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Practice of Polygamy in Mormonism, LDS, and FLDS Dark Sisters Synopsis by Jill Leahy Origins of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) In the 1820s, there ACT I A lunar eclipse. Against the severe landscape—red earth, sharp cliffs, and endless sky—that was a Protestant religious revival movement in the U.S. known as the Second Great surrounds a polygamist compound in the American Southwest, five mothers cry out in despair. State officials Awakening. During its heyday, millions joined existing evangelical denominations and have just raided their homes and removed all of their children, under the suspicion that minors are being many more became members of newly-formed denominations, one of which was the abused and forced to marry by members of the sect. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). The LDS was founded by , Jr., who claimed to have been visited by an angel named Moroni, who told him The husband of the five women, a professed Prophet of God, discloses that he has received a Revelation. where to find “golden plates written by a prophet named Mormon” that had been buried He must journey into the desert, where he will receive guidance: holy words that will ensure the return of near his home in western New York. Smith used the Book of Mormon as the basis for their children. The Prophet instructs his wives to “keep sweet” while he is away, explaining that total Temple of the Church his church, which was to restore Christianity as practiced by the apostles. of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints obedience is necessary to ensure their salvation and the safe return of their children. Historically, Mormons have experienced antagonism from both religious and secular groups, largely due to the Eliza (the fifth wife) has visions of her only daughter, Lucinda. A room decorated with scripture and looming practice of polygamy, or plural marriage. Smith’s successor, , moved many Mormons to the portraits of past Prophets triggers a memory: the day of her wedding. She was 16, afraid, an unwilling bride. largely-unsettled territory. Young was a strong supporter of plural marriage and his name seems to be the Eliza does not want her daughter to suffer the same fate, but can’t imagine how they could ever leave this one most connected to the word polygamy. During the late 1800s, the federal government passed laws making life. She has no friends or knowledge of the outside world. She has no way of making money or affording a the practice of polygamy illegal, and finally in 1890, the LDS issued a “Manifesto” that ended plural marriage in place to live. the church. Utah became our 45 th state in 1896. The modern-day LDS continues to prohibit polygamy, while still explaining why it once condoned it. As night slowly turns to day, Eliza passes the time with her other sister-wives. Almera is haunted by dreams of her mother and grandmother, while Presendia and Zina work diligently to pass the time, longing for their Origins of Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) During the fight for state- husband’s return. Ruth is tormented by mental illness and the memory of her two sons, both of whom died hood, when the Mormon Church officially announced that it no longer condoned the practice of plural marriage, tragically. many followers felt that the church was moving away from the fundamental teachings “revealed” to Joseph Smith. This turmoil drove many followers to leave the LDS church and form their own sects of Mormonism. Ruth discovers a letter in the Prophet's study and gives it to Eliza. The letter voices Lucinda’s concerns Now there are radical sects in Utah, , Texas, and across the United States. The largest and most well- about being promised to a man so much older, almost 60. Eliza is shocked to learn that her daughter would known sect is the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), once headed by Leroy be eternally promised so soon. She resolves to leave the life at the compound and hatches a plan to S. Johnson, and later, Rulon Jeffs, who was said to have had as many as 75 wives and 65 children. escape. The Prophet returns, and Eliza convinces him to spend the night with her. She needs his full trust so that she can travel with him the next day and enact a plan to share her own message with the world. Alone is an iron-fisted FLDS leader , who succeeded his father Rulon Jeffs. It’s thought that Warren and forgotten in their bedrooms, the other women seethe with jealousy, sadness, and longing. Jeffs married many of his father’s widows and that he has over 40 wives and 50 children. Most articles written Intermission about him mention that his leadership focuses on ACT II Split scene: the women sit in front of a TV camera in their large meeting room, while in Los Angeles Characters of the Opera control and isolation of the FLDS community. He a TV personality, King, interviews the women via satellite. The women are careful to stay on message. gives strict rules to follow. No television, newspapers, Afraid and distraught by the onslaught of all the attention, Ruth suffers a breakdown during the interview and The Prophet/King bass-baritone or outside influences are allowed. Photos show the leaves the room. The women, paralyzed with fear and the intrusion of the media, continue with the show. In Act I, the husband to five women who believes God female members with elaborate hairstyles and

speaks to him. In Act II, a Los Angeles TV personality. old-fashioned, long, cotton dresses. Eliza, nervous she may not have the courage to speak out, suddenly explodes with the announcement that she was, indeed, married underage. She also seizes the opportunity to speak to her daughter—she looks THE FIVE WIVES Warren Jeffs purchased property in Eldorado, Texas, directly into the camera and begs Lucinda to have faith, and to know that she, Eliza, has received her own Eliza [eh-LIE-zah] soprano where he built an enormous temple and a self- divine message: “Say goodbye to men who encourage silent suffering—only a false Prophet would ask such Fifth wife, who questions the Prophet; decides to leave sustaining, 1700-acre, walled community that he things of you. Don’t be afraid of what lies beyond the sharp cliffs, the red earth—blaze a trail beyond the named The Yearning for Zion Ranch. It houses a canyons, past the forests and gorges. This is my hope for you, Sisters of Zion! Hope and pray! I promise Ruth mezzo-soprano temple, a waste treatment facility, a meeting house, you, kind hearts beat for all of us in the outside world!” Chaos ensues. Eliza’s sister-wives cannot believe Lost two children; eventually commits suicide and several large log and concrete homes. she would betray them. In 2005, Warren Jeffs was indicted in Utah and Almera [ahl-MEH-rah] soprano Later that night Ruth sits atop the mesa near the compound, under a starlit sky. She has been hiking all day. Kind, devout, and unquestioning; has five children Arizona on charges that he arranged a marriage Praying for relief from her pain and longing to be with her two children in heaven, she jumps off the cliff to between a 16-year-old girl and a man who was her death. [preh-SEHND-ee-ah] mezzo-soprano already married. After capture in 2006, he was Presendia Back at the compound, a few days later: Ruth’s funeral. The children have been returned to the ranch. Eliza Sister to Ruth; has nine children eventually convicted in Texas on charges of bigamy arrives at the gate of the compound and is shunned by the other women. Lucinda approaches her mother, and sexual assault. Warren Jeffs was found guilty in furious—she is sickened that Eliza lost her faith and will not gain eternal salvation. She would have preferred Zina [ZI-nah] soprano 2011 and is serving a prison term of life + 20 years Unquestioning and devout; has four children for his conviction of selling girls into pre-arranged Eliza’s death to the course she is taking. Lucinda has no desire to leave the compound. DAUGHTER marriages and child endangerment. However, Eliza, watching Lucinda join the other women, realizes she cannot force her daughter to leave. She hopes according to reports from several news sources in Lucinda [loo-SIN-dah] soprano that she will see her daughter again, and pledges that she will always be waiting for her, and will always love 2012 and 2013, Jeffs continues to control FLDS her. Heartbroken, she walks away from the compound and into the unknown. Eliza's 15-year-old daughter who is promised to an old Adapted from Opera Philadelphia man; she criticizes her mother’s decision to leave followers (from jail) in Utah, Arizona, and Texas.