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Four Wives, One Husband: Polygamy in Utah (1999) | 60 Minutes Australia

60 Minutes Australia

43K views 7 months ago

Warm-up Questions

When you hear the title “Four Wives, One Husband,” what questions do you expect the video to answer?
What do you already know about polygamy in Utah?
What kinds of social or legal issues do you think might come up in a story like this?

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Four Wives, One Husband: Polygamy in Utah (1999) | 60 Minutes Australia

Life in plural marriage (introduced through two families) (00:00 – 03:55)

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1. What does the man say he calls all his wives so he won’t mix up their names?

“mate” and “pal”
“ma’am” and “miss”
“honey” and “babe”
“darling” and “sweetheart”

2. What practical challenge do the wives mention about living together?

They live in separate towns.
They have only one bathroom for four women.
They have no electricity.
They have no kitchen.

3. How does the first wife in the second family describe dealing with jealousy early on?

She says she moved away for a year.
She says she never felt jealous at all.
She says she spent a lot of time alone trying to deal with her feelings.
She says she demanded her husband stop polygamy.

Four Wives, One Husband: Polygamy in Utah (1999) | 60 Minutes Australia

History, breakaway groups, and criticism from former members (03:55 – 08:15)

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1. Why does the report say polygamy was officially dropped by the LDS Church in 1890?

Because the church stopped believing in families
As part of the price for Utah becoming a state
Because there were no more women in the territory
Because the federal government banned all marriage

2. What does one former member say polygamy is mainly about?

Control and power
Saving money and sharing work
Tradition and fashion
Romance and personal freedom

3. What problem does a former wife describe in the Kingston community regarding young men?

They can’t find wives because older men take them.
They are forced to leave school early.
They are required to marry outside the group.
They are not allowed to work.

Four Wives, One Husband: Polygamy in Utah (1999) | 60 Minutes Australia

Legality, sleeping arrangements, and contrasting views (08:15 – 11:35)

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1. In the eyes of the state, which marriages are legal according to the speaker?

Only the first one
None of them
Only the most recent one
All of them

2. What sleeping arrangement does the report describe in the household?

Each wife has her own house and never stays overnight.
The wives share rooms while the husband has his own room, and the wives use a roster.
The husband shares a room with all wives together.
Everyone sleeps in one large shared room.

3. What does the former member say influenced what she told the outside world?

She was paid by the community to speak publicly.
She wanted to become famous.
She didn’t understand English well.
She felt pressure to show what her husband wanted people to see.

Four Wives, One Husband: Polygamy in Utah (1999) | 60 Minutes Australia

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1. Which contrast does the video mainly emphasize?

Religious weddings vs. non-religious weddings in Australia
City life vs. farm life in Utah
Polygamy presented as happy and chosen vs. accounts describing coercion and harm
Modern technology vs. traditional technology

2. What is one major reason the topic becomes complicated legally and socially in the video?

Polygamy is required for all Americans
Utah has no marriage laws at all
Plural marriages are presented as religiously “lawful” but not recognized as legal by the state
The US Constitution bans all religions

3. What is one reason the report gives for why some polygamist groups become secretive?

They need to form breakaway churches and communities to continue the practice
They want to stop having children
They dislike living near mountains
They want to avoid taxes on farming

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Four Wives, One Husband: Polygamy in Utah (1999) | 60 Minutes Australia

The video includes both positive and negative accounts of polygamy. Which details did you find most convincing on each side, and why?
How should governments respond when a religious practice conflicts with law or human-rights concerns? Where should the line be?
What kinds of pressure (social, economic, emotional) might make it difficult for someone to leave a relationship or community?
If you were interviewing people on this topic, what follow-up questions would you ask to check whether participation is truly voluntary?