Forbidden Fruit (Inbreeding among FLDS cult)

Phoenix New Times ^ | December 29, 2005 | John Dougherty

[bonfire]

i live a few miles from a huge Amish community. Big time genetic defects. Most they can’t even identify. They just know that “somethin’ ain’t right”.

[Huntress]

Take a look at http://www.thepeerage.com/ and navigate around. In particular, check out the Habsburgs, as well as the descendants of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Most entries have a number that denotes the subject “Consanguinity Index,” where a higher number indicates more inbreeding. There is also a feature called the “Pop-up Pedigree,” which displays the subject’s parents and grandparents. Start going backwards from those, and the level of inbreeding will boggle your mind.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Maybe yes, and maybe no.

The LDS Church at that time was much more diverse than this FLDS cult is. Latter-day Saints were coming from Canada, Britain, Wales and other parts of the U.S., gathering together and moving to Utah. So, the gene pool would have been much wider than the FLDS, which basically started with two families.

On the other hand, the percentage of LDS that practiced polygamy during the Brigham Young days was quite small. Perhaps only 10% of LDS men ever entered into polygamous marriages. That may have kept the polygamous gene pool a bit smaller—with only certain families engaging in plural marriages.

[And in the interest of full disclosure, yes, I am LDS. And yes, I am very glad we stopped doing the polygamy thing 120 years ago. One wife is more than enough for me.]

[ansel12]

"The only long-term solution to the health crisis is" Texas

[BitBucket]

There was a documentary some years back about birth defects in one of the Amish towns. A Korean doctor had managed to win their trust and persuade them to use his clinic. I can’t seem find the name of the program - tried searching Demonoid but only found Weird Al Yankovik.

[CarrotAndStick]

But... but... 6+ billion people descended from Adam and Eve!

[Choose Ye This Day]

I guess they had no deficiencies to hand down.

[UCANSEE2]

Thank you.

I appreciate the ping.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Amish lethal microencephaly is one defect:

http://www.genome.gov/10004977

Sketch on p. 3, MRI on p. 4:

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/94517067/PDFSTART

[bonfire]

Wierd Al??? LOLOL!

The only one I know of is “Devil’s Playground”.

[LibertarianInExile]

"Victims suffer a range of symptoms, including severe epileptic seizures, inability to walk or even sit upright, severe speech impediments, failure to grow at a normal rate, and tragic physical deformities."

Hmmm...

[Will88]

Cousin marriages are a topic around the world:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44204

http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/000452.php

http://www.emro.who.int/Publications/EMRO%20PUB-TPS-GEN-PRT2-CHPT5-5.2.HTM

[Wiseghy]

Actually, it sort of was. The Egyptians practiced head wrapping of royal babies.

They wanted the people to think of them as a separate race, decended from the gods. You know, kinda like some presidential candidates we know.

[bonfire]

This center is smack dab in the Middle of Amish and Mennonite country. Visited once when I was in H.S. Saw some horrific things there. Babies..children..... and they didn’t show us the worst cases. They showed us the best. The things that burn in your brain.

http://www.hattielarlham.org/

[squibs]

all LOOK strange in similar ways.
Shoot just go to central Pa. and look at the Amish.
They (the women) all look alike.
No reply necessary.

[truth_seeker]

“The horny old goats in charge could care less! I wonder if they even believe in God?”

They believe in prophet Warren Jeffs, who supplies them with young girls, fresh for more in-breedin.

He is either directing the pairings from prison in Utah, or some other males are now doing the arranging.

[GOP_Raider]

One wife is more than enough for me.

So is one mother-in-law.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Amen to that.

[GOP_Raider]

On the other hand, the percentage of LDS that practiced polygamy during the Brigham Young days was quite small. Perhaps only 10% of LDS men ever entered into polygamous marriages. That may have kept the polygamous gene pool a bit smaller—with only certain families engaging in plural marriages.

My best friend back in high school was/is LDS and he mentioned to me that the polygamy wasn't as common with the rank and file back then, but it got attention due to the high profile types, like Brigham Young.

Now, maybe you'll correct me on this, but I was of the understanding that it was during B. Young's tenure as LDS President that polygamy was given the "go ahead" and not Joseph Smith.

[count-your-change]

Oliver Wendall Holmes thought he had a solution to a similar problem. Anyone recall that?