Comments on: Anxiety at the polygamist sect - and loyalty, too

By: M.Marie

M.Marie — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:20:35 +0000

I believe these sects inflict fear into the women by taking away their children or threatening to do so. It's the worst thing you can do to a women of any age. The greatest pain that can ever be inflicted. The pain is equally great for the children and the fear works in both directions to ensure obedience.

On another note, the women are brainwashed into believing that the greatest achievement in life is to please their husband, therefore they please God. Even if this means sacrificing their child's happiness and God-given freedom.

How can the mothers be cited for fault when this ideology is the only one they know and it isn't even their own? It's the warped and twisted vision of a selfish leader who never should have been put into a position of authority in the first place. The book he's following is as flawed as he is.

I believe Warren Jeff's imprisonment is proof that God truly does "Bless America".

By: Anna

Anna — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:09:52 +0000

Thanks for the great coverage and your interviews. Excellent work.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:38:30 +0000

(continued from previous post) HOWEVER In modern times, the concept of "blood atonement" has been used by a number of fundamentalist splinter groups (SUCH AS FDLS!!!) as an EXCUSE to JUSTIFY murdering those who disagree with their leaders(Warren Jeffs) or those who attempt to leave their church. Warren Jeffs has allegedly indicated his desire to implement the doctrine of blood atonement in his church. According to another source, former FLDS member Robert Richter reported to the Phoenix New Times that Jeffs repeatedly alluded in his sermons to blood atonement for serious sins such as murder and adultery. Richter also claims that he was asked to design a thermostat for a high temperature furnace that would be capable of destroying DNA evidence if such "atonements" were to take place. Has anyone else heard of this? I am suprised the media has not reported anything about this. So on top of the suspected child abuse, stagutory rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse and no doubt, psychological abuse, now this, the murdering too? This has got to stop, I commend the state of Texas for going through with this very delicate, yet very serious investigation. I am so troubled by this.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:23:11 +0000

My feelings about this whole situation can easily be compared to that of a severe car crash in that, you don't want to look but at the same time you can't look away. Despite the creepy, perverse and nauseating details that have been conveyed thus far, I find myself very curious about the FDLS lifestyle. After some light research I came accross a concept that is suposedly practiced by Warren Jeffs and the FDLS cult called "Blood Atonement." I'm suprised that I haven't seen any reports on this in the media.
From my understandting, blood atonement was used prior to the mormon reformation as a way of saving sinners. As christians are taught, Jesus died for our sins and thus humans (who are natural born sinners) were granted forgivness and eternal life. Early Mormoms, too believed that Jesus died for our sins, but that some sins were not "covered" under jesus' death, so to speak. Blood atonement was thus used for those "unforgivable sins" such as murder and adultry. In a word, blood atonement basically refered to being killed, not as a means for punishment but as a way or chance to be forgiven and be granted eternal life by giving the lord your ultimate sacrifice, yourself.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:37:40 +0000

On marriage to underage women I find it extremely pathetic that hardcore followers of this sect state that 'if God wants that to happen (underage marriage), that takes precedence over man’s laws' – when all the world can see that this 'law of God' mirrors a twisted perverted breakdown of males – it is so obviously a law made by men – not by God at all- if God himself demanded these sorts of things of us – what hope do we have in mere humanity?

By: Rachelle

Rachelle — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:53:41 +0000

What I find most disturbing is that is seems children and women have a difficult time seeking help. The compound which seems fenced in makes it harder for the women and children to ask questions and get help if they need it. It is troubling to think that there are many women and children who are happy and are being put through this traumatic experience. One solution would be to have checks by women in family services coming in to speak with the women and children individually on a regular basis. It would make it easier for the victims to get the help they need. It does not seem fair that the only check that has been in place over the last 4 years in this compound has been one or two police officials going inside and speaking with 4 appointed FLS men. There should be a way to make communication more available to the women and children if they want it.

By: linda

linda — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:26:12 +0000

I am a new resident in Utah and am not LDS. I see the FLDS in town and it is disturbing to see them in the community. I have done some extensive reading in an attempt to understand the way they live. One fact that isn't being reported much is the disease that the younger children are getting from the gene passed by inbreeding. I don't care what the belief in religion is we as tax payers have to take a stand. This is not religious persecution, they are endangering they children.
They use our system to collect welfare, they don't pay taxes on their homes, they use the system to obtain health benefits sometimes in both Utah and Arizona. How anyone can say we are being unfair needs to check into this cult further. They have been inbreeding for many many years. It is time to put a stop to it.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:02:54 +0000

I want to hear more about the "Lost Boys" and want to know what happens to the older women, after they cease having children? They would normally outlive their "husbands" if the husbands were 20+ years older than them. Who takes care of them? Are they banished? Murdered? You would think we would see more photos with older women in them, if this were a normal society...

By: Annie Kate

Annie Kate — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:55:31 +0000

Hi Gary

I am glad some people are actually starting to talk to you; I remember last year when you were there and no one would talk to you slamming doors in your face or running away.

I'm sure the other FLDS communities are nervous and wondering when it will happen to them. I hope the authorities in the other areas where these communities are take Texas's lead and save the children at the very least from this cult. I have daughters and it makes me sick to think of girls just like my daughters having to endure this sort of life.

Thanks for your work.
Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

By: Nancy, Wisconsin

Nancy, Wisconsin — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:38:38 +0000

Anderson and Gary, Thank you for keeping all of us informed on what is going on with this cult. It is a tragedy what is happening with these young girls. People have made comments about the law not prosecuting some of these men, but someone needs to come forward and testify about their abuses. I hope someone is brave enough to do that. I just saw Randi Kaye's story on how the multiple wives collect Welfare. Why doesn't the government pursue it from that angle? Start cutting the welfare support that they get.

By: RAB, PA

RAB, PA — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:12:42 +0000

Tragic situation, but simple solution – castrate all the men, then put them to work on infrastructure rebuilding projects (chain gangs) so they can help pay the food, clothing, shelter and education costs of their wives and children.

By: Brenda, Indianapolis, IN

Brenda, Indianapolis, IN — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:03:49 +0000

I have to agree with Carol B. of Virginia in her comments concerning their empires being built by our tax dollars. These very same groups all preach 'separation of church and state,' but have no qualms about accepting government money to support the "wives" to whom they are not legally married.

As far as 14 year old girls being forced into marriage with 50+ year old men, in our society that is a crime. It is child abuse, pedophilia at its worse. And, the sickest part of it all is that they are doing it in the name of God, they say. I think they will be most surprised when they stand before God and have to explain their actions.

By: Sally

Sally — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:39:19 +0000

Does Texas take away the childern from every community / suburb when someone calls the family violence hotline?

Remember many religions repress women & children – Look no further than the Catholic Church – Why can't women be priests? How many priests have been charged as pedophiles?

Finally, who are we to tell someone else how to live their life & interpret faith? It would be nice if we all could focus on better-ing ourselves rather than others. Once you have reached a state of perfection, then feel free to tell me what I am doing wrong?

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:54:39 +0000

Children need to be protected from predators and abusers. Period. End of story.

Fyi for the apparently ethically and morally challenged among us:

there is INDEED "right" and "wrong" with regard to kids, and it is WRONG to abuse children regardless of the reason.

If He were alive today, does anbody really think Jesus would figure such abuse of children was ok?

The only ones I feel sorry for are the kids: they don't know any better... and the adults sure as hell should.

In this supposedly civilized 21st century, there is simply NO excuse. Period.

By: Peg

Peg — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:52:58 +0000

The question that is not being asked is "What about the lost boys?" The research done by Jon Krakauer for his book, Under the Banner of Heaven, the Story of a Violent Faith, should be read by anyone interested in learning more about the FLDS. In a community where older men have 6-7 wives, there are not enough young women to provide a wife for all the young men. What happens to these lost boys? Several years ago, the Seattle Times or Post Intelligencer, had a series of articles about the young men who are 'kicked out the community" due to minor infractions of the community rules. In essence, the community does not have enough marriageable young women, so the community must intentionally reduce the number of young men. There is a group in Salt Lake City, who works to help these "lost boys."

Is it possible, that the FLDS, though not part of the Latter Day Saints, or regular "Mormons" have still been tolerated, not investigated because of bringing up possible questions about the early history of Morman religion? I know that the last time 2 Morman missionaries came to my door, they did not stay long when I asked about the FLDS and Jon Krakauer's research.

By: Metal

Metal — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:41:13 +0000

I'd like to know what the punishment will be for the men that have practiced polygamy...last i checked, that was against the law, and when you break the law, you can't expect to get off free because your "religion" says it's ok.

By: Dana L., New Jersey

Dana L., New Jersey — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:04:51 +0000

The view through my eyes: FLDS members are perfectly entitled to believe in and pray to the God of their choice, so long as they respect the laws of the state. If they'd been practicing polygamous spiritual marriage among consenting adults, with only one legal marriage on the books for each, fine. The issue here is pervasive violation of statutory rape laws, with an awful lot of visible evidence in the form of pregnant 14-year-olds.

If the state of Texas had received a call report from a domestic violence hotline, detailing and alleging this, and had failed to investigate, that would've been absolutely unacceptable from a Division of Child Services perspective.

Texas is doing the right thing, and showing their characteristic backbone in doing it. At the end of the day, this is a simple story only made opaque by "weird religion." When that fog clears, it's easy to see: if it'd been a 50 year old lech raping a 14 year old cousin in a typical Christian's suburban basement, we'd be calling out to send in the SWAT team, lock the guy up and throw away the key.

By: Donna Lee Lakly

Donna Lee Lakly — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:45:35 +0000

All these compounds of polygamists are for is for old men to fornicate with little girls. if anyone things this is religion, they are crazy. They are pedophiles and sick sick sick

By: Elissa

Elissa — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:44:25 +0000

Child Abuse is Child Abuse no matter what name it hides behind.

By: David Alford

David Alford — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:29:18 +0000

Above article is interesting in bringing the views of the "faithful" to notice. However I believe when one grows up in a tight knit community and cut off I would make allowance for the strength of a life time of propaganda bending their view point.

** The story to date concentrates on the abuse and exploitation of girls. Here in BC Canada their is the Mormon community of Bountiful and the finding of "lost boys" some years ago. What would be interesting to investigate is given polygamy, obviously some male offspring are going to go without. What is the gender demographic in a Mormon community and how does it compare with non-Mormon communities.

** Second point how do the Mormon faithful remember "Mountain Medows" ??