Reader comments
'Cultural guide' helps Texans understand FLDS children

The state needs to step back and look at themselves now. These children have a completely lifestyle and may I remind all of you out there in the Bible modesty is a factor and the harlots were the ones painted up and jeweled out. Stop condemning these kids and families for their religion and worry about your own lives. Furthermore the ones who came out of this lifestyle can say anything and you would believe it because you have judged these people already and it is wrong. The hair and clothes are just different than modern culture, that doesn't mean God doesn't love them too. He did not make you judge and jury no more than me. Nothing has been with physical evidence to this day yet these people are still in pain including the children.

Next up.

1.) The Protestant guide to the Catholic church.
2.) The Palestinian guide to Judaism.
3.) The Tanner's guide to Mormonism.
4.) Atheist guide to Spirituality.

The FLDS's isolationism has created the perfect opportunity for all the anti-FLDS people out there to "inform" the rest of us on what they REALLY believe. I have a hard time taking seriously the information being provided here. All religions have beliefs which would seem odd to those outside of that religion. It is oh so easy to mock and gasp at the beliefs of others. I hope we all can take a step back and realize a person's beliefs should be treated respectfully ESPECIALLY when they are not our own. To do otherwise only serves to justify the ignorance toward our own beliefs when the time comes.

My son in law used to work at a youth shelter in Southwestern Utah where they sometimes had flds youth. He said the flds youth there also made racial comments about people of color. He also said the girls were quite subservient to the boys. I have seen some transcripts of a Warren Jeff's sermon about blacks. It was quite chilling to hear such things in this day and age. Something you might expect to hear from thr KKK or the Arayan nation people. The flds are apparently not taught tolerance or even civility towards outsiders. Interesting that Warren made some abrupt changes when he took over as "prophet". It looks more to me more like a personality cult than a religion based on consistent principles.

No one should be surprised that they are racists. After all, they are listed as a haet group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for a reason. The clean shaven edict doesn't make sense. The women wear old fashioned dresses, but the men do not emulate their heros of Brigham Young and John Taylor regarding facial hair.

I feel bad for these children, I really do. But the truth is, these people did this to themselves. Closing themselves off and ignoring what is going on in the rest of the world is the most ignorant mistake these people have made. Our world is constantly changing. Society is constantly changing. Most other religions in the world have evolved with society, not against it. They have built colleges and encourage education for both men and women. They remain influential and are a strong source of faith for their followers. The FLDS have turned the clock backwards for their followers. They have indoctrinated prejudice and fear into each new life. It's obvious they give their followers only what is needed for survival in their lifestyle, not the world around them. And now who is suffering? Their children are. While no child will ever be prepared to handle suddenly being thrown into foster care, the average child wouldn't have a problem with people of color, or jewelry, or short sleeves.

I suppose you also believe if it is in the name of religion it is ok to ignore the law. I hate to break it to you but sex between adults and minors, even consenting minors, is a crime. If you disagree, which it seems you do, then you ought to contact your representatives and ask them to change the law. Until then the state of Texas is doing nothing more than enforcing the law. The same goes for illegal immigration. It's the law. If you don't like it, change it. But don't wine about the loss of civil liberties for a group that has instituted as part of its doctrine IGNORING AND BREAKING the law. They would be left alone if not for this minor point.

Come on, CPS haters. You were all quite entertaining the last time I asked you to unload, and you are starting off with a bang with the first two comments. Let us know how you really feel! I need a laugh today.

Amen CONEJO! That is exactly what everyone was "in arms" about when the Media was trying to explain what members of the LDS faith believe during the Mitt Romney campaign. From a bigotted outsie view, anything can seem to be something it is not. We should have learned our lesson not to judge from the past months in the spotlight.

To examine another's beliefs is not the same as mocking them. The "revelations" about what Jeffs was teaching his flock make me realize that we all must be careful not to let leaders have too much influence. Some of us are too willing to let others do our thinking for us. Is it really a sin to have a little yellow butterfly tattooed on a leg? Will I go to hell for drinking a diet Coke? Should I let a group of Hollywood types (the movie ratings board) decide what is appropriate for me to watch? If I skip church while on vacation, will I burn in hell? If I decline to go home teaching to a family that has asked to be left alone, will I get a black mark on my record? If I play with face cards, am I breaking a commandment because a prophet 70 or 80 years ago advised against it? Should I feel guilty about believing that dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago when a long-dead prophet said the theory of evolution was false? My advice is to live the 10 commandments, abide by the 13 articles of faith, and you'll be fine.

The law should prevail but in the meantime these kids should be back in the safety of their mothers arms. Don't let the prejudice driving this human tragedy drag this out for years through the courts. These people will get justice eventually but stop making the kids suffer in the meantime.

Sandy, do you really think that racists and pedophiles are "just different." Sure God loves them, but God would not expect us to do nothing when crimes of this nature are committed. The "state" or as we say in our constitution "we the people" have a responsibility to these young children. The state of Texas has every right and even a responsibility to stop this kind of ugly philosophy being taught and practiced.

These FLDS people are the worst bigots on earth.

Warren Jeffs teaches that black people are responsible for all the ills on the face of the earth.

It's about time these kids entered the real world and got a dose of real life. If they live in America and call themselves free then they can just learn how it is out in the Big World. If the FLDS kids' religious belief manifests itself in any type of what we recognize as "hate crimes", these kids are in for an even ruder awakening than they've had so far.

And you know how teenage boys are.... they just MIGHT commit a hate crime.

This hateful cult NEEDS to be mainstreamed.

Hating in the name of religion isn't very religious now, is it?? Oh, but that's okay because they're free to believe what they want?

The FLDS is a religion? Hardly.

SO you people are advocating that it's okay to hate black people, and to teach your kids it's okay to hate black people?

How very ironic that Rozita Swinton, a person of color, was the one who was ultimately pulled the trigger on this nasty cult.

The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways.

In some ways I admire the FLDS. They live simply, and "live in the world, but not of the world". Many of their ways I feel we all should me more actively living. Our bodies are temples, and should be cared for as such! Living off the land, and being more self sufficent instead of depending on stores and such. There are other ways I admire them as well.

However, the fact still remains, there are young girls who are actually still children, being married and bearing children at an alarming young age!!

They believe they are living a higher law by submitting to marriage at 13,14,15 years if age and by living pologamy.

This must stop!

Read their articles of faith.. You'll find one that believes in being subject to kings, rulers and magistrates.. and obeying the laws of the land... Polygamy is against the law....

I don't believe that hating black people is a "belief" I should respect. Sorry.

I don't respect the FLDS and their hateful beliefs in any way, shape or form.

They are getting what they deserve.

Look at Youtube. There ample examples of Warrn Jeffs' gross racism. Why do you continue to defend these people?

WOW, who would guess that someone who had left their church, on bad terms, disagrees with pretty much everything that they believe in. Jessup should get out of the media and leave these kids alone!

Over 70 percent of the kids are under the age of 10. Texas should return them emediately.

Oh the pain, that the FLDS children have not bought
into the "Cult of Empire", those Cretins, how dare
they not worship at the Alter of Diversity".
I fully agree with what Conejo stated above. The "Texas CPS" spin machine, continues to muddy the
waters, with inneundo, and half truths.

Those poor kids.

God Bless Texas.

The children are not vaccinated so I have a question; what is their rate of autism so we can put that question to rest.

What I want to also know is why, when a FLDS woman asked an officer to a warrant, he said that the main guy and the attorney had it. She responded "that was a different house." The FLDS produced a website and there is video contained within the site. I am not FLDS and this government action frightens me. It sounds like one subdivision can have a warrant for every house contained within. YIKES!