Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 47
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Safe Haven for the Abused
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has called for the establishment of a safe haven for
underage brides and abused children in Colorado City, since ―the nearest (Child Protective
Services) station is 30 miles away, and that‘s unconscionable given what we know today.‖
Goddard said the recent conviction of Deputy Marshal Rodney Home for bigamy and sex
with a minor sent a message. ―A lot of what was supposed to be protective armor in that
part of the world has been chipped away. Freedom of religion does not protect you from tax
evasion, welfare fraud, and child abuse."
Many in the town are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, which practices polygamy. A church attorney said the safe haven idea is silly,
and that people in Colorado City, which is admittedly isolated, can come and go as they
please. He said Goddard was "trying to set up police like an occupying army.‖ (Beth
DeFalco, AP in Casper Star Tribune, Internet, 10/29/03)
Underground Railway for Child Brides
People once associated with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints have founded ―Help the Child Brides,‖ an organization devoted to assisting young
girls to escape arranged marriages to older men in the polygamous sect. Bob Curran, of St.
George, UT, describes the church as ―a country within a country. Where there was once
religion, sadly it has degenerated to sex, power and money.‖ He added that authorities have
been lax in prosecuting underage marriage, incest, and white slavery. (Kingman Daily
Miner, Internet, 5/15/03)
General Assembly and Church of the First Born
Third Child Dies from Lack of Medical Care
The Tulare, CA, County District Attorney has filed charges of involuntary manslaughter and
child abuse against Wesley and LaRonda Hamm following the death of their 10-year-old
daughter, Jessica, who died while suffering from flu-like symptoms, without medical care.
The Hamms join fellow members of the General Assembly and Church of the First Born
in shunning physicians in favor of prayer.
Jessica is the third of the Hamm‘s children to die of illness without medical intervention —
the first died when they lived in Arkansas, the second when they resided in Indiana.
Authorities are trying to decide whether or not to remove the three remaining children from
the Hamm home for their own safety. The church has 60 families in Tulare County and
some 10,000 nationwide, according to the Hamms‘ attorney.
The Assistant DA says religious belief is not a defense against the charges, as it is in some
states. ―In California, parents have an obligation to provide for their children the basics of
living — food, shelter and care, including medical care.‖ (Tim Sheehan, Fresno Bee,
Internet, 10/3/03)
God’s Creation Outreach Ministry
Mother Pleads Guilty in Death of Son
Christy Edgar, on trial with her husband Neil for abusing and killing their 9-year-old son,
Brian, pleaded guilty in court to felony first-degree murder even as her lawyer urged her not
to do so. A week later, the jury found Neil Edgar and babysitter Chastity Boyd also guilty of
the crime. Brian choked to death on his own vomit after a sock was stuffed in his mouth and
he was wrapped like a mummy in duct tape. Witnesses testified that Brian and two adopted
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Safe Haven for the Abused
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has called for the establishment of a safe haven for
underage brides and abused children in Colorado City, since ―the nearest (Child Protective
Services) station is 30 miles away, and that‘s unconscionable given what we know today.‖
Goddard said the recent conviction of Deputy Marshal Rodney Home for bigamy and sex
with a minor sent a message. ―A lot of what was supposed to be protective armor in that
part of the world has been chipped away. Freedom of religion does not protect you from tax
evasion, welfare fraud, and child abuse."
Many in the town are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, which practices polygamy. A church attorney said the safe haven idea is silly,
and that people in Colorado City, which is admittedly isolated, can come and go as they
please. He said Goddard was "trying to set up police like an occupying army.‖ (Beth
DeFalco, AP in Casper Star Tribune, Internet, 10/29/03)
Underground Railway for Child Brides
People once associated with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints have founded ―Help the Child Brides,‖ an organization devoted to assisting young
girls to escape arranged marriages to older men in the polygamous sect. Bob Curran, of St.
George, UT, describes the church as ―a country within a country. Where there was once
religion, sadly it has degenerated to sex, power and money.‖ He added that authorities have
been lax in prosecuting underage marriage, incest, and white slavery. (Kingman Daily
Miner, Internet, 5/15/03)
General Assembly and Church of the First Born
Third Child Dies from Lack of Medical Care
The Tulare, CA, County District Attorney has filed charges of involuntary manslaughter and
child abuse against Wesley and LaRonda Hamm following the death of their 10-year-old
daughter, Jessica, who died while suffering from flu-like symptoms, without medical care.
The Hamms join fellow members of the General Assembly and Church of the First Born
in shunning physicians in favor of prayer.
Jessica is the third of the Hamm‘s children to die of illness without medical intervention —
the first died when they lived in Arkansas, the second when they resided in Indiana.
Authorities are trying to decide whether or not to remove the three remaining children from
the Hamm home for their own safety. The church has 60 families in Tulare County and
some 10,000 nationwide, according to the Hamms‘ attorney.
The Assistant DA says religious belief is not a defense against the charges, as it is in some
states. ―In California, parents have an obligation to provide for their children the basics of
living — food, shelter and care, including medical care.‖ (Tim Sheehan, Fresno Bee,
Internet, 10/3/03)
God’s Creation Outreach Ministry
Mother Pleads Guilty in Death of Son
Christy Edgar, on trial with her husband Neil for abusing and killing their 9-year-old son,
Brian, pleaded guilty in court to felony first-degree murder even as her lawyer urged her not
to do so. A week later, the jury found Neil Edgar and babysitter Chastity Boyd also guilty of
the crime. Brian choked to death on his own vomit after a sock was stuffed in his mouth and
he was wrapped like a mummy in duct tape. Witnesses testified that Brian and two adopted
