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Search: Were beds in temple used for teen sex?

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LegalizePolygamy | 3:41 p.m. April 12, 2008
I ain't got no problem with consenting adults practicing polygamy. If YOU do, then don't enter a polygamous relationship. Otherwise, what the heck do you care for? Statutory rape is wrong, welfare fraud is wrong, child abuse is wrong. Anyone practicing those crimes should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But if seven adult women want to marry the same man so he can be exalted and get them all to the highest glory of heaven, then let'm. For their sake I hope it works.
Anonymous | 4:00 p.m. April 12, 2008
I can show you where all the Polygamist live in Utah County...it's really not that hard to pick them out when they live in oversized houses with 20 cars parked outside, but to say that these people are practicing Mormons is just flat out wrong. These polygamist could NEVER hide their lifestyle from the Mormon Church, not with visiting teachers and home teachers constantly knocking on their door. Also, the Bishop is very aware of what is going on with families in his ward. If he knew someone was practicing polygamy they would be excommunicated on the spot.
Anon | 4:35 p.m. April 12, 2008
Shame on the LDS Church for looking the other way.
Shame on the people who in any way try to justify children being raped. That's what it is folks.
Plain and simple. They've been brainwashed and those in power are abusive.
Comments continue below
kelliebelle | 4:46 p.m. April 12, 2008
In response to the people who wonder why Utah does not aggressively prosecute polygamists: first of all we do aggressively prosecute any cases of child abuse and child rape by polygamists and non-polygamists alike. Secondly, how can we prosecute a man or a woman for having more than one spouse in this climate of immorality we live with today where people are unfaithful to spouses or just plain sexually promiscuous? There several "morality laws" on the books that are completely ignored dealing with adultery, sodomy, etc. Let's not forget that Utah has successfully prosecuted several polygamists and is raising awareness of the nature of this crime and the harm it does to society. Part of the reason this FLDS group moved to Texas is because of the crack down in Utah. (I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
Jamesss | 5:04 p.m. April 12, 2008
Does the LDS church condone polygamy? I heard that they do and that some active members sneak in a wife or two, and quietly. They need go in and clean those guys up too. How come these LDS do everything sneaky? Even Joseph Smith was a sneak. Emma didn't know anything he did with other woman until after the fact.
mike | 6:16 p.m. April 12, 2008
Regarding beds in the Temple. When the open house for the New Zealand Temple and church college was held in Hamilton NZ, some bright spark thought it would be a good idea to store the matresses that were awaiting deployment in the college dorms against the walls within the temple.
Similar speculation to what we are now seeing in Texas was rampant throughout the NZ press and the local community. And rightly so.
What an stupid, unprofessional, nonsensical thing to do. But it made no difference to the fact that sex of any variety did NOT occur in the NZ temple.
I await the FLDS excuse for fully made-up bedding in their temple with interest.
As for the damage done to the church's image by all this, the church is made up of people, and some of them have no idea about the wider world and its expectations. I remeber a GA saying at a stake conference once that his non-member friends wouldn't join the church because their standards were higher than the local church members that they knew. There was a gasp in the congregation, but on reflection we could see that it was true.
Read and weep, Utah.
Michigan | 7:29 p.m. April 12, 2008
To Anon at 4:35 - the LDS church didn't look the other way. All they can do is excommunicate - which they did. Law enforcement officials in Arizona have looked the other way for many years - point at them. Don't point fingers unless you understand what you're talking about.
Parallells | 12:08 a.m. April 13, 2008
Funny that society supports Hugh Heffner (Playboy) for having several 19 year old live in wives (they even have a reality TV show about this) and having had sex with thousands of women more than 60 years his junior. Does that mean they are going to throw him and all the playmates in the slammer also?

Seems like anyone living with more than one woman in this country would have to be prosecuted under these same guidelines if they are going to start going after these polygamist families. Yes, all those not wanting to be there anymore should be allowed to leave, but I worry about splitting up each and every family regardless off those that may be very close, cohesive and happy family units. Splitting every last child up from their parents and throwing them in a foster home regardless of their family situation is downright inhumane. Again, if they go that far, is the morality police far around the corner for Hugh Heffner and the many other Hollywood actors that are truely immoral!
Zink | 2:26 a.m. April 13, 2008
Why is Texas looking for proof after the fact. They stormed the "compound" on a call from a 16 year old female who has yet to materialize. If I'm reading this right, warrents are being written after the fact to justify what's going on. What about due process? At least this time the brave folks in Texas havn't burned something to the ground.
kelliebelle | 5:29 p.m. April 13, 2008
I feel the need to comment again after reading further comments from people who continue to display their ignorance about Utah and the LDS people. To Jamesss who "heard" that the LDS church condones polygamy. Hearing unfounded gossip and allegations does not make it true. Let's make it clear once and for all. Members of the LDS Church do not practice polygamy. Anyone who did so would be immediately excommunicated from the church. The 11th Article of Faith states that we believe in "obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law." My husband and I have worked in leadership positions in the church and know that any type of serious issue such as child abuse or spousal infidelity must be taken care of immediately. Any leader aware of any type of abuse, sexual or otherwise, must report it to authorities. There is no "shield of the confessional."

Just because people are religious does not make them backward. The population of Utah is one of the most highly educated and accomplished in the United States. Our state and local governments were recently given the highest score in the nation for the way our governments function by honestly and effectively serving the people.
Mykanna | 9:25 p.m. April 13, 2008
I have been reading so amny things about this on abcnews.com and allowed to post there also. I have lived in Texas nearly 16 years and I know from what I have seen and read that Texas officials are the worst criminals than the criminal. They lie to get by with all the illegal things they do and it is true in this case as well. THERE IS NO 16 Year OLD GIRL!!! They lied and some hot headed cop who wants to show that he is BOSS! Waco is a prime example and the FEDS were definatley involved in Waco and are responsible for 86 deaths of women and children. Sorry people but I wouldn't believe a Texas law enforcement officer of any kind if they told me it was snowing outside and I lived in Alaska!! They are liars and when the truth all comes out everyone will see what I have seen. All that has come out of this so far is children and women being mentally tortured by the hands of Texas.
Incognito | 3:37 a.m. April 16, 2008
Finding a hair in a bed and someone automatically thinks 'sex rituals were performed here!' or something to that effect. And why is it that when a man claims the several women hes been sealed to is he considered immoral and a sicko, but its perfectly alright for someone not affiliated with the sect to sleep around? and gay marriages?
The Texas 'compound' was not a compound, it was a quaint town, just because it has a wall doesnt mean its a prison camp!
Jessica G. | 11:49 a.m. April 17, 2008
The thing that bothers me the most is that the women COMPLETELY dodge any and all questions directed at them about their living situation. They WON'T tell you whether underage women have ever gotten married there (on Larry King Live they said "Not that I have seen")...makes you wonder, huh? They WON'T reveal the age they got married (probably because they were underage). They WON'T tell you where their "husbands" are (maybe because they don't know). I watched them on Larry King Live last night and what I saw was truly horrific. These women KNOW that what they are doing is wrong, that's why they dodge questions and focus your attention at their children (I heard "Our children need us" about 50 times last night). It's sickening that these women are "married" to men who have several other wives just as much as sleeping around and having multiple partners (as in Hugh Hefner, The Bachelor(ette), etc).

I hope and pray that the State of Texas can provide an appropriate decision at the hearing today.
Sickened | 2:41 p.m. April 17, 2008
It's WRONG and it's SICK. The under-age marriage, the under-age sex, the incest and the mental/physical abuse of the children and wives is absolutely horrific. It's clearly going on, no 'IF's'. Who gives a damn if the initial phone call by the '16 year old girl with an 8 month old baby' was a hoax?? Not I! It's brought this sick 'religion' to everyone's attention and people are finally doing something about it instead of sticking heads in the sand. They did the absolute right thing removing the children and putting them under state protection. It might be unsettling but no more unsettling than being touched up by your 'father' who doesnt know your name and then married off at 13 and a mother by 14. The people who are suggesting that is cruel to remove the children are clearly missing the point...it's cruel to strip a child of their childhood, their virginity and their innocence. I hope something good can come out of this.
Troy Evitt | 8:30 a.m. April 18, 2008
Did you see the one mother that went on national news? Have they never heard of "Tweezers" or is the Unibrow some divine mark of obedience?
Tricia | 4:14 a.m. April 20, 2008
I guess no one is getting the biggest point....men are having sex with underage girls while their mothers (or could be sisters) are okay with this. Herein lies the problem. Also that since outsiders aren't allowed in to cohabitate with them - then who do you think they are eventually cohabitating with. Therein lies the problem - outside of the inappropriate age and breaking the law. If they are allowed to break these laws, then at that point every pedophile's attorney in the country will be screaming the same thing. SOMEBODY HAS TO HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE...THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RELIGION. THIS IS ILLEGAL AND PROBABLY A LOT OF INCESTUAL SEX.
Tricia | 4:21 a.m. April 20, 2008
It's entered, just wanted to add the email address
Tricia | 4:26 a.m. April 20, 2008
Again, the writing is on the wall and the attorneys for YFZ women already know this....IF any part of these proceedings are now reversed, then YFZ will sue TEXAS for a zillion dollars. This will make history and the biggest shame will be that children will be in bigger danger of molesters and pedophiles thinking they can get away with having sex with young children if they come up with an illusion of respectability...you know, it's all in the name of RELIGION. The women and men who allowed underage children to have sex and have babies surely are going to be prosecuted from this. Otherwise, what will the message be.
Charlie | 3:16 p.m. April 20, 2008
Whether polygamy is illegal or not shouldn't really be the issue here. Whatever consenting "adults" do is their business...protecting the children should be our main concern.
These little girls have no choie. The secret life they live tells them no different. So very sad! Perhaps the 16 yr. old caller will never be found. It shouldn't matter now...if these men have been taking advantage of children, they should be punished along with the parents who handed them over for "marriage."
Let the kids grow in body and mind before making the decision "for themselves" to marry and produce children.
The secrecy of the sect really bothers me. They don't even wave to their neighbors, that tells me either they are brain washed or they are hiding something....
And...how does a self-sufficient, agrarian society earn enough money to build the multi-million dollar structures they have been erecting??
Whether the Texas government was wrong or right by raiding the YFZ is moot...it's done..now, our concern should be with the alleged abuse of the children, particularly the young girls.
I hope the truth is found...I'm praying for all involved.
Cheryl | 2:10 p.m. April 22, 2008
I believe that "Sarah" does exist; However, I'm sure that the caller created "Sarah" from several different people that reside with her in the compound and several different situations that have occured within the compound - rape, domestic violence, etc. She did manage to get someone's attention.

Now, on the flip side, I'm sure that authorities have been watching for a very long time judging these people and condeming their way of living. It probably didn't take much for them to "storm" the compound.

I'm certainly not condoning abuse of anyone - especially women and childen- but we always want people to live by our rules.

God's in charge.

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Newly unsealed portions of a search warrant have provided a glimpse of some of what officers saw at the FLDS ranch, including inside the temple.

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