FLDS Parents Could Face Charges for Abandoning their "Lost Boys"

KCPW News ^ | February 14, 2008

[Zakeet]

They're called the "Lost Boys," the teenagers kicked out of their homes and communities by leaders of the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to ensure there's an ample supply of single, young women who will one day become plural wives. Representative Lorie Fowlke (R-Orem), is running a bill to make this abandonment a felony.

"Estimates are that we've had more than 1,000 children - primarily in southern Utah - thrown out of their homes," Fowlke says. "What we were trying to do with this bill is criminalize this behavior and send a message to this community that they can't just throw away their children."

H.B. 23 adds child abandonment to the definition of child abuse, and makes it a felony crime. It also adds an enhancement if a parent or organization benefits from the child's abandonment to further an illegal enterprise, such as polygamy. This is the case with the FLDS church, says Roger Hoole, a lawyer who represents some of the displaced young men and sits on the board for the Utah Association for Justice. He says the church benefits from kicking out young men who would compete for plural wives. This, he says, has devastating consequences.

"There's a huge impact that's coming, like a tsunami, that's going to hit the state of Utah, when these boys get a little older and realize what has happened to them and get angry," Hoole says. "There's a real problem here."

Fowlke's bill gained unanimous support in a Senate committee this morning, and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

[Elsie]

This is one of those wackjob offshoots out in rural Utah, not the Mormon church.

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"We do not indorse the teachings of any so-called Mormons or Latter Day Saints, which are in conflict with the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as taught in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon. They have departed in a great measure from the faith of the Church of Christ as it was first established, by heeding revelations given through Joseph Smith, who, after being called of God to translate his sacred word--the Book of Mormon--drifted into many errors and gave many revelations to introduce doctrines, ordinances and offices in the church, which are in conflict with Christ's teachings."

-- David Whitmer (an elder in the Church of Christ), 1887

 

Today, there are as many as 100 organizations claiming to be a part of the Latter Day Saint movement, most centered in Utah or Missouri. Most regard their own group, however small, to be the only legitimate Christian church. Most of these organizations are very small, but overall, but the second largest denomination, the Community of Christ, reports over 200,000 members.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a. The Church of Jesus Christ, and the LDS) is by far the largest Mormon denomination. It is a continuation of the "Rocky Mountain Saint" branch of Mormonism.
• The more liberal Community of Christ (formerly called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) is second in size. It is a continuation of the "Prairie Saint" movement. Although generally referred to as "Mormons," they do not use the term themselves, because of its association with polygamy and because they believe the name was not part of the original church.
• Many additional small Mormon faith groups, including:
  • Aaronic Order: unknown membership; 6 centers; 20 ministers
  • Apostolic United Brethren: about 7,000 members. They disagree with the LDS' decision to allow ordination of African-Americans and allowing women to assume leadership positions.
  • Church of Christ (Fetting/Bronson): about 2000 members
  • Church of Christ (Temple Lot): about 2400 members
  • The Church of Christ "With The Elijah Message," established anew in 1929 12,500 members worldwide
  • Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite): about 2700 members
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: about 11 million members
  • The Community of Christ: about 250,000 members. This denomination was formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- the "RLDS Church". It was formed in 1860 by remnants of the original church who did not make the trek to Utah. They reject certain beliefs and practices of the LDS church, including marriage sealing for eternity; they allow both men and women into the priesthood; their services are open to the public. They have about 250,000 members.
  • United Order Effort: a polygamy practicing group, excommunicated by the main LDS church,  of perhaps 10,000 members
  • The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It split from the Reorganized Church in 1991 because of the latter's liberal theology. It is centered in Independence, Missouri, and had an estimated membership of 2,500 in mid-1996. They publish a periodical "The Restoration Advocate" six times a year.

[greyfoxx39]

Seems to me the best option is for some private foundation to set up halfway houses for these kids to get them some decent education and/or vocational and social training that will allow them to assimilate into the larger society.

I understand your point for the presently affected children. However, when will the states begin to enforce the laws in effect? If the practice of polygamy is not ended, this will continue to be an ongoing problem.

As to your point of this happening in the rest of the world, how many of the cases you cite are flouting existing law?

[Elsie]

If you are equating plural marriage with child abuse, I would recommend that you find a good therapist. Any person that cannot see the difference is either insane or an idiot.

[restornu]

Thank you Mary for your thoughtfulness!:)

[Elsie]

Are you referring to Elsie?

At your service!

[pby]

Oh, now you are going to bring in the old “secret doctrine” garbage? You sound like Dr Dr ankerberg.

Please...It is obviously a secret doctrine to some!

restornu refuses to tell us what the Mormon doctrine is related to salvation. He/she has been asked several times but will not tell us what it is...Would you be willing?

According to Mormon doctrine, what is salvation and how does one go aboout getting it?

And once you have done that...can you also tell us what the doctrines of hell and exaltation are, as well?

restornu won't help there, either.

[Elsie]

“They believe that Joseph Smith was a Prophet..

We quite agree; for he was a prophet: a FALSE one.

And that FACT has been proven over and over yet TB's still cling to him.

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[restornu]

Could you share your desire to want to know?

[Elsie]

 

If you’re going to rip other people’s churches, do it elsewhere.

 

HMmmm.....

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19
  17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
  18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
  19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
  20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” 
 

 

[nicmarlo]

Thread: Religion

[Elsie]

You leave out JESUS!!

The center of our Organization®.

Come to one of our meetinghouses and see a replica of the Cross He hung on for our sins!

--MormonDude(I Still Cling to the Old Rugged Cross)

[nicmarlo]

lolol!

[greyfoxx39]

That would mean there are no such people as "Anti-Mormons". In order for there to be "Anti-Mormons" there has to be Mormons. And since there are no Mormons, then there are no Anti-Mormons.

Also since there is no Mormon Church, there can be no such thing a Mormon bashing.

Wow that makes me feel good.

So who are all these invisible posters that cry foul every time someone criticizes the non existent Mormon Church? Are they just wandering cyber-spirits?

[pby]

So tell us what salvation is and how do we get it?

And then exaltation and hell.

I have gone to mormon.org...but restornu, in his/her previous post referencing salvation and Jesus Christ, referenced salvation in a way that attempted to equate the Mormon doctrine of salvation with the Orthodox Christian doctrine of salvation.

As they are obviously two distinctly different things, and given restornu's allegations about the "anti-mormons" misquoting true Mormon doctrine, I thought that he/she would take the opportunity to define it for everyone (with the absence of any "anti-mormon" bias, of course).

Unfortunately, restornu has been unwilling or is incapable.

[Elsie]

Jesus Christ needs no prophet to speak for him. He can speak for Himself and does, through the scriptures.

When the Living Prophet® of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints speaks for GOD, he has to be confirmed by 12 demi-prophets stating that yes, indeed, what he said was from GOD alright.

Just like the Bible describes all the prophets in the past.

[Elsie]

 

Given that you obviously have done some research already into anti-mormon rhetoric then maybe you can understand why we aren't answering what is actually a very very simple question answered by a simple browsing of mormon.org and what is also covered early in lesson two or three of the missionary lessons.

 

 

 

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Oh: we understand all right!

[restornu]

If you really want to know things you should at least try to respect the person you are talking to.

What I mean is you started out hostile towards the LDS telling us we don’t comply to your formula of religion.

Than continued to use a method of questioning that was repellent.

You could have a another handle here because I have not seen this name before on the LDS threads.

Mean no offence by that just that you started in hostile!

I have been talking to many here for a long time so there is history you are not aware of to get in the middle of it.

Also you seem too familar for deciding to start posting on the LDS threads.!

If I am wrong my apologies!

[pby]

Given that you obviously have done some research already into anti-mormon rhetoric...

How in the world is factual history anti-mormon rhetoric?

As recorded in history, Joseph Smith was taken to court for defrauding business men with his "seeing stone".

Have the golden tablets been found?

As recorded in history, did experts not identify Jospeh Smith's evidence of an ancient egyptian language as a funeral document and not what Jospeh Smith claimed?

Is not the biblical requirement/standard for a prophet to be 100% accurate 100% of the time? The Bible says that if he isn't, then he isn't a prophet. This is fact...not anti-mormon rhetoric.

[Tennessee Nana]

pby asked..

“Can we know what salvation is and how to obtain it, now?”

Resty answered..

“Could you share your desire to want to know?”
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But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you...1 Peter 3:15

[caseinpoint]

It is a law enforcement problem, to be sure. There is a reason why those groups have settled right along the borders of two or more states. When one state endeavors to enforce the law, the offenders simply stop across the border and wait it out. And vice versa. They do know how to work the system. As to whether they are breaking the law, I can’t say. I haven’t researched Utah/Colorado/Arizona/New Mexico laws. I don’t know if polygamy is outlawed outright or if there are religious exemptions. I don’t know what constitutes abandonment of these youth: are they actually kicked out or farmed out to outsourced jobs? Are they pushed out physically or socially and thus leave on their own?

As another posted mentioned, passing a law forcing the societies to keep these boys in their group probably isn’t going to solve the problem, just prolong and hide the abuse further than it is now. I suppose how we as a society handle this type of problem will give us some idea of how we are going to handle Sharia-type problem coming down the pike.