Woman forms group to help polygamists

When Tonia Tewell opened her door to the polygamists, she didn't know what to expect.

Neither did the two women and four children seeking safe haven from a bad situation.

"I didn't have a lot of trust," said one of the women, who asked the Deseret News not to use her name. "I was suspicious that they might turn me into the authorities. She was very kind and generous, and there to be helpful and supportive instead of judgmental."

Tewell's family provided food, clothing, shelter, legal help and assistance getting the women on their feet, learning quickly what wasn't there to help people from the often-isolated polygamous communities. As they got ready to leave her home last summer, the women asked her to help others within their community.

"I've been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years," Tewell said of her reaction. "I was comfortable and I didn't want to do this."

But Tewell, who describes herself as a nondenominational Christian, had already made a promise to God to serve him. Years earlier, she survived terminal cancer, causing her to re-evaluate her life.

"I vowed at that point whatever He put before me, I would walk boldly forward," she said. "I thought 'Gosh, my life is so comfortable.' But that was the issue. It's too comfortable. I was praying for weeks and doing a lot of research. He is taking me on this journey for one reason or another."

It led Tewell to create Holding Out HELP (Helping, Encouraging and Loving Polygamists), an organization that seeks to provide services to needy people in polygamous communities — even if they don't want to leave.

"Once we started doing the research, unless they wanted to bring the community down or bring their spouses under there were not a lot of options," she said.

Tewell's organization seeks to provide safe houses for abuse victims, food, shelter, legal assistance and counselors. She also offers services for those who don't want to leave their communities.

"We are trying not to be judgmental," Tewell said. "We do not believe in polygamy, but we are trying to love them where they are at. If they need help, they don't need to leave."

One of the women she has helped describes her as "amazing."