**Disclaimer** I’m not a Mormon. I have a LOT of LDS (Mormon) folk that I love and adore. Please note: This post is NOT about the mainstream Mormon church. This is about a completely different sect that the mainstream Mormon church doesn’t even recognize anymore. With that said, I ❤ my Mormon pals.**
This will be a change of tone than my previous posts and a more serious topic. I have been revisiting some old stories and youtube videos. Several years ago in 2008, the “Yearning for Zion” ranch in El Dorado, TX was raided on an allegation of child abuse taking place within the polygamist compound. It was the largest Child Protective Services case in US history.
After all this came to light, I became pretty obsessed with the extremist Mormon sect the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). This cult actually believes that Warren Jeffs (a known and convicted child molester) is some sort of prophet—even after he was convicted they STILL consider him a prophet and wrongfully imprisoned! Do I believe there was child abuse going on? Absolutely. There have been too many people who have come forward: previous members who had to escape in the middle of the night and people who witnessed the abuse first hand. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
One book I read a while ago was called “Escape” by Carolyn Jessop. I could not put it down. Such a sad, tragic story – amazing this woman could get on with her life despite what happened to her.
You can watch her tell her escape story right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJAvqc5u9KM
Polygamy is bad folks. As much as I am against polygamy, I’m fascinated by it at the same time. There is no way in HELL I would be in a polygamist situation. Take the show Sister Wives for example. How confusing is it for those kids? This family doesn’t necessarily treat their situation like a “cult” but they consider themselves a part of the FLDS. Out of morbid curiosity I watch their television show (yea I know it’s a bit hypocritical). Personally, I think Kody is a douche and just an old fashioned fame seeker sell-out by using his family. As a side note, his hair grosses me out. He needs to do something with it.
Check out these youtube videos of the FLDS women after the raid. It’s QUITE obvious that these women are brainwashed and were told how to answer questions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoMHNyN8ZLw
“Keep sweet. That’s our motto.. it means, sacrifice your selfishness to bless others.” BLAGH!
Here’s another one. Eesh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7D8–c9gCI&feature=related
This is a GREAT DVD regarding this topic. It’s called “Banking on Heaven.”
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000QRQ50G/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&condition=all
I just ordered a couple more books to read on this subject. I’ll be sure to revisit this topic in the future.
Mad Time Mama! 
Ice skating and the FDLS. Your obsessions are pretty diverse. I know a lot of regular old Mormons I love. P.S. Kody is a douche. He is what Jason calls a “bro daddy.”. Older guy trying to stay young with a goatee & cool car. Bro daddies are a very particular species.
Yea diverse– I know. I have a lot of LDS folk that i love. Actually I should probably put a disclaimer up so I don’t offend them. FLDS and LDS folk are two separate entities entirely. Ugh– Kody just grosses me out– and I love love love that name– BRO DADDY. It’s TRUE! He’s such a douche!
Not offended at all. There are so many different factions out there we just kind of roll our eyes and go on like everyone else. Yes Kody is a jerk. I kind of like the first 2 wives but that’s not the life for me or Barry (he has enough problems with just me!). I think that if they continue to live in 4 separate houses it will hit the fan soon. They were so used to being altogether and helping each other out but now that they are “on their own” they are more like single moms with the baby daddy showing up to well……you know. They seem think for themselves not like Warren Jeffs chicks, they are just sheep and don’t dare think for themselves or they will be kicked on their hind ends without their children. I don’t think they will last long with him locked up in prison. There is probably lots of in fighting going on. The victims of the whole thing will be the women and the children. The women will not know how to function on their own and the kids will suffer. They seem to be experts at living off the government! Since they don’t work and the husband doesn’t have skills to pull in a big income they are famous for getting welfare. Keep them dumb and pregnant and you have them forever. I watch sister wives because I’m interested in the different ways people live. It’s interesting that’s for sure.
Yea, Kody is pretty much a douche. Although I have a morbid curiosity about that family, I don’t understand them or the benefit they see in the polygamous relationship. I think for all polygamous families, the children are the ones that suffer the most. The poor women don’t know any different if they grow up in it– so scary. The amount of abuse and underage sexual abuse is unbelievable. I’ve been reading all of these books from prior members who escaped barely with their lives and talking about the abuse taking place– It’s amazing what they are getting away with. And the welfare! Holy crap! Bah!
Well I think that when they were all together it worked out pretty well in that the wives got to do what they enjoyed. The ones that liked to work outside the home were able to do so while the stay at homes took care of the kids and home. They were also able to keep up financially. Like I said before now that they are in separate homes they are more like single moms with the every 4th night “visit”. I have no idea how they are affording it now since it seems like no one but Kody is working (the last show he got a bonus car from work, whatever that is.). The only thing I can figure out is they are getting a ton of $$$$ from the show. They are the way modern kind of polygamists! They don’t seem to have a leader or any real congregation, especially since they left Utah. The only difference I see between them and and a “family” of a guy who sleeps around is they work together instead of fighting about the other women. Kind of like conservative swinging, how’s that for a new definition! Now the Warren Jeff types, and I think those are the books you are reading, whole different life style (no TV, computers,etc.) and religion, like I said keep them dumb and pregnant. The men yield the power and the women are the servants/slaves. It seems that the Kody family is run more by the wives and they let Kody have a say if need be. All that being said Barry’s great grandfather was a polygamist and his family turned out OK. I really think that back then it was more to help take care of the women because like then and now there are more women in church, be it Mormon or not. Women then found it much harder to be own their own pioneer times at all.
They are the modern day kind of polygamists for sure. They’ve gotta be getting a lot of money from the show — I don’t even know what Kody does. All of them seem like they are trying to find a job or some kind of career. I have to admit Christine annoys me to no end – and honestly so does Robin. I like Meri. Kody has said before that they are affiliated with the FLDS but don’t consider Warren Jeffs to be “the prophet.” (ugh, Warren Jeffs is the devil) I guess they consider themselves to be an entirely different branch of the FLDS?
Personally, I don’t see how polygamy can benefit anyone. Been researching a lot about polygamy around the world (not just in the FLDS and not just in America) and though there might be a few that actually make it out of it and are ok, most are so screwed up from the emotional toll it takes on a person (children and wives). That’s at least from what I have read. Just feel bad for people that don’t know any difference and who are stuck in those situations. So awful!
I remember hearing that ‘keep sweet’ is what Mormon people tell their children, and it’s actually their way of sayIng “shut the fuck up or your gonna fuckin get it” is that true?
As far as the Fundamentalist Mormon Church, that was the meaning I took away from that phrase as well. I have no idea if the mainstream Mormon church use that phrase, although I have never heard any of my pals who are LDS say it in any form or fashion. The FLDS are messed up. Blagh!
That little phase is not in our vocabulary. I have ONLY heard it when hears about “those other mormons”. And yes I will not give them a capitol M.
I didn’t think so. I have a lot of LDS pals and have NEVER EVER heard them say that phrase. I’ve only heard it when reading about the FLDS. Thanks for confirming Jennifer! 🙂