<p id=”par-1_83″>The IBLP, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/shiny-happy-people-duggar-family-secrets-who-is-officially-the-leader-of-the-iblp.html/”>the Institute for Basic Life Principles,</a> took a massive hit when Amazon released <em>Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets</em>. The docuseries touched on all the ways the ultra-conservative Christian ministry acted as a cult. Season 2 is set to be released soon, but IBLP insiders are stepping forward to speak more now. An insider who spent time living at <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/duggar-family/”>the Duggar family</a> compound just revealed how prevalent arranged marriages are inside the IBLP. It happens more often than you think. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-duggar-family-friend-reveals-jim-bob-and-michelle-duggar-planned-his-arranged-wedding”>Duggar family friend reveals Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar planned his arranged wedding </h2>
<p id=”par-2_59″>A Duggar family insider, a member of the IBLP who lived with the Duggar family, recently opened up about his experience in <a href=”https://www.reddit.com/r/DuggarsSnark/comments/1ky4oxe/ama_i_grew_up_in_iblp_and_basically_lived_with/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>a Reddit AMA</a>. The insider revealed that he was largely forced into an arranged marriage. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar were primarily responsible for the wedding. It all went down before he finished his teen years. </p>
<p id=”par-3_66″>According to the former IBLP member, he developed a friendship with a young woman who was also associated with the IBLP when they were just teens. He said that shortly after becoming friends, his ex-wife’s father laid out <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/jill-dillard-said-duggar-courtship-rules-were-not-as-strict-as-19-kids-and-counting-depicted.html/”>courtship rules</a> and discussed engagement timelines. He married the young lady shortly after his 18th birthday. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar planned and hosted the entire event. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio” id=”emb-1″><div class=”wp-block-embed__wrapper”>
<iframe title=”Duggars Discuss Courting | Jill & Jessa: Counting On” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/FnuYM66ZA-U?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>
<p id=”par-4_101″>In an edit to further explain that arranged marriage, he said that while he wasn’t “forced” into the marriage, he was clearly coerced. He said, ” If you put someone on the edge of a cliff and give them nowhere to walk but off the cliff, and they walk off, that wasn’t really their choice.” The marriage has since ended. He has since left the IBLP behind. His ex-wife has seemingly done the same. The insider went on to admit that because young members have so little control over their lives, it is easy for them to feel pressured into quick courtships.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-duggar-family-followers-suspect-that-at-least-two-of-the-duggar-marriages-were-arranged”>Duggar family followers suspect that at least two of the Duggar marriages were arranged</h2>
<p id=”par-5_46″>The Duggar insider insists that arranged marriages are common in the IBLP. Still, he didn’t reveal whether he believed Duggar family members were also in arranged marriages. Still, Duggar family followers strongly believe that at least two Duggar marriages were entirely arranged by Jim Bob Duggar.</p>
<p id=”par-6_71″>Long before Josh Duggar was convicted of possessing and receiving child pornography, Duggar family critics presumed Jim Bob Duggar arranged <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/a-complete-timeline-josh-anna-duggars-marriage.html/”>his marriage to Anna Duggar</a>. Her father, Mike Keller, seemed far too eager to get her married off. Their courtship story never made much sense, either. That was basically confirmed during the trial. If you looked, though, hints were clear from the moment TLC introduced Anna on <em>19 Kids and Counting</em>.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” fetchpriority=”high” width=”1200″ height=”677″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Josiah-Duggar-and-Lauren-Swanson-courtship-proposal.jpg?strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson walk along a beach during their engagement” class=”wp-image-3577875″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Lauren Swanson and Josiah Duggar | TLC/YouTube</figcaption></figure>
<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/counting-on-the-heartbreaking-reason-joy-anna-duggar-and-austin-forsyth-rushed-into-marriage.html/”>
‘Counting On’: The Heartbreaking Reason Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth Rushed Into Marriage </a>
</p>
</div>
<p id=”par-7_89″>There is far less evidence to suggest that Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson’s marriage was arranged. Still, rumors have swirled that Josiah was married off to Lauren because of an unauthorized Facebook page he made. According to the lore, his interest in <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/counting-on-viewers-think-josiah-lauren-duggar-marriage-was-most-arranged-of-any-couple.html/”>a more mainstream life</a>, coupled with one failed courtship, made Jim Bob Duggar act quickly to get him down the aisle. Critics also suspect Jedidiah Duggar and Katey Nakatsu’s partnership was a business deal between Jim Bob Duggar and Katey’s father. Little concrete evidence exists, though. </p>