"I'm seeing a great evolvement in my own community," said Kelsch. "My hope is it will continue to grow."

Principle Voices has combatted negative stereotypes by showcasing the normalcy and diversity of polygamy. The group has fielded media requests from all over the world to talk to plural families. Some are willing, even going on "Oprah" to talk about their families. Still, many are not.

"Because of the fact that we are speaking up, it helps them be even more protected because they don't have to and yet the message gets out," Wilde said.

Members briefly launched a magazine, and Batchelor still maintains a popular e-mail list of news items on all things polygamy.

Over the years, Principle Voices has reached out to government agencies and social services workers. They have given presentations to domestic violence hotline operators, prosecutors, child welfare workers and others. Kelsch made an impassioned plea to the Utah State Legislature against an anti-polygamy bill. She later ran for public office but was defeated.

Principle Voices has given the communities some political muscle, although Kelsch said there is still some hesitation for many polygamists to register to vote.

Paul Murphy, who coordinates the Utah Attorney General's Safety Net Committee (a coalition of government agencies, social service workers, activists and polygamists) calls Principle Voices an important liaison in maintaining a dialogue with polygamous communities.

"A lot of the problems have been created by isolation and a lack of dialogue and information going back and forth," he said. "The polygamists weren't talking to government; government wasn't talking to polygamists. We wouldn't have been able to solve a lot of problems and help a lot of victims had it not been for that open communication."

Anti-polygamy activists have accused Principle Voices in the past of sugar-coating a lifestyle they say lends itself to abuse. Tapestry Against Polygamy, the state's leading anti-polygamy group, declined to comment for this story. Tapestry's co-founder, Vicky Prunty, is Batchelor's ex-sister-wife.

"There are adults who have chosen this freely — among consenting adults," Wilde said. "It doesn't work for everybody. That's why you get the negative voices of those who had a bad experience. They have every right to tell their story as well. But our story wasn't being heard for years and years."

Educating within

Principle Voices has also tried to educate its own. The group has held seminars and trainings on the law, child abuse and domestic violence, childhood vaccinations, health care and other topics. Child welfare workers, domestic violence counselors and others have been invited to speak to them.