Q. I was shocked to hear about the recent attempt by a member of one of the larger polygamy ministries to smear your name, reveal your identity, and try to discredit the marvelous work you are doing at HEM. What could their motive possibly be?

As far as HEM is concerned, the reasons could be many. We simply want to move on and leave the muck-rakers to dig their own graves. A respected and influential member of the Christian Polygamy Movement wrote the following in commenting on this attack which I think summarises the matter well:

I smell a rat. First of all, why would anyone spend so much time and money to research all they say they've researched? What vested interest do they have in whether or not you are all you say you are? Does their bank account decrease because a fact or two on your site may not be 100% what THEY THINK IT SHOULD BE? Yes, someone big is behind it. And what is behind them (motive?) is the same as it has always been: money or power. And, when it gets right down to it, only power matters, for someone with real 'power' in the world can either get money or they don't need to money to get what they want because of their power.

I shudder to think that this is all over who was first [to start the modern Christian Polygamy ministry - Ed.]. Kinda' reminds me of the beginning of 1 Corinthians. Paul, Apollos, Cephas! What is important is the solid foundation of Christ.

I don't want to judge or speculate, but nothing good can come of this to keep it going. Ignore it (I know how hard it is to ignore personal attacks -- I've had my share of them!) as best you can. Cream rises, hope floats, and the meek shall inherit the earth!

The NCCG.ORG Webmaster issued a brief statement on the accusations levelled against both NCCG.ORG and HEM (then FICP), and then closed the matter. But thank you for your concern. With the exception of our proper names and addresses, and such information as may lead to uncovering these, we are open and unfront about everything and everyone on this ministry.

As an addendum to the statement issued above, our critic has accused this sub-site of being a complete fake, saying that I have no plural wives and that my second wife was never reconciled to me. Those who have met my family in the flesh, talked with them on the telephone, or become acquainted with them through long chats, etc., will be able to verify the truth of all that I have written about them. I suspect, though, that our accuser is only interested in my family standing forward in order to dishonour our request to maintain anonymity. That this man is prying into the personal lives of ministers from the various NCCG.ORG ministries says something about his spiritual state.

We take the sound advice of Paul who wrote:

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-18, NKJV)

As time is a precious resource, we intend to ignore the slanderers and get on with the ministry.

Author: SBSK