Mormon Stories Podcast Mormon Church Now Teaching Polygamy to Children: Is it Grooming? | Ep. 1974
Dec 16, 2024
Natasha Helfer, a marriage and family therapist excommunicated for her advocacy, joins Alyssa Witbeck, a writer and mother, to discuss the Mormon Church's new curriculum teaching polygamy to children. They raise concerns about its psychological impact and the normalization of harmful beliefs. The duo critiques the historical context of polygamy, revealing power dynamics and issues of consent. Their discussion delves into the emotional turmoil faced by women, particularly within coercive relationships, and emphasizes the need for critical examination of teachings surrounding authority and love.
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New Children's Scripture Stories on Polygamy
- The Church released new scripture stories for children, including a cartoon about Joseph Smith's polygamy.
- These stories resemble illustrated scripture stories or Living Scriptures cartoons from the past.
Framing Polygamy as Obedience
- The Church frames Joseph Smith's polygamy as "faith to obey a law from the Lord, even when it's hard."
- This framing prioritizes obedience over intuition and ignores historical complexities and potential harm.
Lack of Transparency and Coercion
- The Church's portrayal of polygamy lacks transparency and ignores coercive dynamics.
- Joseph Smith's polygamy involved marrying minors, sister pairs, foster children, and mother-daughter pairs, often without Emma's knowledge.