Move Over Sister Wives!

[bonnie]

Move Over Sister Wives! Utah polygamist with FIVE wives and 24 children to get his own TLC reality series

A pilot episode featuring Brady Williams and his family drew good ratings on the network in September

The Williams family are among an estimated 15,000 independent polygamists in the West who don't belong to an organized, fundamentalist Mormon church

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

PUBLISHED: 13:39 EST, 20 December 2013 | UPDATED: 16:14 EST, 20 December 2013

TLC has announced it will air a full series about a progressive polygamous family from Utah that starred in a one-hour pilot earlier this year.

The cable TV network said Thursday it will produce nine, one-hour episodes about Brady Williams and his five wives and 24 children. The first episode is set to debut March 9.

The September pilot episode drew good ratings.

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Reality stars! TLC will produce nine, one-hour episodes about Brady Williams (center) and his five wives, pictured, from left, Paulie, Robyn, Rosemary, Nonie and Rhonda

Members of the Williams family are among an estimated 15,000 independent polygamists in the West who don't belong to an organized, fundamentalist Mormon church. Williams and his wives withdrew from the Apostolic United Brethren during the mid-2000s after re-evaluating their core beliefs.

The family no longer teaches the tenets of fundamental Mormonism to their children at home, opting instead to take from other teachings such as Buddhism to instill good, morale values in their two dozen children, who range in age from 2-20.

Their move into the national spotlight comes with much less risk than it would have just a month ago. A federal judge in Utah last week struck down key parts of the state's polygamy laws, saying a provision that forbids cohabitation violates the First Amendment.

Large family: Mr Williams' five wives have had 24 children between them

The ruling decriminalizes polygamy, making only bigamy — holding marriage licenses with multiple partners - illegal.

The lawsuit was brought by Kody Brown and his four wives, the stars of TLC's show 'Sister Wives,' and the trailblazers for polygamous families on reality TV. The Browns sued in July 2011 and fled Utah for Las Vegas last year under the threat of prosecution.

Brady Williams told The Associated Press earlier this week that the ruling was a momentous for him and others with multiple wives.

'There is no threat over our heads now,' Williams said. 'It's a first step in the right direction toward the de-marginalization of polygamists.'

TLC Welcomes a new polygamist family with five wives

The real story: Mr Williams poses with Robyn (left) and Rosemary (right) outside of their home in a polygamous community outside Salt Lake City

The real story: Mr Williams poses with Robyn (left) and Rosemary (right) outside of their home in a polygamous community outside Salt Lake City

Family time: Mr Williams with his wives, from left, Robyn, Paulie, Rosemary, Nonie, and Rhonda, at their home in a polygamous community outside Salt Lake City

Family time: Mr Williams with his wives, from left, Robyn, Paulie, Rosemary, Nonie, and Rhonda, at their home in a polygamous community outside Salt Lake City

In addition to the Browns and now the Williams family, TLC also has done a special featuring the Darger family of Utah. HBO's fictional show about a polygamous family, 'Big Love,' ran for five seasons.

Following the recent court ruling, Williams said now is the time for polygamists to show they are deserving of the recognition by putting an end to the misogyny rampant among the culture and putting women on equal footing as men.

'Women are not a commodity and they shouldn't be treated as such,' said Williams, 43, a project manager in his brother's construction business. 'There needs to be complete symmetry within a marriage.'

Sister Wives: Kody Brown and his four wives, (from left) Janelle, Christine, Meri and Robyn, were previously the polygamous stars of TLC's reality show schedule

Sister Wives: Kody Brown and his four wives, (from left) Janelle, Christine, Meri and Robyn, were previously the polygamous stars of TLC's reality show schedule

He said that should include strictly prohibiting any man from having child wives. One of the most infamous polygamists, Warren Jeffs, is serving a life sentence in Texas for sexually assaulting two underage girls he considered his brides. Jeffs still rules a sect of fundamentalist Mormons on the Utah-Arizona border from jail.

'We need to call it for what it is: evil,' Williams said.

The practice of polygamy is a legacy of the early teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the mainstream church and its 15 million members worldwide abandoned polygamy in 1890 and strictly prohibit it today.

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[phkrause]

Makes you wonder what's next on the horizon! I was under the impression that this was illegal in the US? But I guess not!

[Gregory Matthews]

The decision of the Court must be understood as to what it does and what it does not do.

Quote:

The ruling decriminalizes polygamy, making only bigamy — holding marriage licenses with multiple partners - illegal.

The above is a confusing statement that if not understood does not reflect the actual facts.

In fact, the ruling of the court does not decriminalize polygamy as such.

The court ruled against the definition of polygamy as established under Utah law.

The Court ruled that it was illegal to prosecute someone for polygamy when there was no legal marriage to more than one person.

Marriage is a civil institution and under Utah law, to become married one had to obtain a license to get married and than register that marriage with the civil authorities.

As prescribed by Utah law, the man who was prosecuted was not married to more than one person. [NOTE: I do not know if he was married to even one woman.] Therefore, the Court ruled that he could not be prosecuted for polygamy.

While it is true that this ruling may only set a precedent in a limited area. It is likely to become a citation that will be used in similar cases--A person who is only legally married to one person can not be prosecuted for polygamy if polygamy is defined as marriage to more than one person.

Thea Court did not decriminalize polygamy. It established the boundaries under which one could be prosecuted for polygamy.

In other places, outside of Utah, this ruling will be of interest. However, it may not be determinative. That may depend upon local law and how future Courts decide.

NOTE: PK posted 3 seconds prior to my posting.

[Gregory Matthews]

IT should be noted that the source for Bonnie's post came from another country. One cannot expect a source in another country to fully appreciate our laws and their application, just as I would probably not appreciate the application of the laws of England.

[Stan]

SUMMARY: If a man has an affair with 5 females at the same time, which seems to be more common that I thought it was, that is kinda ok with the courts and society, if he makes a public commitment to him then he was a criminal?

[Naomi]

Sounds like a lot of honey-do's

[olger]

Makes you wonder what's next on the horizon! I was under the impression that this was illegal in the US? But I guess not!

According to the New York Times, Peter, polyamory is the next big thing.

Dude!

[olger]

Sounds like a lot of honey-do's

[olger]

SUMMARY: If a man has an affair with 5 females at the same time, which seems to be more common that I thought it was, that is kinda ok with the courts and society, if he makes a public commitment to him then he was a criminal?

Yeah. Scratching head...??

[phkrause]

Reminds me of this from the Bible: Matthew 24:37 For the Son of Man's coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach. 38 Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; 39 and they didn't know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes.

[Liz]

I have watched Sisterwives, none of those women seem very happy, and of the four of them only two seem like they get along with each other. The jealousy is almost palpable between them, and some of the older kids don't even act like they want their dad around.

What they say about the fulfillment of having sisterwives and bonus children is a far cry of what they actually show on t.v. It makes me wonder if they watch their own show, can't they see or recognize the look of hurt and sadness on their faces? Sadly, I think many of the woman are brainwashed into thinking that all of that is just normal. Sad. Sad. Sad.

[Green Cochoa]

Reminds me of this from the Bible: Matthew 24:37 For the Son of Man's coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach. 38 Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; 39 and they didn't know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes.

[phkrause]

I have watched Sisterwives, none of those women seem very happy, and of the four of them only two seem like they get along with each other. The jealousy is almost palpable between them, and some of the older kids don't even act like they want their dad around.

What they say about the fulfillment of having sisterwives and bonus children is a far cry of what they actually show on t.v. It makes me wonder if they watch their own show, can't they see or recognize the look of hurt and sadness on their faces? Sadly, I think many of the woman are brainwashed into thinking that all of that is just normal. Sad. Sad. Sad.

I'm recalling watching a program like this some years ago. I believe it was on 60 minutes. I got the same impression, none of the wifes, and kids for that matter, were very happy looking about the other wifes, kids, etc.