Growing Up In Polygamy

Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal? tells the story of Gloriavale, a closed religious community in New Zealand that was founded on promises of faith, unity, and a better way of life. As former members of Mormon communities, we couldn't help but notice some striking similarities to our own experiences growing up in the FLDS and mainstream Mormon culture.

In this reaction and discussion, we explore the origins of Gloriavale, the appeal of religious utopias, and why so many isolated groups seem to develop similar rules, expectations, and power structures over time. We discuss the role of obedience, patriarchal leadership, separation from the outside world, and how sincere beliefs can sometimes create environments where abuse and control are able to flourish.

While Gloriavale, the FLDS, and the LDS Church are very different in many ways, this documentary raises important questions about authority, devotion, loyalty, and what happens when questioning leadership is seen as betrayal.

What did you think of Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal? Did you notice similarities to other religious communities or high-demand groups? Let us know in the comments.

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#Gloriavale #Devotion #FLDS #Mormonism #ReligiousCommunities #ExFLDS #CultDocumentary #HighDemandReligion #Polygamy #ReactionVideo

If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org

At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world."

If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy

Insta: @growingupinpolygamy
www.growingupinpolygamy.com
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For years, the Kingston Clan, also known as The Order, has been accused of abuse, exploitation, forced marriages, and maintaining a system that prioritizes power and control over the well-being of its members. Yet when leaders do face legal consequences, it often seems to be for financial crimes rather than the harm inflicted on women and children.

In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Rae, who was born and raised in the Kingston Clan, to discuss the current state of the group and where things stand today. We explore who has gone to prison, how leaders have historically avoided accountability, and why prosecuting abuse inside closed religious communities can be so difficult.

We also discuss the future of The Order. Despite continuing to grow through high birth rates, the group faces challenges that many believe could impact its long-term survival, including increasing public awareness, more members speaking out, and the devastating effects of generations of closely related marriages.

As former members of fundamentalist religious communities, we bring our own perspectives on the systems that allow groups like these to survive and why meaningful change is often so difficult to achieve.

What do you think it would take for the Kingston Clan to truly decline? Let us know in the comments.

#KingstonClan #TheOrder #AmandaRae #Polygamy #CultRecovery #ExMormon #Fundamentalism #ReligiousTrauma #TrueCrime #HiddenCommunities #PolygamistGroup #SurvivorStory #CultAwareness #SamAndMelissa #MormonFundamentalism

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⚠️ This video discusses topics including abuse, coercion, and exploitation within high-control religious environments. Viewer discretion is advised.

If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org

At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world."

If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy

Insta: @growingupinpolygamy
www.growingupinpolygamy.com
Theme Song created by @artcowles

Please feel free to reach out to us!
growingupinpolygamy@gmail.com

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In the finale of Unchosen, the story takes a disturbing turn as manipulation, control, and blind trust collide in ways that felt all too familiar to us.
As former members of high-control religious groups, we break down the warning signs that were present from the beginning, how charismatic individuals gain influence, and why closed communities can become vulnerable to manipulation. Throughout this reaction, we compare the events of Unchosen to our own experiences growing up in Mormonism and the FLDS, exploring the psychology behind obedience, authority, and belief.
What starts as a search for belonging and purpose gradually reveals deeper questions about power, trust, and the dangers of unquestioned leadership.
Did you see the warning signs before the ending? Let us know in the comments.
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#Unchosen #Netflix #CultDocumentary #FLDS #MormonFundamentalism #ExFLDS #CultPsychology #ReligiousTrauma #SamuelBateman #WarrenJeffs #NetflixReaction #UnchosenNetflix #Polygamy #CultSurvivor #ExMormon
If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org
At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world."
If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy
Insta: @growingupinpolygamy
www.growingupinpolygamy.com
Theme Song created by @artcowles
Please feel free to reach out to us!
growingupinpolygamy@gmail.com
Create Shorts Easily like us with Opus Clips: https://www.opus.pro/?via=SamandMelissa

In Part 2 of our interview with Nomz from the documentary Trust Me: The False Prophet, we continue her powerful story as she opens up about being given to Samuel Bateman and what life was really like under his control.

Nomz answers questions about the documentary, shares details about her time in prison, and explains the emotional and mental process of breaking free from the beliefs she was raised with under both Warren Jeffs and Samuel Bateman.

We discuss the fear, manipulation, and conditioning that kept people loyal for so long — and what it actually took for her to begin questioning everything she had been taught since childhood. She also shares what starting over has looked like, the challenges of rebuilding her identity, and how she’s learning to create a new life outside of the FLDS mindset.

This conversation is raw, honest, heartbreaking, and hopeful all at the same time.

#SamuelBateman #WarrenJeffs #FLDS #TrustMeTheFalseProphet #ExFLDS #Polygamy #CultSurvivor #MormonFundamentalism #TrueStory

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If you are struggling with hopelessness, fear, suicidal thoughts, or feeling trapped, please know you are not alone. In the U.S. and Canada, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7.If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org

At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world."

If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy

Insta: @growingupinpolygamy
www.growingupinpolygamy.com
Theme Song created by @artcowles

Please feel free to reach out to us!
growingupinpolygamy@gmail.com

Create Shorts Easily like us with Opus Clips: https://www.opus.pro/?via=SamandMelissa

In Part 1 of our interview with Nomz from the documentary Trust Me: The False Prophet, she shares what life was really like growing up inside the FLDS under the control of Warren Jeffs, long before Samuel Bateman entered her life.

Nomz opens up about losing her father after he was sent away by the church, becoming part of the United Order, and living in an environment where individuality and creativity were punished instead of encouraged. She explains how fear, obedience, and control shaped every part of daily life in the FLDS, and how those experiences made her vulnerable to manipulation later on.

She also shares the disturbing way Samuel Bateman began secretly targeting and harassing her, convincing her that terrible things happening around her were somehow her fault because she refused to “give herself” to him. Eventually, she felt trapped into believing that going with him was the only way to protect the people she loved.

This is the beginning of a powerful and heartbreaking story about religious control, fear, grooming, and survival.

#FLDS #SamuelBateman #WarrenJeffs #TrustMeTheFalseProphet #ExFLDS #Polygamy #CultSurvivor #MormonFundamentalism

Support Nomz!
Tiktok ⁨@nomzia_b⁩
Insta ⁨@nomzia_b⁩
Facebook Nomzia Bistline
Venmo ⁨@nomzia_b⁩
CashApp $NomziBistline

If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org

At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world."

If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy

Insta: @growingupinpolygamy
www.growingupinpolygamy.com
Theme Song created by @artcowles

Please feel free to reach out to us!
growingupinpolygamy@gmail.com

Create Shorts Easily like us with Opus Clips: https://www.opus.pro/?via=SamandMelissa