I've watched a little on the news about it. Last night they reported that when the children were taken that some of the adult ladies left with them by choice. Of course I'm sure Mothers wanted to be with their children, but there might have been other reasons too.

It is terrible if the young girls were treated as had been reported.

Dottie, what I heard on the news this morning is they are not self supporting. We, the tax payers are supporting them. The men have one legal wife, then they have their other wives and get them pregnant. Those babies are on the welfare system and checks go out monthly to support.
I don't agree with their lifestyle, but if it was all consenting adults I would say it's none of my business. There are children being abused and some grown women who were abused as young girls and are still emotionally and sexually abused. I saw an interview of a woman who escaped. She was going to be handcuffed..I didn't hear the part after that because I left the room. When I came back I heard her say it was because she wanted to think for herself and that wasn't allowed. She was able to get out.

They showed some beautiful homes they live in because taxpayers are giving them money for all those kids.

Linda

I doubt I could take living next to home where the man has many wives and children, as these people are. Do you really think you could feel happy about that Dotmom? I mean if they were your next door neighbors and all the girls have no major leadership roles (ever) and the men had all the say?
I could distance myself from them, but my head would feel sad for their situation. Afterall the man has chosen their future for them. As a former LDS (old sec) said,,"They are slaves to their leader".
The 16 year old that called is 8 months pregnant and already has one child. Her ADULT mother and dad allowed this to happen, probably because if they would allow her to mature into her twenties before the arranged marriage, she may change her mind and leave. It's a mind game.

Like everyone else, I wouldn't have a problem if we were talking about plural marriage about consenting adults.

I've been following these sects, this story for about a decade now.

But this community is using religion to mask organized pedophilia. As someone mentioned above, they are NOT self-supporting--they get huge amounts of welfare, food from wic, etc. The wives (be they adult or child) are seen as property and the men feel they can do whatever they want to them. And, of course, the women are brainwashed from an early age to accept that lifestyle. And I've seen a number of them state that as children, their FATHERS molested them regularly (again, children and women are seen as property, not as people or truly loved ones).

What happens to the teen boys is beyond cruel. Obviously, when you have a culture where one man can have 20-30-50 wives, you can't allow too many young men to remain. So once the boys reach puberty, many are simply taken out into the desert and left--to die or make their own way.

The members of the cult, in many cases are expected to work and turn over their entire paycheck to their 'prophet'.

I'm so glad Texas finally became the state to step up and do something to help these poor children--and I'm speaking of not just the little ones, but the poor teen girls who have been turned into white slaves, and think it's been ordained by God.

So sad--I hope this is going to be the first babystep in a turn around for these poor, enslaved people. It's a disgrace, that almost 150 years after the Civil War, there are still people in our country who are being treated as slaves.

"What happens to the teen boys is beyond cruel. Obviously, when you have a culture where one man can have 20-30-50 wives, you can't allow too many young men to remain. So once the boys reach puberty, many are simply taken out into the desert and left--to die or make their own way."

I hadn't heard about that. That's horrible! It is organized pedophilia, and I've read that some of these girls are only 12 and 13 when they're forced to "marry" and have children by these perverts. Obviously, the parents of these girls are into pedophilia too, or they wouldn't allow it.

I'm glad it's getting taken care of. I had a neighbor once who lived with his wife and his girlfriend, and that was strange, and at first, they seemed happy. They were all consenting adults over 21. Later, the wife divorced the husband, claiming emotional cruelty and sexual abuse. She said he would force her to carry out unnatural and painful sexual acts to please the girlfriend, who I take it was sort of sadistic, and in actuality, hated the wife and wanted her gone. Years later, I heard that the girlfriend had left because he wouldn't marry her, and wanted to bring in another woman.

You gotta wonder.

Please, maybe I didn't word my post correctly...I DO NOT CONDONE this life style. My only point is, if this was between, OF AGE, CONSENTING ADULTS, is one thing. What is suspected of going on in this compound and others like it is WRONG!!! The other thing I said is IF THEY WERE SELF SUPPORTING, but I suspect and by what I have read and heard on the news, The second, third, fourth and so on, wives are not legally married and are considered single mothers, and are elegible fr welfare, paid by you and I. I'm sorry if I didn't express myself better. I would like to tell you what I think should happen to the dirty old men, but I'm not allowed to use that kind of language here. Dottie

I don't know if you all get the show 'Big Love' but it's loosely based on a polygamist society - has been interesting so far.
That part about the teenage boys is just a tragedy. What I found really alarming was that these young girls marry their cousins - isn't that setting themselves up for birth defects and all of that?
And how come these people don't go to work? Why doesn't welfare tell them to get jobs, at least some of them? It's not like there aren't others who could babysit...
very strange situation, indeed. I agree it must be a very scary time for the kids and for the ladies that left with them - especially since they are likely isolated from the other members of their community that left with them, all in different shelters, foster situations, etc.
Suzan J

The Lady who was on Primetime: I believe she said she was 38 and had 8 Children. Not much space there.

It would be pretty darn easy for the state to stop this "free loading" life style. They wear those hideous dresses and are easily recognizable. They have to give a address of residence. You are required to list the Father of the Children. The State can then pursue the Father for Child Support. So, that means either the Women are lying on their application and that is Fraud; or the State is not following up on pursing the Father.

If they don't get jail time for Pedophilia, they should get jail time for Fraud.

Most of these Women have been in this cult since they were born and are totally brainwashed.

They don't work, because they proudly " bleed the beast", you might be interested in this article.

These spiritual marriages are not free choice, the prophet of the sect decides what child marries what old man, she is given no choice. She is expected to have a child a year; in order for the spirit babies to come to earth.

Not only are the boys tossed into the streets, they are expected to work and support the church at very young ages, so no formal schooling is offered. Men can have their wives, or famiies taken from them on a moments notice, and the prophet can give them to another man. Then that man is also excommunicated.

I'm with Azzalea, I also have studied these sects for years. It's not hard to unnderstand the women,they were raised in the sects and it is all they have ever known.

What's so hard to accept is the police, lawyers and officials in the area are mostly affliated with the FDLS and so these women really are not able to leave. They will be stopped and returned to the compounds. Read Carolyn Jessops book for a start.

BTW this is not their only compound, they have several. including one in Mexico where they keep the youngest child brides.

Religious freedom is one thing, this is not the same thing. Kathy

Here is a link that might be useful: welfare state

While I DO NOT in any way agree with their lifestyle, how would they know it is wrong, if they've been raised from birth with this thinking, and know no other life? They've been molded to believe this is the way to live. I feel so sad for the young girls. The grown women can go back if they wish, but the children now face having no parents. Not that they were 'parents'. I hope there's lots of loving families willing to take these young girls & women into their families.
Leslie

The women are leaving this compound, by their own volition, because 1) their children are being removed and 2) they CAN leave.

The Polygamist, FLDS Leader, Warren Jex is in prison. The system has no leader anymore and no man had the authority to order the women stay. The women were able to leave safely and under the protection of the law. I don't remember if this has ever happened before in FLDS history and I applaud the Texas justice system for allowing this to happen.

FLDS has been throwing young men out of their 'system' for years. The women were forced to let the sons go; they stayed because if they left were hunted down and forced to come back. They are abused and brainwashed. Many are not there by choice. They are told they have no choice. This may be accepted but notice a lot left when they got the chance.

I'm grateful there was no violence. If Jex was still at large there would have been a standoff. I have not heard but I would bet a lot of money the compound has a large arsenel and ammo for a lengthy fight.

In Utah, many polygamist households are supported by the wives. I believe, but don't quote me, all money was given to Jex. Whether he invested the money or hoarded it, I don't know. I do know the FLDS church owns entire towns in Utah and holds the title on the members home. This is how he kept control of the 'families'. Jex's Utah communities fell apart when the State Attorney General seized all his money then put him in jail. Perhaps this is so in Texas? I don't know. Welfare I'm sure supports the polygamists.

Lori

I do feel bad for the frighten and confused girls. BUT, at least they wont be raped tonight.

I went back and read an Article that said, one sixteen year old girl had 4 children.

My question is, where are these Young Girls getting prenatal care and having babies? Why wouldn't a Doctor report this as child abuse? There must be Mid Wives delivering the babies. How are the births recorded?

I'm sorry, the State of Texas let this go on. It is evident everyone has turned their head on this.

Remember, I'm a Texan. This is outrageous!

Each Child has been appointed their own Attorney. The State of Texas has to reach in their pockets once again.

Let this be a lesson to end this crap early.

I think like Whidbeykathy said, a lot of them (police, lawyers, and officials) may be among/associated with the FDLS.
Leslie

First, this compound is just one of many. There are compounds all over the US and in Canada and Mexico. Texas is in the news because of the reported abuse by one scared 16 year old.

The majority of the babies are born on the compounds, delivered by FDLS midwives or a sister wife. No prenantal care is given, or if it is; it would have to be by a FDLS supporter. Did you know many babies are taken from their Mothers and given to another sister wife? All up to the prophet!

These children aren't raised the way we consider normal. Every sister wife is their Mother, and all the children are siblings. (Parents aren't supposed to hug and kiss their kids, because they are born adult) This also keeps them from forming that bond so vital to the parents.

So if you leave, you don't just leave your Mom and Dad, imagine what you leave. This explains why many girls return after a Mother managed to escape with her children as soon as they are 18.

Just one more way to keep these poor kids enslaved. All in the name of religious freedom.

Gayle, don't be too hard on your state. As I understand it, this is a relatively new settlement. Started up recently (past year or two) because the heat was getting turned up in other locales. I'd be willing to bet they came in quietly, and got things going before a lot of folks even knew they were there. No government (as much as we'd like it to be otherwise) can take instant action.

As to the welfare--part of the problem is the fact that someone mentioned, that they have sympathizers and members in important places. And partly because FLDS is extremely wealthy and often people don't want to cross them and cause themselves/their agencies big problems.

I'm so hoping that the recent publicity--with Warren Jeff's conviction last year, and now with the conditions on this Texas ranch, the public will start to open their eyes and DEMAND that this terrible situation be allowed to exist no longer.

I'm no fan of high taxes, but I believe getting these children the legal, emotional, education and other help they need is money well-spent, and something we cannot afford NOT to do.

I'm curious what type of outfits the FDLS women wear.

Texas seems to attract religious cults. Maybe because the land is plentiful and relatively cheap. We used to drive through West Texas. I had thought the people I was seeing were Mennonites. Many the women of that group wore dark caps on the back of their head. Sometimes you'd see women wearing lighter colors.

Dh and I stopped at the Wal-Mart in Seminole, TX a few years ago. We were stared at the entire time we were there. The people in the store didn't talk or smile. It was really creepy. Dh and I were both wearing shorts which may have been offensive to them. They even stared at my then 2 yo ds.

One thing published in our local paper, is really sad. They claimed that the little boys born were made to cry and cry so hard and so long they just passed out. then their faces were held under cold water until they passed out. It was a control thing so these baby boys would obey the man in charge to do whatever he required.
Whatever happened, it is sad that any of these cults are allowed to continue, but then like several said--people who have money outside the cults seem to be in charge.

We have a couple of Fundamentalist groups here..
The woman all look the same..Hair, clothing...One of the largerst groups is Baptist.
They pray on the young military couples. Rope the wife in..and then try to grab the husband too..
All the ladies have that same "cookie cutter" look that we saw on TV in Texas..anytime you see a woman/girl that appears that way in public..she's not her own...sad..sad..sad...

Add Scientology to the list. Not the celebrity side, although they can't get out of it either, no matter their star power. It's another one that abuses its members, man, woman or child, to gain control of them and has powerful people who protect it.

JMO based on some reading.

Leslie/KS

Gayle, I don't think Texas "let" it go on. I work for CFS in Arkansas. We have to have a reason to begin an investigation. If no one complains or tells us about a situation, we don't have grounds to investigate. Texas acted when they got word of the call from the young girl. Federal law requires the appointment of an attorney ad litem for minors in this situation to represent their interests. For example, I represent CFS, the parent's have an attorney so the kids need an independent attorney to look after their interests. I imagine this situation has been a nightmare for the CFS workers. Its not easy to care for and find placement for a large sibling group, not to mention 400+ kids.

We have a lot of fundmentalists in our area but I wouldn't call them cults. The Pentacostals don't wear makeup or slack and don't cut their hair but I wouldn't call them a cult. They are very conservative and do have a strict interpretation of the Bible but they don't as a rule abuse their wives or children. We have several Pentacostal foster parents who are very kind and nuturing people. We also have a lot of Baptists. Also very conservative on social issues (Mike Huckabee was a Baptist preacher) but they pretty much dress any way they want and women have a say in what goes on in the family.

Terri, what sect of Baptist would that be? I'm Baptist, and I've never heard of something like that. I'd like to look into it, and ask my pastor about them.
Leslie

This is the strangest thread I've read lately! There's alot of gossip & such but no real facts or links to what's being said.
The situation going on in Texas is terrible, for sure. But unless you're out there & know these people personally, all we have to go on is what the media says. And the media tells everything in as dramatic a manner as they can so they get more viewers. Take it all with a grain of salt.

Even just this trailer is shocking - the entire documentary shows apalling practices.
BANKING ON HEAVEN is an unflinching look at a cult of Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS). The polygamist communities of Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah are home to a culture that routinely practices child rape, welfare fraud and systematic mind-control. This is the cult ruled over by the recently-convicted monster, Warren Jeffs. An unholy trinity of sex, power and wealth are at the dark heart of this deeply troubling story.

Here is a link that might be useful: BANKING ON HEAVEN Polygamy Trailer

Religion should be liberating, challenging us to enhance our lives, not enslaving.

It seems as though various faiths have their screwballs.

o j

Noocha--I assure you, I did not make my comments based solely on the news of this week. This is not a new problem and I've been following it for many years. I've read a great deal on the situation, seen many interviews with former FLDS wives who were able to 'escape'. I've seen an interview with a woman who took in some of the abandoned boys, and who recounted the problems they had learning to live in normal society. I watched the entire Warren Jeff's trial.

It is true, that none of us (I hope) have been personally involved--but you don't have to live on one of these compounds to recognize the absolute wrongness of what's happening there. Do not discount what you've seen and heard, just because it came from the media. In this case, it appears the truth is actually even worse than you can imagine just from the news reports. I so hope that women being subjected to this terrible lifestyle everywhere, get help.

I'm also Baptist, grammahony. As I'm sure you know but perhaps some don't, there are many factions of Baptist, all with different, sometimes overlapping extents of belief, interpretation, and action. I'm American Baptist.

Extremists in anything, religion or otherwise, can be very dangerous.

Suzieque

Noocha, I too assure you my information is not gossip or heresay. We have a family member who joined the FDLS and that is why I began researching for myself.
I did not want to share this information, but I also do not like being discredited, Kathy

Suzie, yes, I do know that, and that is why I was asking which one it was. I've not heard about them, and would like to search for info on them.
Leslie

Hi again, grammahony - As I reread my post I realized that it may have sounded as though I was challenging you or acting like I knew more than you. I apologize, I didn't mean it that way. I was more intending to agree & partner with you and, for others who may not be aware of the many "types" of Baptists, say that. I'll admit that it's annnoying when all Baptists are painted with the same brush. I, too, would be interested in knowing which Baptists were being referred to (again, not a challenge, just an interest).

Suzieque

Suzie, I typed a reply and it didn't post. Was going to send you an e-mail through here, in case it shows up later, but didn't see a way to do it from your page.
No, I didn't take your reply as a challenge. I'd still like to know if anyone knows the sect of Baptist they are. Just intrest on my part too.
Lot's of religions have some that break away and form their own.
Leslie

I was raised in the Baptist Church.

I remember telling my Mother, "When I grow up, I want to be Catholic."

Mom. "Why?"

"Because you can play Bingo, Dance and Drink Beer".

I married a Catholic and did all of that. LOL!

I'm glad I was able to be a "free" thinker and make my own decisions once I became an adult. I feel very sorry for these young people born into this Cult Life.

I was speaking to Main Man last night about the Lawyers representing the children. He said he was sure there would be plenty of Lawyers volunteering to help out.

I've learned that most Lawyers practicing Family Law have a special place in their heart for Children. I know we spent many hours of "free" time for children.

I pray these children have a healthy and happy life from here on.

Gayle

WhidbeyKathy - any book recommendations? I would like to read some on these people/this issue.
Thanks
Suzan J