Polygamy
WSKG's review of Jared Yates Sexton's thriller "A Bad Deal in Mormon Land" highlights how the novel uses a murder investigation to explore the lingering effects of Mormon fundamentalist polygamy in isolated Utah communities. Sexton, known for political journalism, blends crime fiction with historical examination of plural marriage.
November 8, 2026 at 4:03 AM MT · via WSKG
Crime thriller uses Mormon polygamy history as narrative backdrop
YPR reviews the same crime novel blending Mormon history and polygamy themes, calling it a "wry, page-turning thriller." The book uses plural marriage and faith questions as texture for a mystery plot accessible to readers without deep Mormon knowledge.
November 2, 2026 at 11:02 AM MT · via YPR · 4 sources
'A Bad Deal in Mormon Land' explores polygamy through crime fiction
Texas Public Radio reviews Brady Udall's novel 'A Bad Deal in Mormon Land,' describing it as a thriller that 'smashes faith, crime and history' together. The book centers on a polygamous family in rural Utah dealing with murder and fundamentalist Mormon culture.
November 1, 2026 at 10:02 AM MT · via Texas Public Radio | TPR · 4 sources
Ohio pastor publicly announces second wife, renounces monogamy as 'unbiblical'
An Ohio pastor has publicly announced a second wife, explicitly rejecting the Christian teaching of monogamy as contrary to scripture. Israel Ford, founder of LifeWorks Church in the Cleveland area, introduced Minister Shakayla Talley Ford to his congregation, which responded with a standing ovation. The announcement reflects broader tensions within American Christianity over marriage and biblical interpretation, distinct from LDS or fundamentalist LDS polygamy but illustrative of the continued cultural resonance of plural marriage arguments.
October 27, 2026 at 9:01 AM MT · via Religion Unplugged
How polygamist cults operate: explainer on control and coercion
An Insider video essay in the "How Crime Works" series examines the mechanics of polygamist cults—how they function, control members, and operate outside legal systems. The analysis focuses on organizational structures of groups like those in the fundamentalist Mormon tradition, exploring coercive control tactics without centering the LDS Church itself. The piece provides a widely accessible explainer on a topic that has drawn mainstream attention through recent high-profile cases.
October 26, 2026 at 12:01 PM MT · via LinkedIn
Undercover operation exposes abuse within polygamist group led by self-proclaimed prophet
An undercover investigation by Sun reporters infiltrated a polygamist group and documented systematic abuse of women and children under a self-proclaimed prophet. The operation involved building trust with group members to gather evidence, ultimately leading to the breakdown of the organization and rescue of victims. The group is a fundamentalist sect not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the story has drawn public and media attention to polygamist abuse dynamics in the broader religious landscape.
October 25, 2026 at 2:01 PM MT · via The Sun · 3 sources
Blogger explores why polygamy remains a persistent Church problem
A Times and Seasons blogger examines why polygamy continues to cause problems for the Church despite leadership's apparent desire for the issue to fade. The post argues that standard Church statements — that the practice was "just for a time" with monogamy as the norm — raise tricky questions that official explanations don't resolve.
October 14, 2026 at 7:03 AM MT · via Times and Seasons · 2 sources
Warren Jeffs' son escaped FLDS at 18, then joined mainstream LDS Church as missionary
Wendell Jeffson, son of imprisoned FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, escaped the fundamentalist sect at age 18 and subsequently joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving a full-time mission, according to a YouTube interview on the Cults to Consciousness channel that has drawn 37,000 views in 16 hours.
October 10, 2026 at 5:02 AM MT · via YouTube / Cults to Consciousness
New Zealand detective describes arrest of polygamous sect leader on abuse charges
A New Zealand detective describes the moment of arresting a polygamous sect leader convicted of child sexual abuse, in a detailed account published by Stuff.co.nz. The detective recounts years of investigation into abuse within a fundamentalist Mormon community.
October 9, 2026 at 1:02 PM MT · via Stuff.co.nz
Arizona governor's race shadowed by polygamy-sect abuse accusations
Accusations that an Arizona gubernatorial candidate protected leaders of a polygamous sect accused of child abuse have become a central issue in the 2026 race, the Arizona Capitol Times reports.
October 7, 2026 at 5:02 PM MT · via Arizona Capitol Times · 2 sources
YouTube channel examines Brian Hales' 'reluctant polygamist' thesis
The YouTube channel Generally Unquotable analyzes Brian Hales' 2026 FAIR Conference presentation titled "Joseph Smith: A Reluctant Polygamist." The video has drawn 999 views in five hours (~200 per hour) with 72 comments.
September 25, 2026 at 12:03 PM MT · via YouTube / Generally Unquotable · 2 sources
Historian John Turner discusses Brigham Young's embrace of polygamy
Historian John Turner discusses Brigham Young's adoption and promotion of plural marriage in Nauvoo in the third installment of a series on his book "Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet." The episode examines Young's "increasingly central role in the development of early Mormon polygamy," according to the description.
September 24, 2026 at 10:03 AM MT · via YouTube / Mormon Stories Podcast