Fear and Loathing in Utah

 

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The legal investigations appear to have reduced the prevalence of underage marriages in the FLDS, says Gary Engels, a Mohave County, Arizona, investigator who has been tracking the group for years. But Holm, the polygamist pushed out of the group, says "those in power behind Warren still have a very tight grip. The majority of people will be in a continued state of captivity." Carolyn Jessop, who fled in 2003 with her eight children, calls the FLDS "a cult, a destructive cult." The only difference: "We were all born into it, so none of us have any reference to anything that's the norm." She described Jeffs as a cruel dictator who controlled his people through fear. "The longer he is locked away, the less he will be able to intimidate." It will be gradual, but eventually, she says, "more of the truth will come out and his power will diminish among the people." For now, Jeffs is said to still lead the church from his jail cell in the appropriately named town of Purgatory. His followers must reach their own verdict.

© 2007

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: JustAJoe @ 08/23/2008 10:45:20 PM

    The shame is that the real Mormon Church, some of the most decent and moral people in our country, will suffer from this. Many people just hear "mormon" and don't know these FDLS are members of a different church who use the same name.

  • Posted By: jb30284 @ 04/18/2008 7:44:32 PM

    I dont even know why everyone is worrying if this guys conviction is the start of a legal campaign against plural marriage. The last time I checked, it was illegal.

  • Posted By: jb30284 @ 04/18/2008 7:42:17 PM

    Dare270 were you at one time a mormon?

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