Yep, like the title says, my last three reviews are STILL in process.
I suppose if I had a punching bag I could have had those reviews done quicker, but I don't. And my Kindle is much too precious to me to get thrown, in disgust, on the floor while watching the episodes Sister Wives on Amazon.com.
So I appreciate y'alls patience while I try to crank out something decent. Yeah, I said crank, because watching these fools on TV is making me very, very, cranky. I'll explain in the review.
Also, I notice that the latest Twitter Party posting has reached the point where you have to (or least I have to) click on the "Loading" link to see the additional pages of comments.
Here's a new posting where you can continue your comments without having to
1) Scroll Down Forever just to find out you have to
2)Click the "Loading" link just to have to
3) Scroll Down Forever, again.
But First...
Las Vagrants wrote a comment that, unfortunately, takes about 2 clicks on the "Loading" link to finally see. Here's the comment, and my response. Feel free to add your response below!!!
I'm so confused about all of this "restructure" business. Maybe someone familiar with the religion might know?
Isn't the 1st wife considered a permanent status? Do they normally need the church's blessing to divorce and especially since the divorce appears to be based on a secular (supposedly) issue, not because Meri deserved it by sinning or something.
So much of what's presented is like the sanitized version or maybe more accurately, a view of plural marriage without all the religious strings attached. They don't live together. They act like they barely interact unless it's for a episode.
Is Kody the prophet for this mini church? Do they still even follow the AUB principles?
My Response:
This is my opinion: The divorce between Kody and Meri was meant to be a SECRET. The remarriage was DEFINITELY suppose to be a secret.
Of course, once the story broke and everyone within reach of the internet and the Clark County Family Court and Civil Court database websites could SEE the divorce and marriage entered into those court records, Kody had no choice but to make a hastily made statement claiming he had "legally restructured" his family.
Kody using the term "restructure" or "legally restructured" was just his doublespeak for his real thoughts: "I'm doing what I damn well please. And right now, I want Robyn to be my legal spouse. So Meri, it's been a great 25 years but it's time for Robyn to be my lawfully wedded wife....even though I might look like a hypocrite since my religion teaches that God's Law is above Man's Laws, but I'm Kody Brown and that doesn't matter anyway. Not here in Las Vegas." And the rest is history.
Isn't the 1st wife considered a permanent status? Yes it is. Meri will always be Kody's 1st wife.
Do they normally need the church's blessing to divorce and especially since the divorce appears to be based on a secular (supposedly) issue, not because Meri deserved it by sinning or something. The way I understand it, Meri was Kody's first wife, his legal wife (Man's Law) as well as his spiritual wife (God's Law). Since under Man's Law, only one woman can be a legal wife, Janelle, Christine and Robyn were Kody's spiritual wives only (God's Law).
In the AUB (the Church the Browns are members of) a "spiritual" wife can petition the ruling Priesthood Council for a "release" from her spiritual marriage, so that she could be free to become another man's spiritual wife. So, in the case of Meri, she legally divorced Kody BUT she has not asked for a "release" so she is still spiritually married to Kody. And remember, in the AUB, God's Law trumps Man's Law.
To finally answer your question, I don't believe the AUB is happy about the bad publicity generated by the legal divorce, but Kody and Meri are still spiritually married to each other so no harm no foul.
So much of what's presented is like the sanitized version or maybe more accurately, a view of plural marriage without all the religious strings attached. They don't live together. They act like they barely interact unless it's for a episode.
That's because polygamy is not pretty, whether the wives are living together in one home or they live in separate houses. I think National Geographic's Polygamy USA was a good representation of plural marriage BUT it was still greatly sanitized for monogamist's consumption. And Polygamy USA was very quick to admit plural marriage was not for everyone, that it was basically a difficult life that a few "lucky" people were called to endure in order to reach salvation in the afterlife. Definitely different from Kody Brown's simplistic lie that "Love should be multiplied and not divided." On another documentary about Centennial Park (where Polygamy USA was filmed) a plural wife made the point of saying they do NOT marry for love, because love is fleeting. They marry for eternity and are very discerning of the man they choose to marry. Frankly, I doubt Kody Brown would have made the cut for a wife if he was a member of Centennial Park's polygamist group.
Is Kody the prophet for this mini church? As the husband, Kody is the Priesthood holder responsible for the religious instruction of his family members when they are unable to attend their Church regularly. I'll leave it at that because, frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if the only time he holds "Church of Kody" services are when the camera's are present. Otherwise, he's busy doing "other things."
Do they still even follow the AUB principles? From what I've read, Kody picks and chooses the principles he follows. For instance, he's not supposed to show preference of one wife over another. But one thing that is preached is that the husband makes all the decisions for the family and Kody certainly has been shown doing just that - like when Christine "slipped" and mentioned how Kody has always wanted to live in Las Vegas. And the wives rarely are allowed to voice their own opinions, or as Kody puts it "Honor the entire family and I will love you." But he sure is Johnny on the Spot when it comes to collecting wives and having babies, isn't he? He may not know much about the children he has, but he sure knows how to make new ones, doesn't he?
Again, this is just my opinions.
