The notion that a man would want to legally marry more than one woman makes people squeamish to say the least. And yet, clearly there is an appetite for this kind of content. Big Love ran for five critically acclaimed seasons (picking up a Golden Globe for Chloë Sevigny along the way), and Sister Wives is on TLC — a network that skews toward the apple pie demographic. Is this a case of reality television subtly, slowly shifting reality, or is it simply an instance of America wanting to objectify a novel curiosity on the boob tube, but no more?
U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups has yet to announce his decision on today’s hearing. “The court gave us a fair hearing and we will await his decision,” Turley told reporters. “We are committed to pursuing these claims on behalf of the Brown family wherever they take us in the legal system.”
(Source:  http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/12/16/sister-wives-stars-fight-for-the-right-to-polygamy-is-america-ready/)

 Judge hears 'Sister Wives' challenge of Utah law

 By JENNIFER DOBNER, Associated Press 
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Attorneys for a polygamous family made famous on a reality television show on Friday asked a Utah federal judge not to block their challenge of the state's bigamy law.
Kody Brown and wives Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn filed a lawsuit in Salt Lake City's U.S. District Court in July.
The stars of the TLC show "Sister Wives" contend the law is unconstitutional because it violates their right to privacy — prohibiting them from living together and criminalizing their private sexual relationships.
Under Utah law, people are guilty of bigamy if they have multiple marriage licenses, or if they cohabitate with another consenting adult in a marriage-like relationship. Any couple of any sex living together in an intimate relationship is considered marriage-like under the law, and such a living arrangement would be considered a felony. Any couple of any sex living together in an intimate relationship could be considered guilty of a felony under the law.
Formerly of Lehi, the Browns and their 17 children moved to Nevada in January after police launched a bigamy investigation. The Browns practice polygamy as part of their religious beliefs.
U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups heard oral arguments in the case on Friday in Salt Lake City and took the matter under advisement. It's not clear when he will rule.
For the case to go forward, the judge must decide the Browns have been harmed by the bigamy law.
In court, the Browns' Washington-based attorney, Jonathan Turley, said the family has suffered losses of income and been forced to move out of state because they were under investigation for bigamy.
They've also suffered "reputational harm" because the law labels the Browns' family a "criminal association," and because some Utah County prosecutors have said publicly that it would be easy for authorities bring charges because the Browns have already acknowledged felonies on national TV.
"This family was fearful of arrest ... they still are," Turley said. "It's why they are not here (in court) today."
Assistant Utah Attorney General Jerrold Jensen called the Browns' lawsuit "great TV drama" but said there's no real threat to the family, which has neither been arrested or charged with any crime.
Jensen said it's more likely the Browns were harmed by publicizing their lifestyle on television, not by actions taken by the state.
"The Browns have perceived that they will be prosecuted," Jensen said. "That is a misperception, at least at this point."
Jenson also said the Browns assume that an ongoing investigation by Utah County authorities is related to allegations of bigamy.
"It's over something else," Jensen said.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman has not disclosed the nature of their investigation publicly and a message left for him Friday was not immediately returned.
Buhman's office has no stated policy related to the prosecution of polygamists.
On Friday, Jensen said the attorney general's office policy is to only file bigamy charges against a polygamist in connection with other crimes, such as underage marriages, child abuse or welfare fraud. A straight bigamy prosecution hasn't been filed in Utah for more than 50 years, Jensen said.
A check of state court records by The Associated Press, however, found at least two cases.
Bob Foster had three wives when he was arrested and charged with bigamy in 1974. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to six months in jail. He was released after 21 days and ordered to serve five years of probation. A judge also said Foster was not allowed to live with his families. Foster died from cancer in 2008. He was still married to all three women.
Mark Easterday was arrested and charged with bigamy in 1999. Authorities were alerted to Easterday's multiple marriage as part of a custody battle during his divorce from his first wife. He ultimately pleaded no contest to adultery because the divorce was finalized before the bigamy case went to trial. Easterday was sentenced to probation.
Easterday, who left Utah and is currently married to two women, told The Associated Press he believes the Browns are right to fear a bigamy prosecution.
"I know from experience that they do prosecute," Easterday said. I think they should change the law over the entire country. Why it is that in some places a woman and a woman can be married, but a man can't have another wife?"
Polygamy in Utah and across much of the Intermountain West is a legacy of 19th century Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons abandoned the practice of plural marriage in the 1890s as a condition of Utah's statehood and now excommunicates members found engaging in polygamy.
An estimated 38,000 self-described Mormon fundamentalists continue the practice, believing it brings exaltation in heaven. Most keep their way of life a secret.
Typically, polygamous men are legally married to their first wives and wed subsequent brides only in religious ceremonies. The couples consider themselves "spiritually married."
(Source:  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jMDHarOyYP1xyUcsdKpN13-0Sfbw?docId=ac03b7d719d64eb2acf02b463f0015ca)

All this going on - What are the Brown's doing? well. according to tweets, a LIV party!

Caramel Brownie sent me this:

Maybe this is real reason they didn't show up to court. Scared they were gonna miss out on LIV Party ...lol SMH
GGRRRRR ..they disgust me :/
-Caramel Brownie

"AspynBrown: @mizkylie Hey are you coming to the LIV party tonight?"
--http://twitter.com/AspynBrown/status/147858133371457536


 Really? Browns got partying on their minds huh?...smh

-Caramel Brownie
"LuvgvsUwngs: @LuvgvsUwngs @MeriBrown1 @JanelleBrown117 @rosecolored6 Off to get a Christmas present for your party!"
--http://twitter.com/LuvgvsUwngs/status/146352729814601730


What are YOUR thoughts?

Our big, fat, polygamous family

Three years ago Texas authorities caused a sensation in the United States with a raid on the polygamous Mormon sect living at Yearning For Zion Ranch, during which 401 children were taken into state custody. The pretext for the crackdown was not so much polygamy, although it is a crime in Texas, but forced sex with under-age girls taken as wives by older men. In other words, the wellbeing of children was the main issue.

Community leader Warren Jeffs, already in trouble before the raid, is currently in jail on trial in Texas on sexual assault and bigamy charges. If he sits tight a bit longer, though, the bigamy charge may collapse; with same-sex marriage apparently in the bag, polygamy is looking like the next big thing in the United States -- and no-one seems to care what happens to the kids.

While Jeffs has been cooling his heels in clink, television networks have promoted his cause by rolling out shows such as Big Love and Sister Wives. The Browns of Sister Wives, all four of them, have talked about how happy they are with their choice and how well adjusted their 16 children are, and how the children are carefully educated about choice and consequences, and how there are no underage or arranged marriages. Fictional versions of the lifestyle add to the gloss by leaving out what one script writer calls the “yuck factor”.

Now that the small screen has demystified and sentimentalized polygamy it is the turn of professors and judges to legitimize it. And what better time to do so than in the wake of the latest green light for same-sex marriage? Straight after New York conferred the right to marry on homosexuals, Ralph Richard Banks, a Stanford law school professor predicted that polygamy and incest must now be legalized: “Over time, our moral assessments of these practices will shift, just as they have with interracial marriage and same sex marriage.”

Right on cue, in mid-July, the patriarch of the Brown family, Kody Brown, filed a challenge to Utah’s law against polygamy. His lead counsel, Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, wrote in the New York Times that the suit is based not on any analogy with same-sex marriage but on the Supreme Court’s 2003 decision in Lawrence v. Texas, that states could not use the criminal code against what two consenting adults -- in that case, homosexuals -- do in private. Privacy is the issue, he insists, not what society finds acceptable.

However, if it comes to acceptability, Turley has an answer ready for critics: society already accepts other kinds of plural relationships. He says: “It is widely accepted that a person can have multiple partners and have children with such partners. But the minute that person expresses a spiritual commitment and ‘cohabits’ with those partners, it is considered a crime.”

We are going to hear this argument a lot more in the new battle for the rights of polygamists. It has been used also by another law professor, Adrienne D. Davis of Washington University at St Louis, in a 92-page article in the Columbia Law Review of December 2010. With interesting timing, the university sent out a press release about the article earlier this month.
 

But Davis, like Turley, prefers not to hitch her wagon to the same-sex marriage star. She says it’s a red herring in the polygamy debate since same-sex marriage is concerned with the couple relationship and polygamy with plural relationships. In fact she is not really interested in marriage at all (“I am no particular fan of the institution of marriage”); a power feminist, she talks, rather, of “intimate relationships” and rules for “bargaining for equality” within them.

Polygamy, with its “multiple partners, ongoing entrances and exits, and life-defining economic and personal stakes”, presents a special challenge in this regard, one which family law could hardly cope with, Davis admits. But, no problem; it turns out that commercial partnership law has a “robust set of off-the-rack rules” that could be adapted to arbitrate the disputes of polygamists. If the power relationships can be regulated -- and she believes they can (lots of work for lawyers there) -- there would be no reason to withhold social recognition from polygamy.

In social revolutions like this numbers are always useful: a million backstreet abortions; tens of thousands of gay couples already enjoying family bliss but without the blessing of marriage; and now, “50,000 to 100,000” polygamists minding their own business but persecuted for merely moral reasons. (A recent Gallup poll shows that 86 per cent of Americans consider polygamy immoral.) The implication is that what so many people are doing, with little evident harm, must really be harmless.

Many feminists, it’s true, are unhappy about the subjugation of women in communities like Yearning For Zion. Then there’s the problem of young girls becoming extra wives, and there have been disturbing stories about what happens to “spare” boys once they reach puberty. Some, simply expelled from their compounds, have been found living rough around rural towns in Utah and Arizona.

Which brings us to the central question about polygamy, or any other variation on the married mother and father family: what about the kids? Is this form of adult intimacy good for them?  One can almost hear Professor Davis sigh as she reluctantly addresses this issue in a section of her essay headed “Children and Other ‘Externalities’…”. “Part of me wants to radically resist the notion that intimacy cannot be theorized without attention to children,” she protests.

Still, she does take a sideways glance at the children and comes up with the same argument as Turley: we already have de facto polygamy, in both the unmarried (single mothers and nomadic fathers) form and the married (divorced and remarried parents) or serial form, and family law accommodates those. Not only that, but the law is developing norms to deal with claims arising from other multi-parent situations: open adoption, grandparents raising children, and “reprotech families” formed by both heterosexual and same-sex couples using donor gametes and surrogate mothers. Why not add polygamy to the “marriage pantheon”?

Well, yes, marital culture is in a mess, but we know that the absence or divided affections of fathers resulting from transient partnerships and divorce create serious risks for children and much actual misery. And we have some idea from the grown children of donor daddies of the problems being generated by the reprotech variants of family life. So, again, what about the kids? Why expand the opportunities to generate emotional and economic problems for them?

All Davis will say is that it is “unclear that polygamy generates more costs for children than the standard alternatives” (to a married mother and father). That’s it: like, “Since when did we start worrying about children?”

She does have a point (I have made it myself), although it is slightly chilling that a woman, in particular, would make it with such detachment. Adults do already make a lot of trouble for their children. But these are pathologies we should be trying to fix, not spread more widely by recognizing another pathway to family chaos on the basis that “it can’t be any worse” than the others. It may be true that the case for social recognition, or at least tolerance, of polygamy is different to the case for same-sex marriage and the claim to same-sex parenthood that goes with it. But they have one thing in common: they both find their place in a decaying marriage/sexual culture where adult desires increasingly trump the needs and rights of children.

Three years after the Yearning For Zion raid, is the welfare of children no longer an issue in the adult scramble for sexual rights?

(Source: Carolyn Moynihan is deputy editor of MercatorNet. She appears here courtesy of MercatorNet.com   http://www.speroforum.com/)

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