Father Persecuted for Belief in Polygamy

From the Salt Lake Tribune comes a story by Brooke Adams about a father who is being discriminated against.

Joseph Compton doesn't like the label "Fundamentalist Mormon." Instead, he prefers to describe himself as believing in "the gospel like Joseph Smith originally wrote it," which includes the religious tenet of plural marriage.

But that belief has put him outside the law, 4th District Judge Donald J. Eyre said in a ruling last fall that gave Kathleen Compton temporary custody of the couple's four minor children, who range in age from 5 to 16. They also have four adult children.

Eyre ordered Joseph Compton, 49, to not "discuss polygamy or plural marriage with the minor children, allow the children to be in close proximity to those [other than himself] who practice polygamy or plural marriage or who aid or abet those who do."

Eyre also barred Compton, a farmer, from taking the children within the incorporated boundaries of Rocky Ridge, a community located in Juab County. Many residents of the community are fundamentalists who practice plural marriage.

Outrageous. I’m glad he’s fighting this, and speaking up about it.

"You first have to come at this with the understanding that bigamy is a felony, and if you know anything about Rocky Ridge you'll understand that it is a well-known haven for bigamists," he said. "Polygamy is a felony and it is in the best interest of children to keep them away from that kind of conduct."

Keep the children away because it is against the law. But why it is against the law? Bigotry. I’m so glad younger generations embrace marriage equality. But we can’t wait. We need marriage equality now.