For most of the show, Kody Brown has had four wives, but only one of them was a legal union — the rest were all spiritual. Kody's first wife, Meri Brown, was his legal wife for over 20 years, but things changed when his fourth wife, Robyn Brown, joined the family.
Robyn entered her marriage with Kody with children from a previous relationship, the three of whom Kody wanted to adopt. In order to do so, Kody and Robyn needed a legal marriage, not just a spiritual one, which required a divorce from Meri.
Meri, ever one to do what's best for the Brown family, initiated the process and committed what the rest of the family saw as a selfless act. "It's about the kids. It's about the unity of the family," she said of her decision during a "Sister Wives Tell All" special (via People). Despite willingly ending her legal marriage so Robyn's kids could be adopted, Meri was still, understandably, heartbroken when the divorce was finalized. "If ever I'm having an emotional moment ... I just think, it's not about me. It's about the kids," she said of her coping strategy for the ordeal.
