Utah woman defends polygamy in B.C. court - (good history lesson here)

There is much history and insight in this article. First off, a brief glimpse into the founding of Tapestry Against Polygamy - read closely :)

Second - the backstory: Anti-Polygamists from the USA were asked to testify in the Canadian trial, and only, as it was almost too late, were pro-polygamists invited. A Big Thanks needs to go out to Mary and Principle Voices for their continued perseverance.
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http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Utah+woman+defends+polygamy+court/41...

Mary Batchelor is a former polygamist wife who has formed a group which educates others about polygamy. She is a witness in the polygamy trial currently underway at B.C. Supreme Court.
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VANCOUVER — A Utah woman who describes herself as a former polygamist says she would be happy to enter into another plural marriage if the opportunity arose.

Testifying Thursday before the B.C. court that's weighing Canada's anti-polygamy law, Mary Batchelor said she was in a plural marriage for three years.

A mother of seven, she said she was the second wife to her husband at the time she entered into a "religious covenant" with him in 1989.

She said she was 20 years old when she first married, three days shy of her 21st birthday.

She told B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Bauman that she had some "very good times, some very positive times" during the polygamous marriage.

She also had some "very challenging times" when the first wife had an affair and left, she said.

"It was especially hard when the marriage broke down and there was a loss of trust," she testified.

The first wife, Victoria Prunty, became a third wife in another polygamous marriage before becoming a spokeswoman for a group called Tapestry Against Polygamy, which opposes plural marriage, the court heard.

Despite the divorce of the first wife, Bauman said she hopes to re-marry into a polygamous relationship.

"I do hope to be able to live in a plural marriage again. It would be wonderful if I could do it without a law against it. When that plural marriage ended, it broke my heart."

Batchelor was a witness called by lawyer George Macintosh, who was appointed by the court to represent parties that are in favour of polygamy.

Asked by Macintosh what role plural marriage plays her in religious beliefs, she replied that she couldn't reach her "full potential" as a person without it.

"Plural marriage is a very vital and intricate part of my belief system."

Polygamy is banned in Utah.

As a result, Batchelor said she was "very frightened" about entering a plural marriage but decided to go ahead because she believed it was the right thing to do.

While court has heard evidence of polygamous men marrying brides in their early teens, Batchelor said she is not in favour of underage marriage.

She also does not agree with arranged marriages, a practice that occurs in some polygamous communities.

"I don't practice it, I don't believe in it, I don't accept it."

The judge in the test case has been asked to determine whether Canada's anti-polygamy law is constitutional. The issue was referred to him after Winston Blackmore and James Oler, two religious leaders in the polygamous community of Bountiful, B.C., had their polygamy charges stayed in 2009.

The case is to resume Tuesday.