Deseret News | Daughter of polygamist writes of LDS women

Daughter of polygamist writes of LDS women

She hopes latest book clears up misperceptions

By Dennis Lythgoe
Deseret Morning News

Published: Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007 12:24 a.m. MDT

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Book review: "The Sisterhood: Inside the Lives of Mormon Women"

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As number 28 of 48 children fathered by polygamist and fundamentalist-sect leader Rulon Allred, Dorothy Allred Solomon has polygamy down cold.

In fact, she has written two books on the subject: "In My Father's House" (1984) and "Predators, Prey and Other Kinfolk: Growing Up in Polygamy" (2005).

Solomon's father was a homeopathic physician and chiropractor in Salt Lake City before becoming leader of the Apostolic United Brethren, a breakaway sect of so-called Mormon Fundamentalists in Utah, Colorado and Arizona. In 1977, he was murdered under orders of Ervil LeBaron, the head of a rival polygamous group.

However, Solomon left fundamentalism many years ago and lives a monogamous life as an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has a bachelor's degree in theater and a master's in literature and creative writing from the University of Utah.

At the invitation of Amanda Johnson Moon, an editor at Palgrave Macmillan in New York City, Solomon has written a new book with a much wider scope, "The Sisterhood: Inside the Lives of Mormon Women."

Because present-day Mormonism is often mistakenly associated with polygamy, which LDS Church President Wilford Woodruff renounced in 1890, Moon thought a book examining the lives of Mormon women today might clear up misconceptions and be of interest to the general public.

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During an interview in her Layton home, Solomon expressed satisfaction in the research that led to her new book. She had no way of reconciling the problems of her childhood with the history of the mainstream LDS Church. "I discovered how empowered women in early Mormonism were — to heal, speak and make decisions. Whereas, as a fundamentalist woman, my mother seemed to acquiesce all the time. She relegated most of her decisions to my father and even her sons."

In her work as a communication trainer, Solomon has learned that "people who take accountability for what they say and do are much more effective. They can make things happen, and therefore they are happy. Accountability is so basic to the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Solomon wanted to write about the roots of Mormon women who impressed her, such as Eliza R. Snow, who compiled the LDS Church's first hymn book, and Zina Young. "I wanted to claim my heritage, so I wrote the book for the lay person outside the LDS Church.

"I wanted to make it clear that the LDS Church does not promote polygamy. Yet polygamy was a good thing while it lasted and did what it was designed to do. Today we have the fastest-growing American religion on the planet."

She is also convinced that Mormon women "are not downtrodden, brainless, weak or incapable. I was also attempting to speak to the feminists of the world and even in the church. I'm not a nonfeminist, but I'm committed to partnership — the roles men and women play. I think it's wonderful that women get to stay home and raise their children."