The Mormon Church has recently released a new set of children’s storybooks, including Doctrine and Covenants Stories, which features a section on polygamy. Many are deeply concerned about the potential harm this could cause to young minds. In this eye-opening discussion, we welcome Mormon mother Alyssa Witbeck and sex and relationship therapist Natasha Helfer to explore the troubling implications of teaching polygamy to children.

The conversation delves into how the Mormon church frames polygamy as a difficult but necessary commandment, emphasizing obedience over intuition. This messaging can normalize coercion, suppress personal boundaries, and create an unhealthy foundation for children’s understanding of relationships. We examine Joseph Smith’s secretive practice of polygamy, his marriages to young girls, and the coercion involved—raising the question: Does this kind of storytelling prepare children for faith, or does it desensitize them to harmful dynamics?

Natasha Helfer shares insights into the psychological effects of exposing children to these narratives, discussing how concepts like obedience “even when it’s hard” can lead to spiritual trauma. Alyssa Witbeck reflects on her personal decision not to raise her son in the church after seeing how these teachings shape belief systems. The discussion also touches on historical and modern implications of polygamy within the LDS Church, the lingering impact on Mormon marriages, and whether this material could be considered a form of grooming.

As concerns grow, will the church reconsider this lesson? Will they remove or revise the content? And most importantly, how can parents and leaders protect children from narratives that prioritize institutional control over individual well-being?

Join us for this critical conversation on faith, consent, and the power of religious storytelling.