Moroni Jessop corresponds with Mike Watkiss - Polygamy in Arizona

Note: We here at 4thefamily would like to thank Moroni Jessop for the following:

http://www.azfamily.com/

Mike,

I wanted to share a few additional comments with you in regard to your story about my former sister-in-law Sarine Jessop. I sort of feel that the camera stole my eloquence.

I know that generally your stories in the Polygamy Diaries deal with the negative aspects of polygamy, but, as you know, there are more moderate voices out there who: a) support polygamy and b) do not want to tolerate abuse. I am chagrined that my voice is coming into this in connection to a case that is associated with someone close to me being accused of things that I have always spoken against.

It is undeniable that there are many cases in plural marriage where some have had to suffer abuses due to this lifestyle. But those that insist that abuse is inherent in polygamy are wrong. This assumption is unscientific and not researched. (For more info, see "Contemporary Polygamous Families in Modern Society" by Dr. Irwin Altman & Dr. Joseph Ginat, a book that concludes that abuse & dysfunction occur in no greater rate in polygamous families than they do in monogamous families.)

Those in this lifestyle who have had to suffer have done so because of the secrecy that I mentioned. This secrecy has been created because polygamy is illegal and has been forced underground. The secrecy has bred a culture that has thrived out of the public eye and allowed the abuses of men with power agendas. If consenting adults were allowed to live this lifestyle out in the open and with dignity, there would be no shadows in which vile men could take child brides or force women into a situation that they do not want to be in. I do not believe nor advocate that polygamy should ever be legalized. But it would be nice to live in a world where people like me could be out in the open without fear of recrimination or having our children yanked away from us.

I was a staunch supporter of the Child Bigamy Law that was passed by the legislature a couple of years ago. The thought of any man who wants to marry children sickens me. I have a fourteen year-old daughter, and I would kick the ass of any man who would even think of taking her as a wife. I would never force any marriage, plural or otherwise, on her.

I don’t know much about the law that is before the legislature now. I hate abuse of any form and support anything that would help minimize abuse in the polygamous society, or in general society. There are some concerns however. Who will define what abuse is? Will simply teaching my children about polygamy be construed as abuse? It is also unsettling that one section of the population is being targeted in this bill.

I fear the extremists. I fear the extremists who advocate evil practices in the name of religion or polygamy. I fear the extremists that believe that the children of any polygamist parent should be taken out of the home and never returned.

Sadly, Sarine was always an extremist. It is so funny that she is in the situation that she is now, going to the press against polygamy, when she was the woman who was the staunchest supporter of the principle in our community. She was an utter fanatic. She wouldn’t let her kids eat candy, watch movies or listen to rock music. Everything was wicked and evil to her, and she considered me to be an overly permissive parent. She was the type who would quote the Bible for every circumstance to the point that even many of the women in our community considered her kind of weird.

Now, my brother was certainly not perfect. He may be guilty of having a bad marriage and making some poor choices, but he is certainly not guilty of the atrocities she has accused him of.

Anyway, Mike, feel free to contact me any time for information and not just about this case, but in regard to polygamy in general. I am somewhat of an amateur historian and know the history of Mormon polygamy in Arizona quite well. I am always willing to provide insights, and, as your research continues, I think that insight might be valuable to you. Maybe it would be different to get the viewpoints of someone who is a liberal-minded and yet a supporter of polygamy. In addition to some of the staunch anti-polygamists who have provided you with information, I am someone who has my pulse on the polygamy community and could provide you the chance to do some balanced reporting.

All the best,

Moroni Jessop

Here is the link to the original video.
http://www.azfamily.com/video/index.html?nvid=219679&shu=1

Note: Mike Watkiss has been a report in Arizona for many years covering polygamy. Most of the reports are negative although many years ago he did a few interviews with the Alex Joseph family that were positive.