Kriti Mehrotra
Also titled ‘The Thirteenth Wife: Escaping Polygamy,’ ‘The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy’ delves deep into the life of Rena Chynoweth, who escaped a violent polygamist group in the 1980s. She is the former wife of the Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God’s self-proclaimed prophet Ervil LeBaron. Inspired by true events, the Lifetime film chronicles everything from her childhood to how she joined the church to her marriage and her escape. Therefore, both her parents play a significant role in this production, making us wonder more about them, their involvement in the religious organisation, and their ultimate fates.
Thelma and Leland Chynoweth Were Once Proud Members of the LDS Church
While it’s unclear precisely when Thelma Ray and Leland “Bud” Chynoweth first came across one another, they tied the knot in the 1930s before settling down in Garfield County, Utah, and starting their family. Their firstborn was a son named Leland Jerry Chynoweth, on July 12, 1938. Sadly, less than 7 years later, on November 20, 1945, he lost his life to unspecified causes, only for the family to subsequently dedicate themselves to their faith and continue growing. By this point, they had already welcomed another son into their world, Glen Chynoweth, followed by a daughter by the name of Lorna Chynoweth.
Then came Mark Chynoweth and finally Rena Chynoweth, with whom the family finally seemed to be complete to Thelma and Leland, as they remained a big part of the LDS church. However, everything turned upside down for them in the 1960s as they were approached by the LeBarons to join their own sect, which Thelma and her daughters jumped at. Ultimately, following a bit of hesitation, Leland joined too, and the family relocated to Mexico for their mission for good. It was here that leadership split, and they chose to follow in the footsteps of Ervil LeBaron.
Ervil was not only a self-proclaimed prophet but also Lorna’s husband – she was his 5th wife when she was merely 17 – and the couple went on to welcome 5 kids together. In the end, though, Ervil also tied the knot with Rena after first proposing the idea to her when she was 16, which did not sit well with her, but polygamy was key to them. After all, by this point, even their father had reportedly “married” another woman, and the charm of it all persisted until the 1980s. Once Ervil was arrested, half of the family escaped while the others remained in the church, changing everything.
Thelma and Leland Chynoweth Passed Away at 94 and 80, Respectively
While Thelma reportedly chose to defect with Rena and Mark in the late 1970s/early 1980s, Leland reportedly remained in Mexico in the church with his other wives. This was a hard decision, but it felt necessary for them to do, especially because although Thelma’s faith in her god had never waivered, her faith in her self-proclaimed prophet had. Thus, while she went on to build a life for herself in Houston, Texas, he reportedly remained far away. According to records, Thelma later adopted four children – Johnny, Judy, Harvey, and Paul – all in the hopes of helping them in any way they needed.
As per Thelma’s obituary, she was a deeply passionate individual who helped young people get away from their past while offering them a safe space in her home and her heart. She suffered many losses in her own life, but she dedicated herself to others, and it brought them all true comfort as well as happiness. We should mention that since she never wavered in her faith, she always claimed to look forward to the day she would “graduate” from life and finally meet her God. As per records, she died peacefully on June 8, 2013, in her home in Houston at the age of 94, leaving behind two children, four adopted children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Coming to Leland, from what we can tell, he died at the age of 80 on January 15, 1998, in Mexico City, Mexico – his cause of death has never been publicly announced.
Read More: Heber and Aaron LeBaron: Where Are Ervil LeBaron’s Sons Now?
