Please read Brooke Adam’s article about this.
I’m glad the 3rd Court of Appeals was able to see the situation with reason and clarity. We have been asking all along, “Where is the proof?” And guess what? There was none.
Archive for May, 2008
FLDS Children Wrongfully Taken from Their Parents
Posted in Texas FLDS on May 23, 2008| Leave a Comment »
KSL’s Nightside Project
Posted in About Polygamy, Rights on May 20, 2008| 2 Comments »
I would like to extend a “thank you” to Ethan Millard and Alex Kirry of KSL’s Nightside Project for the segment they did with two ladies from Centennial Park. It was very positive and informative. I appreciate Ethan and Alex giving Centennial Park a chance to tell their story.
To listen to the podcast, click here. It is under Hour 1 for Monday.
Dear Mayor Lown,
Posted in Rights on May 19, 2008| Leave a Comment »
You want to focus so much on the crimes of the FLDS and overrule them as citizens of your little community…..What about the crimes committed by those who have sworn the oath similar to yours to uphold and protect the rights of your citizens? To read what he said, go to Mayor Lown’s Letter
Media Training in St. George
Posted in Uncategorized on May 12, 2008| 3 Comments »
Well, I have mixed feelings about the effectiveness of the media training we had in St. George.
Some guidelines we came up with during the meeting for the media are:
Reduce sensationalism – be careful of verbage that colors a story.
Be factual and well balanced.
Differentiate between criminals and the rest of the people.
Don’t ask about sexual abuse when you are interviewing a child.
Some tips the media had for us are:
Step forward and tell your story.
Develop a relationship with reporters.
“It is hard for us to demonize you if you talk to us.” – Ben Winslow
“No comment is a comment.” – Ben Winslow
Unfortuately a lot of the Q & A turned into a pro vs. anti argument about polygamy.
What do you think?
Woman Pregnant with 18th Child
Posted in Family Life on May 12, 2008| Leave a Comment »
In case you thought we were the only ones who liked having children….
Similarities Between LDS and FLDS
Posted in Texas FLDS on May 7, 2008| 7 Comments »
This is an intersting bit of information by Dr. John Walsh. I especially like #1.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Name: Dr. John Walsh
Name: Dr. John Walsh
Address: 2519 Branch View Lane Missouri City, Texas 77459
Phone: 281-403-3032
E-mail: wjwalshphd@comcast. net
LDS AND FLDS VERY SIMILAR IN BELIEF AND PRACTICE
MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 05 May 2008 Dr. John Walsh would like to correct errors in numerous media reports about divergences between the FLDS and the mainstream LDS (Mormon) Church.
Based on Dr. Walsh’s research, the LDS and FLDS share about 95% common theology and 75% common practice. The major differences in practice arise from the FLDS refusal to evolve from 19th century Mormon origins.
Here are some examples of false statements found in the Media:
MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 05 May 2008 Dr. John Walsh would like to correct errors in numerous media reports about divergences between the FLDS and the mainstream LDS (Mormon) Church.
Based on Dr. Walsh’s research, the LDS and FLDS share about 95% common theology and 75% common practice. The major differences in practice arise from the FLDS refusal to evolve from 19th century Mormon origins.
Here are some examples of false statements found in the Media:
1. “The FLDS are not Mormon.”
Correction: A Mormon is someone who believes that Joseph Smith was the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, and who also believes that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. The FLDS meet these criteria, and are therefore Mormons.
Correction: A Mormon is someone who believes that Joseph Smith was the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, and who also believes that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. The FLDS meet these criteria, and are therefore Mormons.
2. “The FLDS were never part of the LDS Church.”
Correction: The founders of Mormon fundamentalism, from which the FLDS emerged, were members of the LDS Church who left the organization over differences in the limits of priesthood authority in the 1930s. In the early 1900s, the LDS Church developed a new policy insisting that the President of the Church had the divine authority to either command polygamy or restrict its practice. The FLDS insisted upon the older policy that stated whether to practice polygamy or not was a personal matter between an individual and God. It should be noted that the last two leaders of the FLDS, Rulon Jeffs and his son Warren, adopted a more authoritarian approach to priesthood authority than the ideology originally espoused by the FLDS.
Correction: The founders of Mormon fundamentalism, from which the FLDS emerged, were members of the LDS Church who left the organization over differences in the limits of priesthood authority in the 1930s. In the early 1900s, the LDS Church developed a new policy insisting that the President of the Church had the divine authority to either command polygamy or restrict its practice. The FLDS insisted upon the older policy that stated whether to practice polygamy or not was a personal matter between an individual and God. It should be noted that the last two leaders of the FLDS, Rulon Jeffs and his son Warren, adopted a more authoritarian approach to priesthood authority than the ideology originally espoused by the FLDS.
3. “The FLDS don’t practice what the LDS practice.”
Correction: FLDS and LDS worship services are very similar in format. They use almost exactly the same ritual. FLDS and LDS worship services are closer to each other in almost all respects than either of them is to the practices of any other religion, denomination, or sect. The FLDS use the temple rituals from the 1800s, while the LDS have modernized them. The FLDS use religious garments approved by Joseph Smith, while the LDS have updated their garments to allow the wearing of modern clothing.
Correction: FLDS and LDS worship services are very similar in format. They use almost exactly the same ritual. FLDS and LDS worship services are closer to each other in almost all respects than either of them is to the practices of any other religion, denomination, or sect. The FLDS use the temple rituals from the 1800s, while the LDS have modernized them. The FLDS use religious garments approved by Joseph Smith, while the LDS have updated their garments to allow the wearing of modern clothing.
4. “The LDS Church has renounced polygamy. Anyone who believes in polygamy is ex-communicated. The LDS believes in the family unit of one man, one woman and their children.”
Correction: Polygamy is still an essential doctrine in LDS theology and is still practiced in certain forms by members of the LDS Church. While the LDS Church does not presently allow members to have more than one living spouse, the Church does allow widowers to marry again for “time and all eternity” if they so desire. For example, two current apostles, Russell M. Nelson and Dallin H. Oaks, have both married a second wife for eternity. Apostle Oaks has told LDS Church members that he expects to continue marriages with both women simultaneously in heaven, and thus, according to LDS theology, he plans to procreate children with both of his wives after the resurrection. Major LDS Church authorities and theologians, such as Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, have stated that the Church will restore the full practice of polygamy after the Second Coming of Christ, if not before.
Correction: Polygamy is still an essential doctrine in LDS theology and is still practiced in certain forms by members of the LDS Church. While the LDS Church does not presently allow members to have more than one living spouse, the Church does allow widowers to marry again for “time and all eternity” if they so desire. For example, two current apostles, Russell M. Nelson and Dallin H. Oaks, have both married a second wife for eternity. Apostle Oaks has told LDS Church members that he expects to continue marriages with both women simultaneously in heaven, and thus, according to LDS theology, he plans to procreate children with both of his wives after the resurrection. Major LDS Church authorities and theologians, such as Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, have stated that the Church will restore the full practice of polygamy after the Second Coming of Christ, if not before.
5. “The FLDS treat women as inferior to men, while the LDS treat women and men as equals.”
Correction: There is no significant difference in the place of women in the LDS Church versus the FLDS. This is because both groups define their gender positions on a common canon of scripture. With both the FLDS and LDS, the place of women depends entirely upon how each household interprets scriptural passages indicating that wives should be subordinate to their husbands. Individuals interpret differently what subordination means. With both groups, you can find women who feel they are equal to their husbands and also find women who feel they are treated as inferiors.
Correction: There is no significant difference in the place of women in the LDS Church versus the FLDS. This is because both groups define their gender positions on a common canon of scripture. With both the FLDS and LDS, the place of women depends entirely upon how each household interprets scriptural passages indicating that wives should be subordinate to their husbands. Individuals interpret differently what subordination means. With both groups, you can find women who feel they are equal to their husbands and also find women who feel they are treated as inferiors.
6. “The LDS Church stopped practicing polygamy in 1890, after the federal government banned it.”
Correction: The LDS Church still secretly practiced polygamy for several decades after the 1890 proclamation. In the early part of the 20th century, there was continual disagreement among LDS leaders as to whether the Church should continue to secretly defy US federal law over what many Mormons considered to be an inviolable religious principle. It was not until 1911, with the excommunication of Apostle John W. Taylor, that Church authorities had a consensus amongst themselves to truly discontinue the practice of polygamy. Even then, the Church did not aggressively excommunicate polygamists until the 1930s, when they began to forcefully pursue a mainstream all-American image in the national consciousness.
# # #
Correction: The LDS Church still secretly practiced polygamy for several decades after the 1890 proclamation. In the early part of the 20th century, there was continual disagreement among LDS leaders as to whether the Church should continue to secretly defy US federal law over what many Mormons considered to be an inviolable religious principle. It was not until 1911, with the excommunication of Apostle John W. Taylor, that Church authorities had a consensus amongst themselves to truly discontinue the practice of polygamy. Even then, the Church did not aggressively excommunicate polygamists until the 1930s, when they began to forcefully pursue a mainstream all-American image in the national consciousness.
# # #
If you’d like more information or to interview Dr. John Walsh, please contact him at 281-403-3032 or e-mail Dr. Walsh at wjwalshphd@comcast. net.
A Mother’s Thoughts
Posted in Rights on May 2, 2008| 3 Comments »
Silent and lone, silent and lone!
Where, tell me where, are my little ones gone,
That used to be playing about my knee,
With their noisy mirth and boisterous glee?
Who littered the carpets and misplaced the chairs,
And scattered their playthings all unawares;
Who called for their suppers, with eager shout,
And while they were getting, ran in and out;
Who kept all the apples and nuts from spoiling,
And never saved jackets and pants from soiling.
Silent and lone, silent and lone!
Where, tell me where, are my little ones gone?
There are no little faces to wash to-night,
No little troubles for mother to right,
No little blue eyes to be sung to sleep,
No little playthings to put up to keep,
No little garments to hang on the rack
No little tales to tell, no nuts to crack,
No little trundle bed brimful of rolic,
Calling for mamma to settle the frolic,
No little soft lips to press me with kisses-
Oh! such a sad, lonely evening as this is;
No little voices to shout with delight,
“Good night, dear mamma, good night, good night!”
Silent the house is, no little ones here,
To startle a smile or chase back a tear.
-by a Short Creek Mother
The above poem was published in volumn 19 (October 1953) of the Truth Magazine.
Town Hall Meeting
Posted in Government on May 2, 2008| 1 Comment »
For Immediate ReleaseMay 2, 2008
ContactPaul Murphy:
(801) 538-1892
pmurphy@utah.gov
MEDIA & POLYGAMY: TELLING THE STORYA.G. TOWN HALL WILL EXPLORE MEDIA EXPOSURE AND MORE
Polygamy and the roles of the media and government will be explored ina Town Hall Meeting in St. George. This will be the fourth Town HallMeeting concerning polygamy for Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff andArizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
“We started this discussion five years ago and this will be a good chance to reflect on where we have gone and where we need to go,” says Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
The Attorneys General of Utah and Arizona will be joined for a panel discussion by Arizona State Representative David Lujan, Centennial Park resident Don Timpson and Utah Safety Net Coordinator Paul Murphy. The public will be invited to attend and participate.
“Previous Town Halls have all been productive, and this year’s will bean important opportunity to strengthen relations between law enforcement and the Colorado City/Hildale community,” says Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
The Town Hall Meeting will follow a half-day training session for members of polygamous communities, journalists, law enforcement officers and social service providers working with plural families. The training session has two goals:
* Help journalists seek truth and report it; minimize harm; act independently; and be held accountable.
* Help polygamists and people working with polygamists provide information in a way that is accurate, fair and minimizes harm,especially to children.
Both events are being sponsored by the Utah-Arizona Safety Net Committee, which brings together government agencies, non-profit organizations and interested individuals together to “open up communication, break down barriers and coordinate efforts to give people associated with the practice of polygamy equal access to justice, safety and services.”
What: Town Hall Meeting
When: 7:00-9:00 p.m., Thursday, May 8, 2008
What: Media Training Session
When: 1:00-5:00 p.m, Thursday May 8, 2008
Where: Both events will be at the Dixie Center, 1835 Convention CenterDrive, St. George, Utah
More information can be found at
http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/PrRel/prmay22008.html.
Does anyone have any thoughts, questions, comments, or concerns about this?
The FLDS Problem
Posted in Texas FLDS on May 2, 2008| 8 Comments »
The following public forum letter was printed in the Salt Lake Tribune on April 30, 2008.
While emotionally appealing, the plea that the Texas FLDS children be returned to their parents fails to answer the question, “What then?” The Short Creek “return policy” has resulted in: the “lost boys,” welfare fraud amounting to billions of dollars, 15-year-old girls exercising “free will” to marry 50-year-old men (please!), and women “reassigned” to new husbands outside the bounds of secular law. Which action presents the greater evil?
Nature provides a near 50/50 ratio of female to male, yet in the Texas compound there are four women to every man. Someone is being short-changed. Being expelled from the community, the “lost boys” find themselves unprepared to fend in normal society. These expulsions warrant jail time for the responsible authority and for the parents. How many men can afford to clothe, feed, house and educate 30 children? Polygamy is not only against the law, but by depending upon government welfare for its survival, it crosses the boundary of church and state. Yes, the Texas incident seems harsh, but something harsh is needed, similarly in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff should do more than close one eye.
F.T. Gardiner Provo
According to F.T. Gardiner, FLDS welfare fraud amouts to “billions of dollors.” Billions? That is a figure I find extremely hard to believe.
What are your thoughts on this letter?
