Dorothy Allred Solomon
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Allred was born to Mormon fundamentalist leader Rulon C. Allred
and his fourth plural wife
. She was the 28th of her father's 48 children. In 1977, her father was murder
ed by agents of rival polygamist leader Ervil LeBaron
.
In her memoirs, Allred is open about and critical of the many problems posed by polygamy as practiced by fundamentalist Mormon sects. These problems include the secrecy that necessitated lying to friends and neighbors about their father, constant poverty, jealousy among wives and siblings, an inability to have an emotionally healthy father-child relationship, severe sexual repression, violent schisms both from internal and external rivals to leadership, and other issues rarely encountered in monogamy. In the same memoirs she makes very clear that she had great love and respect for her father, a complex man who was as honorable as his patriarchal position allowed and whose sincerity of belief she never doubted.
As an adult, Dorothy Allred broke with her father's group, the Apostolic United Brethren
, and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which officially renounced
polygamy in 1890. She entered into a monogamous marriage and was educated at the University of Utah
. Unlike the experience of many apostates from polygamous communities and sects, she did continue a relationship with her parents and many members of her extended family, who continued to accept her as their daughter in spite of their disapproval of her membership in the mainstream LDS church.
Solomon is the author of five books, including three that describe aspects of her life growing up in fundamentalist Mormon polygamy. She is active in Utah's movement to educate people about polygamy and has been a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show, Larry King Live
, Hannity and Colmes, and other talk and news programs. She has also written a screenplay based upon her childhood.
Dorothy Allred Solomon lives with her husband and family in Layton, Utah
.
Rulon C. Allred
Rulon Clark Allred was a homeopathic physician and chiropractor in Salt Lake City and the leader of what is now the Apostolic United Brethren, a breakaway sect of polygamous Mormon fundamentalists in Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, United States...
and his fourth plural wife
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
. She was the 28th of her father's 48 children. In 1977, her father was murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ed by agents of rival polygamist leader Ervil LeBaron
Ervil LeBaron
Ervil Morrell LeBaron was the leader of a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist group who ordered the killings of many of his opponents, using the religious doctrine of blood atonement to justify the murders...
.
In her memoirs, Allred is open about and critical of the many problems posed by polygamy as practiced by fundamentalist Mormon sects. These problems include the secrecy that necessitated lying to friends and neighbors about their father, constant poverty, jealousy among wives and siblings, an inability to have an emotionally healthy father-child relationship, severe sexual repression, violent schisms both from internal and external rivals to leadership, and other issues rarely encountered in monogamy. In the same memoirs she makes very clear that she had great love and respect for her father, a complex man who was as honorable as his patriarchal position allowed and whose sincerity of belief she never doubted.
As an adult, Dorothy Allred broke with her father's group, the Apostolic United Brethren
Apostolic United Brethren
The Apostolic United Brethren is a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist church within the Latter Day Saint movement. The sect is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which officially renounced
1890 Manifesto
The "1890 Manifesto", sometimes simply called "The Manifesto", is a statement which officially disavowed the continuing practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
polygamy in 1890. She entered into a monogamous marriage and was educated at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. Unlike the experience of many apostates from polygamous communities and sects, she did continue a relationship with her parents and many members of her extended family, who continued to accept her as their daughter in spite of their disapproval of her membership in the mainstream LDS church.
Solomon is the author of five books, including three that describe aspects of her life growing up in fundamentalist Mormon polygamy. She is active in Utah's movement to educate people about polygamy and has been a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show, Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
, Hannity and Colmes, and other talk and news programs. She has also written a screenplay based upon her childhood.
Dorothy Allred Solomon lives with her husband and family in Layton, Utah
Layton, Utah
-External links:*...
.
Publications
- (1984). In My Father's House: An Autobiography of Dorothy Allred Solomon (New York: Franklin Watts, ISBN 0531097633)
- (1984). Inside Out: Creative Writing in the Classroom (Salt Lake City: Utah Arts CouncilUtah Arts CouncilThe Utah Division of Arts & Museums is an agency of the state government of Utah, responsible for the promotion of the arts and Utah museums. It is a division of the Utah Department of Community and Culture...
) - (2003). Predators, Prey, and Other Kinfolk: Growing Up in Polygamy (New York: W. W. Norton, ISBN 0393049469)
- (2004). Daughter of the Saints: Growing Up In Polygamy (New York: W. W Norton, ISBN 0393325776)
- "Very Big Love", Marie ClaireMarie ClaireMarie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
, 2007-11-15 - (2008). The Sisterhood: Inside the Lives of Mormon Women (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0230607861)
External links
- Dorothy Allred Solomon : official webpage