Hopefully the FLDS leaders are getting the message:

1. You cannot dissolve a marriage and strip family members of their home and family.

2. You cannot allow girls below the age of consent to get married and have children.

3. You cannot allow marriages between close relatives.

Many people are sympathetic to your desires to have multiple wives, if that is your religious belief - certainly our society doesn't make a big deal about people cohabitating without marriage or the serial polygamy that many people participate in. But when you continue to allow practices that are simply wrong as well as illegal, then the government unfortunately cannot continue to turn a blind eye. And if you continue to participate in these unacceptable and unjust practices, you must reap the whirlwind.

There could be no more perfect example of a faschist nation and it's bureaucracy. You, dear reader have already figured out where you are going to emigrate when "the government" decides your religion is against the best interests of society, haven't you? You haven't? Start thinking.

What does the FLDS group produce to support themselves? Do they own businesses, do they work outside their enclaves, or do they just live off of welfare like Tom Green did? How many of these men really earn enough money to support half a dozen wives and dozens of children? Should we pay for their lifestyle? It seems that if they live off welfare like Tom Green did, then the more wives and children a man has, the richer he becomes.

If they live off welfare, then the government paid for all of these houses. So, who should decide what happens to the property, the property owner? I for one would like to know who paid for their Texas enclave & Temple. My guess is it was the tax payers.

California Andy you know nothing about it. Have you drived through Hildale and Colorado City and seen all the unfinished houses that will stay uinfinished so the families do not have to pay property taxes. Have you seen 14 year old childen pregnant? Have you seen the "LOST BOYS" on the steps of the capital in Utah asking for help because they have been thrown out of the society because they are a threat to the old men who want all the young girls to themselves? Or men who have been thrown out of the community while their wives and children have been given to someone else I'll bet you haven't. When the old man(father of Jeffs) was alive most of this went on but not abuse of children. Why Warren decided on this type of leadership, I don't know, but he did and now the community has to pay for it. Maybe you need to find out the facts before going on about a "faschist nation." Get the facts!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who is Wyler? From his comments, it sounds like he is the last person who should work with the UEP trust. It appears he is mocking members of his former church when he says actions by those over the UEP trust can be considered revelation by the FLDS members. That is like saying Bill Clinton's declaring the Grand Staircase-Escalante area into a national monument was a revelation to members of the LDS church. At the end of the article he talks about those who have committed sins. On a religious level that might be alright, but if he has been appointed by the court to help oversee the UEP trust, there is no room to consider anything but the legality of the trust and what is in the best interest of those involved. Can't the courts get someone more objective and less biased in this matter?

I want to start a religion where I can have a small town where we all grow pot, smoke pot, and practice our religion the way we see it. Would the government turn a blind eye to that? Having sex with Minors is against the law, polygamy is against the law! How did they get the government to let them get away with this for so long? For all of you who are feeling sad for these poligies you need to wake up and maybe have one of your 14 year old daughters, neices, grandaughters, etc get raped by dirty old men who say they are in tune with God. What is the need for beds in the FLDS temple? Sex in the FLDS temple must be the best especially with an underage girl who you are related too! This is sick and polygamy needs to go down just like the potheads go down!

You are so naive, Andy.

Just because you're a man doesn't mean you can turn a blind eye to the female abuse of the FLDS.

Okay, Andy. Let's pretend a cult has been started that focuses on violence, abuse, murder, and all sorts of -- . It sets up its headquarters in California. Should the Californians tolerate the inhumane doctrines simply because they (the Californians) believe in religious freedom?

The FLDS live off gaming the welfare system. They produce children and live off the proceeds via the social welfare system. Fraud? I think so. When are the federal authorities and the main-stream news going to address the obvious angle of this story?

They own construction companies where the very young boys work for nothing. Just think what that does for the profit... And the prophit.

I have no problem what CONSENTING ADULTS do in the privacy of their homes. I DO have a problem with manipulation, subjugation, control, slavery, child sex abuse.

There are many polygamists who live honest lives. They should be left alone.

Unfortunately, there are also too many who hide their pedophilia behind the clokes of their alleged priesthood power. They should be condemned and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

That doesn't mean I want my constitutional rights, or the rights of others trampled.

If laws have been broken, go after the perpetrators in a constitutionally guaranteed way.

You have not watch the news including the national news. They highlighted that these people make millions in making parts for defense contracts.

Do you really think these men with multiple wives and kids support these families? Get real! Unless you are making alot of money, it is hard enough trying to raise 2 children with a husband (
as I do), much less a man with multiple wives and kids. Funny how they don't want the government in their lives but it's ok to accept welfare to provide for their extended families.

And I love how men hide behind the skirts of the women I've seen interviewed, nary a one in sight.

And what's with the "prairie dresses and the braided hair? Where can you even purchase dresses like that?

To Margaret re: "Where can you even purhase dresses like that": Believe it or not, some people actually sew their own clothes!

Don't believe all you hear on National TV people..Also, I've worked the streets for the past 31 years. What's happening on the streets of all big cities is by far worse than being families being protected in this compound. I'm betting the streets of SLC is the same as here in Denver and everywhere else...Plus the drugs and HIV and meth etc..I would rather my child be in a compound than on your downtown streets right there in SLC.

I'm not raising my children to even think polygamy is anywhere close to a way to live. But I don't like whats happening to their rights down there and anyones else's, who doesn't belong in a mainstrean religion...I think this is another Waco without the killing......

Believe it or not I sew too (mostly casual clothes) but why choose dress patterns that look like a throwback in the 1800s? Join the 21st century!

Religion is fine but not at the expense of taxpayers and it has been proven that those down in southern utah are receiving tax payers dollars to support their religion - NO WAY should this be happening. No sympathy for Polygamy as practiced by that lot for sure FREE the women and give the children a chance to a average normal life style. If as adults they want to follow the life - that is not a problem

Why would anyone sew or wear dresses that look like they were fashionable a century ago? They need pointers from Big Love.

I admit, my expertise on sewing does not include making dresses.

Where are the men? The media is allowed in and no one talks to a single man? I thought they ran the place. Don't the men care about their children being taken away? Why doesn't a reporter at least give one sentence about the 50 men in the compound?

I saw an interesting note on the cnn website this afternoon....
The state of Louisiana wants the death penalty for child rapists. period.
That would make things a bit more interesting in the polygamist towns, wouldn't it?

I totally agree, "WHERE ARE THE MEN?" How come no one is telling us "their" side of the story? Our inquiring minds want to know.

There are no men because as the media comes in they men send out their grieving wives to greet them. The women gather around the reporters smothering the reporters with their sob stories. Notice how when asked about abuse the women never answer the question. The men send them out, tell them what to say and when we see the story we "feel bad" for the mothers. It's a PR stunt and seems to be working. The women are just pawns.

Where does the money come from? Do they operate a business in the compound and sell products to the outside world like the Amish? Is the quarry just for their own use (the Temple) or is it a business that sells stone products to non-FLDS people and businesses?

These folks are just taking advantage of innocent kids...plus its just another way of having as many sexual partners as possible...no intelligent human being would act this way...

The FLDS apparently have a number of businesses around. I purchase O-rings from a company in Salt Lake. They used to have a message at their front counter that stated a change in their accounting practice, and it you didn't like it, you could take up the matter with "Warren Jeffs."

My understanding also is that many of the "wives" go to the local welfare office and apply for support as single mothers. So these spiritual marriages apparently don't include the responsibility for providing for the welfare of your spiritual wife and children. If this is the case, we are subsidizing their lifestyle.

Interesting to note that Tom Green (not FLDS but a polygamist nonetheless) was convicted, in part, of welfare fraud.

MY question is where in the world is the Sentor of Ariz.-he has to know that this is going on in his State-They've have had a story about this on TV before and I have yet to here a word from his mouth-and he thinks he would make a good president. We worry more about peoples rights then our children rights. This is the kind of news our candidates for the office of president should be talking about not if you can drink a shot or have a beer. Our goverment is broken while our kids pay the price. SICK

This has nothing to do with religion. No religion approves of child abuse, welfare fraud, and flat working the system through the whole membership of FLDS covers for him. If he wants to do it with consenting adults that are free to come and go as they please, let them try. But, those children have no choise. You are the one who is blind protecting the bad guy instead of protecting the victoms... Be careful how you bash our country.