Three Wives One Husband

[smurfchops]

Fascinating series, one man had two wives and 17 children, all well dressed, nice clean homes, plenty of food. But what do these husbands do for a living to feed their growing families?

[EDDIE51]

With Two wives and 17 kids he would be daft to work, benefits would pay more than any job!

[EDDIE51]

On second thoughts with 3 wives and 17 kids he must be a precision grinder !

[Old_Geezer]

The obvious occupation is surely pimp ?

[ladybirder]

Smurf I've been watching this series and wondering the same as you. Living way out in the Utah desert in a community of Fundamentalist Mormons, growing their own food, begs the question what the heck can they be doing to earn a living. We didn't get given the idea that the men worked from home in any capacity and yet they all looked well dressed and didn't seem to go short of anything as you have said yourself. I might go on the Ch4 website and see if I can find the answer.

[EDDIE51]

^ if it's the Utah mormons they grow or make everything themselves,food is farmed , harvested , prepared and cooked.
They weave their own cloth and even produce leather to make shoes and other items. They are 100% self supporting they are 'off grid' so no electricity except a wind turbine, no mains water or sewage system.
Human waste is recycled as fertiliser for crops, by using 'composting toilets'.
They are not allowed newspapers,phones , radio or TV.

[EDDIE51]

ladybirder They don't work as they don't need to . As I said they are 100% self supporting, they have little contact with the outside world.
Most of them do not even have money or any need for it as everything is produced or made 'in house'. The elders have access to money for things like paying state tax. Other 'non closed' denominations of the mormon church make donations to them in the same way the church supports Monks or Nuns.

[pastafreak]

This group had quite modern,up to date homes with all mod cons. The women and children were well dressed in what looked to be shop bought clothing,the wives wore make up..They made regular trips to superstores for groceries. Apparently this group is not recognised by the official Mormon church.

[naomi24]

I haven’t watched much of this series, but the first episode mentioned, very briefly, that the husband earns a living by building homes for newcomers. The rest, I presume, are otherwise employed.

Eddie, I think you’re confusing these people, who call themselves Mormons, with Mennonites and Amish.

[mikey4444]

Why isn't this sort of thing called bigamy ?

It seems to me that all you have to do to avoid prosecution is just say that you are a Member of a religion !

[naomi24]

Mikey, these people are 'married' by ministers who don't have the authority to perform legitimate ceremonies. Therefore they aren't legally married - therefore they are not bigamists.

[Jackdaw33]

They don't go through a 'recognised' wedding ceremony so technically they are not bigamists.

[naomi24]

I'll add to my last post. The same for Muslim men who marry multiple wives in Muslim ceremonies in countries where bigamy is illegal. Their marriages aren't legally recognised either - even if they marry only one woman.

[Jackdaw33]

In England all religious weddings must be observed by a registrar, except those in the C of E whose priests are authorised by law to act in that capacity by virtue of being the established church.