Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 113
―Efforts to prosecute the FLDS are not an assault on religion, because this group‘s disregard
for civil rights of men, women, and children reveal it to be a cult ...where tyranny is
disguised by the robes of a ‗prophet‘ and individual rights are buried. Now law enforcement
is moving against this fundamentalist cult. It‘s about time.‖ (Opinion, Arizona Republic,
Internet, 8/4/04)
Polygamous Wives Plan PR
A number of wives in the polygamous Bountiful community plan a public relations
campaign to defend their lifestyle in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. A representative said she is upset about reports from women who have
left the community claiming brainwashing, sexual abuse, underage marriage, and more.
(Amy Carmichael, CP, Internet, 8/5/04)
Lawsuit Aimed at Jeffs and FLDS
Former polygamist and wealthy businessman Dan Fischer, a dentist whose company,
Ultradent, develops and sells advanced dental equipment worldwide, and Baltimore-based
lawyer Joanne Suder, known for taking on sexual abuse lawsuits, are working together on
suits against leader Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. Their suits allege child sexual abuse, abandonment, and financial fraud.
Fischer, who does charitable work in pediatric dentistry, helps hundreds of boys and young
men aged 13–21 who have been forced by older men out of the FLDS strongholds of
Hilldate, UT, and Colorado City, AZ because they would otherwise compete with their elders
for young, marriageable women. He is also helping Suder gather evidence for the lawsuits.
In addition, Fischer has developed a mentoring program for the boys and young men, and
houses some of them in apartments in remodeled Ultradent buildings. (AP, Internet,
9/18/04)
Leader Added to Lawsuit
Shem Fischer, who sued employer Forestwood Company in 2002 for allegedly forcing him
out of his job because he rejected certain Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints (FLDS) doctrines, has now added FLDS leader Warren Jeffs to the suit.
He says Jeffs ordered the company to fire him, and put him on a job blacklist in the Utah
communities dominated by the church. (Pamela Manson, Salt Lake Tribune, Internet,
8/17/04)
Auditing Is a Way to Get at Corrupt Church
Finding improprieties in the way the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints runs its publicly-financed school district is less dramatic than prosecuting the
alleged sexual abuse and labor violations of the polygamist group, but it might be more
effective. Such an approach has worked well to prosecute many Mafia figures and white
collar criminals. ―Coupled with private lawsuits, like the one brought by [leader Warren]
Jeffs‘ nephew, and criminal investigations, it creates pressure that can crack this cult.‖
(Opinion, Arizona Republic, Internet, 8/26/04)
Racketeering Statutes Invoked
Six former members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints have filed a conspiracy lawsuit against leader Warren Jeffs and one of his
assistants, accusing them of assault, threats, unlawful dealing of property, theft by
extortion, child kidnapping, official misconduct, and theft of services. The complaint, filed in
Third District Court, in Salt Lake City, claims the church has engaged in ―systematic
excommunication‖ of adolescents and young men in order to reduce competition for wives.‖
(Chicago Tribune, Internet, 8/29/04)
―Efforts to prosecute the FLDS are not an assault on religion, because this group‘s disregard
for civil rights of men, women, and children reveal it to be a cult ...where tyranny is
disguised by the robes of a ‗prophet‘ and individual rights are buried. Now law enforcement
is moving against this fundamentalist cult. It‘s about time.‖ (Opinion, Arizona Republic,
Internet, 8/4/04)
Polygamous Wives Plan PR
A number of wives in the polygamous Bountiful community plan a public relations
campaign to defend their lifestyle in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. A representative said she is upset about reports from women who have
left the community claiming brainwashing, sexual abuse, underage marriage, and more.
(Amy Carmichael, CP, Internet, 8/5/04)
Lawsuit Aimed at Jeffs and FLDS
Former polygamist and wealthy businessman Dan Fischer, a dentist whose company,
Ultradent, develops and sells advanced dental equipment worldwide, and Baltimore-based
lawyer Joanne Suder, known for taking on sexual abuse lawsuits, are working together on
suits against leader Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. Their suits allege child sexual abuse, abandonment, and financial fraud.
Fischer, who does charitable work in pediatric dentistry, helps hundreds of boys and young
men aged 13–21 who have been forced by older men out of the FLDS strongholds of
Hilldate, UT, and Colorado City, AZ because they would otherwise compete with their elders
for young, marriageable women. He is also helping Suder gather evidence for the lawsuits.
In addition, Fischer has developed a mentoring program for the boys and young men, and
houses some of them in apartments in remodeled Ultradent buildings. (AP, Internet,
9/18/04)
Leader Added to Lawsuit
Shem Fischer, who sued employer Forestwood Company in 2002 for allegedly forcing him
out of his job because he rejected certain Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints (FLDS) doctrines, has now added FLDS leader Warren Jeffs to the suit.
He says Jeffs ordered the company to fire him, and put him on a job blacklist in the Utah
communities dominated by the church. (Pamela Manson, Salt Lake Tribune, Internet,
8/17/04)
Auditing Is a Way to Get at Corrupt Church
Finding improprieties in the way the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints runs its publicly-financed school district is less dramatic than prosecuting the
alleged sexual abuse and labor violations of the polygamist group, but it might be more
effective. Such an approach has worked well to prosecute many Mafia figures and white
collar criminals. ―Coupled with private lawsuits, like the one brought by [leader Warren]
Jeffs‘ nephew, and criminal investigations, it creates pressure that can crack this cult.‖
(Opinion, Arizona Republic, Internet, 8/26/04)
Racketeering Statutes Invoked
Six former members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints have filed a conspiracy lawsuit against leader Warren Jeffs and one of his
assistants, accusing them of assault, threats, unlawful dealing of property, theft by
extortion, child kidnapping, official misconduct, and theft of services. The complaint, filed in
Third District Court, in Salt Lake City, claims the church has engaged in ―systematic
excommunication‖ of adolescents and young men in order to reduce competition for wives.‖
(Chicago Tribune, Internet, 8/29/04)
