KING: How did you wind up with them? BLACKMORE: Well, that's a good question in lots of ways. It isn't how many that a person wants, it's just what ends up to be in your life. BLACKMORE: Well, you've got to understand, our faith structure system. KING: What's the comfort of it? Why would you want - why would anyone want so many wives, so many relationships? It seems a burden. But, you know, there are so many historians who documented so many things about it that, you know, they can argue it, not me. You know, polygamy was - was one of the founding principles and there's a lot of people that argue that. KING: Is the essential difference, then, polygamy? BLACKMORE: Probably. And it, you know, it establishes the fundamentals of our faith. KING: That's not your book? BLACKMORE: Well, it's my book, but it came from the LDS Church. But, you know, as far as the basic fundamental tenets, they have a really nice book called "The Doctrine and Covenants" and. I have some of my family members, brothers and sisters, that are a part of that organization and, you know, they do, you know, I'm envious of them in a lot of ways, you know, what they're able to do - structure for their young people and you know they have a - they just have a good organization. KING: Why are there so many more of them? BLACKMORE: Well, you know, they have a good organization. KING: And do you consider the Mormons of today The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, that they're the breakaway church? BLACKMORE: Well, they certainly departed from the original tenets of the Mormon faith in 1890. KING: So, do you consider yourself an original Mormon? BLACKMORE: Yes. So - but as far as having marriage licenses, you know, as far the definition of marriage, well, I don't even have any of those at present. KING: Are you a polygamist in the sense that you have many wives or do you have one wife and a lot of relationships? BLACKMORE: Actually, right now I h - my relationships are church sanctioned and church blessed unions. KING: What's the two definitions? BLACKMORE: Well, Canada's definition of polygamy that is illegal is that if you have more than two relationships ongoing at the same time, which makes for tens of thousands of polygamists in Canada. KING: Are there many polygamists in Canada? BLACKMORE: I, you know, it depends on whose definition, the Canadian definition of polygamy or, you know, which definition you're looking at. KING: In British Columbia? You grew up in British Columbia? BLACKMORE: Yes, in British Columbia. And I don't know any other life than that. My father was a polygamist and I grew up that way. There's also some footage of that, too, isn't there? KING: Why are you a polygamist? BLACKMORE: I was born, you know, I was born in our belief structure and, you know, I have 30 brothers and sisters. KING: But you don't have a problem with us seeing the wives? BLACKMORE: No, I don't. BLACKMORE: When we showed up in the community, the kids were playing off. Any reason we couldn't shoot them or? WINSTON BLACKMORE, POLYGAMIST LEADER: Well, they weren't around there. We have shots of your kids but not your wives. It's a great pleasure to welcome Winston to LARRY KING LIVE. Throughout the night's broadcast, you'll be seeing that video, along with other shots of life there. He gave us a rare guided tour of his community and invited our photographer to shoot a lot of video, including video of some of his many children. By the way, we had a crew spend some time with Winston this week in and around his home in Bountiful. He lives in the polygamist community of Bountiful, British Columbia and joins us here in Los Angeles. We welcome Winston Blackmore to LARRY KING LIVE, former member of Warren Jeffs' church, the church that later became the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints, or FLDS. Winston Blackmore is next on LARRY KING LIVE. And now that polygamist leader Warren Jeffs is in jail, could Winston Blackmore be the next prophet of a controversial religious sect that practices something that's illegal? A rare one-on-one with a man who claims he and his many wives are following god's law. In fact, he says half the kids you see here are his. LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, he is one of the most powerful polygamist leaders in North America, reported to have more than 20 wives, more than 80 children. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. Interview With Polygamist Winston Blackmore
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