Deseret News | Reader comments: Warren Jeffs sentenced to 2 five to life terms for child-bride marriage

Reader comments
Warren Jeffs sentenced to 2 five to life terms for child-bride marriage

Thankful | 3:15 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

Justice is served. Hopefully the followers of this lost man will see the light.

aj | 3:43 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

I'm glad they nailed him. He's a sorry excuse for someone who purports to be a prophet.

Danbar | 4:21 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

As for me, a mainstream Latter Day Saint (mormon), I hope Jeffs sits in that jail cell and thinks about what he has done for the rest of his natural life. I hope he spends all of that time praying for forgiveness, because heaven help him if he dies with the stain of hurting litte children on his soul.

Comments continue below

shiz | 5:31 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

The FLDS church is a glimpse into what the mainstream LDS church was 150 years ago. That is why it is called Fundamentalist. It adheres to the original thinking of the church.

another one bites the dust | 5:57 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

Another false prophet thrown in the slammer.
Now round up all the other polygs that live in Zion.
There are thousands of them and everyone knows it.

arc | 6:15 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

shiz,
No, the FLDS church is NOT a glimpse into what the mainstream LDS chruch was 150 years ago. It isn't even close. . It DOES NOT adhere to the original thinking of the church that was founded by Joseph Smith Jr. What your are seeing are apostates, or at least people that have been lead astray.

As someone with both plural marriage and non-plural marriage LDS families in my ancestors, I should know. My grandfather was born from the 4th wife. I knew him. Not only are their doctrinal differences, but their are differences in the way women were treated.

dcc | 6:36 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

The states of Utah and Arizona ignored this for years. They should be ashamed.

reality check | 7:37 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

I've known plenty of people from plural marriages in this valley and all of them seem a bit removed from reality.

Carla | 7:57 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

dcc,
Good thought, but ... Utah and Arizona tried it about 50 years ago, and found the cost was overwhelming. If you declare the extra wives illegal, then their kids are illegitimate, and there is no way the states can support on welfare so many wives and kids. It was better to leave them alone, let their own parents and community pay the bills.
KUED-TV did a fascinating documentary on this a few years back.
Nowadays however, many of the splinter groups have become welfare abusers, working the system to get support for the extras.
Some law enforcement and other agencies have tried to crack down, but the legal costs, burden of proof, yadda, yadda, quickly overstretch the financial resources of the state.

denn034 | 8:10 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

Twice as good.

Satan | 10:38 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

It's just good to know that Jeff's is where he belongs. I wonder if he will be tried for incest as well. He is a Pretty immoral guy. Jeepers Creepers!

Hank in Colorodo City | 10:49 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

Hope he gets out soon! Warren Jeffs is a great man!

ungewiss | 11:21 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

Arc, I would be interested to know the basis of your knowledge. Are you comparing a romanticized version of your own heritage against a media-driven image of the FLDS Church, perhaps? By and large, women in the FLDS Church are just as content as was your 4th wife ancestor. In four generations, it is quite likely that the offspring of an FLDS polygamous family will say exactly what you are saying now.

Shiz is right--the FLDS Church is doctrinally comparable to the LDS Church as it existed before the polygamy manifesto. If you really believe in continuing revelation, such a comparison shouldn't threaten you.

Eagle Mountain | 12:10 a.m. Nov. 21, 2007

Most of the polygamists in my city are nothing like the FLDS. It is not accurate to lump all plygs in Utah with the Jeffites. The group in my city dress normal, have to be 18 to marry, have no arranged marriages, hold jobs, and go to college. Even if you despise plural marriage, not all who adhere to the original teachings of the early church are like Jeffs.

cjsnyder | 5:38 a.m. Nov. 21, 2007

I strongly believe in religious freedom, so this is a difficult case for me. However, I also believe in obeying the laws of the land, where they do not run counter to the law of God. I also believe in free will; however I do not believe that Mr. Jeffs meets all of these criteria. I do not believe that those who were *forced* into marriages were able to exercise their own free will, but were bound by Mr. Jeffs and his agenda.
I am surprised, I guess, by the potentially light term (could be as little as 2+ years, and that seems pretty lenient for complete disregard of ALL of the above mentioned criteria.

Polly | 9:26 a.m. Nov. 21, 2007

You can certainly see that there are Polygamists on this site. Anyone who supports Jeffs should also be put in prison. I have polygamy in my family too, and it STINKS! It is an evil practice. Warren Jeffs should be tried for all other crimes that he has committed against woman. Most of you people on here don't even know what you are talking about. You guys need to get a soul.

layne | 7:45 p.m. July 19, 2008

I only hope that Texas gets their turn at him.

johnyringo | 4:05 p.m. March 4, 2009

Yes, The FLDS Church IS an enlightening glimpse into what the LDS Church declined to 150 years ago. A study of the Early LDS Church histort through other than, and as well as "Official LDS" writings will more than reveal this to be true. "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely".

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11 photos

Jud Burkett, Pool, Associated Press

Warren Jeffs looks on during his sentencing on Tuesday in St. George. A judge sentenced Jeffs, head of the FLDS Church, to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison for his role in the arranged marriage of teenage cousins.

Gallery (11 photos)