Friday, January 7, 2011

MOMENT OF TRUTH Melanie Williams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGFJrAdVJMU

This is Melanie Williams the Winner of the FOX show "The Moment of Truth"

I'm writing this blog to explain why I chose to go on the horrible show Moment of Truth.
I grew up in a very strict, closed and secretive polygamist community. Women are not allowed to speak up and tell the truth and if we do we are told that we are traitors and will burn in hell.

My dad and I were very close and I asked him If I should go on the show. His reply was Yes.
My dad had been interviewed in the past by Geraldo a TV host about living Polygamy also known as plural marriage. Members that belong to the religion FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints) all practice Polygamy as part of their religion. They believe that they are justified because Abraham in the Bible had more than one wife and he was considered a great man of God.

I was attracted to the lie detector show "The Moment of Truth" because I was tired of everyone in polygamist communities lying about what really goes on behind closed doors in these isolated communities.

I wanted to go on the lie detector and be a voice for the young girls who are pressured to be married before they figure out who they are. My dad lied on the show about his fourth wife Joy who was 14 when she was told to marry my dad. There are many underage marriages that happen in these communities and its not right. This is America and we should be protecting these young women.

My biggest regret about going on the show was that I forgot to say that All Women in FLDS communities DESERVE to be LOVED, RESPECTED, PROTECTED and APPRECIATED.

Many of these women are being used for mens personal agendas in the name of God. When men take advantage of these young women it is not God anymore.

My dad once told me that women are referred to as sheep in the Bible and should be treated as sheep. This made me sick to my stomach because why would God create a women to be human with a brain and intelligence?

48 comments:

  1. So What happend after they stopped filming youe episode of The Moment of Truth??? I notice that you and your episode doesn't show on wikipedia, It does however show on Youtube from and arabic translator. What happend with your father was he arrested, questioned, charged??? Something must have happend cause of how They The TV People handled your episode. And just so you know I (Paul) am a Christian And in the "Holy Bible" John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. That mean ANYONE Boys and Girls Both!!!! I have No Idea What your Father is talking about I have read the bible thru a couple of times and NEVER came across that in my reading. I do have a spare Bible if you would like to borrow it and read thru it for yourself. Well I should let you go and if its okay I will be praying for you and your situation?

    Paul

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paul,
      There are PLENTY of bibles out there. I find it astounding how often Christians think that the problem of people rejecting the hateful and oppressive content is that people can't get a hold of a bible, like it's some sort of rare ancient scroll that only a few scholars possess. I'm glad to hear you've read the bible. I really hope you read the whole thing, every word. Why? Because you should stand by your convictions, even though many people, including myself, find the bible to be an appalling, disgusting, and oppressive pile of mashed together garbage that has no place in modern, rational society. But that's just my option, and I'm just a guy that read the bible. I will not be praying for you. But you do have a brain, (god given, or as the overwhelming evidence suggests, evolved) so I instead will HOPE that you learn to use it to think critically.
      -Stephen

      Delete
  2. Hey Paul!
    My dad will never go to Jail because in Utah a felony expires after 10 years. I obviously didn't want my dad to go to jail, thus all the crying. However I do believe that men should wait until a girl is 18 to be married. Fox cancelled the show because season 2 got bad ratings. Fox had shot many episodes for season 3 and decided to sell them to other countries.
    It would be awesome if you and my dad could talk about what they Bible really does say! Peace!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i hope your father isnt raping little girls to this day, if he is he deserves to go to hell and be thrown in prison. Now that ive just seen him there on the show and now can imagine him getting turned on by little girls and marrying them makes me sick, keep him away from all children. If i say its my religious belief to kill kids that definitely would not make it okay, He is using "religious belief" as an excuse to allow his pedophile and deviant side come out. And he knows it, That makes me sick.

      Delete
  3. As someone who had faith in the past and understand what the Bible should truly say, I deeply apologize for your awful upbringing. People in power take religion and do as they want with it, without realizing what kind of harm it does to the impressionable the psychologically fragile. I'm glad you're speaking out against this and if you need anything, I am more than glad to help you out in any way I can.

    One question: did Fox pay you your jackpot for winning? It would be the ultimate kick in the ass if they didn't.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just because a felony expires after ten years doesn't mean your father should not be brought to justice, and just because it's part of his religious belief system is no excuse.

    One of the big problems in this country is how taboo it is to criticize religion, even in the wake of 9/11, the Vatican Sex Abuse Scandal, and FLDS polygamist cults. Nonbelievers, meanwhile, are given a very bad rap, harassed out of their communities and even forbidden to hold public office in some states, even though it violates the Constitution. The rise in evangelical Christianity is moving this country further and further toward a theocracy, and anyone who opposes it is written off as a heathen, which is why a lot of people are afraid to expose things like what you experienced, for fear of a public backlash.

    I read about these cults in Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer and I was just disgusted by what goes on there. You've got these people who marry their underage stepdaughters, and the LDS church says that homosexuality is bad for society. But in my honest opinion, religion is bad for society because it makes these sort of things possible. You don't have to agree with me on this, I just ask that no one burns me at the stake. Thank you.

    Anton

    ReplyDelete
  5. To say what you went through on the show was disgusting is an understatement. I always feared that the "Jackpot Question" on that show would be a highly criminal act, if not a complete life-destroyer.

    You went up there with great conviction, Melanie. Your father, and probably many in your community, deserve to be imprisoned and condemned for what they are -- pedophiles and sexual predators under the guise of religion, no different than many of the defrocked priests in Catholicism. I am sorry to say that, but it is fact: What he (and many like him) did was utterly disgusting, and it is a wonder that you are as composed as you appear.

    I do hope it was worth it (as you basically outed your father as a pedophile on television), and I do hope you got your money. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pedophiles should be outed. Religion is no excuse for anything. After all, the 9-11 attacks were done in the name of God. And what's worse about the Catholic Church's pedophilia scandal is that the Pope claimed that ordaining women was just as bad. Also, the church opposes condom use in third world countries, and has even shut down its state funded adoption services in Rockford, Illinois so it wouldn't have to place children under the care of same-sex couples (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/26/catholic-charities-in-roc_n_867755.html). They even lionize Mother Teresa while covering up the fact that she insisted that the people she was "caring for" in Calcutta suffer because she figured God wanted it. (http://www.newstatesman.com/200508220019, http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/mother_teresa/sanal_ed.htm) I'm sorry if I'm going off on a tangent, but there is no reason why this should be kept in the dark. This unpleasant reality deserves to be out in the open.

    Anton

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fox did pay me for the show, but I didn't do it for the money. I went all the way with the questions because I wanted to raise awareness to what goes on in these polygamist communities. I was also was writing a book about what really happened when I was 15 and a 73 year old man drove me to another state and refused to drive me home and wanted to get a room at a casino. My dad didn't seem to care about my welfare and laughed at me when I was in tears of fear seeking protection. I know this happens to a lot of girls growing up in the FLDS religion and its not God.
    I am glad that I live in America and I am happy to know that we have police who will stand up to protect and serve. I believe in a God of Love and Justice. I believe in a God that loves and protects his daughters.
    Happy Independence day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The bible says a lot of shit. Woman are the property of their father until marriage, if a woman is raped the father can force the rapist to marry his daughter, if a woman defends her husband by grabbing or touching his attackers groin her husband should cut off her arm, women who cheat should be stoned to death, the bible says you should abey the law of the land so when Jesus was asked what we should do with woman who committed adultery some say it was a trick question so he said those without sin cast the first stone. Since the bible says stone her to death and obey the law of the land it is said by some either answer would have been wrong based on the law of the land supposedly. The Bible also says slavery is ok as long as you treat your slave well. If you think the Middle eastern laws on women is wrong read the Bible. Noah's Ark's size is in the Bible and it's much smaller than the Titanic. Hardly big enough to hold two of every animal plus food and water. Plus food and water to feed the animals to be fed to the meat eating animals and it had one small window. Noah wasn't told how long the flood would last so assuming 40days is kind of short. Plus no one lives 900yrs. It took 2,000 men to build the titanic working 16hr+ days 6-7daysva week for two years. That's 12,000 years with modern tools not factoring having more people helping actually takes less man hours let alone the tools that made it take even less. Even if he lived 100,000,000yrs he wouldn't he able to build one big enough by himself or with family. He would have to build tools to help lift heavy things. Considering the Bible says Earth is 6,000yrs old it's foolish.

      Delete
    2. you actually don't know what your talking about. 1. the scripture you are talking about doesn't make any mention of rape, thats an in correct translation.the original translation says grasps or take hold of and is referring to a man and women having premarital sex. 2/ the bible doesn't condone slavery, on the contrary the term slavery is also a mis-translation and what that scripture is talking about is indentured servitude, the bible clearly states it would last no longer than 7 years and the servants must be treated with respect and must be paid a proper value
      the ark would have had more than enough space for the required animals. your assuming that every animal would have been on the ark, but in reality there would have only been around 11,000 animals on the ark. the required animals were a specific type of animal. the vast majority of animals wouldn't have been on the ark.
      the titanic was made from way different materials was more complex, had machinery and moving parts. the ark was just made of wood and had literally nothing complex about it. and the 11,000 animals would have taken up less than 10% of the ships space. the bible makes no mention of how old the world is.

      Delete
  8. Hey Melanie! I watched your episode, well the clips on YouTube, and I've gotta say, I am supportive of your cause. I'm sorry all that stuff happened to you, but it's made you a way better person. I hope your full show comes out sooner or later, because I would love to watch it all. Congrats on making it through the 21 Qs, and I really hope that you are doing good with the money, and using it to raise awareness for your cause.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for your support! I truly appreciate it! I thought you guys would be interested in this interview, just to give you heads up on what happens in the FLDS. I went to school with Arnold and I'm glad that he is finally speaking out!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56jd4Jzs1LI&feature=share

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is there a way to watch your full episode? S2 E9 is nowhere to be found online, unless I'm just not looking hard enough

      Delete
  10. Yesterday was a GREAT DAY! Warren Jeffs the Leader of the FLDS got sentenced to Life +20 years in prison because he was proven guilty of child sex abuse on two accounts. One girl was 12 and the other girl was 14. Utah let this man walk free but Texas served some quick Justice. I feel like my younger sisters are much safer now that he is behind bars and I thank God and our government for stepping in and protecting these young women.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am a daughter of GOD and I will not be a pawn in a chess game of Men.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are a great example to young, manipulated women everywhere. An example of astounding personal strength. Very proud of you Melanie.

      Delete
  12. Hi everyone. I invite you all to see this video:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d0rKjN0reQ

    ReplyDelete
  13. as christians, no matter what denominations we are in, we all belive in christ. but when things like this happens in a community, things which doesnt follow the word of god, things which are done in favour of men, we must fight against it. melanie, i support you for being brave and trying to change and save your community rather than just running away from it. selfless effort. i watched the show inyoutub and i saw that look in your face when your dad said 17. spend the money well and remember, things done not in favour of god has no strength and will not last. may god bless you

    ReplyDelete
  14. what was your last question if youdont mind me asking im from new zealand and they have just aired the show over here but never showed your last question so if you dont mind ??

    ReplyDelete
  15. Its on youtube. Just google melanie williams moment of truth and you will see the video on youtube.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I watched the youtube. That was a very intense clip. What a strong woman you are! I've seen a lot of that show Sister Wives, any thoughts on that?

    ReplyDelete
  17. @Amanda, it was a really intense show to do, I had no Idea what I was getting myself into....as for Sister Wives....Its really difficult for me to watch because I know they are lying to the cameras. I know once the cameras shut-off the real drama and jealousy comes out with the women and that is what they are not showing.
    I was taught to convince everyone that Our religion was perfect and a happy higher way to live. In reality, it makes women compete against each other and I don't think that is a healthy environment for the mothers or their children.

    ReplyDelete
  18. God bless you Melanie Williams. You truly are a child of GOD.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I just happened to see the first part of your session here in Finland, there is Fox here too nowadays -- probably was a rerun but I wasn't aware of this before. They didn't show the final question there yet so I had to google it up.. The video is not up in youtube anymore so I could only read a brief summary and can only imagine how incredibly hard it had to be.

    I would just like to thank you for the courage and wish you everything good in life. It is very important to bring up these issues and it was great to hear that the justice system took action there back then.

    I think you teach a lesson for us all by showing how problems should be addressed and not kept in secret.

    Toni A.

    ReplyDelete
  20. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA8ps4Jf1MM

    this the video for the last question.
    I watched the video and all Arab people proud of your courage.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I know you created this blog many years ago but I cannot find the episode anywhere. Do you think you would be able to post an updated link? I heard of your story and I am very interested in learning more about it.

    ReplyDelete
  22. The bible says crazy shit like women are property of their dad, God has women raped, gives commandments to have women raped, kills people for believing in another God, says a husband should cut off his wife's hand if she touches another man's groin to defend her husband from this attacker. Just google crazy quotes from the Bible. It says slavery is ok if you treat your leave well. Why do you think there's so much evil in the name of the bible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Would you calm down? Take your anger at the god you don't believe in elsewhere, would you? Thank you.

      Delete
    2. idiot,actually the bible is very anti rape, davids son raped his sister and his sentence was- you got it DEATH, the ten commandments have nothing to do with rape (idiot) <3 AND the bible says "if a mans eyes cause him to sin he shall gouge them out" aka any pervs shall be condemmed, slavery at that time were not slaves but servants, who are payed, not only are they payed in money, but are given food, water, a home.

      Delete
  23. Melanie you are so courageous! Well done girl. Have a happy, happy life. Natalie (South Africa)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Melanie you are so courageous! Well done girl. Have a happy, happy life. Natalie (South Africa)

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hats off Melanie Williams..God bless you.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I would like to talk to you Sister if you see this and you have time

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Melanie, you are a very courageous woman and may God Bless you. I have seen the last part of the episode but can't seem to the first part. I am really interested to hear and see the whole episode. maybe you can give me the link? thanks

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Melanie,

    Great meeting you at Bristol Farms in South Pasadena today.

    Ron Rosen

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Melanie. From South Africa. Thanks for the honesty. You truly inspire all women in the world with your integrity. God is smiling and proud of you xx

    ReplyDelete
  31. well done Melanie. Am curious though, what did you do with the money you won.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Melanie, I am not sure you still check this blog, but I to know more about you. and if you have turned your story in a book. I am also from a country in which these stuff are still on trend. So I am so curious to know about what happened in your life. and also I'd love to see the episode you answered all the questions. You care brave and smart.

    ReplyDelete
  33. well done Melanie. Am curious though, what did you do with the money you won.

    ReplyDelete
  34. well done Melanie. Am curious though, what did you do with the money you won.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Here's a recent video, 2020, of Melanie in case you stumble across this blog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ-2dhG3Ad0

    ReplyDelete
  36. 'FLDS community', i think she meant Flds CULT

    ReplyDelete
  37. A decade plus on from this blog, and I doubt you'll ever see this, but just wanted to say you seem like a really inspiring and strong person <3

    ReplyDelete
  38. Her Instagram profile:
    @melanierosewilliams
    https://www.instagram.com/melanierosewilliams/

    ReplyDelete
  39. In case you don't know, underaged girls can be married according to Quran and Islamic law, and there are plenty of underaged marriages in Islamic countries, according to the holy book and the law.

    ReplyDelete