Polygamy, Abuse, Eldorado Texas, and the Law

I want to shout my thanks to all the men and women who are helping the women and children out of the polygamous compound in Eldorado Texas!

For those who are unaware of what is happening here in the United States, after receiving two phone calls last week from a child in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) compound in Eldorado Texas, Child Protective Services and law enforcement have gone into the isolated community to save and protect the children.

My heartfelt gratitude goes out to those with the courage and fortitude to help!

The sexual and physical and emotional abuse in these fundamentalist communities has gone on far too long and I applaud the efforts of those who are finally taking action.

For over a hundred years, the FLDS cult, a break off sect of the of mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has abused women and children. It is time the practice ends.

While we Americans highly value freedom of religion, when citizens break the law and harm children we draw the line.

It is against the law in this country to exploit and abuse children.

It is against the law to rape children.

It is against the law for a man to have multiple "wives".

It is against the law for men to marry children.

It is against the law to engage in human trafficking, trading, or selling children.

These polygamous communities have, for a century engaged in all the above, arranging marriages of young girls, raping children, physically abusing boys, brainwashing the young. It is an outrage that anything like this has been able to go on in the United States of America for so long.

Finally, the authorities are taking action and helping these children!

Hooray!

The horror has largely been isolated in remote areas of Utah and Colorado but four years ago, the FLDS purchased a 1,700 acre ranch in Eldorado Texas to use as their secretive isolated compound. It is heavily guarded and community members rarely leave their compound.

The self-proclaimed prophet/leader of the FLDS community, Warren Jeffs is currently serving time in prison for his cruel treatment of girls, but the society continues their illegal practices, believing they are the one and only true church of Jesus Christ.

While the FLDS communities continue to flourish in other areas, law enforcement in Texas decided they will not allow the abuse to continue! Good for them!

So far, in the five days investigation, over four hundred children have been removed from the compound, with the state taking temporary custody of all of them; most likely more will be found. The sixteen year old girl who made the call to report the abuse is still missing.

These FLDS truly believe they are in harmony with God's will and are the chosen and elite of God. They believe, as their prophet Joseph Smith taught that polygamy is required to live in the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom, or the heaven where God resides.

The women and children fear the outside world, believing we are all of Satan, trying to destroy the true ways of God. They are removed from society, do not watch television, news, or go to state or private schools. Many are unschooled and fearful of outsiders.

My heart goes out to the children as they go through the trauma of being removed from this horrible system; it will be some time before they heal and adjust to mainstream society.

And, my deepest gratitude to those who are attempting to end this degrading practice!

May these children finally find peace.