From Deseret News archives:
'Cultural guide' helps Texans understand FLDS children
The guide also indicates that boys taken from the YFZ Ranch have been "upset" over men with facial hair and men who aren't wearing long-sleeved shirts.
The guide was posted Friday on the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Web site. It lists unique cultural and behavioral practices and beliefs of the Fundamentalist LDS Church and is designed to help workers better understand and communicate with the children. Information for the guide was collected from law enforcement and child welfare agencies in Utah and Arizona as well as former FLDS members, said Patrick Crimmins, spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
The guide indicated that children, particularly young boys, made "derogatory remarks to staff of color" since they were taken from the ranch. The guide is dated April 22, the same day the first group of about 100 children was taken from a temporary shelter and bused to foster care facilities. All the children have since been placed in such facilities throughout the state.
Carolyn Jessop said she's not surprised at such comments.
Jessop, who grew up in the FLDS community in southern Utah and Arizona, said some of her children attended Jeffs' private school before she and her eight children escaped the lifestyle. One day her children told her, "If you had as much as a drop of Jewish blood in you, you couldn't enter the kingdom of God," she recalled.
"I said that 'we're in big trouble,' because my patriarchal blessing says the blood of Christ runs through my veins and he was Jewish," Jessop said.
After leaving the sect and moving to Salt Lake City, she said her children continued to express similar views for a while but "got over it pretty fast."
As to children making negative comments concerning women wearing jewelry, Jessop said jewelry is considered vain and is taboo in the FLDS faith. Pierced ears, too, are frowned upon.
"That's like sinning against God, to maim your body like that," she said.
Also, FLDS men are required to shave and keep their hair short. "To grow a beard is a sign of immorality," Jessop explained.
Attorney Rod Parker, a spokesman for the FLDS Church, said much of the information in the guide comes from critics of the church.
Recent comments
In this age of homosexual marriage, 50% of children born out of...
taylors seven | May 18, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.
Living a moral simple life dressed like 'Little House'and eating...
grandma in Illinois | May 14, 2008 at 6:42 p.m.
It's amazing what 1 rumor can lead to...I grew up around some of the...
PICKLES | May 9, 2008 at 2:53 p.m.
- NASA sets Monday shuttle launch 11:53 a.m.
- WVC robberies investigated 11:41 a.m.
- Funeral today for Utah soldier 11:16 a.m.
- Vaccination clinic set in St. George 11:15 a.m.
- $47B in suspect Medicare claims 11:11 a.m.
- 3 dead in Reno helicopter crash 11:02 a.m.
- Galaxy headed to MLS Cup 10:45 a.m.
- Veteran climber dies in Himalayas 10:36 a.m.
- Slovakia beats U.S. 1-0 10:30 a.m.
- Suicide attack kills 11 in Pakistan 10:28 a.m.
- Attack meant to kill apostle
- Williams leaves, won't play tonight
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Man killed during 3rd I-15 crash
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- D-Will home for daughter
- Trial begins in toddler death
- Born of water and the spirit
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
349 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
162 - Will state consider gay rights law?
145 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
105 - Celtics crush Jazz
104 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
103
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
The reason that won't be the case is because, unlike your teams line, our...
This freedom of speech issue is enough to make me want to remain as a private...
What is everyone talking about? Good luck next game? I could have sworn I...
yeah, TV might be rude. but springville isn't smart for trying to compare...
Thanks, Robinson, for a laugh-out-loud funny article which makes a point then...
WAC 1-0 vs the MWC this year, next week will be 2-0 for the WAC when Utah...
"Three Rivers" is an excellent program. I hope everyone will tune in!
A real man! What a pro that Mathis is! He's great! I thought Matthews played...
I wouldn't call Brown "big". Tall, maybe, but he's maybe the skinniest high...
Tobacco prevention saves lives and money.
