The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a long history and Christine Brown’s family is a core part of that history. She has even been called Mormon royalty. Her Ex-husband Kody Brown said he married her because of her family’s deep history with the church. Christine was Kody’s second wife in a polygamist marriage that was sanctioned by a sect of the Mormon church. So why is Christine such a big deal?
Christine Brown’s Family Tree Runs Deep In The Church
Christine Brown is from a line of Mormons that are heads of the fundamentalist Mormon offshoot, the Apostolic United Brethren. Christine’s maiden name is Allred, and the Allreds have been in charge of the AUB for three generations. Her ancestor Isaac Begat William, was with Brigham Young when he first discovered Salt Lake City. Young was the second president of the Mormon Church and the founder of Salt Lake City.
Begat William is not the only one of Christine’s family members to be a big deal. Her grandfather, Rulon C. Allred, founded the Apostolic United Brethren in 1961. The AUB had 640 acres of land near the Bitterroot Mountains. In 1998, 800 people lived and practiced the AUB values, which included polygamy, and a ban on Black people from receiving the priesthood. Christine’s father, Rex Allred, is no longer a leader of the AUB but is a practicing polygamist. Christine’s mother left her husband and the church in the 1990s.
The Allred Family’s Dark Past
Christine Brown’s ex-husband used to make fun of her for acting like a “Princess,” but Christine has Mormon royalty connections. Kody has said that he married her because he “was attracted to [her] pedigree.” Christine’s family is “Blue blood polygamist” and her family heritage runs deeply throughout the founding of the church. Brown’s ancestor Rulon C. Allred was a practicing polygamist and had 18 wives and at least 48 children.
Christine’s great-uncle, Evril LeBaron, formed his own Mormon sect called the Church of the Lamb of God. Lebaron had 13 wives and 50 children. The Church of the Lamb was also known as the Mormon Manson. Evril LeBaron and Rulon C. Allred ran rival sects of the Mormon church and LeBaron even hired two of his followers to hunt down Allred and kill him. Rulon’s children sued one of the murderers and won $52 million in damages for the Allred family. The money however was never paid.
Christine Is Not The First In Her Family To Leave The Church
Christine Brown’s mother Ruth Anne Stevens left her polygamist marriage and the LDS church. She shared her experience leaving the church in Season Eight of Sister Wives. Ruth said…
“I had a defining moment where I knew I was going to leave. And It was one of the most terrifying moments I’ve had in my life because you just don’t leave. People don’t leave.”
At the time Christine said “She left my dad, and she left our faith, and well, it wrecked my world completely. It was awful.” She further explained that many people from her church community urged Christine to shun her mother and not associate with her anymore. However, Christine followed in her mother’s footsteps and left her husband and the LDS church.
