Irene Spencer was born into a polygamous family and understood that polygamy was required to participate in the heavenly kingdom. She fell in love with a man who was not part of their community and broke off their relationship to become the second wife of her brother-in-law, Verlan LeBaron. Throughout her life with Verlan, Irene struggled with the requirements of her faith. She was an independent thinker but managed to keep her rebellions in check in the face of amazing hardships. Ultimately, she bore 14 children and raised them and the children of her sister-wives in poverty without electricity or running water. Since she could sew, she made the clothing for herself and the children. Because of their conflict with the government, the family moved often and usually lived in the poorest and most remote parts of Mexico and the Southwest.

The narrative is compelling and instructive. Irene explains that she knew no other life. Her parents were polygamists and she was expected to be the same. As difficult as it was, Irene welcomed other wives for her husband and helped keep the family together. Irene wanted to be her husband’s favorite, not just one more wife who could sleep with her husband once a week. After Verlan took his eighth wife, even that was not possible. Always the promise of a better life in the next heavenly kingdom was used to gloss over the terrible conditions of their life.  Verlan’s goal was seven wives and enough children so that his rightful place in the kingdom to come would be assured. Ultimately he had 10 wives and 58 children.

Eventually Irene could bear it no longer and told Verlan that she would leave him. Before that happened, he was killed in an automobile accident. Irene is now a born-again Christian, happy knowing that she does not have to earn her way into heaven and that her God is a loving and forgiving one.