Shurtleff has handled this issue exceptionally well during his time in office. I'm certainly glad he didn't do what Texas is doing. I think this Texas raid should serve as a warning as how reckless some authorities are with constitutional rights.

Shurtleff is much more respectfull of due process. And while I don't like the FLDS's religion at all, if the government can do this to them, it doesn't have far to travel to do this to the mainstream LDS.

It seems as if all the "lawyer jokes" come true in the personage of Rod Parker.
If you can condone destroying the lives of the surplus boys, the bondage of girls under the "you'll burn if you don't stay sweet" plan, the racism and misinformation taught to the children in place of a real world education (they don't believe that man has been in space or that blacks have souls), the forced marriage of 12 year old girls, Rod you must be a better man than I because I cannot.

for Shurtleff to comment on? Wouldn't saying something like this in public fuel the bias debate. While I don't doubt that this sect actually did this, some comments are better left un-said, especially from a prosecutor who has them on his radar.

Mr. Shurleff seems to be pretty into himself. First off, even if it's true as long as he doesn't believe himself to be "The Anti-Christ" then why on earth does he care? Secondly, I doubt this really happened because why would these people who shun outsiders suddenly spend so much time on HIM to pray about him period, much less over his demise. Mr. Shurleff appears to be very nervous, and I think he'd be far more well off if he'd keep his strange thoughts to himself, because he's coming off as paranoid delusional. But, good for him for leaving these poor FLDS people alone. The state of Texas will soon realize the error of their ways when they have to pay our hundreds of multi-million dollar lawsuits for their unconstitutional raid on their ranch at El Dorado. More and more every day America is seeing that they have barely circumstantial evidence in this case, and people are demanding answers. Keep the heat on people, you're doing an absolutely fabulous job keeping the negative spotlight on Judge Walther and the CPS System at large.

if I read you correctly you were saying, "Not all marriages are to old men."

Wow....Reading in between the lines...Yes, underage marriages to old men do happened in Polygamous Compounds and that is Statutory Rape according to the law. You know better than that...

Haven't these idiots embassed this state enough? We are the laughing stock of this country.

This is not news this is trying to get sympathy for a man who has allowed this group to continue in its sick ways. If he can't do more than Warren Jeffs then we need an AG that will

19th century polygamous marriages were mainly to older spinsters and widows. While there were always problems with jealousies, (as even today in polygamous settings throughout the world--read the book 1,000 Splendid Suns) in some ways this was a way to take care of women in a day when there wasn't a respectable way for them to earn their own living) Young women married men their same age, generally in a monogamous union. So you can't really say the FLDS live in a 19th century polygamous world.

FLDS live in the 21st century enough to bend the laws in order to benefit from state welfare, and abuse the food stamp benefit. Many don't finish homes so they don't have to pay taxes.
They drive trucks and cars, use electricity and central heating, and shop in grocery stores. Yes, they know the system.

Fasting and praying for the death of another was never the way things worked in the 19th century. Again, the men in the FLDS community have brainwashed women in the name of tradition and religion in order to do henious things to them and their children.

These women don't know they have their own rights.

I respect AG Shurtleff on all issues except polygamy. He is allowing his emotions to get the better of him rather than rely on facts and the law. He should know you can't rely on former FLDS members testimony to be factual. He should know that if there is not victim there is no crime. See how things work in America is if they victim won't say, "Yeah, I'm a victim." You can't prosecute, unless you have some factual evidence other than hearsay.

He should look where his information is coming from. It's not reliable! Look at what Mr. Warren Jeffs was convicted on, it was a marriage of a 19 year old to a 14 year old. While I don't condone such a marriage, it certainly is not 50 year old marrying 14 year old like he seems to want us to think.

I don't believe Mr. Shurtleff is into himself at all: that would be Rod Parker. As for being the "anti-Christ," I think it's an interesting bit of trivia that supports the fact that Shurtleff did much more than people are apparently willing to give him credit for.

As much as I can't stand the FLDS and their behavior and tactics (I used to live near them), this whole nightmare is a shocking abuse of human rights.

Give me a break. When they gave a tour of their compound that was shown on TV, I saw laptop computers in some of the rooms. I don't think there were laptop computers in the 19th century.

Shurtleff has done nothing about the abuse of polygamist children for years and now, in some sick sort of way, he wants to play the victim.

The national spotlight has Shurtleff eating crow for not doing his job!

to go after child brides.

Inexscusable to ignore the rest.

Face it; Utah chooses to look the other way where polygamy is concerned; and is shamefully unique in that reguard.

It's not about a lack of resources, it is a lack of will.

Unconstitutional raid? A female called 911 of being abused; what would you have liked them to do? Ignore the call just because they are LDS?

"Mark, try to come up with facts," retorted Rod Parker, a lawyer and spokesman for the FLDS Church. "You don't know that." "I do know that," Shurtleff replied, saying the information was relayed to him through a confidential informant.

Was her name by chance Rozita Swinton, er, "Sarah"?

If Shurtleff has an inside informant it seems foolish and unprofessional to jeapordize their effectiveness just to reveal this gossipy tidbit.

I agree with the AG tactic of prosecuting the pedophilia but not polygamy between legal consenting adults. People keep demanding that they prosecute polygamists, but those same people don't demand the prosecution of married people with mistresses, or swingers, or people who move in with boyfriends/girlfriends before divorces are finalized. Why does society have such a "lets get 'em" knee jerk reaction to one, but not the others. Apparently it's only wrong to have multiple sex partners if you consider yourself married to them all. Be consistent people.

Why are you intentionally distorting the facts? Why did you use LDS instead of FLDS? What axe are you grinding? And why do you think you have any credibility when you so willfully and blatantly misrepresent things?

I can well belive that the flds prayed for the demise of the Utah AG. They are a listed hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. They remind me of another group whose women were forced to wear concealing clothing and who did not belive women had a role outside of the home, so women were discouraged from higher education. They were called the Taliban. Are the flds the American Taliban?

How can Shurtleff be sure it is true if there is only one unsubstantiated informant? Basically, if it is bad for the FLDS it is true? Perhaps he should read what the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court has written on polygamy -- then he can claim he is FLDS too.

". . . if the government can do this to them, it doesn't have far to travel to do this to the mainstream LDS . . ."

Or a mainstream Muslim neighborhood.

Or mainstream Jews.

Or even "christian" Baptists (who have been attacking everyone different from them for hundreds of years).

Anyone can be accused. And an accusation, apparently, is justification enough to have your kids taken away.

C'mon Mr. Shurtleff at 7:17am. Since I didn't follow the Warren Jeffs trial I am not sure what he was convicted of. BUT, I do know that a lot of the marriages are between OLDER men and young teenage girls.

I went to school with a girl named "Leah". She disappeared right after she turned 16. I later found out she was married to a guy that was 50 or 60 out in Bluffdale. The same thing happened to her younger sister that is the same age as my sister.

And yes they do abuse the welfare system. I delivered mail for 13 years. Most of the ones receiving food stamps were polygamists. I delivered 52 medicaide cards to one house in a single day.

Also because of the problems these children have, ie: deaf, cross-eyed, learning disabilities, they take presidence over other children in the public school systems resource areas. I know because I have a daughter who suffers from not being able to stay focused on her school work. I couldn't get any help for her because their classes that would help with this were completely full. Most of which were polygamist children. And no I won't medicate.

Mr. Shurtleff is considered the top law enforcement officer in the state and yet he has continued to fire from the mouth information that he is supposedly getting from a "confidential informant" or did he say their name was "Sarah" (aka Rosetta Swinton) Everthing he spouts off about has, from the beginning, come from "ex-flds members"...good greif people wake up!! How many of you would like your biography written by your ex-wife. How many LDS faithful want their history told by a disaffected, disgruntled apostate "confidential informant". GET THE POINT????

would the judge like a donation of california kids to introduce the FLDS kids to the real world? They can learn first hand ..drinking,drugs,unsafe sex,smoking,cursing,disrespecting authority. The list goes on of all the fun those kids have not seen. Or better yet they can take our cps kids to the ranch and let them have a view of life on a real ranch! Give those families a fair chance.By the way the laptops are ok..they did not say they ban technology that would be in Indiana. Maybe the judge can just say"sorry" and put the kids back with supervision and help to change the age rules. I hope 16 applies to them as well as other texans.

I don't pray for Mr. Shurtleff's death, but I DO pray from his retirement from government office.

The fact remains that these men are PEDOPHILES(doesn't matter whether girls or boys) this is what IS HAPPENING on this ranch. These people are SCREAMING RELIGIOUS INJUSTICE. Alot of bunk!

No one is debating the lifestyle of polygamy. We, the people, are concerned about the taking by force of young girls, boys, and woman. This is UNACCEPTABLE.

Again, you people out there...NO ONE IS QUESTIONING THE MULTIPLE MARRIAGES..one is questioning STATUATORY RAPE TO YOUNG GIRLS, BOYS, AND WOMAN.

Upon seeing the video of the homes there was not a room for the man of the house. What does he do? just jump bed with ever he wishes while the children in the next bed sleeping.

SICK!

This is frightening! GW Bush invaded Iraq because they threatened his daddy's life. If you're the leader of any organization that carries out justice, don't you think your life is going to be threatened? The Sword of Damocles is always hanging over powerful people.

This sounds like Shurtleff is gearing up to go in for the big raid in Utah. All because they fasted and prayed for his demise. Did they hatch an assassination plot? Did they attempt to carry out those plans? Come on! Follow the process of law and stop this namby pamby whining about somebody who wants to hurt you. Be a man if you're the leader of law enforcement in Utah. Or step aside and let a woman do it better.

Come on Mark --- We are taught to pray for our enemys. Sounds like you are running from your shadow.

TO BIZZARE:
Consider this wise proverb:
"From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh"

What goes on in your mind?

Why does Utah, Utah AG, etc coddle polygamist?

The are breaking the law!

There is nothing to sympathize with, it is an arrogant and abusive lifestyle. These people think they are above the law. If they (and I mean all polygamist groups) claim to be Mormon offshoots then they also think they are smarter or more inspired than the last 10 or so prophets. The welfare fraud and abuse of children is just icing on the cake.

So, why does Utah coddle polygamist?

Are there LDS members with a soft spot for polygamist because greatgranddaddy lived it? If so I suggest you reconsider; your g.g.father was obeying the prophet, these criminals make a mockery of your ancestor's sacrifice, faith and obedience.

Are there LDS who think that, but for the mean old American govt. they too might be living polygamy? If so I suggest you aquaint yourself with what current Priesthood Leadership is teaching. You are dangerously deluding yourself. Which Way are YOU facing?

This has festered for a century, and for a century too long.

If Utah thinks polygamy is OK change the law, don't ignore it.

Imagine creating a religion based on abusing women. The founders of this religion are pedophiles and perverts. This is America. It is against the law to have more then one wife. It is against the law to rape a woman or child. No 15 year old girl wants to have sex with a 50 year old man. I feel sorry for the mothers but it is unfortunate that they have such low self esteem that they think being abused is normal and perversion is normal. They hand up their little girls to rape. I think that means that they are just as responsible as the pig perverts. I dont buy this religion crap. I dont believe this is a religion. It is a scam designed to bilk the government for welfare and perverts to rape virgins. Lock them all up!!!! I am not paying taxes for this.

We are taught to pray FOR our ENEMYS.

I don't think I could ever do Mark Shurtleff's job. He has legislators mad at him for telling them their bills are unconstitutional. He has the FLDS wanting him dead for enforcing the law. The national media is criticizing him for not enforcing the law enough.
Democrats think he is gun crazy. The conservative wing of his own party is convinced he's really a Democrat.

Yet behind the scenes Mark has managed to be a peace maker and uses his personal resources to help many unfortunate kids including the "lost boys" of the FLDS. He has shown not only great forbearance in the light of constant criticism but great compassion as well.

Thanks Mark.

Shurtleff is wrong on polygamy, guns, pay-day loan companies. He is not Utah's top law enforcement official, he is Utah's top self-promoter.

I am glad to see that my former law professor, Ed Firmage, agrees that the taking of over 400 children into state custody was an egregious violation of their civil and constitutional rights. Everyone agrees that the real crime is the action by men in that sect who take child brides, of such an age difference it constitutes statutory rape. Yet not a single one of the actions by Texas so far has moved them closer to prosecuting those men. Indeed, by using a phone call from a now known to be false informant, whom they could have easily confirmed to be in Colorado rather than Texas, they have placed their ability to prosecute the men in jeopardy. And they are punishing the children and the women, the people whom they claim are the victims. There is no imminent threat of harm to the children or most of their mothers. They could have easily identified those young mothers who were child brides and taken them into protective custody, kept them with their children, and worked on prosecution of the men involved, including ensuring that the fathers paid child support. They could simply monitor the rest to prevent child brides.

Deseret News---quit protecting FLDS! SHAMEFUL!
Print the truth.

Where would Elizabeth Smart be if the police had not bothered to listen to the two informants? The same applies to this case especially given the known history of Warren Jeffs, currently on "vacation."

I think it would be alright to pray that someone be relocated to a new job or country. Praying for death is not asking for help from God; it is trying to be God. And that is not right (at least not in this world)

@ Why

First of all the anti-polygamy laws are, like you said, US law and not Utah law so Utah can not change them on it's own.

Second, this whole country lives it's lives ignoring laws that are basically unenforcable and often uncostitutional.

Most states have anti-sodomy laws but when was the last time you saw someone convicted for consensually engaging in sodomy?

Truth is the crime of Polygamy is nearly impossible to prossecute because these people figured out long ago that adultry and having multiple intimate partners is perfectly acceptable and not against the law. So if they are never "Legally" married by the state then the state can not convict them of Polygamy.

I say if consenting adults want to live in a commited polygamist relationship then it is the ultimate HYPOCRISY for America to tell them they can't.

The real issue here is the abuse. I've said it before and I'll say it again, THE PREISTHOOD LEADERSHIP OF THE FLDS CHURCH BROUGHT THIS ON THE WHOLE CHURCH. To continue practices that are considered to be both illegal AND abusive when discontinuing the practices is not against church doctorine or principles, is to invite destruction.

It is unfair that the mormon prominece in Utah is such an embarrasment to the rest of the state, one can't live in Utah without being associate with mormonism. All I hear from my out of state friends and business contacts is; what is it with you people, and then I have to try to explain that I am not one of the people.

Texas has grossly abused the constitution in their removal of the children and any other religious group who doesn't think this could set a dangerous precedent is sadly mistaken. If the government doesn't agree with how you teach, raise, or where you take your children to church then you are fair game. It just takes one wacked out informant to do the trick.

As for the welfare discussion, get rid of welfare altogether and we won't have near the problem we have with welfare recipients including illegal aliens. Are we seriously better off with it compared to how it used to be without it? There are a lot more poor now then there used to be and there will be a lot more tomorrow. The welfare system is a life-draining, low self-esteem enducing safety net that discourages industry and involuntarily robs from Peter to pay Paul. It's bad and it's getting worse.

Why do we keep demonizing these people that most of us have never met, never shooks hands with, never talked to? That's insane. Is it really necessary to go this low to make them look so bad? What's the purpose behind it and who benefits from making these people look bad? Isn't that what was done to early mormon pioneers?
Give these people a break. They're not able to defend themselves and give us their side of the story. Good grief. Cast the first stone... Now everybody thinks that they're a bunch of child molesters and nobody has any clue of evidence of anything. Pray for death? Give me a break. Even if they did, who cares? How ridiculous to be offended by it, in my opinion.

AG Shurtleff: What an egomaniac! Your informant (aka: TN) has about as much credibility as Rozita Swinton. Your confidential informant was once a member of the FLDS but was long ago excommunicated and now has a serious axe to grind against his former associates. This is the same former member who provided much of the fuel for the raid as the confidential informant for Sheriff Doran as well. One and the same, and his identity is not a mystery in the FLDS circles. Yet because he was once a member, both Doran and Shurtleff assume their informant has all the answers. Wrong. They are so full of themselves they don't even know how duped they were to believe this slick talking smoothie. Believe me, the FLDS faithful have way more important things to bring forward in their prayers than to waste a syllable of time mentioning the name of Shurtleff. Shurtleff if you really are intent on being a martyr, publicly profane some of the beliefs of Islam instead. They too have some extreme beliefs that run counter to your idea of normalcy. Give it a try. We'll sit back and watch the show.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT MORMON PIONEERS ! ! !

Get past the clothes.

Quit being naive and blind.

There are children and women that need help.

I feel for the FLDS mothers. I pray the FLDS will quickly get their children back and use this unfortunate situation to mend their society.

Although girls 14 and older getting married is not a great wrong, it is illegal, what do you have against waiting?

Also don't you see the wrongness of kicking your young teen boys out of the house to make room for polygamy.

God works in mysterious ways. If you can take this situation and mend your society, all of this will have been for the good if you will let it.

Mark Shirtleff is going off hearsay just like most government officials are in this day. Where is the integrity of our forefathers? What did they die for? If children in Texas are being dumped into a foster care program that has a track record of the abuse that they are "accusing" (not proven) the parents of because of hearsay, if this is allowed by the American people ARE YOUR CHILDREN SAFE IN YOUR HOME? How long will the American people accept and allow government officials to trample on the Constitutional rights of anyone no matter of race, color of RELIGION. Mark Shirtleff has said many biased comments about the FLDS and that is why he is now trying to taint them as having bitter feelings. All I see is them wanting to live in peace.

So move to a state where you can demonize good, religious, family-oriented, law-abiding citizens called Mormons, without being associated with them.

@ Roberta

That is a silly thing to say.

What exactly is the problem with being "one of those people"?

Maybe you should get to know some of your Mormon neighbors. you never know, you might even like them.

I think the public condemnation of law enforcement following the Shortcreek raids in the 1950s and the judicious allocation of limited resources are why the AG doesn't go after every polygamist he can.

For him to get worked up about them praying for his death; he's an elected official, get used to it. That does not excuse them if they are praying for his death, but you do create vindictive enemies when you occupy public office.

I don't trust the people from this sect at all. They constantly lie and will not answer simple questions. I hope that maybe this raid will help to make some changes in their way of life. I for one don't like my taxes going to pay for them having a bunch of children that can not afford to take care of. These women need to be educated and then maybe their eyes will be open.

Why don't they go after the men there. They are the ones that need to be taken away. Let's get them behind bars.