Our Negative Family Experiences With Polygamy
Family stories cast bad shadow about early Mormon polygamy practices
My Aunt, Tense Simister Archibald Bullock, tells a polygamy story.... the type that normally would be suppressed by the L.D.S. Church since it puts polygamy in a bad light.
Again, Tense tries to tell the story "as it is," but with a sympathetic sensitivity for those who are Mormon (I'm doing the interview and was Mormon). It's a spicy story, but could be even richer and spicier, I'm sure, if told without repression because of the fear of hurting another Mormon's feelings.
Tense's grandmother married off her young daughter to an older man to prevent her from going into polygamy. Her husband was not a Mormon. But all young girls could easily become victims of Mormon polygamous marriages since the predominant church of the area was, naturally, Mormonism. Most attractive young girls were doomed to be raised under polygamy because they would show up at church, then be spotted by the older men in the church and sought after as their other wives by "authority" of Mormon doctrine.
Much more unfolds and is revealed in this story as she tells her other recollections. She tells how her great grandmother's husband wanted a second wife and reveals a most interesting surprise outcome from that event.
Tense tells this story back in 1966. It is one of our more valuable family treasures.
Who are the the players in this drama?
Susan Burgess was Tense's grandmother
Almira Pulsipher was Tense's great grandmother.
Page Modified December 26, 2008