Reader comments
FLDS seek to stop sale of temple site
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Lionheart | 6:51 p.m. Oct. 17, 2008
And so it ends. And good. Maybe the future children of this cretin sect can
live free lives and Utah will be rid of this ugly lifestyle.
zxcvbnm | 7:03 p.m. Oct. 17, 2008
Slow and steady destruction of a religion one dollar at a time.
In this modern era only texas needs Tanks. The rest of the "civilized world uses lawyers to bleed the church.......shame.
Jeffs built a temple and Wisan prevents a temple from being built.
It is interesting to note that the US government used fines and confiscation of property to pressure the early LDS religion.
Comments continue below
Saddened | 8:41 p.m. Oct. 17, 2008
They aren�t druggies. They are not thieves. Leave them
alone. Religious persecution seems okay according to the Texans, but they are
wrong. Why aren�t similar efforts put towards the sleaze in
Las Vegas or pornography?
Saddened is right...ish | 9:57 a.m. Oct. 18, 2008
"They aren't druggies. They are not thieves." You're
right, they're not. They are child molestors.
saddened | 9:59 a.m. Oct. 18, 2008
If there is so much sleaze in Nevada, why did FLDS move so much of thier
business there?
David | 10:46 a.m. Oct. 18, 2008
Actually their rate of child molestation is lower than outside the FLDS
religion. The problem really is about the government interfering in religion.
It is the very problem that is also Prop 8. The government wishes to interfere
in the covenant/sacrament, yes it's a religious event, of matrimony
overriding the opinion of the people. Allow civil unions for all people and
religious marriage/matrimony sacraments for those that desire such exclusive of
governmental control. Taking control over property is what will occur when a
church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other refuses marriage to a homosexual
couple. One merely needs to read about Charlene Hastings for proof.
Anonymous | 10:52 a.m. Oct. 18, 2008
the UEP is bankrupt because the FLDS raped it for temple funds in TX. there is
enough suspected illegal activities to warrant the fiduciary.
the land should be sold to rescue the failing trust. the land should be sold to improve the living situations of those already living in that area.
FLDS leadership has allowed thier own sect followers to live destitute while they, the kings, live high in thier alleged "temple."
if i may add my voice to the courts, please settle this matter. sell the land and improve what the FLDS leadership has tried to destroy.
the land should be sold to rescue the failing trust. the land should be sold to improve the living situations of those already living in that area.
FLDS leadership has allowed thier own sect followers to live destitute while they, the kings, live high in thier alleged "temple."
if i may add my voice to the courts, please settle this matter. sell the land and improve what the FLDS leadership has tried to destroy.
to David | 1:12 p.m. Oct. 18, 2008
Excuse me, before money was stolen from UEP by selling property, where was Flds
church?
They have NEVER been registered as a religious organization, nor did they ever have a building, temple, etc.
They have NEVER been registered as a religious organization, nor did they ever have a building, temple, etc.
David | 1:31 p.m. Oct. 18, 2008
Registering as a religious organization doesn't "make" it a
religion. The Church of Scientology is listed as a religion in the U.S. because
they registered as a religious organization, yet throughout the world they are
listed as a business. The only advantage to registering is for tax-free status.
The FLDS choose to pay taxes and not register...nothing is changed. The
government doesn't decide if your organization is a religion or not based
on registration since they cannot do so under the first amendment, unless you
are really suggesting you want government sponsored religions. Now that is just
scary on your part.
katie | 3:08 p.m. Oct. 18, 2008
"The only advantage to registering is for tax-free status. The FLDS choose
to pay taxes and not register." HAHA!!! FLDS-pay taxes? Those two subjects
in the same sentence sound ridiculous. The FLDS do everything in their power to
NOT pay taxes. I'm actually quite surprised they haven't registered as
a religion for just that reason. Luckily the state of Utah outsmarted them in
one of their sneaky ways of getting away without paying taxes. That's a lot
of the problem with the Berry Knoll land. They just won't pay. Fancy
that...I say take the land from them. Sell it. They need to learn that to live
in this country, you gotta pay taxes. Being a plig doesn't make you
special.
David | 4:31 p.m. Oct. 18, 2008
Katie, you really miss the big picture. I don't think you handle your
finances well, so I think from now on I should remove your ability to handle
your personal funds. I will set up a group to control your finances. If you
think that is good enough for the FLDS, I say, show me that it's good
enough for you. Please disclose all your personal information so that a group
may begin controlling all your finances and assets...waiting.
BTW I am neither FLDS nor any religion.
--Happily agnostic.
BTW I am neither FLDS nor any religion.
--Happily agnostic.
zxcvbnm | 6:55 p.m. Oct. 18, 2008
Just for the sake of some reality. The flds at the YFZ ranch in Texas paid $440,000 dollars in property taxes last year. The FLDS is the largest taxpayer in Schleicher County. The tax accessment has increased every year as flds added improvements to the $440,000 figure.
The FLDS use no county school services.......but pay school taxes thru their property tax.
The flds in Trxas received no welfare or foodstamp payments according to CPS information.
That desert and scrub property that was fenced as a private hunting business paid a pittance in taxes and the improvements made the flds the largest taxpayers in the county.
With the use of county services at a minimum the FLDS gave Schleicher a net gain in money thanks to the flds.
There is no law requireing a church to "register" as a church. The flds choses not to apply for tax exempt status for reasons that they need not explain to anyone. If the flds registered the property perhaps Schleicher county would be $440,000 poorer......
Who is bleeding who in Schleicher County?
Can anybody explain | 9:46 p.m. Oct. 18, 2008
the reference to a "breakaway sect in Centennial Park"? please.
Miley Cyrus is underage | 6:45 a.m. Oct. 19, 2008
I am not a member of the FLDS group, but I did read about a popular teenager
involved in the exact same problem as the FLDS have in Texas. Miley Cyrus is a
15 year old girl and was setup with a man that is 20. Billy Ray Cyrus, her
fatehr, liked this man and supported Miley being involved with him. Why is this
okay for a 15 year old Miley to be involved with this 20 year old man? We are
hypocrites in so much of societies activities!!!
sakeneko | 7:41 a.m. Oct. 19, 2008
| Can anybody explain the reference to a "breakaway
| sect in Centennial Park"? please.
There's a group that lives about a mile outside of Colorado City/Hilldale in a community called Centennial Park that left the FLDS in the mid-1980s over a disagreement about church governance with then-FLDS prophet Leroy Johnson. That's almost certainly the group this refers to.
| sect in Centennial Park"? please.
There's a group that lives about a mile outside of Colorado City/Hilldale in a community called Centennial Park that left the FLDS in the mid-1980s over a disagreement about church governance with then-FLDS prophet Leroy Johnson. That's almost certainly the group this refers to.
common sense | 2:33 p.m. Oct. 19, 2008
YFZ ranch property tax was 440,000 but they havent finished paying their taxes
for 2007 yet, and property taxes are due again this month for 2008.
FlaMom | 6:41 a.m. Oct. 20, 2008
zxcvbnm, get your fact straight, the FLDS did not pay $400,000 in property
taxes, they paid taxes on land valued at $400,000 BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!!! So they
paid maybe $2,000 to $5,000 in taxes. And really you should check to see if
they are the largest taxpayers in the county, are you sure about that, have you
actually checked the county records? Maybe you shouldn't believe
everything you read on lieswillprevail website.
realitycheck | 9:04 a.m. Oct. 20, 2008
they also paid those taxes with the state support given to Colorado City
residents. So the "church" takes the money out of the mouths of babes
and uses it to build a temple in another state. Gee - can I join? LOL
John Pack Lambert | 11:48 a.m. Oct. 20, 2008
Scientology is recognized as a religion in the United States because we
believe in freedom of religion.
I for one do not want to follow the example of Belgium where the government of Brussels has refused to allow the Geneological Society of Utah to microfilm the cities records because the LDS Church was listed as a "dangerouns sect".
The work of people doing family history in Belgium has been frustrated by those who wish to use political methods to hurt other religions.
If proposition 8 fails we will see more of this.
Vote yes on 8. It is your only chance for freedom.
I for one do not want to follow the example of Belgium where the government of Brussels has refused to allow the Geneological Society of Utah to microfilm the cities records because the LDS Church was listed as a "dangerouns sect".
The work of people doing family history in Belgium has been frustrated by those who wish to use political methods to hurt other religions.
If proposition 8 fails we will see more of this.
Vote yes on 8. It is your only chance for freedom.
david? | 2:24 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008
"Actually their rate of child molestation is lower than outside the FLDS
religion."what? OMGhahahahahahahaha
yeah, and FLDS paid a gazillion dollars in property taxes and they don't take welfare.......blah blah blah.....
yeah, and FLDS paid a gazillion dollars in property taxes and they don't take welfare.......blah blah blah.....
re David | 4:03 p.m. Oct. 20, 2008
Katie is right. Not sure why you would talk about her finances - she's an
individual.
if individuals were handling this money, it'd be a different story. Unfortunately, all the money is handled by the leaders of the church - and they take everything.
comparing the FLDS trust finances to an individuals finances is like comparing the FLDS to the Amish. It's been tried, but they are so different it doesn't even make for a decent argument...
but you can't herd sheep that already have a dedicated herder. It's the children that are really suffering.
if individuals were handling this money, it'd be a different story. Unfortunately, all the money is handled by the leaders of the church - and they take everything.
comparing the FLDS trust finances to an individuals finances is like comparing the FLDS to the Amish. It's been tried, but they are so different it doesn't even make for a decent argument...
but you can't herd sheep that already have a dedicated herder. It's the children that are really suffering.
Opinion is ok if backed by fact | 11:25 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008
re anonymous:
It is interesting how so many here take the time to add an opinion but don't research the situation.
Opinion is fabulous if it is backed by fact. Did you ever stop to consider that Wisan may bankrupt this trust and the people may not end up with the property that is theirs. 1 million dollars a year seams a little steep for legal fees for selling off property that is not his to sell. I doubt he is the hero here. Maybe.... just maybe Wisan is not acting in their best interest and may be consuming what little they have left there.
It is interesting how so many here take the time to add an opinion but don't research the situation.
Opinion is fabulous if it is backed by fact. Did you ever stop to consider that Wisan may bankrupt this trust and the people may not end up with the property that is theirs. 1 million dollars a year seams a little steep for legal fees for selling off property that is not his to sell. I doubt he is the hero here. Maybe.... just maybe Wisan is not acting in their best interest and may be consuming what little they have left there.
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Provided By 3rd District Court
The Berry Knoll area near the Utah-Arizona border is the subject of a legal dispute between members of the FLDS Church and the court-appointed fiduciary over the United Effort Plan Trust. The fiduciary wants to sell the land to raise money for the cash-strapped trust; the FLDS say it is a holy temple site.
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One man did more damage and destroyed more lives than all the courts in the world could do in a hundred years (including Texas courts). And yet they still call him the "prophet".
Incredible.