Team Biographies
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Kathleen and Rena are the seventh generation in a long line of polygamists dating back to its very inception as a Mormon doctrine. They are the direct descendants of Isaac Allred, who was on the First High Council of the newly formed Mormon Church under Joseph Smith. Allred voted to uphold polygamy as a doctrine. We are the seventh generation in polygamy. We were raised in the FLDS and grew up going to school with Warren Jeffs and are closely related to him through more than one marriage. Our father Clyde Mackert had four wives and 27 birth children; 31 children total. Rena is the 13th of 31 children; Kathleen 19th of 31 children.
A portion of Clyde Mackert's family; Rena in light blue dress with black belt 3rd row, Kathleen in plaid dress 2nd row
Our father and his family were used in the 1953 Raid in the media blitz (featured in Life Magazine) which swayed public opinion and defeated the actions taken by Governor Pyle. The Raid in Texas is the fourth government intervention to directly affect their family.
1953 Life Magazine photo Mackert family home evening Heroes of the 1953 Raid; Clyde Mackert 1st on left
These sisters, not only found their way out of this sect, but took their children with them. Rena may have been one of the first known women to successfully take them back after they were kidnapped. Because of Rena’s ordeals, Kathleen was perhaps one of the first women to be able to leave with her entire family intact. Rena has devoted eleven years as an activist for change. She has done the following media events in regard to this subject:FoxNews Rena Mackert
Documentary entitled, Many Wives: Vows of Silence in 1998
Documentary entitled, A&E Inside Polygamy in 11/09/1999; continues to air
Local Salt Lake City, Utah News Channels, 1998-2000
Documentary by MSNBC entitled, Religion or Mind Control 6/28/2008 continues to air.
CNN AC 360, 2008
Jay Lawrence Talk Radio Show, 2008
The Live Desk, multiple live interviews
MS Magazine summer issue 2008, Keep Sweet; How Polygamist Cults Brainwash Women. by award winning author; Andrea Moore-Emmett
ABC News
Sydney Herald Newspaper
Multiple worldwide newspapers
Because we have family on the Yearning for Zion Ranch we have a personal connection to the events in Texas. This compelled Kathleen to step into the eye of this media storm; to speak out regarding not only the FLDS. Her first interview was a live broadcast on the Live Desk. In this interview she spoke about, not only the abuse that goes on in the FLDS, the abuse that she endured as a young girl. But also, about her attempted suicide when she was just six years old. Kathleen has been featured in the following major media outlets: Kathleen Mackert
Several appearances on The Live Desk, 2008
MS Magazine summer issue 2008, Keep Sweet; How Polygamist Cults Brainwash Women. by award winning author; Andrea Moore-Emmett
Las Vegas Sun Newspaper, Polygamy refugee steps into storm over church By Abigail Goldman
ABC News
Jay Lawrence Talk Radio Show, 2008
CNN AC 360, 2008
MSNBC and its affiliates
Multiple worldwide newspapers
Sydney Herald Newspaper
CBS 5, Phoenix
City Weekly Cover Story, Stripped Bare by Stephen Dark
Anacortes American, front page story; Sisters who escaped polygamist cult help other victims. by Elaine Walker
