Deseret News | Reader comments: FLDS protest UEP land sale

Reader comments
FLDS protest UEP land sale

Just wondering | 9:10 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Do you suppose that if the fdls were properly educated they would have a better understanding on how to look out for themselves. Looks like uncle warrens teachings aren't doing them any good.

A good lesson in life, just because you pretend there isn't an elephant in the room, doesen't mean it's not.

Time | 10:24 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Time will tell.

protest | 11:34 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

protest?? when does it change from concerned party member to Protester? didn't look like a protest to me.

Comments continue below

5th Estate | 4:29 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

The press will do/say anything to inflame the masses. A word here, a word there. Turn a phrase.

It's disgusting that no one appears to be doing some real investigative reporting and getting to the bottom of the persecution of the FLDS.

A Suggestion for FLDS | 6:24 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

FLDS should get priorities straight. They are very worried about "sacred" land. Should they not have been more concerned about kicking their young men out of the home at age 12 and above to make room for polygamy? before they are ready to take care of themselves, forcing society at large to take care of them.

Is not family more important that a plot of dirt? You people need to take a look at the life you are living. Jesus warned of false prophets.

doesn't say protest | 7:02 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

The article doesn't say they held a protest. It says that the flds are protesting the sale of the land. The article got it right. They are not there to laud the sale.

In debt? | 7:13 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Maybe they should sue Texas and raise that money to pay for the debt. I think Texas owes them a BIG favor.

Buying party? | 7:43 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Sell it to a 'Rival Polygamous Group'??? Are the UEP's ethics compromised because it's in debt?

Kenneth in Texas | 7:45 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

I see at least one possible inconsistency. Early in the article, it said the property under question was sacred, reserved for the building of a future temple. Later, it said the FLDS were opposed to the sale out of fear of losing their homes. To build a temple on it, they would lose their homes. I wonder when the disputed property became sacred? After the takeover of the trust?

Sarah young | 8:50 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

The FLDS have every right to rebel against the government. the government can't take there home away like that. Attacking a religous group because they are different is stupid and wrong.

Bill | 8:53 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

the government is very wrong for trying to take there land away because they are different. America should be free to all. you really think the media, press would say anything good about these people.

This is very wrong and sad. because this is how revolution start.

Anonymous | 8:59 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Did anyone remind the FLDS that thier own trust is bankrupt because if thier mismanagement and that they have a duty to pay thier bills?

I dont seem to remember the part about how the free practice of religion meant that everyone else gets to pay your way at the expense of duly owed financial obligations.

The court should rule that the land should be sold. The FLDS have no one to blame but themselves. It is called personal accountability.

Oh by the way where did the money come from to build that compound in Texas? I bet it was from abusing the trust here in Utah.

Stinking game players | 9:40 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

The authorities don't know how many persons their are living in one person within these polygamy cases, or who to deal with. MOM DAD BROTHER SISTER GRANDPA & GRANDMA MAY ALL BE THE SAME person, PARENT, WIFE, or CHILD.. Who knows? I guess, if the FLDS have taken and used the government system to benefit their polygamy practices, then the government has all the right in the world to go in and take back what's owed to them.... ONLY FAIR!

MoJules | 9:53 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

I do not have any sympathy to these people as they watched their husbands and fathers be kicked out of the group. And what happened to the wives and children of these men and their homes and jobs? Well they were given to someone else, things have a way of coming back ten fold. For years the FLDS has abused the laws of the land and it is time that this group learns to be responsible.

wallofvoodoo | 10:26 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Attacking a group of people because they are different is wrong. Making people pay $2 million in debt they have racked up is not wrong. The leaders should have been more shrewd about debt so they were not put in this position in the first place. Oddly enough this type of thing could effectively stop the FLDS church better than throwing everyone in jail for child abuse etc.

Golly ME | 10:30 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Yeah, why should they take property away from mentally derailed inbreds? Just not fair!

Cats | 10:56 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

I sure do feel sorry for these people. After generations of being victimized and stolen from by their leadership, they really need help.

different | 11:04 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

I am not american, and america usually has an opinion they are always right(TEENAGE ATTITUDE). They love to distroy any thing that is different then what the media wants.

My heart goes out to these FLDS people they are very misunderstood. I hope they can have a some what of a fair trial. and hopfully keep their homes, and temple.

IF IF IF | 11:13 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

IF the government couldn't brake any more laws in doing what it is doing to day. It can pay banks shairs and now rip familys apart becuase they fear there familys are getting to strong. and now they can steal homes and temples from groups the world has no clue who they are beacuse the media has already made them look terriable.

Fredy smith | 11:32 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

At a time when America is trying to end war. It is doing something like this, does America really think Texas is the only FLDS alike group. If FLDS loose there caise there is going to be a big revolution there are millions of people actively living bigamy, funny how not one black raise had this happen to. The world hate whites it is not a crime to be white, then why aren't black groups who live this way being rip,robed,the same way the FLDS are.

Gal50 | 11:43 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

There is no doubt that there is prejudice again outside groups in America. It has often been said that women and minorities have to work twice as hard to get ahead.

Knowing this, it would have behooved the FLDS leadership not to participate in illegal activities as adequately identified by their attorneys. Blowing off the laws of the United States is going to get you in trouble. It used to be that powerful and well-connected entities in the United States, such as the Catholic church could get away with criminal behavior. But, not anymore. When the Catholic dioceses started being sued for their participation in child abuse, this should have sent up a red flag to FLDS leadership that they were treading on thin ice. If the Catholic Church can't get away with child abuse, certainly the FLDS is not going to either. But instead, the FLDS leadership decided to go ahead with illegal behavior and conceal it through secretiveness. The off-again, on-again relationship with its attorneys has hurt the FLDS. The FLDS need to respond to legal issues in an appropriate manner and not just in a way that is desired by their leader.

Facts? | 11:47 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

I thought in America we are innocent until proven guilty..... What happened to the rights of the people in the trust. If they don't want the property sold, it should not be sold. Bruce should find something else to do with his time. They are (by judgement or force) paying him $275.00 per hour. Is he the hero here..... or the villian? Laws should be made for the people,not people subject to unjust law....... This is the FLDS trust, it is their right to decide how their bills are to be paid. If Wisan is selling something they don't want sold, he should have enough respect for his employers to do what they ask.

LOL | 11:48 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Freedom is speech is wonderful. I think they ought to pay for the sorrow they have caused others.

snow white | 11:51 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

It's the FLDS attorney to explain this to the FLDS people. FLDS makes it sound like their own attorney isn't doing a good job of explaining things to them.

Josh | 12:54 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

The trust is in debt because Wisan is charging $250 per hour for his "services". The former trustee's NEVER charged the trust a dime for their services; in fact they put thousands and thousands INTO the trust.

Also, I'll note that the reason the FLDS Attorney seems like he isn't doing a good job is because the former FLDS Attorney of over 20 years was disqualified from defending them.

FLDS MEN | 12:57 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

These polygamist infidels make me sick!

Golden opportunity | 1:22 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

I think it is great that the fdls are coming out to protest the sale of the land to pay the bills.

It is a perfect opportunity for the women and children to see how the real world works. It may strengthen them enough to leave this oppresive cult.

As far as all you that claim the fdls's rights are being violated, isn't that why they are in court, to decide how the money should be spent. They even have attorneys, I believe that is called due process. This is thier opportunity to speak up and be heard, like they should have done when all of this started.

To Fredy smith: You are a perfect example of why the fdls need to be educated. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. I also think it is a great idea that the millions of polygamist come out to protest. What a wonderful time to identify them and prosecute them for breaking the law.

I get no government bail out so why should you.

The fdls has bled the beast for so long, they should be paying the government (my hard earned money) back for generations.

Stinch in the air | 1:40 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Law breakers have NO RIGHTS! They all belong behind bars. If the FLDS are stealing from the government then they all need to be dealt with properly, as old man Jeff's has been. I noticed that the FLDS still hang old geezer Warren on their walls...GEE-ZZERS MAN!

CiCi | 4:17 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

They owe the money for the taxes and the property will be taken just the same as your's or mine would be. Hopw many chances and how much time did they defy the notices and ignore the notices of intent?YEARS! They want to treated the same and as fairly as every other person. O.K. Either they pay or they lose out. I feel sorry for those exFLDS who also lost out. They lost more then their interest in their home and land, some lost their family.

maryland | 5:21 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

The only law brakers is the government. What right does the judge have in decideing what can and can not be sold. It is really kind of suspcious, is any one looking into why a judge appoints his friend to over see a community trust. Things like this make more questions be asked. The judge wjo allowed for a community trust to be tooken over should be put behind bars.

Anonymous | 6:10 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Everyone's a protester these days. By the way, I am VERY impressed by the spelling and grammar skills being demonstrated in these posts. I can see that the state and federal money given to the FLDS to run their schools has been well spent.

Where does it end | 6:17 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Lets Just say the state sales the land, to pay them selves, six months later, there surly gonna need to pay them selfs again, so they sale some more church assets, after a short time all church assets are gone :) no more FLDS, ohh wait anyone know what putting 12,000 on government assistant will do to my taxes?? cuz ya sold all there assets. this is the mess of the century, but hey should be very entertaining.

John Pack Lambert | 7:49 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Actually I had the impression the trust was in debt because it had lost a lot of law suits.
No land as been sold yet, so people seem to jump to conclusions prematurely.
On the other hand, the person who claims law breakers have no rights needs to read the Bill of Rights. Most of the rights in that part of the constitutions of the United States are to defend people accused of crimes.

Irresponsible Leaders | 7:52 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Re: wallofvoodoo

You said:

"Making people pay $2 million in debt they have racked up is not wrong. The leaders should have been more shrewd about debt so they were not put in this position in the first place."

If 2 million in debt makes the FLDS leaders irresponsible, what does 10 trillion dollars in debt make your leaders? How about that house debt you have? You're not even a group, but one little family, if that?

Looks like you have figured out that most Americans, and their leaders are super irresponsible, even more so than the FLDS.

Re: Cats | 8:02 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Cats said:

"I sure do feel sorry for these people. After generations of being victimized and stolen from by their leadership, they really need help."

With Barrack Obama being elected president, I don't see why people have problems with the "spread the wealth around" viewpoint of the FLDS. It looks like the US government is doing the same thing with your money. Taking trillions of dollars and giving it to super wealthy corporations.

No American has any room to talk trash about the UEP, because your leaders, both Republicans and Democrats, are doing the exact same thing, and they have been for quite some time. Before you judge their leaders, you need to take a good hard look at what your leaders are doing.

Lord Challen | 9:59 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008

I'm disappointed in the buyers. I'm sort of hoping this is a ploy to get the FLDS involved in their future. I know the CPAZ group has the same feelings about this properity as the FLDS. But the method seems harsh. But sometimes people see any opportunity as appointed by God.

To me, it seems like kicking brother/sister when they are down.

At the same time, all things are spiritually justified. The fear, distrust, and lack of self-respect demostrated by FLDS has put them in this boat. Many people have valid claims for justice, but will never get it if they do not represent themselves.

zxcvbnm | 9:30 a.m. Nov. 15, 2008

Did anyone everthink that the "gesture" by the assistant Utah AG was done with the hope of avoidind a US Supreme Court ruleing on religious freedom.
Will the negotiation between the parties be looked at as the Church recognizing the authority of Wisan over the church property?

There may be a bit more to this "gesture" than everying trying to get along.

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