Im a college educated woman and I became involved with a small cult years ago and after 2 weeks got up and left. I had friends and family on the outside to go to and it was still the hardest thing I've ever had to do after just "2 weeks" of brainwashing. I honestly thought I was wrong to leave.

I cannot even begin to imagine the life of those girls there. They never had a choice.

In the Doctrine and Covenants there is an official Declaration about section 132 which I will paraphrase: God's purposes for polygamy was completed and now they could choose to stop by way of commandment from God or they could be compelled to stop the practice of polygamy with all temple ordinances stopped, men jailed, and confusion abounding. I just see that this whole thing is exactly what Wilford Woodruff prophesied. I feel sorry for these people but I don't agree with polygamy unless it is commanded of God. At this time, it is not commanded. There is no need for raising up seed unto God. There is not a need to support widows and their children. No men have been killed. But, if there ever is a time in the future where men are killed as Isaiah 3:25 and Isaiah 4:1 states: "Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in war....."And in that day seven women will take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach"
That's the only time that poligamy will be understood.

"It appears that Texas is looking to build a case on the fact that these people are polygamous," she said Sunday. "We don't believe that polygamy itself is inherently abusive."

Hmm. Well, it is inherently illegal.

CPS is not focusing on the fact that the crime of polygamy is being practiced. They are there because of allegations, and reality as it turns out, that underage girls are forced into illegal marriages and the accompanying sexual relationships, often raped, beaten if they try to make their own decisions or voice a personal opinion, forced to give birth to children while they are children, indoctrinated that barely pubescent girls should marry old men against their will and have no choice about it, be imprisoned and unable to leave freely even as adult women, be put in solitary confinement if they dare try to escape, and so on. These things are abuse by the letter and spirit of the law. This is why our tax dollars pay for CPS to exist. They are not about prosecuting polygamy per se. They are about protecting children.

People, let's get our facts straight. As for whether there is anything wrong with polygamy, it's unethical to break the law and lie to get other people to pay for your lifestyle. Even as a cancer patient, I had to work fulltime to support my child--and FLDS children conceived by 14-year-olds forced into "marriage."

To JND, I challenge your claim that polygamy is inherently illegal. Up until the late 1800's it was not illegal. That was a legislative decision. Does the US government have a right to legislate this?
As far as children being abused, that is inherently illegal and should be cured. However, the acts of Texas officials seems to be too far reaching. Anyone that raises their children in a faith based manner should be frightened of the actions of CPS and the far reaching ramifications of abuse not only of our 1st amendment rights to practice our religion, but also the 4th amendment rights to be secure in our persons against unlawful and unwarranted searches and seizures.
Make no mistake, this case will hinge on 4th amendment rights though there will be a 1st amendment gloss. Would you really prefer the state to raise a child over the natural parents? Especially if the allegations of abuse are hinged on the fact that polygamy is taking place? certainly a 14yr old bearing a 45 year old's children smacks of impropriety but can they truly say that all of those children have been abused?

There is no question that the definition of what makes a family has changed considerably in the past 20 years. This is not an issue about polygamy, but about child abuse. It seems there are MANY commenting that come from Polyg backgrounds because they keep missing the point that abuse is rampant in the FLDS group and started from the top on down. Warren Jeffs is in Prison for a reason. Incest is forbidden for a reason yet because of FLDS families wanting their "royal lineage" pure they also have fumerase deficiency as it's legacy. Again, the issue is about rampant child and child sexual abuse not polygamy. The group just happens to be polygamous. Focus on the child victims that are now, at least temporarily, safe.

I don't see how anyone is finding evidence that Texas is planning to prosecute polygamy. I hadn't heard the quote from the "Texas authority," but I bet it's from some deputy or some such who hasn't a clue anyway. There is nothing in the Texas Family Code that says polygamy is child abuse.

this is against the law period. the bible says to obey the laws of the land. well it is illegal and immoral. definitely child abuse. incest is against the bible and it seems alot of it is going on in the flds group. it sickens and saddens me to see these young girls put into these postitions. i am not mormon but i have been enlightened that the mormon religion does not condone this branch. i hope these sick men that are raping these "babies" get what they have coming to them.

"Smacks of impropriety" . . . call it what it is, statutory rape. By Texas' child rape laws, yes, you can say that all such children have been abused.

Polygamy with 14 year old girls, a 16 year old girl with four children. But if they choose to practice polygamy and commit statutory rape, then they need to be prosecuted to the hilt. When the FLDS broke away from the LDS church, they must have also broken away from the one that says, "we believe in honoring, obeying and sustaining the laws of the land." If they let these children back into that community, then I believe that CPS is going to have a swinging door into that group, so that they can do check ups on things and also to be a help or aide if needed. I am 54 years old, a woman, I have a 12 year old step grand-son, that makes my blood curdle, it doesn't matter if it is an old man with a young girl, it is wrong, wrong, wrong.

To be born,raised and farmed out to old men? Sick any way you look at it.

Has anyone considered this: The 16 year old girl has never been found, maybe she never exsisted? Maybe she was made up by someone who left the polygomous group and is trying to get back at them? Or maybe even made up by the state of Texas?

Polygomy is illegal and so is child abuse!

typical story: child rape hiding behind religion.like the catholic church

What on earth could make anyone believe that a 14 year old girl is capable of consenting to an adult relationship before she can even drive? These young girls are not "wives" they are children. They should be allowed to grow up and be nurtured; not give birth to children themselves. These men are not husbands they are predators pure and simple. You hear talk of 1st and 4th amendment rights and they sure do throw that around but ignoring the fact that polygamy is against the law at any age. Impropriety????????? I'd say that is sugar coating it a little isn't it?

Who's to say she was there and has been harmed... or worse.

I believe that illegal drug use is rampant in many ghettos throughout the United States, but I've never heard of authorities rounding up every person that lives in those neighborhoods to discover the abusers.

Isn't the logic the same as in the Texas case? A judge concludes that inner-city culture contributes to illegal drug abuse. Police arrest a single drug user from that area and as a result they get permission to go through everyone's house searching for other drug users and evidence. I'm not a student of law, but this seems unconstitutional.

Call to legal minds: on what basis can entire communities be prosecuted for individual acts?

The children were removed to protect them from more child abuse, not because they married an older man, and now this group wants me to send donations to send care packages to help these families? I do feel sorry for these kids, but I already feel like paying my taxes has supported this horrendous activites by these families. They receive welfare to help the families survive and these men who are the heads of their pologmy group live the life of a king!
Maybe we should set up a fund to help support all the lawyers who are volunteering their services to help protect these kids from more abuse!

"On what basis can entire communities be prosecuted for individual acts?" Perhaps when the WHOLE community is indulging or abetting illegal activities.

Just a thought.

This is a cult where young people are being psychologically, sexually, and spiritually abused.
LDS Church - this is your "offspring" - by their fruits shall you know them. Unfortunately, you can't hide your history - it just keeps repeating itself.

I'll try again. Denice, you are speaking about the millennium when you say plural marriages will return. It will then be under God's laws & not man's laws, so it'll be perfect then.

"by their fruits you shall know them." Wow. I suppose if my son breaks the law that makes ME a criminal in your mind huh? Wow. Interesting theory my friend. I'm not buying it.

I know Carolyn Jessop. I met her after she left the FLDS. I know some of her relatives too. If you believe everything she says, you're making a mistake. The story she tells keeps changing. It's somewhat different today than it was when she first left. She has her own problems to deal with.

The FLDS are not obeying some laws, the ones that conflict with their religious beliefs. They may never have a "revelation" to discontinue polygamy as the LDS church had. Certainly it would be easier on them if they did, it was imperative at the time for the survival of the LDS church, it may reach that point for the FLDS finally also. The government will eventually force their will on all of us.

The care packages will undoubtedly include admonitions to keep secrets from investigators and to hold strong in the belief that God wants polygamists to live their chosen lifestyle. I think the Texas authorities should pass along the toys, clothing, food, etc., and remove any propaganda. The only way these kids will ever live a fully functional life is to leave the illegal and morally wrong polygamous lifestyle.

I'm LDS and I'd like to know what "fruits" are so bad that I bear? In fact, the sweet mothers of the FLDS faith whose interviews I watched showed nothing but sweet beautiful fruit and deep grief. They didn't look abused to me, and the one father seemed like the meekest of men and a very caring father. All the FLDS men said they would leave the ranch just so the women and children could return. That is sacrifice. BTW, was father Abraham a pervert? He married his half sister AND fathered a child with his wife's maid and God said "OKAY". Jesus was likely born to a very young, under 18 year old woman, is God therefore a pervert, and how dare he get a girl so young pregnant. She was willing, because she was meek and humble and God asked it of her. That is how many of these women see themselves before God and the men they marry as well. The men aren't raised to be perverts, but to be obedient before God as they feel his will is. Unfortunately, the age they marry at is very against the law and this raid is the consequence.

You're right Alan. Adultery is fine as long as you don't marry the woman and provide for her children.

I am in utter shock at what they (the state of Texas) has done to these familes. If there is evidence of crime, by all means, prosecute the criminals, but there is no way I am even remotely convinced that every one of the 416 children had been abused or was in some kind of "imminent danger." The emotional scarring that has been inflicted upon those children who have been herded like sheep onto buses, subjected to invasive physical exams, removed from their homes and parents and then interrogated to betray their parents. Sounds like something out of Nazi Germany, not America.
It was after all, only a few generations ago that marriage at 15 or 16 was commonplace, and 14 was not unheard of.

I'm NOT condoning the FLDS culture, rape or abuse here, but it sickens me that so many are rushing to judgement. At least the parents were trying to do what they believed was right. The fact that I believe they are seriously misguided doesn't change the reality that these mothers by all accounts really LOVE and NURTURE their children.
I grieve for the mothers and their children, and pray for them all.

My Mother was sixteen when I was conceived and seventeen at my birth, I wasn't her first pregnancy either, but she was not raped or forced either. My Great Grandfathe's mother had him at age fourteen,
I think it is wrong to force anyone into marriage or sex however I think if polygamy was legal and regulated to ensure than people are entering into these marriages freely and at the proper age it would be far better.

The state of Texas should allow these women to have their children back since the men agreed to just leave in order to assure that no harm comes to these little ones!

Its a shame they did this to these poor kids and families over an alleged phone call from an alleged 16 yo girl.I bet it turns out to be a police officers female relative pretending to be a member of the church! I doubt she really exists,sounds like an excuse they came up with to raid them to me,like they have been wanting to do for 4 years now. At least they didn't kill them all and burn down the church to destroy all the evidence like they did last time. hope the kids get some therapy for the sexual abuse the medical examiner inflicted on them and some help dealing with all the sexual questions they were forced to listen to.doubt the perverts in the government will ever face charges for this stunt either.
just pray for the kids and remember:when your church gets labeled a "compound" you and all your family and friends will have no rights either!...think about it.

Abuse can't come from the Lord because He doesn't have it in heaven to give. Jesus is a loving God who has compassion on those who love Him. Living in a lifestyle of polygamy is not what God would have for His children and neither is abuse, it is sent from satan and used to tear apart peoples lives. The Bible says that the truth will set you free and truth is being revealed of the mormons through this tragedy. Maybe some of them will wake up and find Jesus once and for all. I pray they repent for the sins of their fathers because there has been a lot of pain spread through their cult.

Right on Greg!!!!! They havent found the girl because she probably didnt exist in the first place! Not a good idea to go after an entire community (or religion) for an alleged crime of ONE person. Are you next?
I know those people and they are good, clean hardworking people. They dont tolerate any abuse....just ask all of the men who have been "asked to leave" in the past couple of years.

How do people even get involved in this; its just weird. With the revelation to Brother Woodruf also came the assurity those who practive polygomy won't feel the warm and fuzzy. So what happened to people's conscience?

Gods will? If most of the children are girls where area the boys? god's will to have girls and women continue to be slaves and servants to men?