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Birth defect is plaguing children in FLDS towns
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Terry Hatcher | 9:24 a.m. April 11, 2008
No child deserves to be born with such disabilities.
I understand that even in the mainstream LDS culture there is so much in-breeding that it has given rise to trends in birth defects that are higher among LDS than other populations.
All the more reason why missionary work is SO IMPORTANT!
If that is so, then why do Church leaders focus so much on marrying within the religion? Genetically, it would make more sense to encourage members to marry non-members so that the problems of in-breeding are no multiplied.
I understand that even in the mainstream LDS culture there is so much in-breeding that it has given rise to trends in birth defects that are higher among LDS than other populations.
All the more reason why missionary work is SO IMPORTANT!
If that is so, then why do Church leaders focus so much on marrying within the religion? Genetically, it would make more sense to encourage members to marry non-members so that the problems of in-breeding are no multiplied.
well, when you are . . . | 9:41 a.m. April 11, 2008
isolated like that, these things tend to happen.
Comments continue below
J | 1:09 p.m. April 11, 2008
Rape can have punishment results...Thorns, if you will. Do we not punish our
children if they are wrong....there are consequences...many natural ones. I
believe God will punish those responsible. If not today...JUDGEMENT DAY!
Anonymous | 1:08 p.m. April 11, 2008
The reason people will not get over it's because the man you call a true
PROPHET stated all of this. If he was a life right now, he would belong to the
FLDS church. They are a true mirror of the church he stated. I think it's
about time you go back and research a little deeper. LDS stop the practice for
now until the next life.
Messed - up Rogers Ar. | 2:05 p.m. April 11, 2008
I can't believe we are facing this in this time in the world- Have they not
learned anything? How can thy think marring and forcing a girl of 13 or 14 to
have a baby is good for any one? What kind of messed up people are they? God
help these poor people who think this is good. Satan has truly blinded the eyes
of these people.
Watch your viewpoints | 2:19 p.m. April 11, 2008
Any reason to intermarry, whether it is for royalty, or religion or geographic
has the ability to create physical problems.
While we're at it, however, any reason to be separate from the general populace has the ability to create physical problems. Royalty: different diet, different problems than the general populace. (think 600 - 1800s). Religious: possibility of skewed metabolisms due to fasting. (Ramadan, perhaps?) Geographic: Smog in Big Cities, anyone?
On the argument 'they're children' do you know how many children die or are crippled in car accidents daily?
Way, way more than any little genetic disorder could do in a century.
While we're at it, however, any reason to be separate from the general populace has the ability to create physical problems. Royalty: different diet, different problems than the general populace. (think 600 - 1800s). Religious: possibility of skewed metabolisms due to fasting. (Ramadan, perhaps?) Geographic: Smog in Big Cities, anyone?
On the argument 'they're children' do you know how many children die or are crippled in car accidents daily?
Way, way more than any little genetic disorder could do in a century.
dear Simple Genetics | 2:21 p.m. April 11, 2008
Perhaps in the hillbilly clan you come from 80% of all of the marriages are
first cousin or closer, but in the real world your figure is painfully off.
Perhaps you can get a refund on that genetics degree.
Jimmie Redhorse | 2:24 p.m. April 11, 2008
Native Americans identify themselves by a clan system (one from each parent).
Natives know that intermarriage between close family members will cause a host
of problems. Mainly birth defects. We are a warrior society and our wars
introduced new genes into each nation i.e. capture of children and females (men
were killed) diversified the native gene pool. Thought I would tell you our
side.
dear Higher Law | 2:40 p.m. April 11, 2008
The "highest Law" we live by is continuing revelation and direction
from the Lord. There have been times when the Lord commanded polygamy to be
practiced, most of the time not. When the President of the Church instructs that
polygamy will not be practiced and individuals continue it is not "higher
law"; it is ADULTERY. Polygamy has always been a readily abused and
misinterpreted doctrine and now is no different. Read Jacob.
Perhaps family history leaves some with mixed emotions or clouded judgement on the subject when confronted by a horror show like Jeffs/FLDS. Rest assured that from a thousand miles away there is no confusion about the fact that FLDS is and has been monstrously wrong. The only confusion is over why Utah authorities have allowed the situation to continue for YEARS.
It is a blessing to the pitiful victims of FLDS that they were finally taken to a state where that confusion doesn't exist and authorities are willing to take action.
Perhaps family history leaves some with mixed emotions or clouded judgement on the subject when confronted by a horror show like Jeffs/FLDS. Rest assured that from a thousand miles away there is no confusion about the fact that FLDS is and has been monstrously wrong. The only confusion is over why Utah authorities have allowed the situation to continue for YEARS.
It is a blessing to the pitiful victims of FLDS that they were finally taken to a state where that confusion doesn't exist and authorities are willing to take action.
Tansay Jimmie Redhorse! | 2:56 p.m. April 11, 2008
Don't these white people and their religions make you laugh sometimes.
Through polygamy, rape and incest the young children become unknown victims. And to think we use to let the white churches take our native children away to learn and become like them! Our shame is deep now.
Mother earth has a cruel sense of humor.
Don't call me a lamanite, that ship has sailed already my friends. I am a Cree man.
eksay!
-Cree-man.
Through polygamy, rape and incest the young children become unknown victims. And to think we use to let the white churches take our native children away to learn and become like them! Our shame is deep now.
Mother earth has a cruel sense of humor.
Don't call me a lamanite, that ship has sailed already my friends. I am a Cree man.
eksay!
-Cree-man.
Welfare cha ching | 4:00 a.m. April 12, 2008
They preach to "Bleed the Beast", in other words, to take as much from
society as possible.
Those seriously ill children have no legal father, their moms dont work... who the heck do you think pays for their high medical bills?
Yeah you, look in the mirror! You support this atrocity!
Those seriously ill children have no legal father, their moms dont work... who the heck do you think pays for their high medical bills?
Yeah you, look in the mirror! You support this atrocity!
From the Wiki.... | 8:27 a.m. April 12, 2008
Fumarase deficiency is extremely rare. Until a few years ago scientists knew of
only thirteen cases worldwide. However, recently twenty additional cases have
been documented in the border towns of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale,
Utah. These two towns constitute a closed and controlled community, and were
settled in the 1930s by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, which is a breakaway sect COMPLETELY unaffiliated with The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As such, many of the surrounding communities
refer to this disease as "Polygamist's Down's"
The fumarase deficiency gene has become very common in this community, due to the practice of INBREEDING. It is believed that either Joseph Smith Jessop, one of the founders of the communities, or his wife carried the gene and passed it on to their descendants.
The populations of Colorado City and Hildale are examples of the founder effect.
SO SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fumarase deficiency gene has become very common in this community, due to the practice of INBREEDING. It is believed that either Joseph Smith Jessop, one of the founders of the communities, or his wife carried the gene and passed it on to their descendants.
The populations of Colorado City and Hildale are examples of the founder effect.
SO SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just because... | 8:33 a.m. April 12, 2008
Just want to say I agree with Texas responding to this situation as well as the
comment about abuse being claimed as a religion, therefore being
'okay'. Abuse is wrong...using children, women with no means of other
support, into a type of 'sex business' is abominable. If these people
are playing like they are married and yet claiming the women are single &
using children to collect welfare...that is fraud. Polygomy is not allowed in
our country...that is illegal. We see programs about other countries in the
plight of trafficing young males & females in a sex trade, as well as
children and are asked to support programs to help, yet here in our own country
there is a mess similar to this going on. The legalities of this whole
situation needs to be addressed and acted upon. If you could chose a life for
your child, would you chose a physical or mental handicap? Think not. The
children with these handicaps deserve better and it is a shame that prenataly
they are not being protected by loving parents...that is called neglect. So
much prenatal education available. These people know they are breaking the
laws...act.
katie | 8:54 a.m. April 12, 2008
it kind of makes me sad that these FLDS members don't realize what
they're doing is wrong. that may be a personal opinion, but i think
it's just about everyone's personal opinion. I sure wouldn't want
to put my children through the pain of having the mental issues many of these
children are getting. In a way, its a form of abuse. These problems could be
prevented if these people would just marry outside of their family.
Stewart | 12:13 p.m. April 12, 2008
"Bleed the Beast," is what the polygamist say when they steal from
federal, state or local taxpayers. They have little choice but to marry within
the cult, because they don't trust outsiders, especially men. They fully
intend to breed their own future believers. It doesn't look like from this
article that this tactic is going to work over the long run.
The problem could affect the future for our descendants. As this cult fails and members spread themselves through the general population, they will take this gene that they have carefully bred through the past century and pass it on to the innocent. It seems a lot like AIDS where the guilty were protected because they wanted to continue their practices at all cost. Because of their own perversion, they care nothing about the rest of the population.
The problem could affect the future for our descendants. As this cult fails and members spread themselves through the general population, they will take this gene that they have carefully bred through the past century and pass it on to the innocent. It seems a lot like AIDS where the guilty were protected because they wanted to continue their practices at all cost. Because of their own perversion, they care nothing about the rest of the population.
Rick | 1:48 p.m. April 12, 2008
The government needs to move in on these FLDS and their immoral polygamy
practices. Slavery was abolished long ago. These people make me darn right sick!
This is America, and this stuff has been going on for far too many decades.
It's time to clean up America, and put some lusty fellows into the slammer.
Fumarase deficiency | 2:22 p.m. April 12, 2008
is the least of the defects the males in FLDS harbor
Just Me | 7:26 p.m. April 12, 2008
I find it laughable that anyone would say that these communities are
"taking good care" of these handicapped children. I know for a fact
that the majority of these children are left in rooms and forgotten, or given
"cupboard" cures which they feel will heal the child: making bigger
problems than before. Child abuse runs rampant in the FLDS community and will
continue to do so because there is no clear cut way to expose it completely. I
expect it is easier to be neglectful and abusive to a mentally challenged child
who is incapable of crying out for help. Why does everyone try to pin rainbows
and roses on a situation that continues to foster damaged people?
L | 10:31 p.m. April 12, 2008
To Ill 12:14
Ask any woman if she would kike multiple husbands...
While I do not go around asking that question, my observations over a period of years in several locations make me believe the answer must be YES by some.
I have observed married women "sleeping with" or maybe it is called "swinging", "haveing a night out" or one of a numer of other terms used to indiciate having sex with multiple guys, some of them legally their husbands, some not. Pologamy (which I do not support any more than the others) at least on the surface calles it what it is, sex with multiple partners. Would any woman admit wanting more than one husband- Yes, I think they have demonstrated that answer contrary to your opinion.
Maybe I will have to start asking an appropriate question to all the ladies I meet in the airport.
Ask any woman if she would kike multiple husbands...
While I do not go around asking that question, my observations over a period of years in several locations make me believe the answer must be YES by some.
I have observed married women "sleeping with" or maybe it is called "swinging", "haveing a night out" or one of a numer of other terms used to indiciate having sex with multiple guys, some of them legally their husbands, some not. Pologamy (which I do not support any more than the others) at least on the surface calles it what it is, sex with multiple partners. Would any woman admit wanting more than one husband- Yes, I think they have demonstrated that answer contrary to your opinion.
Maybe I will have to start asking an appropriate question to all the ladies I meet in the airport.
Cmh | 12:36 p.m. April 21, 2008
This is a topic people are very passionate about. I am not a member of the LDS
Church but am close with many who are. Mainstream LDS members denounce Polygomy.
No question.
What the FLDS community essentionally does is allow a man to legally marry one woman AND have several mistresses. This is morally repugnant, but not illegal.
The only issue that can be prosecuted is child abuse. The investigation is being hampered by members lying about relationships and ages. This opens the door to prosecute obstruction.
Everything else is beyond legal reach. Even the circumstances that have led to this terrible birth defect. I have a child with Autism so I am not being ignorant or hurtful to those effected. I can only pray that God will guide law enforcement to find any and all forms of child abuse AND have the wisdom to help these children heal. This is a phenomenal task. I hope the nation can focus it's energy on what can be done here, which is guarantee the safty of the children. Everything else is just noise at this point.
What the FLDS community essentionally does is allow a man to legally marry one woman AND have several mistresses. This is morally repugnant, but not illegal.
The only issue that can be prosecuted is child abuse. The investigation is being hampered by members lying about relationships and ages. This opens the door to prosecute obstruction.
Everything else is beyond legal reach. Even the circumstances that have led to this terrible birth defect. I have a child with Autism so I am not being ignorant or hurtful to those effected. I can only pray that God will guide law enforcement to find any and all forms of child abuse AND have the wisdom to help these children heal. This is a phenomenal task. I hope the nation can focus it's energy on what can be done here, which is guarantee the safty of the children. Everything else is just noise at this point.
Faye | 9:34 p.m. April 21, 2008
Does anyone know if the children and women that are getting DNA testing, have
any possibility of getting tested also for fumarase deficiency disease..the gene
pool disease? All that is required is a simple urine sample test BUT the testers
must know what they are looking for.
If not who may we contact?????
If not who may we contact?????
jane | 9:30 p.m. April 21, 2008
what?
CA | 12:04 p.m. April 23, 2008
The sins of the father are visited upon the sons. So sad.
God bless Texas!
God bless Texas!
martyo | 8:37 p.m. April 23, 2008
I also don't care what consenting adults do, but they should be ashamed to
call this christianity. They should all be arrested for sexual abuse of a
child. Make their compound a prison. The men are clearly pediphiles. The
mothers are just as guilty and the men. Has anybody seen any teenage males in
all this? Where are they???
FLDS vs. LDS | 8:15 p.m. April 29, 2008
I am not associated with either church. However, I have worked with homeless
youth for many years and have found that the numbers of LDS kids who are thrown
out of their homes and into the streets because they took part in the usual
rebellious activities that teenagers partake in is EXTREME!!! I don't care
who you are, if your religion dictates that you should only love your children
when they obey, then you should not be having children. You should definitely
not be having LOTS of children as both FLDS and LDS families do. Both religions
are disgusting to me because of the neglect and abuse their children suffer. I
knew one girl from an LDS family whose parents tied her to her bed for over a
week to keep her from seeing her boyfriend, and many others who were cast off
for being gay. The FLDS may be more extreme, but both religions are sick in that
they don't allow parents to LOVE their children for who they are.
RE: FLDS vs. LDS | 6:36 p.m. April 30, 2008
Obviously you have a pretty narrow field of vision. People are people and raise
their children how they feel appropriate no matter what religion they come from.
There are plenty of parents who are abussive to their children whom are NOT of
the LDS or FLDS faith. I happen to know for a FACT that members of the LDS faith
are taught from birth to be loving of everyone, especially their own children.
As for having many children, I grew up in a family with 5 children and would not
want it any other way. In my oppinion, large families are more fun, and I plan
on having 5 children at least. It it not a commandment in the LDS church to have
many children, they simply preffer it that way. People have agency in all
things. We are made aware of the consiquences and are free to choose for
ourselves to make that choice anyway, and should not be suprised or react
bitterly when that consiquence follows. Polygamy is illegal, bottom line. And
yet these people still practice it in this country. They are seperate from the
LDS faith and should not be associated with them at all.
RE:RE: FLDS vs. LDS | 9:44 p.m. May 18, 2008
I find it somewhat unsettling that your plan to have at least 5 children of your
own is based on your memory of a fun childhood in a big family. having kids is a
huge responsibility, and your first priority should be wether you have enough
resources (financial, time, patience etc) to raise a well-adjusted child. One
child requires alot of sacrifice, i dont think you should think of something so
important in terms of the amount of fun you perceive it to be, that kind of
mindset indicates egocentrism, which you cannot afford as a parent.
I do not support/agree with the teachings of LDS or FLDS at all but i think we could all benefit from taking a step back and bearing in mind that group influence/processes sometimes operate at a higher level than individual thinking. there is lots of fundamental attribution error going on here and it would be myopic to condemn any member of the religion, after all they probably do not know any better. please have a look at the zimbardo study or asch study on conformity to have a better understanding of situational influences.
I do not support/agree with the teachings of LDS or FLDS at all but i think we could all benefit from taking a step back and bearing in mind that group influence/processes sometimes operate at a higher level than individual thinking. there is lots of fundamental attribution error going on here and it would be myopic to condemn any member of the religion, after all they probably do not know any better. please have a look at the zimbardo study or asch study on conformity to have a better understanding of situational influences.
H Rudr | 10:36 a.m. June 9, 2008
Polygamy is not the cause of any disease. Inbreeding is the cause of many
genetic diseases. You get a group of people paranoid about everyone around them
and what you get inbreeding. Same thing happened ( and still happening)to some
germans that immigrated to south america and lived there in isolated
communities.
Ankhorite | 8:02 a.m. June 26, 2008
The reason LDS people get blamed for FLDS behavior is that LDS politicians - and
the LDS community as a whole - have done NOTHING to put a stop to this. Utah
and Arizona's law enforcement structure protects interstate trafficking of
women and girls for forced marriage, rape, and forced breeding.
Utah & Arizona do nothing to prosecute or at least discipline the FLDS nurses who see the child abuse and fail to report it. Utah & Arizona have done nothing to increase the MISDEMEANOR penalty for abandoning male children as young as 12 - the "lost boys." Utah & Arizona have done nothing to investigate or prosecute the high rate of infant and child deaths, some without death certificates and in unmarked graves, which may be a result of genetic disease or of neglect of disabled children or unwanted boys.
The welfare fraud gets everyone excited. Where's the excitement about the trafficking, rape, abandonment, and neglect of the children? How dare any law enforcement official claim they don't have the resources to look into this? The LDS community - all voters - should stop being passive and embarrassed and start being enraged and active. Clean this up!
Utah & Arizona do nothing to prosecute or at least discipline the FLDS nurses who see the child abuse and fail to report it. Utah & Arizona have done nothing to increase the MISDEMEANOR penalty for abandoning male children as young as 12 - the "lost boys." Utah & Arizona have done nothing to investigate or prosecute the high rate of infant and child deaths, some without death certificates and in unmarked graves, which may be a result of genetic disease or of neglect of disabled children or unwanted boys.
The welfare fraud gets everyone excited. Where's the excitement about the trafficking, rape, abandonment, and neglect of the children? How dare any law enforcement official claim they don't have the resources to look into this? The LDS community - all voters - should stop being passive and embarrassed and start being enraged and active. Clean this up!
Anonymous | 8:22 a.m. July 2, 2008
I do want everyone to know that this is not just a disease that is from
imbreeding like a lot of these articles make it sound. My child has fumarase
deficiency and my husband and I are no where related. I carry one mutated gene
and he carries a completely different one. Had we known this ahead of time, we
probably would not of had children. However, these children in these
communities did not do anything to deserve what they are going through and do
deserve adequate health care. We have private insurance for my daughter, but I
don't think taking away support for these other children will solve the
problem.
Nancy | 5:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008
Religion has nothing to do with this. This is a matter between right and wrong.
A child of 15 yr old should not be forced to have sex with a man of any age. The
world will be harsh with realities soon enough. This brings to mind the puppy
mills that just keep breeding until birth defects arise. The reason it is
against the law is because it is sick. All you defenders think about it... would
you allow this if it were your little girl???
Nancy | 3:09 p.m. Aug. 8, 2008
AMEN Ankhorite!!
Sad | 7:29 p.m. Sept. 16, 2008
There have been many women and men run away from/come out of the LDS or FLDS
Church. The one in Utah, and the community in Kansas are polygamists and they
do abuse thier children. One man often has 4 or 10 wives and 8-20 children.
Since they are a small community they are all related now and so they are having
birth defects. They have to have a different cemetery just to bury the children
because they die so often from the birth defects. Google Flora Jessup, and look
at the synopsis of the episodes for Secret Lives of Women (on WE tv). Look for
Polygamy.
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However, the official diagnosis is "Mental Retardation." "Intellectual Disability" is just a politically-correct term and not a diagnosis. Mental Retardation is the correct term to use (and it is the term psychologists use when they diagnose someone with mental retardation).