I have 4 concerns:
1) That this religious sect is being held to a different standard than the rest of the country
2) That child abuse allegations are being held out as the primary focus of the investigation, and yet law enforcement is on a major fishing expedition to locate both victims and criminals
3) That due process is not being accomplished by prosecuting en masse
4) That all of our children are at high risk for physical and sexual abuse, but only the high profile cases draw attention

I wish someone could reassure me that what these people are alleged to have done is worse that what is done in neighborhoods all over America, but I’m very much afraid that we are looking into a mirror. After all, the only difference is why they did what they did, not what. They named it “spiritual marriage” and cloaked it with religion, but it is still unwed pregnancies in the eyes of the law. That there may be underage pregnancies is still to be proven. I believe that when all is said and done, we may have more men in prison, more fragmented families, more disturbed children, and we will not have fixed what is really broken, which is that we, as a nation, are lacking a clear vision of what is right and wrong and the commitment to live by it.

Thanks Dave

Where are all the boys?

The areas which come to mind are in Pennsylvania, and Loveland, Colorado. The women in these communities look like they all use the same dress pattern for the homemade clothes and wear their hair long with the little puff style at the top of their forehead. Hair is never cut, and the children (girls) even wear bloomers underneath their dresses for additional modesty. Are there MORE compounds around the United States than the government is willing to admit to?

What I want to know is what happens to the 50 year old women or older (potential grandmothers) of theses cults. I only hear & see pictures of the younger women & young daughters, still living in the compound. Once these supposed wives are beyond breeding age, WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM?? Is there a nursing home compound for the elderly?

There seems to be plenty of old hound dogs after some Fresh young innocent women, which is so sick. WHY, WHY, WHY, when these stories come out to the eyes of public review does it seem to always center on SEX, CONTROL, POWER and $$$$$$?? Some things do not change no matter what century you live in. I can not understand how ANY MOTHER could turn her own flesh and blood into a breeding factory & then the Mother will shortly be put aside for a new sweet young thing? WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE OLDER WOMEN? SURLY THERE MUST BE SOME ANGRY OLDER WOMEN OUT THERE??

The last line of your story above should be: “Does she exist?”

Nice to know that your lack of objectivity about this story didn’t keep you from plodding along with it.

Gee, I hope you’re never on a jury. You already have the men tried and convicted.

It appears that you seem to know more about the men in this “cult” than anyone else here…perhaps you can enlighten us with more of your “knowledge”.

You also seem to know more about psychological evaluations and “neighborhood evaluations”…are you speaking from experience?

Making your own choices…that’s the point of it isn’t it?

Did you make all your own choices as a child? No…your parents did what they thought was right. Often you had little or no input.

Many of the parents here (in San Angelo) are making what they think are their best choices, too. Again, I don’t condone violence or abuse of any kind, but if none of the children’s rights are being violated it is no one’s business as to how they should be raised.

Would you feel it is justified, that if your neighbor has a disagreement with the way you raise your children, that the state step in and take them away from you? How about if they took you AND your children away from your husband, based on a phone call that someone else in your apartment building was abusing their kids?

When I teach my son history, we talk a lot about individual rights and freedoms, and he knows that your right to “pursue happiness” ends where someone else’s rights are violated. Until then, you are completely free to do as you choose. The nanny state has no authority to tell you how to raise your children.

Im so sick of you VAPID Liberated type (New Age) Woman who suffer from p—- envy , And spend your worthless lives in a self centered fog of rebellion against your biological purpose .
And the loudest attackers against these Mormon familys are White woman from the big citys who have forgone traditional lifestyles and became either Single parents ,Or childless city or state employees who spend their lives awaiting there next Dating.COM weekend fling.
I see the type every summer , They pass through the sierras on brand new harleys on their way to reno or vegas with their liberated Woman attitudes and that snobby sneer if you happen to look in their direction .
These modern woman have taken jobs that ONLY men used to do , You know the type ! The 120 Lb CHP officer who may be able to give you a ticket but must call for backup to subdue an out of control teen, The Female Firefighter who is allowed to drive the Pumper but is unable to help carry the 3inch hose up the stairs without collapsing and causing injury to the men.
Or the Basic type , The Kept woman , You have seen them im sure , You know the ones who drive the long bed F-350 turbo diesels to the grocery store for 2 bags of grocerys , The ones who you will see in packs of 3 or 4 doing that fast waddling workout walk down the sidewalk at 2-PM and Yapping on their cell phones like they have a life.

The New age White Woman is responsible for the lowest birthrate among all races living in the United States .
Need i say More.

I am a Mormon woman, 30 years of age, with 2 children. I live “in the world,” in the city of Boise, ID. My children go to a public school. My husband only has one wife and I was 20 years old when we were married. I work full time outside my home and volunteer my extra time to the community. I go to church on Sundays and I make home made jam and salsa from my own home grown garden. And no, I don’t drive an SUV.

My Mormon family is not so different from other families in my neighborhood. My neighborhood is very diverse. We have Catholic families, Jehovah Witness families, Muslim families, Wicca families and non-religious families. We have families with both parents in the home and some with single parents and a few with children living with their grandparents or foster parents. There are even some who have never been parents.

It is not wrong for us to believe differently from each other nor do I judge my neighbors for their beliefs that differ from mine and I hope they do not judge me. I hope that when my neighbors think of my family they think that we are good people and good neighbors.

Freedom of Religion is one of the most important freedoms that we have and one that makes the USA the great “melting pot” it has become. But when Freedom of Religion crosses the laws of the land something must be done. It may be the religious culture of this polygamist group to marry young girls off as soon as they hit puberty but it is against the law of Texas for girls to marry under 15, even with parent’s permission. One of the Mormon beliefs is “obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”

At 15 years old, I might have been old enough and physically mature enough to be a mother but being a mother is more than giving birth and at 15 years old I was not old enough or mentally mature enough to be a mother. I’m glad that I waited until after I was married to have my children.

I hope (and dare I say it – pray) that this situation ends in the best way possible for these families and I have faith in the government that all will be well.

Yeah, he’s also learning about God, and how today’s secularist society will take you for everything you have if given half a chance.

He also doesn’t own a cell phone, and his internet time is strictly moderated. He is taught to be polite, and respectful. His clothes are conservative, and the only time his pants are so baggy that his underwear shows is…well…never. He’s clever, smart, witty, and shows an uncanny talent for logic. His taste in music runs towards Southern Rock and C&W.

I rarely let him wander the aisles of Wal-Mart on his own, and his friends are strongly vetted.

For those who think I am doing wrong by keeping him from the “outside world”, bring it on.

Keeping all this in mind, don’t you think MAYBE there should be a trial before someone is convicted of abuse?

So far, all there is, are unsubstantiated heresay and rumours.

If there is evidence of abuse, fry the a$$holes responsible for it, and let the rest of the community live their lives however they choose.

Neither my son, nor the federal government, nor the state government, or nosy, pushy people, get to make the decisions on how I should raise him. As long as his rights are not violated, then I get final word in EVERYTHING that happens in his life until he reaches the age of emancipation.

Are you really sure that Gary and Iifti are condoning any abuse? Should they be taken in for questioning now? After all, anybody who has any questions at all in this case obviously must be a reprobate.

“It is about a religious denomination that preaches false theology. Don’t be opposed to it simply because you think it doesn’t promote women’s rights. Be opposed to it because at its very fundamental core, it is leading both men ANd women astray eternally.”

Is it the government’s place to police theology? I don’t think so. The Constitution agrees with me too. You see, this is not an individual issue. It involves the exercise of government power.

Doesn’t it bother you at all that the CPS drag 400+ children and 133+ adults out of their homes and carry them away on Baptist Church buses, as if taking them to an altar call, using government power to do it? Now I know that there was a call from a 16 year old and they need to investigate. The law must have its way. But I’ll tell you this: the CPS, police, and Baptist Church had better be right. There had better be a lot of abuse going on to take as many people as they did into custody.

-Houston, TX