Canadian Polygamy Court Case

Tomorrow, the Canadian court case will resume with testimony from FLDS women about polygamy and their lives in the FLDS.

Alina Darger and I testified last week, as Independent Fundamentalist Mormons. Many people do not understand what that means. I saw one blogger refer to me as an Independent FLDS. I have never been FLDS, but I was baptized a member of the LDS Church as a child, and later became an Independent Fundamentalist Mormon. To clarify some confusion over the different Mormon factions, please refer to the following:

Quick facts:

1 - LDS - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as "Mormons"). Founded by Joseph Smith, who practiced polygamy; church no longer practices polygamy but it is still part of Mormon theology (LDS men can be sealed to a second wife for eternity upon the death of a first wife).
2 - Fundamentalist Mormon - NOT SYNONYMOUS with "FLDS". "Mormon" in this context does not mean a member of the LDS Church, but refers to a believe in "Mormon" theology. Some Fundamentalist Mormons have been excommunicated from the LDS Church because of their belief in and practice of polygamy. "Fundamentalist Mormon" is an umbrella term that encompasses different kinds of groups/churches and have a shared belief in early Mormonism. Fundamentalist Mormons do not all believe the same or have the same practices; there are many different interpretations of early Mormon believes and some practices that are distinct from group to group or individual to individual. Additionally, there is some variation of belief/practice within a particular group/church. Some Fundamentalist Mormon groups: AUB (Apostolic United Brethren), Centennial Park, DCCS (Kingston community), FLDS, Nielsen/Naylor. Fundamentalist Mormons not part of a group: Independents
An example: "Christian" - Many different kinds of Christians: Episcopal, Baptist, Lutheran, Protestant, Catholic, with some variation and differences in belief and some common/shared belief.
3 - FLDS - Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints - Not affiliated with the LDS Church. The FLDS Church was organized in 1991 after a split with individuals who organized a neighboring community to Hildale, Utah & Colorado City, AZ, called Centennial Park.
4. Independent Fundamentalist Mormon - An "Independent" is someone who is not affiliated with a polygamous group or church, has no leader or "prophet",
5. Alina Darger, Mary Batchelor - "Independent Fundamentalist Mormons". Alina testified she is part of a plural family and loves her sister wives. She was 20 when she got married. Mary was not raised in a plural family but by LDS parents with Fundamentalist Mormon leanings, and was baptized into the LDS Church and allowed to attend if she wished, which she did occasionally with her LDS maternal grandparents, LDS neighbors, and later with friends while attending college. Mary became a second wife at the age of 20 (3 days shy of 21) and lived polygamously for 3 years until the other wife left the relationship. Mary has continued in monogamy for 18 years, for a total of 21 years.

Here are some articles about the testimony:

Utah Woman Defends Polygamy in B.C. Court
Polygamy Law was Greatest Fear for Plural Wife
Happily Married Wife Testifies Polygamy is 'Really Amazing'
Wife Delights in the Closeness of her Polygamist Family, Court told
Utah Mother Drops Anonymity, Testifies Abt 'Amazing' Experience of Plural Families

For a more in-depth explanation of the various factions of Mormonism, check out the book, Scattering of the Saints: Schism within Mormonism