The Mormon Gulag

[_Yong Xi]

Goodk,

Was Chris Buttars, a member of the Utah State Legislature, director of the Utah Boys Ranch at the time you were there? Is that the place you are talking about?

[_Jersey Girl]

Is it this facility, GoodK?

http://www.utahboysranch.org/Index.html

And if it is, how is this the camp you describe?

Are you saying the above linked website is a lie?

[_Pokatator]

Hey, Papa Doc Peterson, thanks for being so concerned with my life and intellect, very thoughtful of you. Maybe now you should be thoughtful of GoodK. You seem to stalk him, his life and his threads and posts in the same manner that you accuse Scratch of stalking you. Kettle/Black.

[_GoodK]

I'm not sure how much it was involved with the church, but my impression was that they were affiliated in a similar way as this Boys Ranch.

I don't know how they are connected otherwise, but the weekend supervisor at the ranch came from that place in Hawaii. I think it was shut down.

Perhaps GoodK is telling the truth.

Luckily, you don't have to take my word for it. If you see, I haven't posted any of my own personal stories about the ranch. I wrote a few portions of the website, including the mission statement, other things were written by other people involved. I receive emails from people all the time, some of them have already been posted. I had nothing to do with the protest on October 18. So you're going to have to do a little better than your still small whispers about me, Oh Great Deceiver. I'd ask you again to place your narcissism on hold for this thread. '

GoodK,

A couple follow up questions. When you said "contribution" you mean financial right?

No.

Or are you saying he's submitted material?

Yes.

If he's actually been published in FARMS, I hope I find out who he is.

You can easily do so.

The other question was, can you clarify who was having a beer with who, and what kind of beer it was?

Unfortunately the selection was limited to the mainstream high school beers. Fortunately, it was an open bar situated under Air Force One at the Reagan Library. I had Heineken and he had Odouls. He always orders non-alcoholic beer or a virgin daiquiri. I'm not sure if he really likes the taste of these drinks or if he likes to be seen drinking non-alcoholic drinks. We had a good time together. We usually did, back then (April). I have a picture to prove it, if DCP wishes to continue polluting my thread with his dishonest whispers.

One question for you, Lowell Bennion seemed to me to be a fabulous man with a very kind heart, (based on having read several of his books). I heard from someone whose father was good friends with Bennion that Lowell wasn't really a believer, (maybe a believer in the same way Moksha is a believer).Do you think LB was the instigator of cruelty and torture that obviously was part of the program?

I'm glad you asked. What Lowell Bennion founded - the Boys Ranch in the 60's - was much different than what actually exists today. What Bennion founded was an actual Ranch with cows and horses in central Utah. When ownership changed hands, they moved to West Jordan Utah. They own that ranch still - called "Hannah" - although they lease it out to staff members and their family. They took us out there many times to work.
I have no reason to believe that Lowell Bennion had anything to do with the abuse at the Utah Boys Ranch. In fact, it seems like much changed, including location, when Buttars took over.

One more question... have any leaders been held responsible and punished for the abuse?

Punished by the law? Not that I know of.

Is it this facility, GoodK?

http://www.utahboysranch.org/Index.html


Are you saying the above linked website is a lie?

Did you find that website on your own, or did you find the link on my web page? Did you see my page yet? Is there something wrong with the layout? I'm open to suggestions. Seriously.

Like I said, you don't have to take my word for anything. Here is an email from a Boys Ranch kid that was sent to me. This kid happens to be a student at BYU, a return missionary, an all around good kid. The FARMS Review editor would be hard pressed to impugn his character.

Eric,

This is from their FAQ -


"Are the youth at West Ridge Academy locked up?
No. As an early-intervention residential program, an integral part of treatment is the choice a young person makes to remain on campus, in the absence of walls and locks to detain him."

You can talk about how they lie to parents and how the lying starts even on the website - all you need to do is show this quote and explain that if someone does "chose" to leave in the alarm-equipped facility in night they have every single staff member out of their bed with flashlights and vehicles looking for you asap.

And if it is, how is this the camp you describe?

What the hell do you mean, how is this the camp you describe?

Goodk,

Was Chris Buttars, a member of the Utah State Legislature, director of the Utah Boys Ranch at the time you were there? Is that the place you are talking about?

Yes. He is an evil man. We knew each other very well, and I talk about him a lot in my book. Check out the website http://www.mormongulag.com and click on "bad press" for some pictures of him.

So the Church supports this? Unofficially, perhaps?

Yes. I'd like to change that, though.

The link to the talk where President Hinckley mentions the bulletins he receives from the Utah Boys Ranch is on my website.

[_truth dancer]

A little tid bit from the philosophy page on the Gulag website...

What Your Child May Do

Typically your child will be uncomfortable or in denial as to the reasons he/she is here. He/she may try several types of manipulation to get your attention and to help himself/herself cope. Usually, these are the same manipulative or coping behaviors he/she used with you in the past. It is our goal to change those negative behaviors so your child can function appropriately in society. You may see the following attempts at manipulation:

" Deathbed Repentance. Examples include I see the errors of my ways. I have changed and you can take me home now. I will be good.

" It may feel good to not be the bad guy and be in the position to rescue your child. Or you may be in pain yourself and want to have your child at home. Dont fall for this manipulation. Beware of believing that your child has the capacity to change this quickly, or that he/she is sincerely repentant. Nearly all of our students attempt this manipulation in some form, yet not a single one has the skills needed to successfully return home at this point. They will relapse and resume their bad behaviors.

" Negotiation. Example: If you take me out of here, I will be good forever!

" Your child is not in the position to negotiate. His/her integrity has not been developed and change will take time. Your child will not have the inner resources to maintain any lasting change at all.

" Hostage Taking. Example: If you leave me at West Ridge, I will hate you forever. If you leave me here, I will run away or hurt myself.

" Your child is using your love for him/her against you. Your child knows this is the ace that will get your attention by making you feel guilty. Your child is hoping that you will back off and not insist that he/she change.

" Triangulation/Splitting. Example: Your child gets you alone and tells you about the mean things staff members are saying to him/her.

" This is where your child will try to split one parent against the therapist or the other parent to get his/her way. The childs goal is to dismantle those who are holding him/her accountable for his/her actions. Your child may even say, Dont tell the therapist because I will get into trouble. The more united we are, the more effective the treatment and program will be.

" Fear Factor. Example: All my roommates are drug addicts or gay. I am not as bad as everyone else here. The staff beats up the students. The food isnt nutritious. The school isnt very good.

" This is probably the most subtle and commonly used tool. If your child uses this technique, his/her goal is to split us. Your child is playing upon your fears to attempt to change the outcome. Your child wants West Ridge Academy to become the bad guy. If you have concerns, please check them out with your therapist in a way that continues to support the therapy we are doing. Fears are normal but usually based on false evidence. Never let your child see you challenge staff or West Ridge as a whole. Always bring your concerns to us outside of your childs presence.

SICK!

[_Ray A]

GoodK,

The abuse described in the testimonials are quite sickening. Unfortunately similar has happened in Oz.

Sex abuse at two Christian Brothers orphanages in Victoria -- St Augustine's and St Vincent's.

This is only one report from one state, but all of this occurred long ago and came to light through organisations like Broken Rites.

Broken Rites Australia was formed in 1992 and opened a telephone hotline for victims in 1993. We receive calls and emails from throughout Australia.

Broken Rites is staffed by volunteers who are themselves survivors of church-related sexual abuse. We are therefore motivated to help other people – free of charge. Our executive committee includes professional practitioners with expertise in investigation and advocacy.

We have supported victims from the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church and the Uniting Church, as well as from smaller denominations.

About 90 per cent of the victims who have contacted Broken Rites since 1993 have been from a Catholic background.

If you are doing something like this, which it seems, then no matter how sincere the testimonials of those who've had positive experiences are, abuse like this needs to be exposed. From what I've read so far, I support what you're doing.

[_Jersey Girl]

Did you find that website on your own, or did you find the link on my web page? Did you see my page yet? Is there something wrong with the layout? I'm open to suggestions. Seriously.

Yes, I've looked at your website and no, I didn't get the link from there. I googled up the website I posted.

Is it the same facility as the one you describe on your website?

Is the website that ** I** linked to a lie?

[_GoodK]

The staff beats up the students. 

" This is probably the most subtle and commonly used tool. If your child uses this technique, his/her goal is to split us. Your child is playing upon your fears to attempt to change the outcome. Your child wants West Ridge Academy to become the bad guy. If you have concerns, please check them out with your therapist in a way that continues to support the therapy we are doing. Fears are normal but usually based on false evidence. Never let your child see you challenge staff or West Ridge as a whole. Always bring your concerns to us outside of your childs presence.

This is why boys were powerless to do anything about the abuse.

[_Jersey Girl]

Hold on.

GoodK....are you from your website and TD in her comments, referring to the same website that I linked to in my post?

I'm missing something here...

[_GoodK]

[
Is it the same facility as the one you describe on your website?

If you read anything on the website you wouldn't be asking.

Is the website that ** I** linked to a lie?

Uh, I linked to it here.

What do you mean is the website a lie? Like, the entire website is a sham? Or are there lies on the website? If that is what you really meant to ask, yes there are lies on that website. You don't have to take my word for it, though. I think that was answered by my friend from BYU.