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Final tally: 416 children removed

No wonder why the whole world thinks "Mormons" are indeed a peculiar people. If it weren't for the so-called "Fundamentalists", Mormons would not have the same bias which currently exists in society.

Perhaps they should call themselves "Extremists"

CNN and BBC perpetuate the polygamist stereotype of Mormons internationally by continuing to call the FLDS sect a "fundamentalist" Mormon sect. From my hotel in Budapest last week it took them over a day to begin adding that the Mormon Church officially disavowed polygamy over a hundred years ago. The Spanish (Spain) channel TVE never did report that fact. It was always "secta mormona fundamentalista." Add to that mistranslations of movies (in Witness, with Harrison Ford, for example, the Spanish (Spain) version translates "Amish" as "Mormon") and it is no wonder that the world has no idea what a Mormon really is. It's not like they get American Idol in Europe.

What's not being said in the news, is that the LDS version of polygamy (when practiced) and the FLDS version of polygamy are two different ways of practicing a Biblical principle. At NO time in the history of polygamy in the LDS church did Joseph Smith or any of the people who practiced this, EVER condone such activity or live this way. Women and children have always been viewed as valuable people, as God's children, by our church leaders and the leadership of the church has always spoken against and continues to speak against any kind of abuse or mistreatment of their families.

The fundamentalists have perverted the practice of polygamy.

My heart goes out to the women and children, and the innocent boys who are brainwashed to treat their women and children this way.

Is D & C 132 still relavant?

Has the LDS church issued a comment on the situation in Texas yet? Maybe I missed it.

All I can say is that I feel very much for these families rip apart by this act that was violent and direspectful.

The authorities in Texas are doing what Utah's own attorney general Mark Shurtleff has refused to do... PROTECT KIDS.

Don't blame the FLDS for your troubles if you are Mormon. You once endorsed polygamy, had leaders who excelled in it, etc. There are Mormons in Utah county, etc., who still practice polygamy. And Mormons who know... do not report on them.

Don't blame the FLDS for your troubles. Check the mirror of your history and your present day situation.

A Peculiar People:

I agree "fundamentalist" is an invalid discription, but I think "insurgent" is a better descriptor than "extremist."

Extremist implies unusual zeal in compliance with doctrinal tenets. FLDS are just the opposite. They are in open rebellion against the Gospel tenet that is the hallmark of our faith -- continued revelation of God's will to His Prophet. In that sense, they have made themselves insurgents: [Free Online Dictionary] "a member of an irregular . . . force that fights a stronger force . . . ."

As you mention, their actions have had the effect of creating fodder for those who would portray us as terminally strange. What better way to fight against the advancement of God's work on earth?

I have two daughters who are at this so called child bearing age and there is no way that they have begun to live. These older guys are not men in the least when you can expect and not respect. I just wonder how many sects are in Utah with same kind of perverted thinking. Next time my family goes on a trip to south-central or draper utah for that matter i will be a watching! 1890 , the indians had to give this practice up and they lived here in the state but it's spiritual because warren jeffs said so!They would have been shot down like dogs which they often were. and yes the times have changed as even a dog or a cat is afforded more protection than these children when these groups are allowed to commit felony after felony. You can look all clean , wholessome but it is the ACT that determines what's inside! Live the law of the land! These groups aren't any better than anyone else!

Is it just me or does it seem the state of Texas had planned this right down the the smallest detail long before the alleged call from the girl no one can find or even prove existed came in? yeah abuse of teen girls is bad, yes they are very vulnerable at that age (i was that age once so i know), but to take over 400 kids away and make them wards of the state even before interviewing them? it sends a chill through me. if it happens like that there, with only one unverified phone call, then what's to stop it from happening to someone else? what's to stop someone angry with me for whatever dumb reason from calling cps and make allegations about my fitness as a mother? it's scary how easily the gov't can take your kids away from you. for some reason i thought it would be harder.

It needed to be done, but it still hurts to consider the huge disruption to the kids. Of course, it's also a huge disruption to throw a young girl to an old man and tell her it's her only function in life to crank out babies.

This event has as much to do with the "Mormon" church as the Black Panthers have to do with Zoos. The FLDS smear the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints with their behavior. There just is no connection between the two no matter the name they call themselves.

Because of Utah's cultural roots in polygamy, we've tended to turn a blind eye towards the abuses of the FLDS culture. This is a good reminder that the rest of the nation doesn't share this attitude.

I'm definately not in favor of the government invading homes and taking away children. Where is the proof of their endangerment? Having said that, I feel that teenage girls bearing children fathered by adult men is not tolerable. Until they are old enough to make their own rational choices, girls (and boys) have the right to be protected from any illegal abuses being forced upon them. I'm glad that it is Texas and not Utah that is handling this "chocolate mess."

So far, all the lurid details that the authorities have released have come from a girl that we're not even sure exists. They've have real kids in custody for days. Why hasn't any of the lurid stuff come from someone real? This is getting fishier and fishier.

The evil that exist in this kind of setting is urged and encouraged by Satan himself who loves to see the world view "Mormons" in this light. It serves his purposes well to perpetuate the confusion. The Fundamentalists also like the confusion and they continue the "Latter-day Saints" part of the name because they want to be seen as Mormons who are merely above the laws of the land and the true Gospel.

Such a tragic situation of women and children who have suffered at the hands of their abusers and yet know no other life. No doubt the Stockholm syndrome will be rampant, where they have come to bond with their captors - they know no other way. While I hate that children must be separated from their mothers, it is important for them to see another way to live. I hope Texas can provide such an example for them, can give them hope for a better future, reunite mothers and children in a safer place and find the right solution for their long-term welfare. I wish I had more confidence in child protective services, foster care in general (if they even have enough). This is a good start.

Well, mormons are a bit peculiar to the outside world. And yes, if the mormons drop a practice, such as polygamy, and a branch splits off to keep the practice, such as the FLDS, the mormons will get bad press.

And now, for all you frustrated mormons:

What kind of press do you think the early Christians got?

I don't understand how they can break up this whole group based on one allegation. I'm not trying to defend the FLDS cult, but carrying people off from their homes without charging them with any crimes and then shipping their children off to foster care? I don't understand how that is legal.

And I'm more than a little suspicious that they were carted off in those baptist church buses and their children farmed off to local church members. Sounds like one of their motives is to "save" these kids in the evangelical sense of the word.

For having the courage to put an end to institutionalized sex slavery and child abuse operating under the guise of "religious beliefs."

Hopefully, Arizona and Utah will now be shamed into taking seriously their responsibility to investigate the sexual abuse of children that has been occuring in the FLDS communities for far too long.

I feel sorry for the FLDS people who have been lead by their evil leaders into this filthy, incestuous practice of forcing young girls into sex slavery.