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About Me
- Moroni Jessop
- Moroni lived as a Mormon polygamist for thirteen years. He lives in rural Arizona with his wife, along with children from his two marriages. Moroni has tried to change people's perception of plural marriage as a valid lifestyle choice for consenting adults. Moroni blogs about his lifestyle choice, religion, movies, music and books. He is NOT FLDS, does NOT believe in underage or arranged marriages, and he does not condone the abuse and mistreatment of women and children in polygamy. He believes that - if lived properly - it can be a rewarding and dignified lifestyle for husbands, wives and children. Moroni and his family have been featured on C4 in England and M6 in France. In the USA, they have appeared on programs on TLC and the History Channel. He has also been a guest on NPR and has appeared on many podcasts including Year of Polygamy. Moroni speaks Spanish, French and Italian. He is currently working on several books - works of fiction, and also a book about his lifestyle.
3 comments:
If Moroni's family were spokespersons for polygamists, I don't think anyone in the world could object to this controversial practice. Despite the general negative tone of the program, Moroni's segment was surprisingly positive.
Although the media are very good at twisting the truth by the selection of the words they use or by editing their footage to suit their agenda, it would have been really difficult to malign Moroni's family's segment.
Moroni is so well-spoken, and he comes across as a regular guy (but make this a really nice guy), a family man, and his love for his family shines through. It would have been close to impossible for the producers to make him appear as a dark figure. Moroni also knows how to mix honesty with humor (as when he talks about Mormons having many kids in order to reign over the world. That made me laugh out loud and think "Way to go, Moroni!") Oh, and as a French native speakers, and a French teacher in a good British private school, I have to congratulate him for his command of French. I wish my students' pronunciation was as good as his!
Martha and Temple have nothing to envy their husband in terms of eloquence. In the segment they came across as very confident women. They spoke openly about their love and commitment for their family and the Gospel. The words they used and the manner they delivered those words were inspiring and edifying. Many church leaders (and spokespersons) could (and maybe should) learn of them. I know I have a lot to learn before I can be this articulate about what is so close to my heart (let alone in front of a camera). I was really impressed how even when they didn't say a word, their presence was strong, like those actors who can steal a scene without uttering a word. Not that these women are actors. You cannot fake that honesty.
As for the kids, as a teacher who has experience in both the private and the state sector (and worked in some deprived areas), I can only congratulate their parents. Like them they were open, spoke honestly, looked confident and well-balanced. They obviously feel loved like every child deserves to feel but that unfortunately many do not.
Congratulations to you all. My sister in France (who's not a Mormon) was impressed by Moroni's family. I am so glad they included this segment in a program that was so depressing.
(To be continued)
(Part 2)
After the light-hearted polyamorous Canadian threesome that would have made smile some people (but didn't do me, even though I respect their choice), the program focused on desperate Muslim women in France, who were victims (and happened to be victims in a polygamous marriage). I did feel sorry for them, and I hope they will find a way to get out of their miserable existence and find happiness.
I felt so sorry for those women. However, unlike French politicians, social workers, and, I assume, the general public, I am opposed to the ban on polygamy. I feel sorry for women everywhere who are abused (in any ways) by their lawful husband and hope they can all find a way to get out of their toxic marriage, but I would not wish to outlaw marriage altogether. Yet this is exactly what anti-polygamists suggest.
The treatment of the FLDS was also very negative. The Muslim faith was not criticised, yet when it came to the FLDS, the program used derogatory words, such as "secte", which in French is a strong word and actually means "cult" with a "guru" that has "une emprise mentale absolue sur les adeptes de la secte" (an absolute control over the minds of the cult's followers). I am no FLDS expert, but when the young girl says she loves Warren Jeffs, did the producers need to turn her into a lobotomized cult victim? Why not say the same when a young Catholic says she loves the Pope? Why not say that that big cult has an absolute control over the minds of their followers for professing such a love?
The French are funny like that. Funny also that the mayor of that city acknowledged that the ban on polygamy would force those families previously legally married in Africa to repudiate their wives and turn them into mistresses. It is, after all, a country where they tolerate Presidents (and every man who is discreet enough) to have mistresses. Just don't commit to them, and expect to be a criminal if you marry more than one woman.
The program also said it was the first time a Fundamentalist Mormon opened his doors to the cameras. Err, not exactly, but go ahead M6, take the credit for being the first program to show us the world of Mormon polygamy. Oh, and a man does not need plural wives to go to Heaven. Maybe he does to go much higher, but that's another story.
To conclude, this program showed some threesome in Canada, some very sad situations in the Muslim community, some intolerant French people, and some exaggerated portrayal of the FLDS, all making this program a negative one, until Moroni's family saved the day.
Merci!
In my edition of the footage, this story ends with the beautiful Arizona sunset.
Thanks for your kind words!
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