Susan Ray Schmidt

Susan Ray Schmidt (née Ray, born 1953) is an American author, activist and lecturer, notable for her memoir and anti-polygamy activism.

Susan Ray Schmidt
Born
Susan B. Ray

1953
Utah, United States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAuthor, activist, lecturer
Known forMemoirs
RelativesErvil LeBaron
Rena Chynoweth

Schmidt's memoir, Favorite Wife: Escape from Polygamy, describes the abuses she suffered while practicing polygamy and adopts a firm anti-polygamy stance. It details leaving Mormon fundamentalism for mainstream Christianity and her beliefs on spirituality.[1]

Early life

Schmidt was born in Southern Utah in 1953 as the seventh child to parents who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). After receiving revelation about "the principal", Schmidt's parents moved the family to the Mormon fundamentalist community Colonia LeBaron, located in Chihuahua, Mexico. By the time the Schmidts moved to Colonia LeBaron, the fundamentalist church there was called Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, headed by prophet and president Joel LeBaron. Schmidt was married off to the prophet's brother Verlan LeBaron at the age of 15.[1][2][3][4]

Schmidt had five children with LeBaron, the first being born just before her sixteenth birthday. At age 23, Schmidt escaped from the fundamentalist sect and moved back up to Southern Utah with her five children.[5] Self described as "naive and uneducated", Schmidt eventually graduated high school and then college. During her marriage to LeBaron, Schmidt was sister-wife of fellow author Irene Spencer[6][7] and sister-in-law to Ervil LeBaron, Rena Chynoweth and Joel LeBaron.[1][2][3][4]

In media

Irene Spencer mentions Schmidt in books Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife[6] and Cult Insanity: A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophets and Blood Atonement.[7]

In trying to educate the public, Schmidt appears for multiple talking segments in the 2007 documentary Lifting the Veil of Polygamy.[8][9] She has also appeared on Rachael Ray,[10] Anderson Live with Anderson Cooper,[11] and the television show Polygamy: What Love Is This?.[12]

Schmidt currently is lobbying the LDS Church to provide aid to those that leave polygamy and speaks at seminars and churches.[13][14]

References
  1. Schmidt, Susan Ray (2009). Favorite Wife: Escape From Polygamy. Connecticut: Lyons Press. ISBN 1599214946.
  2. Crump, Steve. "Passage from Polygamy". Banderas News. Banderas News. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  3. LeBaron, Verlan M. (1981). The LeBaron Story. Charlotte K. LeBaron. ISBN 0980180511.
  4. Hales, Brian C. (2007). Modern Polygamy and Mormon Fundamentalism: The Generations After the Manifesto. Greg Kofford Books Inc. pp. 405–432. ISBN 1589580354.
  5. Dugan, Dana (September 15, 2006), "Fanaticism and polygamy: A woman's story", Idaho Mountain Express, Hailey, Idaho, retrieved 2013-09-11
  6. Spencer, Irene (2007). Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife. Center Street. ISBN 1400155940.
  7. Spencer, Irene (2009). Cult Insanity: A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophets, and Blood Atonement. Center Street. ISBN 1400113261.
  8. Lifting the Viel of Polygamy. Living Hope Ministries/SourceFlix. 2007. DVD.
  9. "Lifting the Veil of Polygamy Participant Biographies". Main Street Church of Brigham City. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
  10. Ray, Rachel. "Life After ... Being a Sister Wife". CBS Television Distribution. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  11. Cooper, Anderson. "Continue the Conversation: Your Husband Wants to Add a Wife -- Would You Accept?". ANE Productions, Inc. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  12. Hanson, Doris. "Polygamy: What Love Is This?". KTMQ-TV20. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  13. Winslow, Ben (2007-05-13). "Former child bride asks for LDS action". Deseret News. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  14. Schmidt, Susan. "From Polygamy to Christianity". Source Flix & Living Hope Ministries. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
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