DEAR SUN SPOTS: Could you please tell me if the Mormon men continue to have more than one wife? If not, when did this practice stop? Did they have different titles or names for each wife? Were the men called “husband?” Are Mormons now limited to one man, one woman? — No Name, Chesterville

ANSWER: Sun Spots turned to Wikipedia for a brief description of polygamy, which is illegal:

“Polygamy (called plural marriage by Mormons in the 19th century or the Principle by modern fundamentalist practitioners of polygamy) was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) for more than half of the 19th century,[1] and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890. …

“For over forty years, the church and the United States were at odds over the issue, with the federal government aggressively seeking to eradicate the practice consistent with prevailing public opinion and the church defending it as a matter of religious freedom. …

“The public practice of polygamy by the church was terminated in 1890 by the Manifesto issued by church President Willford Woodruff in which he publicly declared ‘that my advice to the Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriages forbidden by the law of the land.’ Today, all of the 14 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) are strictly monogamist, and members who are known to practice polygamy are excommunicated.

“Still, the practice of plural marriage continues among tens of thousands of members of various fundamentalist splinter groups long disassociated from the main body of the church, such as the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) or the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). These polygamist sects are generally located in Utah, Arizona, Texas, and other parts of the Western United States, Canada, and Mexico. Even though polygamy is generally illegal in all 50 states and in all three countries, practitioners are almost never prosecuted unless there is evidence of abuse, statutory rape, welfare fraud or tax evasion.”

Sun Spots did not find any description of additional titles for husbands, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some. The wives are sometimes referred to as “sister wives.” They are also known by their ranking (first, second, etc.). There seems to be some indication that the first, or “head wife,” had more authority or status.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: A few years ago stimulus money was forthcoming for energy and weatherization as a measure to cut consumption of oil. Within the last month, Weatherization Wizards, an Auburn company that was to do weatherization in the area, failed for some unknown reason and property with equipment has gone on the auction block.

When they arrived here from Clinton there was great fanfare for those wishing to reduce their energy costs, which was somewhat supported by the stimulus money. What has happened to them? Trucks, equipment and people all vanished within a matter of two to three years. — Richard Karajin, dasmaine@aol.com

ANSWER: The only thing Sun Spots found online were mentions of WW’s operations and a phone number, which still rings but wasn’t answered.

Perhaps readers who worked for the company will be able to fill in the holes.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Those who make quilts may be interested to know that I have donated a great deal of quality cloth to the June 2 yard sale at Sacred Heart Church in Auburn. Also, materials for other crafts — leather, Naugahyde, cane for chairs, stuffing. — No Name, Auburn

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