For some of us, this all goes deeper than merely desiring polygyny. I'm sure others can relate in their own way. A few recent conversations have motivated me to share just how special discovering plural marriage was for me. I'm hoping others will share their stories in this thread or start their own 
I wouldn't say I really grew up in the church or in a religious household. My parents would occasionally take us to a Baptist church, but that was the extent of it. When I was around seven years old, I moved in mostly full-time with my grandmother, who was not particularly religious. Other relatives lived there with us as well; they were super outspoken, confrontational atheists. So you can imagine their disapproval when, in my teens, I became best friends with a girl whose family was religious, and I began attending various church functions with them.
Shortly after attending church, we (my friend and I) realized that the majority of the church leaders had a laundry list of things they regarded as "sinful." Usually while participating in those very same things themselves. I wasn't being judgmental, and I certainly didn't expect perfection from anyone, at the same time, I grew tired of being treated harshly and having accusations thrown my way over minor teenage grievances such as clothing, music, and makeup choices. Especially while the people making these accusations were participating in far worse things themselves. Church became very unappealing to me, and I stopped attending. I wouldn't say I lost faith in God, but I lost faith in people. I became one of those "I don't need the church or the Bible to have a relationship with God" sort of people. It never occurred to me until later on just how wrong I was or how badly I needed scripture.
Going forward 10 years or so, I was in a dark, depressing place in my life. I was my grandmother's caregiver, she was slowly dying from cancer. I felt lost and hopeless because the woman who had raised me when she didn't have to, the woman I considered my mother, was going to be leaving me. I'd been so blessed to have her in my life; she took care of me when my parents couldn't, and I couldn't bear the thought that my baby niece would grow up without having a woman like my grandmother in her life. I was doubting God, I was angry, sad, and lost.
During this time my grandmother loved to watch TV, and one night she found this show called "Sister Wives" (with the Mormons from Utah). We began binge-watching it and gossiping about it (she couldn't speak well at the time, but we were still able to share some great moments and laughs). Prior to seeing the show, I don't think I'd ever even heard the term "polygamy," and I'd never once considered sharing a husband. I honestly expected myself to feel offended by the idea, but for some strange reason I didn't feel that way...I noticed that the husband wasn't some pervert like I expected. The wives weren't abused, and the children seemed happy and well adjusted. They were by no means the perfect family, but who is? I saw a lot of good in their family and the lifestyle they lived. I just couldn't bring myself to feel as outraged about their lifestyle as the people around me were insisting I should be.
My grandmother passed away not long after. Years went by, and I was basically ignoring God at this point. One night I happened to turn on the TV and see a Sister Wives rerun. In this episode, one of Kody's friends told him he was "going to hell for living plural marriage." One of Kody's wives responded, "Are you serious??? Do I need to get out my Bible?" This prompted me to research if polygamy was actually mentioned in the Bible to begin with. Was this family really going to hell? Up until this point, the only knowledge I had of the Bible or being a Christian had been taught to me by the church.
I began reading scripture for myself, and I soon realized that polygamy was just another one of the so-called "sins" I had been misinformed about by the church. In church, when I'd been told Bible stories, the plural wives part had been conveniently left out. I was actually shocked to read about polygamists in scripture. The moment when Hagar was told to return home, also promising to bless her. I realized just how ignorant I'd been all along. I slowly began the journey of unlearning and relearning nearly everything I'd been taught.
It was no longer just about being curious if polygyny was sinful. I learned the value of reading scripture for myself. I had the desire to learn more about what scripture really says. And for once I began to truly care about what God expected of me, not about what I expected from him. I felt a desire to be in submission to him. I felt the most at peace I'd ever felt in my life.
Several years ago, I had this forum recommended to me by a married couple I met online and also discovered some of Pete Rambo's videos. Despite me disagreeing with the majority of people here on various topics. This forum has truly been a blessing. I've never met a group of people who are more determined to seek biblical truth. That's very inspiring. I'm still learning, always will be, but I hope to one day have even a fraction of the knowledge that some of the people here have regarding scripture.
I'm so thankful that polygyny opened the door for me to have the true, deep, and meaningful relationship with Christ that I'd always wanted.
I wouldn't say I really grew up in the church or in a religious household. My parents would occasionally take us to a Baptist church, but that was the extent of it. When I was around seven years old, I moved in mostly full-time with my grandmother, who was not particularly religious. Other relatives lived there with us as well; they were super outspoken, confrontational atheists. So you can imagine their disapproval when, in my teens, I became best friends with a girl whose family was religious, and I began attending various church functions with them.
Shortly after attending church, we (my friend and I) realized that the majority of the church leaders had a laundry list of things they regarded as "sinful." Usually while participating in those very same things themselves. I wasn't being judgmental, and I certainly didn't expect perfection from anyone, at the same time, I grew tired of being treated harshly and having accusations thrown my way over minor teenage grievances such as clothing, music, and makeup choices. Especially while the people making these accusations were participating in far worse things themselves. Church became very unappealing to me, and I stopped attending. I wouldn't say I lost faith in God, but I lost faith in people. I became one of those "I don't need the church or the Bible to have a relationship with God" sort of people. It never occurred to me until later on just how wrong I was or how badly I needed scripture.
Going forward 10 years or so, I was in a dark, depressing place in my life. I was my grandmother's caregiver, she was slowly dying from cancer. I felt lost and hopeless because the woman who had raised me when she didn't have to, the woman I considered my mother, was going to be leaving me. I'd been so blessed to have her in my life; she took care of me when my parents couldn't, and I couldn't bear the thought that my baby niece would grow up without having a woman like my grandmother in her life. I was doubting God, I was angry, sad, and lost.
During this time my grandmother loved to watch TV, and one night she found this show called "Sister Wives" (with the Mormons from Utah). We began binge-watching it and gossiping about it (she couldn't speak well at the time, but we were still able to share some great moments and laughs). Prior to seeing the show, I don't think I'd ever even heard the term "polygamy," and I'd never once considered sharing a husband. I honestly expected myself to feel offended by the idea, but for some strange reason I didn't feel that way...I noticed that the husband wasn't some pervert like I expected. The wives weren't abused, and the children seemed happy and well adjusted. They were by no means the perfect family, but who is? I saw a lot of good in their family and the lifestyle they lived. I just couldn't bring myself to feel as outraged about their lifestyle as the people around me were insisting I should be.
My grandmother passed away not long after. Years went by, and I was basically ignoring God at this point. One night I happened to turn on the TV and see a Sister Wives rerun. In this episode, one of Kody's friends told him he was "going to hell for living plural marriage." One of Kody's wives responded, "Are you serious??? Do I need to get out my Bible?" This prompted me to research if polygamy was actually mentioned in the Bible to begin with. Was this family really going to hell? Up until this point, the only knowledge I had of the Bible or being a Christian had been taught to me by the church.
I began reading scripture for myself, and I soon realized that polygamy was just another one of the so-called "sins" I had been misinformed about by the church. In church, when I'd been told Bible stories, the plural wives part had been conveniently left out. I was actually shocked to read about polygamists in scripture. The moment when Hagar was told to return home, also promising to bless her. I realized just how ignorant I'd been all along. I slowly began the journey of unlearning and relearning nearly everything I'd been taught.
It was no longer just about being curious if polygyny was sinful. I learned the value of reading scripture for myself. I had the desire to learn more about what scripture really says. And for once I began to truly care about what God expected of me, not about what I expected from him. I felt a desire to be in submission to him. I felt the most at peace I'd ever felt in my life.
Several years ago, I had this forum recommended to me by a married couple I met online and also discovered some of Pete Rambo's videos. Despite me disagreeing with the majority of people here on various topics. This forum has truly been a blessing. I've never met a group of people who are more determined to seek biblical truth. That's very inspiring. I'm still learning, always will be, but I hope to one day have even a fraction of the knowledge that some of the people here have regarding scripture.
I'm so thankful that polygyny opened the door for me to have the true, deep, and meaningful relationship with Christ that I'd always wanted.
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