This won't be 'another Short Creek' (YFZ/fLDS Daily Thread - 4/28/08)

Deseret News ^ | April 28, 2008 | Amy Joi O'Donoghue

[MizSterious]

This won't be 'another Short Creek'

Action: Criminal charges are urged

By Amy Joi O'Donoghue
Deseret News

Published: April 28, 2008

SAN ANGELO, Texas — A Texas lawmaker who helped pass legislation strengthening the state's marriage laws in response to the Fundamentalist LDS Church presence in his state said he believes criminal charges will result from the Eldorado raid earlier this month.

"I don't think this will be another Short Creek," Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R- Kerrville, told the Deseret News.

The controversial Short Creek Raid of 1953 in Arizona rounded up polygamist wives and children and jailed the men. No criminal charges were ever brought from the highly publicized event, and all the women returned to their community. It was widely regarded as the political downfall of then-Gov. Howard Pyle because of persecution overtones.

It is 2008, however, and this is Texas, and a lot has changed.

"We didn't invite them here, but by God we are going to make sure they follow the law," Hilderbran said. "This violates Texas values and our lifestyle and the way we see traditional relationships. We are not going to tolerate it."

[MizSterious]

4/27 thread with articles on:

Gene disorders in group, child custody processes, appeal to Gov. Perry, unusual way of life in YFZ, possibility of children held at YFZ whose parents were forced out, sheriff says authorities had spy inside sect.

4/26 thread with articles on:

Cost of care for the children of the sect, charges that two kids might be missing, how members of the sect dress, court rejects requests of mothers to stay with children, appeals court cancels hearing, Canadian involved in sect, culture shock for kids, oil drillers last laugh, possible involvement in human trafficking and drugs at Colorado City, Rep. Kay Granger's request to investigate financial ties to USG

4/25 thread with aritcles on:

Courts allowing state to place children in foster homes, legal challenges to the raid, beliefs on polygamy, protests against the raid and removal of children, Warren Jeff's appeal, portions of the Texas Family Code

4/24 thread with articles on:

Seized polygamous sect kids face tough adjustment, articles on how and where the children were placed, Carolyn Jessup on Canadian children possibly at the ranch, legal aid group challenges judge, interview with Benjamin Bistline, 40 women choose to go to safe house instead of back to cult, 25 girls claimed to be adults, now found to be minors.

Currently collecting informative links to include with the daily threads--should appear this weekend.

As always, for the sake of orderliness (and to prevent the pulling of threads and/or messages), let's do try to stay on topic and polite. You can't have a flame war if you don't take the bait.

____________________

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I do not run a pinglist, but you can freepmail Politicalmom and request that you be added to her FLDS Eldorado Legal Case Ping List.

[MrEdd]

In before the pedophile apologists.

[MizSterious]

New 'Prophet' Film Hits Core Issues of YFZ Raid
Monday April 28, 8:00 am ET

LOS ANGELES, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- RED ROAD PRODUCTIONS, in association with Five Star Productions, has completed "Follow the Prophet," a film that looks at the horrific forced marriages of under age females by cult elders. It focuses on the emotional damage these young women face in their lives from sexual molestation. The film follows a man's journey into the underbelly of a religious cult and his discovery of sexual indoctrination of children and his heroic efforts to save them.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080428/LAM051)

Source: Red Road Productions

·	Red Road Productions presents Follow the Prophet.
·	Click Here to Download Image

"Follow the Prophet" arrives in the wake of the raid on the polygamist community at Yearning for Zion Ranch, Texas at the beginning of April 2008. Just as the girl known as "Sarah" cried for help when she slipped an anonymous call to authorities, "Follow the Prophet" is about the fictional character, Avery, and her cry for help. The story finds Colonel Jude Marks crossing paths with Avery, a young teenage cult runaway, who seeks freedom and safety from a life of sexual abuse. Together, Avery and Col. Marks attempt to expose the truth that is hidden in a town in Utah.

"Polygamy is nothing more than the systemic abuse and exploitation of children hidden beneath the skirt of religious freedom. Founded and perpetrated upon thousands beginning and maintained under Mormon theology, polygamy is nothing more than an Organized Crime and must be eradicated to safeguard America's most vulnerable, our children," says Flora Jessop, http://helpthechildbrides.com/

Excerpt. Read the rest at source: Yahoo! News.

[MizSterious]

Daily thread ping!

[Enosh]

"We didn't invite them here, but by God we are going to make sure they follow the law"

God Bless Texas!

[MizSterious]

Debate Heats Up Over Polygamist Children Case

Staff Report
NewsWest 9

SAN ANGELO - The mothers from a polygamist compound in Eldorado say a judge went too far when she removed all including the youngest children from the ranch in West Texas.

But some child advocates and family law experts, say not so.

Former District Judge Scott McCown says leaving some children behind would have meant they could have been taken out of state or subjected to abuse.

It would also have slowed down the investigation.

A lawyer for the Mothers' says many of the children were to young to be taught to believe in celestial marriages between underage girls and older men.

Source: NewsWest9

[MizSterious]

Polygamist Bountiful, B.C. thrives, despite the law

Winston Blackmore the religious leader of the polygamous community of Bountiful located near Creston, B.C., shares a laugh with six of his daughters and some of his grand children Monday, April 21, 2008. (Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Members of the polygamous community of Bountiful walk up a hill in Bountiful near Creston, B.C., on Monday, April 21, 2008. (Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Josh Visser, CTV.ca News
 
Updated: Sun. Apr. 27 2008 11:45 AM ET

Tucked away in the shadow of fortress-like mountains of southeast British Columbia, the town of Bountiful has managed to somehow avoid the wrath of Canadian law for over 50 years despite openly practising polygamy.

Despite Canadian laws against the practice of plural marriage existing since 1890, Bountiful has managed to thrive, almost doubling its population to over 1,000 in the past decade. All are believed to be descendants of six men.

Winston Blackmore is the defacto religious leader of the town, despite being excommunicated from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) in 2002 following a power struggle with the sect's prophet Warren Jeffs. Jeffs has since been jailed in Utah for being an accomplice to rape for forcing a 14-year-old girl to marry a 19-year-old.

Blackmore has rather openly defied Canadian laws, marrying over 25 women according to his first wife and arranging dozens of polygamous marriages in the town. While Blackmore hasn't revealed the exact number of wives he has, he has openly admitted to having more than one wife.

But while Canadians see American authorities cracking down on the polygamous sect, such as the recent raid on Eldorado, Texas where over 400 children, including at least one Canadian, were taken into custody -- there has not been similar action here.

That inaction lies at the heart of Vancouver Sun columnist Daphne Bramham's thoroughly researched book, "The Secret Lives of Saints: The Child Brides and Lost Boys in Canada's Polygamous Mormon Sect."

Excerpt. Read more at source: CTV.CA

[MizSterious]

Arguing for reason in religious beliefs

Published on 4/28/2008 in Home »Editorial »Letters to The Editor

By now we've all had the opportunity to learn some of the sordid details of the sad episode surrounding the west Texas FLDS polygamist cult. What perhaps many of the readers of The Day have not fully appreciated is how those events, bizarre as they appear, can be easily explained under the banner of religion.

I cannot think of anyone that would force their 14-year-old daughter to marry a much older man (already with several wives) unless that person believes the practice is sanctioned by God Himself.

Human nature is to nurture and protect young people, particularly daughters, from all types of predatory dangers. Yet here we have evidence in 21st century America of folks who have overcome this natural defense mechanism and allowed their young daughters to be raped; all under the banner, in fact with the full endorsement and encouragement, of their religious beliefs.

Religious apologetics might argue that not all religions are equal, that this one is obviously wrong. The FLDS pastors were not speaking in the name of the true Christian God; the congregation was simply and sadly duped. But I ask them, in the realm of religious beliefs, who argues for reason? Atheism is often criticized for not offering a solid moral stance; i.e., without God, moral values are relative, debatable.

So, how do Christians explain the moral values of the FLDS faithful? How can deeply faithful, God-fearing, otherwise decent folks be so wrong? The answer is simple, when one resigns the use of reason, no belief can be said to be crazy.

Carlos Mojica East Lyme

Source: The Day.com

[Alice in Wonderland]

More FLDS videos:

DAMNED TO HEAVEN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1cTk2cJQac

BANKING ON HEAVEN
http://bankingonheaven.com/flash/BankingTrailer092006.html

[greyfoxx39]

Daily Thread Ping

Thanks for the thread, Miz, and all your hard work.

[metmom]

"We didn't invite them here, but by God we are going to make sure they follow the law," Hilderbran said. "This violates Texas values and our lifestyle and the way we see traditional relationships. We are not going to tolerate it."

Good on them. It's about time someone had the er, backbone to stand up for what's right and protect those in society that are being abused and brainwashed and cannot protect themselves.

[TheDon]

In 2005 Hilderbran ran legislation, ultimately passed under a broader bill, that was modeled after Utah's polygamy laws in direct response to the members of the FLDS Church acquiring property for the Yearning for Zion Ranch near Eldorado

....

Hilderbran's original HB3006, which was incorporated into a larger child welfare reform bill, SB6, in 2005, raised the marrying age with parental consent from 14 to 16 and included provisions that made it a first-degree felony to marry a child under the age of 16. Being convicted of doing so is punishable up to life in prison. The measures also had criminal penalties for people who officiate such a union and sanctions against parents who knowingly endorse a union and provide false information about the age of their marrying children.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff testified in Texas legislative committee hearings in support of the proposed changes, which were intended to help Texas authorities address newfound problems stemming from the FLDS compound and its inhabitants' way of life.

"Our marriage laws needed to be updated anyway," he said. "Moving from 14 to 16 was a no-brainer for parental consent. It would have the least amount of push-back."

Hilderbran said Texas had enough authority under the criminal laws already on the books for statutory rape and sexual assault of minors to justify its raid and believes those provisions "really boxes them in."

I guess the FLDS folks moved to Texas as Texas law allowed them to marry 14 year girls, but those laws were changed. Good for Texas! Nail the perps and send them to prison!

[donna]

So, will there ever be a Dearborn, Texas?

[MizSterious]

Former FLDS member is sharing her insights on the sect

By Brian West
Deseret News

Published: April 28, 2008

SAN ANGELO, Texas — Pastor Gerald Clark's baritone voice boomed as he strummed his guitar and sang, "I've got peace like a river" with his Baptist congregation.

His subsequent sermon, "Let's Go Fishing With Jesus," fit well with the theme of Sunday's guest speaker — a missionary invited to share her insights into the unusual group of neighbors that has dominated the local newspaper headlines here and all the TV news channels.

"I am a missionary to the polygamous people," explains Mary Mackert. "God called me to the FLDS."

A former member of the Fundamentalist LDS Church herself, Mackert is making the rounds in Texas and elsewhere to talk about her past life as a polygamous wife, her insights on the sect, her spiritual conversion to born again Christianity and her new life as a missionary.

"Not only did he save me, but he brought me to a point where I fell in love with my (FLDS) people and their need for the Lord," she told the congregation of about 50 worshippers at the Central Faith Baptist Church.

Born and raised in Hildale, Utah, Mackert said she became the sixth of seven wives to a 50-year-old man when she was 17. "He was older than my father," she said.

"We were told there are only a few good men out there and if you don't share your good man with a sister wife, she'll have to marry a jerk."

Mackert lived in the Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City and eventually ended her marriage of 16 years and the FLDS lifestyle. With the help of an attorney, her five children came with her. She felt compelled to attend a Baptist church in Sandy, Utah, where she was eventually baptized.

"I once made fun of Jesus freaks and now I am one," she joked.

She showed the congregation slides of FLDS leaders, explaining the history of the church and some of its unusual practices. Other pictures depicted her grandchildren who live in her mission area in northern Idaho and British Columbia — including grandchildren who have been "cut off" from her because of her attempts to instill non-FLDS teachings.

One photo depicted several young girls — "precious little jewels" — in long dresses dancing around a maypole. "It just breaks my heart to think what kind of life they'll have if someone doesn't show them the gospel and help them get out of that 'lifestyle,"' she said.

Mackert has another motive for being in Texas, or as she calls it, another phase of her mission. She believes God wants her to care for some of the 462 children that were taken from the YFZ Ranch and placed into state custody.

"I have spoken with (Child Protective Services) and let them know that I would take any and all children that they would allow me to have that aren't going to be returned to their parents," she said.

A Baptist church in Fort Worth has offered to purchase or rent a home for her and any children she may be allowed to care for or even adopt.

"I believe God equipped me to understand what they're going through. I went through that myself, and guided my children as much as I could through it and watched them struggle," Mackert said.

While watching news reports of the raid and the custody battles, Mackert has looked closely for familiar faces. She has two sisters who live at the ranch, at least one former sister wife, a stepdaughter, a niece and possibly others.

Long article. Read the rest at source: The Deseret News.

[colorcountry]

I wonder if this man and now licensed minister, Brian Mackert, is her son.

Google results for Brian Mackert

[Hyzenthlay]

FLDS and a... maypole? Seriously, wtf? Aren't maypoles some wiccan/neopagan fertility thing? So what would such extreme fundamentalist Mormons like the FLDS be doing with one?

[MizSterious]

It seemed odd to me, too, but then I only know what I read about this group. What seemed so strange about it to me is that I’d also read that they weren’t permitted to have toys or even crayons—a maypole seems out of place in that environment.

[MizSterious]

Interesting find! I wonder, too!

[Politicalmom]

PING!!

FReepmail to be added to the FLDS Eldorado Legal Case Ping List

[org.whodat]

A lawyer for the Mothers' says many of the children were to young to be taught to believe in celestial marriages between underage girls and older men.

A bought and paid for lawyer will do and say what he is paid to, he will lick you hand and fetch if you pay he/she enough. They have no principle and for the most part are soulless there are a lot more bad apple than good. So you cannot pay much attention to what they say.