Living in Alaska was an eye opening experience for me. 

And quite the culture shock. It’s when I first realized how ignorant some people were.

I worked on a zip line for Alaska Canopy Adventures, now known as Kawanti Adventures. (If you ever go to Ketchikan, Alaska, do this tour. I can genuinely say it’s one of the top three best tours on the Island.) And was able to meet a variety of people from all over the world. 

On tour you typically get to know your group and your group get’s to know you. One of the first questions always asked is “Where are you from?” to which I always answered, “Utah”. The second question was always, “Oh, are you Mormon?” To which I always answered “Yeup!” But one unusual day a woman with no hint of a joke asked in hushed tones “How did you get away from your father and escape the compound…?”

I honestly had no idea what to say and ended up saying, “My dad basically begged me to move out of his house.” It was one of the more bizarre questions I’ve ever been asked.

All I can say is, I’m grateful people actually said stuff like this out loud to me because it gave me the chance to truly educate them on the facts. Thus begins your education!

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints do not live in compounds.

They do not practice polygamy, fathers are not domineering, and if you know Mormon’s who live like this, that’s a personality issue, not an approved teaching. Because if you take time to research the teachings of the head men and women of the Church, they’ll all agree with me. Men are taught not to be overbearing, and bossy but are taught to be loving, kind, patient, and helpful. If you know men who aren’t like this, then they’re not doing it right.

Here is a scriptural reference from the Doctrine and Covenants Section 121 proving that men are taught to be kind.

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile

So if you know men in the Church who you could classify as turds, then you know they probably have a lot of issues. 

Now let’s tackle the second half of this woman’s compound comment…

If you know Mormons who live in a compound, either they have a really tight family or they’re just really weird. And if you know Mormons who have many wives and all that generic crap, they’re probably not Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints…

However, do live by these ideals and of course, as with most things, the general public only hears and thus believes the bad stuff. Such as the polygamist compound stereotype. 

The late Prophet, Gordon B Hinkley said

I wish to state categorically that this Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of this Church.

Another leader of the Church, Elder M. Russel Ballard said in 2011

Let me state clearly that no polygamist group, including those calling themselves fundamentalist Mormons or other derivatives of our name, has any affiliation whatsoever with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

That’s the main difference I want people, like this woman to remember. That despite the variety of other branches of the Church, they are not affiliated with it in any way. People who practice polygamy are excommunicated from the Church. 

It’s important to give each person the ability to be their own person. 

To let them act, chose and think for themselves because that’s something we are all given. Even if you know a man who’s a bit overbearing, that could be a personality flaw. If he’s using his authority to dominate people, that’s a character weakness and something he has to overcome.

If you know of a polygamy compound, that’s their illegal choice (and they are most definitely not one of us) so maybe report it and remember that Mormons like me and every other Mormon I know, is a person like you. Just with a differing belief system. 

Further information:

On overbearing men:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2011/06/youth/doctrine-and-covenants-121-41-43?lang=eng

On compounds and Polygamy

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/-mormon-fundamentalists:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2011/10/the-importance-of-a-name?lang=eng