April 19, 2005

Hi, my name is Zelpha. I was 20 years old when I got married. I’ve lived in Bountiful for the past ten years. The first thing I’d like to do is take a moment and thank so many of you in the Creston Valley for looking at us with an open mind. You are an awesome community. There are so many of you who have reached out and made an effort to make us feel accepted for who we are. Thank you so much.

Does polygamy promote a closed society? No, it does not. Have we been a closed community? Yes, somewhat. But only because we have been happy and content with ourselves. It is no secret that our ancestors have been persecuted, ridiculed, and imprisoned for practicing their fundamental beliefs. So, yes, there has been a fear of speaking out. Almost everyone in the community who has dealt with the media has had the experience of having their words misunderstood, edited, or intentionally misquoted. By the time it gets to the press, there is a saying that “silence cannot be misquoted.” However, we have now come to find out that “silence can be misunderstood.” We do feel now that it is our responsibility to come forth and let the truth be known about our unique culture and society.

Polygamy does not promote secrecy. We have nothing to hide. We are what you see. There are no high fences around my home. I am not ashamed to acknowledge my sister-wives in public. I am not embarrassed by all the little children that call me mother, and I’m not afraid to be seen with my husband. I also do not have a problem answering questions or explaining my culture to a curious onlooker, but I do have a problem speaking to people who are not interested in hearing the truth, or who’s only intent is to ridicule and embarrass me and to mock everything that I hold sacred and precious. I am a very sensitive person, and do not wish to be hurt. I appreciate all the people who are concerned for the well being of the women and children of Bountiful, and admire you for wanting us to have what you have, for wanting us women to be given the same opportunities that you have. This just shows to me what a great country we live in. How grand it is that we care for each other.

Everyone fears the unknown, so I can understand why people fear our culture and society. To tell you the truth if you want to know about me, please come talk to me as a friend with an open mind. A lot of negative publicity has hurt a lot of our women and children, but for me it has only lit a fire that has made me more aware of why I made the choice I made to carry on with my fundamental beliefs.

I get so involved in my busy life that I often take for granted all the advantages that my life style offers me. I love the fact that my girls and I only have to cook and clean in the kitchen twice a week, that when I need to run to town there is someone at home whom my children love and trust to care for them. Or when I’m feeling ill, I have a wonderful family who will administer to my needs and also to my children’s. When we wives want to go and have a party anytime of the day or night we can go do it. Most of all to know that I’m not the only one who cares about me. Polygamy is a team of players who care for each other.

At first I chose this lifestyle because my parents lived this way of life, and they have always seemed happy to me. I loved having thirty brothers and sisters, we had a wonderful life. Our father taught us how to work together to survive, and taught us how to play together to enjoy life. I can proudly say my father’s family never used any extra government assistance in raising his family. My father had a family business where we all worked together to support each other.

Going through this experience of being publicly ridiculed has only given me a greater appreciation for all the people of the world who have had to fight for their identity. It has also given me courage to realize the importance for me to come forward, defend and tell the truth about our culture, and why I have chosen to pursue this lifestyle. I would like to say that from this time on we, the women of our community will be silent no more.