Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist’s Wife

Irene Spencer
Center Street (2007)
ISBN 9781599957197
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (9/07)


Irene Spencer is commended and praised for exposing her years as a polygamist’s wife knowing that her life could be at risk.  This touching account of growing up and participating in fundamentalist Mormon faith shows how she crossed many boundaries which bring the reader to places of sadness, hope, and in many instances, laughter.

Spencer, a product of a plural marriage, at age 16 entered into a plural marriage with her half-sister to Verlan LeBaron.  She was in love with a non-fundamentalist and dreamed of marrying him; however, because of the beliefs imposed on her by the community and leaders of the church, she feared she would be denying God’s calling if she married him.  Against her better judgment and feelings, she succumbed to being the second wife of her brother-in-law.

Shortly after the marriage, a Mormon village in Arizona was invaded by government officials.  Fearing the same would happen in Utah, Verlan LeBaron, with his two wives, fled to the LeBaron family ranch in Mexico.

Spencer writes about her life in the Mexican desert with the LeBaron family, her existence without appropriate food, shelter, water, or electricity.  Her husband was continually moving the family around, cramming the wives and children into small quarters. The homes had no amenities, sometimes not even a cook stove.  Clothing was either hand-me-down or purchased at a thrift store.

Surviving the ordeals and mothering fourteen children, Spencer eventually left the cult.  Her story gives accounts of her life as a wife in a plural marriage and her survival skills.  However, there is more.  Her story also gives faith and inspiration to anyone that feels they are “stuck” in a situation they are not able to get out of.  Spencer, uneducated and unskilled, shows how she was able to leave the fundamentalist beliefs, and seek freedom and independence.  She accomplished something many of us strive for – knowledge that we do have a choice.

While reading “Shattered Dreams” I found it hard to put down.  Spencer’s writing style and skill brings the reader smack into her life.  I was feeling the emotions that she had and often rooted for her when she stood up for herself against her husband’s emotional incest.

An extremely good read.  Not much wonder Spencer’s story made The New York Times best sellers list!

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