Is having a sister wife legal in Utah?

The law, Utah Code 76-7-101, states a person is guilty of bigamy if he or she is married and cohabits with or purports to marry another person. A polygamist group, known as “The Sister Wives,” through their syndicated reality show on TLC, challenged Utah's law under the premise that the statute is unconstitutional.

What state is Sister Wives legal?

Kody Brown and his four wives — Christine, Janelle, Meri and Robyn — are celebrating the news that a law decriminalizing bigamy in Utah took effect. The polygamist Brown family can rest easy when traveling back to Utah.

What happen with Sister Wives in Utah?

The family went public after season one of Sister Wives debuted on TLC in 2010. However, while the family appeared to be embraced by viewers, their home state of Utah still considered polygamy a third-degree felony. This meant that Kody Brown could be jailed, and his family broken up.

Do Sister Wives move back to Utah?

Sister Wives' Janelle Brown 'planning to officially move to Utah with Christine' after nasty breakup from husband Kody. SISTER Wives' Janelle Brown has been secretly planning a permanent move to Utah to be close to Christine following her split from Kody, a source exclusively revealed to The U.S. Sun.

Is it common to have multiple wives in Utah?

Utah was forced to abandon the practice of polygamy as a condition of statehood. Yet, it remains practiced today. Pro-polygamy groups estimate as many as 30,000 to 40,000 people in the state subscribe to Mormon fundamentalism, the belief system that includes plural marriage.

Utah Decriminalized Polygamy | Sister Wives

Why is polygamy so popular in Utah?

Utah's laws governing polygamy can be traced back to its unique history. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormons) once practiced polygamy as part of their religion, and fled to the Utah territory when they encountered persecution.

Where do most polygamists live in Utah?

Rockland Ranch (also known as "The Rock") is a fundamentalist Mormon, polygamous community in Moab, Utah. The community was founded in 1977 by Robert Dean Foster (d. 2008) as a place for fundamentalist Mormons to live and practice plural marriage out of the public eye.

Is polygamy still a felon in Utah?

Practicing polygamy in Utah is no longer a felony crime for the first time in 85 years under a bill that passed the Legislature on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. | April 13, 2022, 5:00 a.m.

When did Utah stop polygamy?

Although the Mormon Church officially prohibited new plural marriages after 1904, many plural husbands and wives continued to cohabit until their deaths in the 1940s and 1950s.

How much do Sister Wives get paid?

TLC is said to spend anywhere between $250,000 and $400,000 per episode on its shows, which means the Browns take in $25,000 to $40,000. The show has run for 14 seasons, which would've made them, at minimum, around $4 million.

What is the biggest polygamy family in Utah?

The Darger family (Joe, Vicki, Valerie, and Alina Darger) is an independent fundamentalist Mormon polygamous family living in Utah, United States.

How many polygamists are in Utah?

The estimated 30,000 people living in Utah's polygamous communities believe plural marriage brings exaltation in heaven – a legacy of the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The mainstream faith abandoned the practice in 1890 under pressure from the U.S. government and now strictly forbids it.

What ended polygamy in Utah?

In 1890, when it became clear that Utah would not be admitted to the Union while polygamy was still practiced, church president Wilford Woodruff issued a Manifesto that officially terminated the practice of polygamy.

How many wives can a Mormon have in Utah?

Mormon men can lawfully have one wife. The practice of polygamy (polygyny or plural marriage), the marriage of more than one woman to the same man, was practiced by Church members from the 1830s to the early 1900s.

What states can you legally have 2 wives?

No state permits its citizens to enter into more than one concurrent, legally-licensed marriage. People who attempt to, or are able to, secure a second marriage license are generally prosecuted for bigamy. The terms "bigamy" and "polygamy" are sometimes confused or used interchangeably.

What state allows multiple wives?

United States: Polygamy is illegal in all 50 states, De facto polygamy is illegal under federal law, the Edmunds Act.

How many wives can a Mormon marry?

The standard doctrine of the Church is monogamy, as it always has been, as indicated in the Book of Mormon (Jacob chapter 2): “Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none. …

Are the Amish polygamous?

Do the Amish Practice Polygamy? The misconception surrounding the believe that the Amish are polygamists is the result of two factors: a lack of knowledge about Amish beliefs, and confusion with other religious groups. The Amish don't practice polygamy, and they have never done so since their formation as a people.

Are Mormons still polygamous?

The LDS Church publicly renounced the practice of polygamy in 1890, but it has never renounced polygamy as doctrine, as evidenced in LDS scriptures. It has always permitted and continues to permit men to be married in Mormon temples “for the eternities” to more than one wife.

Can you have 2 husbands in Utah?

While plural marriage is illegal under Utah's constitution, officials in the state have largely chosen not to prosecute those involved. In 2001, polygamist Tom Green became the first man to be convicted of bigamy in more than half a century over his marriage to five women.

Can you be a Mormon and be divorced?

Members of the Latter-day Saints can divorce or marry again, but it can get a little more complicated if one had been married in the temple. Extra efforts can be needed, for example, a person who was divorced can marry again in the temple if he is granted permission by Church leaders.

Why did LDS ban polygamy?

The Manifesto

In 1890, church president Wilford Woodruff, fearful that the continuation of the practice of plural marriage would lead to the destruction of all Mormon temples, announced an end to official support for polygamy.

What is the divorce rate for Mormon couples?

According to research cited in a 2000 article in the Los Angeles Times, “in an era of divorce, Latter-day Saint temple weddings are built to last,” with only a 6 percent divorce rate.

Do polygamist wives sleep with each other?

Many women who practice polygamy say that this is one of the most common questions they receive from people who don't understand their lifestyle. The general consensus is that the wives do not participate in sexual intercourse with each other, but they all have separate, intimate relationships with the husband.

What percentage of Utah is polygamous?

About 15-20% of families were polygamous, and most had only two wives.