The fruits of Joseph Smith' philandering continue:
Texas — State authorities took custody Friday of 18 girls who had been living at a secretive West Texas religious retreat built by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.
Fifty-two girls, ages 6 months to 17 years, were put on a bus and taken away from the compound in the afternoon, said Marleigh Meisner, spokeswoman for state Child Protective Services. About half the children had been interviewed so far, with a judge giving the state custody of about a third of the girls removed from the retreat.
Authorities entered the 1,700-acre retreat, built by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, late Thursday and served search and arrest warrants Friday. There were no arrests by the afternoon.
I wonder if government authorities will enforce anti-bigamy statutes against all faiths that practice it. That being said, good for the government in this case.
One hundred sixty-seven children have now been removed; both boys and girls.
The babies that have been removed may very well be the children of the teenage girls who have been raped.
Also, any parent who rapes or facilitates/encourages the rape of his or her children is an abuser, so I hope the adults who have perpetrated the abuse go to jail so this sick practice will end.
I'm so grateful for those in the government who have the courage and fortitude and care to help these children escape the abuse!
~dancer~
"The search for reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings for it destroys the world in which you live." Nisargadatta Maharaj
I don't think the anti-bigamy laws will help, since polygamists normally do not legally marry any of their wives other than the first one.
Anyone notice that the deseret news article TD linked did a naughty, and referred to the group as a fundamentalist LDS group? I thought the LDS church didn't want their name associated with polygamists and had warned everyone not to use it in that way.
We hate to seem like we don’t trust every nut with a story, but there’s evidence we can point to, and dance while shouting taunting phrases.
Once again, the LDS get angry when other Christians insist the Mormons do not have the right to call themselves christians, if that is what they believe they are - but they deny fundamentalist groups the right to call themselves Mormons, if that is what they believe they are. In fact, the fundamentalist groups view THEMSELVES as the "real Mormons", and the Utah church being a pretender.
We hate to seem like we don’t trust every nut with a story, but there’s evidence we can point to, and dance while shouting taunting phrases.
The FLDS do follow the teachings of Joseph Smith much more closely than does the mainstream church, and in my opinion have a right to be considered the true Mormons.
I do not understand why the LDS think they can claim exclusive rights to the title. They think they have the authority, the FLDS think they do, the CoC think they do... God seems to be quiet on the subject, or rather keeps telling each group they are right. (sigh).
If anyone wants to know what polygamy was like as practiced by the early church members they just have to look at these FLDS communities... they are a glimpse into the past. (With the possible exception that as far as I know these girls and women can only be "married" to one man at a time, unlike Joseph Smith who married other men's wives).
~dancer~
"The search for reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings for it destroys the world in which you live." Nisargadatta Maharaj
truth dancer wrote:The FLDS do follow the teachings of Joseph Smith much more closely than does the mainstream church, and in my opinion have a right to be considered the true Mormons.
I do not understand why the LDS think they can claim exclusive rights to the title. They think they have the authority, the FLDS think they do, the CoC think they do... God seems to be quiet on the subject, or rather keeps telling each group they are right. (sigh).
Because LDS are the ones with the money and the numbers. He who controls the money calls the shots.
I think it's a good thing the FLDS moved to Texas. Now maybe someone is actually going to bring them to heel.
Funny how it was the government that brought the original church to heel, and here it is again, doing the same thing with one of the the last remaining offsprings.
Personally I hope they put every last man with a teenage wife in jail. The children will be no worse off without them.