Nobody is suprised by the unity of this body of believers. If anything, I am amazed that it is not fully operational. I am also sickened by the leagal strictures that have enabled these Southern Baptists, i mean the Texas Justice System, to abscond with the children of these families. That said, the FLDS church has been a refuge for pedophiles and powermongers alike. If people are going to be intellectually honest, they cannot claim that the children's welfare is their primary concern while the prophet "reassigns" these children's mothers to be other men's wives. This is no way for any child to live.

Thanks Mr. Winslow,

Interesting idea, one I've seen in other cases. i'll visit those links just to see what they have to say.

Thanks again, keep up to good reporting.

Pictures look like something you would see in China or Russia not The United States of America. History will records these photos along with the atrocities done to the American Indians, Blacks, American Japanese,WW I wars veterans (The Bonus Army)ect, ect the list goes on & on. Great PR for America for the rest of the world to see. "Land of the free home of the brave".

They do it on this sites web boards too. Reading comments from different stories about this topic I notice a lot of the same rhetoric being repeated or are similar.

I spent (wasted) a few minutes looking at the FLDS website. Nauseating. Of course those children are sad to be taken from their homes--they know no other life. However, can we really in good conscience continue to look the other way when we KNOW the things that are going on at the YFZ ranch (and in Colorado City, and other locations)? If everything is so sweet and clean and pure, why in the heck won't parents acknowledge who their own children are? That baffles me. I'm grateful Texas finally has the nerve to stand up to this bunch. Needless to say, I will not be donating any of my hard earned $$ to the FLDS defense funds.

There's not one toy there...???

They could probably use the financial help though...

It's probably hard losing most of yoour workers...

I would recommend FLDS site to add information starting a letter writing campaign to Texas governor and CPS. The more people that can lodge complaints the better. The church should get copies of this to help reunite families. I have lodged a formal complaint to CPS in Texas as well as to the governor for the harmful actions they have taken.
In the video where it showed # spray painted at the entrance to one of the homes was chilling to see. I met a concentration camp survivor in Berkeley that had a number stamped on him. It is part of the dehumanizing process. Ultimately this "us and them" mentality needs to become obsolete. We are all one family.
Since it's illegal to have sexual relations with children under 16, any FLDS member who has done this should expect legal consequences. If any children have been physically hurt or abused, they rightly should be removed from the home. FLDS members need to find a way to practice their beliefs AND follow current laws and teach their children to do so as well. Mutual dialog will educate and bring opportunity for increased compassion, openness and diversity of thought.

Despite the PR the flds are polygamists and polygamy is illegal. Why should Texas return the children to live in an illegal lifestyle. I have contacted my congressman and U.S, Senators (Indiana) to express my concern that the machining companies owned by flds leaders are receiving DOD contracts. Frankly I see no redeeming qualities in the flds lifestyle.

Last I checked it wasn’t a crime to live with and have children with a woman you are not married to. So FLDS men it's time to step up prove you did not rape a minor and that you have not been abusive. Prove which of those kids are your children and which women are their mothers. If you can prove those things then I have no issues with you living your life. Regardless of how many women your living and have children with.

While I have sympathy for the mothers and children, I think the state of Texas is doing its best to approach in the correct manner. This is unprecedented and there isn't a manual out there telling you how to deal with a large polygamous sect committing crime after crime. Heinous crimes are being committed and it needs to be stopped. Practice polygamy if you want but do it after you are of legal age and have had a chance to choose a different lifestyle.

I'm excited the FLDS are finally speaking out to dispell the henous rumors, lies and half truths, etc about them. "Wars" or conflicts happen when people don't communicate with each other. A certain level of trust comes with disclosure.

I wait with baited breath some of the explanations for what the Texas authorities found. i.e. pregnant very young women. Women and children assigned by some man who cares less about them. No wonder the FLDS keep changing names. Most probably have no clue as to who is who and what is what. Local authorities report stopping FLDS for driving erratically and found them sleep deprived. Interesting, wonder which way this is going to go? If they explain things by insulting everyone else, it's going to backfire and big time.

Kudos; I am still waiting to hear the truth of the flds side. So far they have revealed nothing to dispell the "erroneous" information you day is out there. Nothing about polygamy, how many wives each man has, nothing about underage marriage, child labor, milking the beast with false welfare claims. I think if a man with multiple wives has 18 children he should support al the wives and children, provide health insurance for all of them so none of them receive public assistance. What kind of honorable man would not do this.

Confusion that is what I see - I do not believe in the way that these people do - but I believe in their right to believe the way they do within the law. Multiple wives? - but is the rest of the country so different instead of collecting all the wives/husbands we divorce. How many families do you know with "step" members? Any adult man having sexual contact with a child should be jailed - and any child found to have suffered abuse should be taken and the abusers prosecuted. As well any parent who knowingly allowed or forced their young daughter to such a situation should be jailed. I fear that such instances will come out as I have yet to hear them say that their children grow up and then make such choices on their own. Our concern should not be thier religion or way of life, but solely on the issue of abuse. If these women are in this lifestyle by choice, and honestly protecting their children from any abuse then they should have their children returned to them. I say women because I have heard no aligation of the men being forced here.

All I hear them say in their defense is that we are nice people and want to live our religion in peace. Unfortunately polygamy, a central tenet of their religion, is illegal in Utah and Texas. Those states should either enforce those laws or rescind them. I have no problem with them living their religion in peace as long as they live within the laws. It is trying to live outside of the law that is responsible for Warren Jeffs being in prison and for the the Texas raid. Unless they can offer their children a lifestyle that is consisten with the law they should not get their children back.

Has anyone gone to these Web sites? Somehow they failed to evoke my sympathy. The fldstruth.org site has one page of overly flowery language and an incomplete timeline that ends with a smiling picture of the current prophet, Warren Jeffs, who is in jail for forcing the marriage of a 14-year-old to her 19-year-old cousin. Yeah, that puts my mind at ease about these kids going back to their parents who are still following this guy. Has it occurred to them that they might improve their odds if they renounce child brides and the abandonment of their adolescent boys in a unified voice? Eesh.

I am appalled that young children have been separated from their mothers by force. All of my life I have been taught and have taught my own children that we have freedoms in the United States. Freedoms guaranteed by laws and the constitution of the country. These actions are not those of a free country. My religion is different from this sect, but their beliefs should be tolerated. Those committing crimes should be proscecuted, but it is difficult to believe that mothers and children are committing crimes. I do not believe the state of Texas has shown any compassion for the children.

I think the state of Texas is doing its best to approach in the correct manner. Why should Texas return the children to live in an illegal lifestyle?
Those children deserve to choose a different lifestyle.

If FLDS write anything it will only be lies! Their religion is based on nothing but lies.

The really sad thing about this is that the sect has been taxpayer funded by our walrfare system.