Polygamous Homeschooling

Find out what it was like as a homeschooled polygamous boy and see what my daily schedule was.

[@becs7715]

I love how Melissa watches Sam with the intent to listen. Not respond, not cut in. But in absolute adoration of him and her joy in everything he says. It's truely heart warming ❤️

[@jessicabrown1163]

It's fun to watch Melissa's responses. After all this time being with Sam, she is still learning things about his childhood. Fun to discover with her.

[@Justme77776]

I am extremely fascinated by this culture. You can always find me watching videos about it. Sam, I admire you for never having anything negatively to say about your family! You can tell you have come a long way and still have a lot of love for your family.

[@patsykluting-lucas3804]

Sam comes across as a kind person

[@NJSMKMMS]

Rebecca Montgomery, I concur, I just wrote a similar thing on another of their videos. I just wanted to add that Sam's mother should be super proud of him. No matter the religion, the way she brought him up obviously had allot to do with what a good, respectful guy he turned out to be. I so wish she knew all her kids that have left the community and how they are all are getting on.

[@hannafantaghiro6387]

I've seen some of your videos over the past few days. Very interesting! I got the impression that Sam has shed stupid superstitions but retained beautiful values ​​from his childhood. "People shouldn't be afraid of hard work". Was a particularly typical one for me. I think your old-fashioned upbringing taught you humility and diligence.

[@daniellec6175]

The story about the library was precious. Clifford! ❤️ I'm so sorry to hear that the library was destroyed.

[@megan9009]

This was super interesting (as always), especially for someone like me who was homeschooled but not part of the polygamist community. Thanks for the content ❤️😊

[@smyles58]

My daughter went to nursery/preschool and they would have them draw with strawberry yogurt as well as paint with yogurt! SO funny you talked about writing numbers in on the table in pudding!! Interesting coincidence!

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

That's so cool that you have seen that done as well!

[@sister0933]

As a middle school teacher I was excited for this! Thank you for answering our questions!

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@lolanelson9634]

You two make such a great team 🤗. Sam, you are such a great storyteller!

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thank you!

[@elofamily7241]

We homeschool and it's always so interesting to hear about others have done it in various communities. I love how factual you are about your background and how you reserve judgment and criticism.

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thank you so much!

[@lesliesheppard6112]

I was raised in a fundamentalist home and went to Christian school & homeschooled my whole life. I know exactly what you mean about not having a good science and history education! College was so tough for me because I had almost zero science education.

[@lisal5718]

Do you resent your parents for not sending you to a public school or do you would say that it still was a good experience?

[@themedicdroidx10]

Awesome video and the thumbnail picture of Sam is so funny!!! I love when you can tell Melissa hasn’t heard something before and is as fascinated or amused as the rest of us. Thanks for sharing.

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Haha glad you like the thumbnail. We have a lot of fun making them! Thanks for watching!

[@kateebiscuit]

Melissa is such a good interviewer!

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

(Melissa) Aww thank you so much!

[@lindsay_may]

"I think it can, I think it can!" Just like in the story of the little engine that could! I don't know if you've heard that story but I remember it from when I was a child :) Thank you for sharing more stories about your childhood and the community you grew up in. I've heard some fun stories about holiday celebrations in the Hilldale/Colorado city community, such as the harvest festival, and I'm wondering if you have any memories about that? Sorry if you've already spoken about it, I haven't yet watched all of your videos but I'm sure I'll get through them soon!

[@patsykluting-lucas3804]

I was thinking they would get out of car and 20 of them push it up the hill🚂🚙

[@carolgorham1440]

I was so excited to see you put up a new video. I find it fascinating how you were raised in the FLDS Community. It seems like you had it much easier than some families in that Community. I know you are grateful for your parents trying to keep it as normal and healthy for the family as they could. I love the relationship that you and Melissa have...the openness, the acceptance and the support that you have for each other. Oh and by the way, a video came up from the Dr. Phil showed called The Witness Wore Red. She was a former FLDS young lady that testified against Warren Jeff's. In that show they had a brief interview with the Mayor of Colorado City or the other town there (can't remember the name) but I wondered if that was your Father. I remember his name was David Zitting...is that you Father? If so he was a very good looking man. Keep up the stories about your childhood...I love them. Blessings to you and your family!

[@breannthorne-stanzell5990]

I don’t believe they’ve ever publicized their last name nor the identity of his father. I will say that you can confirm or prove this theory wrong with a very quick Google search. I’m not going to say what the findings are on here as it’s their business if they want to confirm or deny any familial connections.

[@Abby-00]

9:37 😂👏🏻 thx Melissa we all feel the same way

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

(Melissa) I couldn't hold it in hahaha

[@kimmbaker6501]

You guys are amazing. Living here in AZ I find it all interesting. You are both so kind and I love that you take away good memories and love. Good people 🤗❤️

[@PerryThePlatypus123]

Very interesting video again! If you can make it possible I would love to hear about life in the polygamous community from someone who lived there as a sister-wive/husband of more than one wife

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

We are hoping to start doing some interviews of other members from my community as well. =)

[@GoldenMom815]

Super interesting. I’m entering my second decade of homeschooling my kids....hoping my kids aren’t questioning if their math was “regular” as adults looking back🤣🤣.......though to be fair, they’re “regular” to my husband and myself, both public schooled before common core!

[@michelefizer2774]

Hey guys!! My favorite family on KZbin 💜 thanks for another great video.

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Aww thanks!

[@elizabethfish5593]

You guys switched up your introductions and it totally threw me off lol! Thanks for another great informative video, I look forward to all your videos. Your channel is literally the only ones I get notifications for 💜

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

You should see the bloopers from us trying to switch it up haha. =) Thank you so much!

[@Jenniferalvarez19818]

I really do enjoy your videos. I can’t wait for them to be uploaded. I always click on it right away when I see you guys have posted. Sending ❤️ hope you guys are beating this extremely hot Vegas weather. I know it’s been so so hot lately I can’t even go outside with out being drenched in sweat within minutes.

[@darciejones7271]

Until I came across the videos you two have been putting out, much of the "exposure" I have had to Polygamy/FLDS has been via that show, Sister Wives. I do get it that Sister Wives is a "reality show", which is not exactly fully accurate as to the ins & outs of being part of that world. It is fantastic that you two are bringing out so much thru your videos as to what life is like for one growing up in the FLDS beliefs and practices, especially when much of the USA alone which is outside Utah has little to no understanding of the FLDS life, with exception of what came out when Warren Jeffs was on FBI most wanted and finally arrested. You two have been doing fantastic at showing that FLDS is not "just about the leader of the church", rather in reality is about the lives of the families, which in many was was effected by the leader of the church. Keep up doing as you are! You both are doing so perfectly at being articulate, specific, and bringing out many things to help those of us "unexposed" to FLDS life to understand and learn. Thank you, Sam & Melissa!

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thank you so much!

[@selinamattocks]

Couldnt click on quick enough. I am so interested in this subject and other cultures. This channel makes my day and love hearing sams experiences ❤

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Wow, thank you!

[@nerdygirl1984]

I was homeschooled in a Christian household. So interesting to hear of your experience, and the similarities and differences.

[@sassynana5201]

Melissa is a fabulous interviewer.

[@lizkt]

It seems like your childhood was actually really good and your parents were good parents. Which is so interesting because all you really hear about the FLDS are horrible stories. How common was your experience do you think? Do you remember a lot of families like yours? Was the trauma stories really not common? I know they are real, but maybe they weren't the norm? Or maybe they were and your experience was rare? So interesting hearing your perspective!

[@janburn007]

I'm a lot older than Sam, but I do find it strange how in the USA, the government allowed the FLDS children/young men to cease their schooling & start work as young as 13 or 14. Where I am from, & when I was in primary school & secondary/high school, it was compulsory for all children to attend school until they were at least 15, & people had to be at least 15 before they were allowed to legally work & earn an income. So I'm thinking that maybe the educational standards in the USA were/are not as strict as those in my own country - even as far back as the 1960's & 1970's.

[@katego370]

Hi from Belgium! I have a question. Do you not have inspection auditors for homeschooling? Here, the board of education has a whole fleet of auditors specifically for homeschools and they'll physically show up and inspect the books, tests, possible homework, and assignments, and they check if the quality of education meets the stipulated standard. Homeschooled kids also have to go to national exams in order to graduate and not doing so or failing multiple times or subjects will also be taken into account by the auditors. If you continue to fail to provide your child with a decent education, the approval to homeschool your child gets taken away and you have to put your child in a normal school. If you then refuse to do that, especially with younger kids, social services comes and vets the parents, and if they deem that the issues in the family are so severe that the child's rights (safety, education, chances,...) are greatly compromised, they can take your children away. So there's a whole system in place to make sure homeschools provide a decent education. How is that in the USA?

[@pamelavargas6811]

SENSORY LESSONS....very cool❤

[@sheribarnett3180]

Sam’s science education doesn’t sound very different than my 1970s public school 1st- through 6th-grade science classes. I remember a lot of reading but no experiments.

[@16jcstratton]

Very interested! You did a great education that time! Thanks for fun stories:)

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thanks for watching!

[@jenjipowa5154]

hey i am so glad i found ur guys' channel!!! right up my alley. hey, was wondering if u can do a video on any risky and dramatic escapes? the reason i ask is i was always riveted to Carolyn Jessop's experience escaping the FLDS community with almost all of her children. how common are these escape scenarios? i would assume it is riskier for women; is that true? do you know of any other such escapes? Can you make a video related to these questions? How common it is, any knowledge of such experiences u have? why is it so dangerous? is this moreso an issue for women? what are the threats people face when trying to execute such escapes? I would love a video on any of these questions. again thank u so much for opening a window into what life in this community is like!!!

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Great question that definitely deserves its own video. I have put it on the list! It was much harder for women to leave than for the men!

[@covertLLC]

Looking sharp, nice hair cut dude.. Such a cute little couple you guys are 🤗🤗

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thanks!

[@daniellec6175]

This video is so clear. New camera? It's very nice. (Maybe I just didn't notice the quality before.)

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thanks! We have been trying to adjust the lighting lately and see if it helps! =)

[@peacelovelarkable]

I was just wondering when yall were going to upload again!

[@jessie.papageorge10]

I've just stumbled across your channel, and I love it! The respect you have for each other, and the kindness Sam shows to his family is truly wonderful to watch. I was just curious, have any of Sam's brothers become polygamous husband's with multiple wives and families? Sending lots of love ❤️

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Welcome to our channel! We are so happy you found us! Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, I have older brothers that are polygamous husbands and still stay true to that religion.

[@carlasuannelockett1694]

Hi there from Oklahoma and finally got the all clear to get in water! Wish I could show you the bear i got from Oklahoma Surgical hospital.

[@amycampbell9453]

In your memory do you remember the mother’s being overwhelmed? I can’t imagine having that many children under one roof even with three mothers.

[@creativecheersoffashionlau7364]

Yay! New video! Very interesting to hear. Am always wondering how the level of homeschooling would be as parents have to educate, though it is rather common in many parts of the US . In my country it is not allowed , not even elementary school. And that poor old car ...:). Thanks for your stories!

[@auntlynnie]

Different states have different rules about home schooling. I don’t think there are minimum qualifications for the parent doing the teaching. I lived in New York, which was pretty strict, and there was no requirement, but parents had to file quarterly reports with their local school. One of my homeschooling friends decided to move their family to Tennessee because it was less restrictive.

[@creativecheersoffashionlau7364]

@@auntlynnie Thanks for your reaction ! Although I have been to university, I don't think I am good enough in explaining things so the kids would have to learn it themselves from books which can be quit challenging for some kids. Glad in my country it is not allowed. It was good to hear that some of Sam's older siblings got a degree in teaching. And the way he was raised generally ( nothing to do with FLDS), like rules, manners etc I think is also very important for becoming a righteous and responsible adult. It shows !!!

[@rachelcastle8369]

Always enjoy your videos. Did they talk to y’all about current events, like 9/11 and things like that? Thanks for sharing!

[@Jenniferalvarez19818]

Awesome video thank you guys so much for sharing. FLDS Education is so different than public education. I really think they did you guys wrong by not teaching you guys what you should know in the real world (history) mainly. And I think you guys should of went to 12 th grade instead of having to go work at young ages. I can’t even imagine. It’s hard for people who didn’t grow up like that to see the benefits of how they taught and raised FLDS members.

[@brandywine4000]

Another fantastic video! So interesting! I know you said you the curriculum you learn from did include science and history. I’m curious, in your history and later economic classes were you taught about state and federal laws? Politics? If not, how have you learned more on these topics?

[@michellesunshinestar]

I was in a really hard high school, and I did marching band and debate team at the same time, I was always sleep deprived. Sooooooooooooo much home work, like 6 hours every night.

[@brianagarcia8546]

Same here I was in AP class, did marching band and was in acting. I got a couple hours of sleep. As an adult I couldn’t do that!! It’s crazy how intense marching band is especially

[@NJSMKMMS]

I have a suggestion for another video. You may want to ask your sister if she could help with this. To me one of the things that I personally feel bad about is the inequalities between males and females in the religion. If you asked your sister to be in the video you could compare what her life experiences are compared to yours. I recon that you could get a whole video out of that very easily. Cheers

[@saraj4009]

Have you read the book “Educated” by Tara Westover? It’s an interesting read about a LDS girl who grew up without any formal education and now has her doctorate. She jokes she still doesn’t have a High School Diploma but she has her Doctorate.

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

I have not read that book, but it sounds like one I should add to my list. =)

[@patsykluting-lucas3804]

@9:36 my jaw dropped...shocking to destroy the library books! Sounds like the book/movie Farenheit 541. Extremely interesting to hear your upbringing. Certainly NOT normal for most of us.

[@AshleyA93]

I love this channel so much. So many books I've read of people telling their stories. This is kind of like an audio book 😂😂 I don't know why but I'm super interested in cult, religion, and murderers.. the way their brain works, how 90 percent of the time these people are literal geniuses that can manipulate even the strongest willed people. Thank you for sharing your story so I can learn more!💕

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

So glad you enjoy it! Thank you so much for watching! =)

[@candygram4435]

I would think as with any other schooling, a whole lot of what you get out of schooling depends on what you put into it.

[@Abby-00]

Sorry another question 🙋🏼‍♀️. Was there every any pushback from Warren Jeffs for your family (or others) for homeschooling instead? It surprises me that his authoritarian ego would allow it.

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Great question. There didn't seem to be. There were actually multiple homeschooled groups that Warren would monitor I believe, but he was only the actual principal for the infamous one that was exposed. I don't remember him ever monitoring my family but my father was a Patriarch (meaning he was high in the church) and so we may have had less monitoring because of that.

[@China-Clay]

Hey, could you all do an episode on your relationship with Centennial Park, maybe a review of the series National Geographic did called Polygamy USA, and are the two communities coming back together at all?

[@frannielogue]

Love your videos but the sound is quite.

[@brianagarcia8546]

Did Sam end up getting a high school diploma? I think I remember him saying he went to college, so was that a hard transmission for him because he might not have learned what was expected for those higher level class? I just wonder if ending school early effected him in those ways. Either way he’s obviously very well educated!

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

I got my GED after leaving the community. =) College was extremely difficult for the first couple of years and I spent a TON of time studying and talking to my professors in order to succeed.

[@brianagarcia8546]

@@GrowingUpinPolygamy awesome! hard work pays off :) you will be an inspiration for your children

[@lesliesheppard6112]

I’d love to know what each individual holiday was like. Did they ever get to trick or treat for Halloween, was thanksgiving an overwhelming mass of people, did they get Christmas presents, if so we’re they homemade or store bought?

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

We will definitely be doing a video around each holiday this year to answer some of those questions so stay tuned. =)

[@michellesunshinestar]

Melissa, am I allowed to say this, but you are really beautiful, and the two of you look really young. I was a Mormon for about 10ish years with some inactivity. I did try to make it work, for the record. But it's really hard to be civilly divorced and in the church. I joined while still a minor (17 and a 1/2, my parents gave me permission). I consider myself regular Christian now. I'm in 1st Corinthians, and I need to read a lot of it tonight and tomorrow. We're supposed to be in chapter 11, I'm on chapter 2???

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

(Melissa) Thank you so much Michelle. You are too sweet! I am happy you have found a place of faith that you can be your happiest in.

[@tiadavenport5465]

You had a different experience that allowed you to have life skills.

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Very true.

[@princesshydec]

Did you hear about world events happening like 9-11

[@debbierees2789]

Loved this👍🏽😊😊🌻

[@glucks-kita597]

Did you have any lessons in sports, music, or arts? Was there a strict dicipline? Did they beat naughty cildren?

[@madisonhendershot411]

Did you celebrate birthdays and Christmas???

[@China-Clay]

Have they ever opened up the elementary school again? The one that had animals grazing in it?

[@katlizski]

cool information about yourschool.

[@ashleyharris1428]

Sam seems like such a nice guy. Y’all should play never have I ever and let viewers submit the topics.

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

That is a GREAT idea!

[@dawnbassett6926]

Ha! That thumbnail!

[@majoroldladyakamom6948]

NOT ENOUGH VOLUME. Would have loved to watch, but...

[@happycook6737]

I turned my volume the highest it could go and NOT loud enough