Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 116
Bountiful Elementary-Secondary, controlled by Jeffs, who is the head of polygamous
communities in Arizona and Utah.
Audrey Vance, of the Creston, B.C.-based Altering Destiny Through Education, wants the
government to stop funding the schools. She labels as child abuse the treatment of women,
especially the arranged marriages and a cut-off in education at an early age. Debbie Palmer,
who left Bountiful with her children in 1988, says even boys rarely get beyond grade nine.
They then go to work in one of Winston‘s companies or one owned by a church trust. Some
local officials are calling for government action to stop what they term the ―exploitation and
manipulation of these children.‖ They point to the fact that the government‘s enrollment
figures show a drop-off in students between elementary and secondary school. Of 136
children registered this year, 105 are in kindergarten to grade seven, and only 31 are in
grades eight to ten. (Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun, Internet, 6/21/04)
Says Polygamy Is His Constitutional Right
Former police officer Rodney Holm, a member of the Hilldale, UT-based polygamous
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is appealing his
convictions for bigamy and sex with a wife who was a minor. He argues that polygamy is a
constitutional right that is not socially harmful, as critics claim, and that ―current
demographics, domestic relations law, and religious diversity all accommodate plural
marriage.‖
The appeal claims traditional marriage is no longer the norm in the U.S., that domestic laws
against cohabitation and fornication, for example, are anachronistic and hardly enforced
against those practicing new lifestyles. It is ironic, Holm adds, that the relevant laws are
―asserted as weapons ...against those living a traditional, family-grounded, religious-
based lifestyle.‖
Prosecutors contend that there is no constitutional right to have sex with a minor. (Pamela
Manson, Salt Lake Tribune, Internet, 7/2/04)
Investigation Requested, Promised
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association has called for a public investigation into
allegations of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and denial of equal rights by members of
the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS),
in the town of Bountiful. The civil liberties group stresses that the alleged abuse, not
polygamy, is the issue.
Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has announced it will investigate the
FLDS. The police team will include a social worker because of [what this report calls] ―the
unique challenges of dealing with victims of abuse who come from a cult-like community.‖
Investigators are especially interested in allegations that the drop-out rate at the Bountiful
Elementary-Secondary School is far greater than the rate at other provincial schools, that
students are taught blind obedience to church leaders, and that the religious curriculum is
racist and white supremacist, and discriminates against women. (Daphne Bramham,
CanWest News Service, Internet, 7/21, 22/04)
General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn
Parents Charged in Faith Healing Death
A Johnson County, IN, grand jury has decided that DeWayne and Maleta Schmidt, members
of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, should be charged with reckless
homicide for relying on congregational prayer to cure their baby daughter, who died of a
treatable infection shortly after birth. The death was the third among untreated children in
the church. A leader of the congregation says the church doesn‘t shun members who look
Bountiful Elementary-Secondary, controlled by Jeffs, who is the head of polygamous
communities in Arizona and Utah.
Audrey Vance, of the Creston, B.C.-based Altering Destiny Through Education, wants the
government to stop funding the schools. She labels as child abuse the treatment of women,
especially the arranged marriages and a cut-off in education at an early age. Debbie Palmer,
who left Bountiful with her children in 1988, says even boys rarely get beyond grade nine.
They then go to work in one of Winston‘s companies or one owned by a church trust. Some
local officials are calling for government action to stop what they term the ―exploitation and
manipulation of these children.‖ They point to the fact that the government‘s enrollment
figures show a drop-off in students between elementary and secondary school. Of 136
children registered this year, 105 are in kindergarten to grade seven, and only 31 are in
grades eight to ten. (Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun, Internet, 6/21/04)
Says Polygamy Is His Constitutional Right
Former police officer Rodney Holm, a member of the Hilldale, UT-based polygamous
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is appealing his
convictions for bigamy and sex with a wife who was a minor. He argues that polygamy is a
constitutional right that is not socially harmful, as critics claim, and that ―current
demographics, domestic relations law, and religious diversity all accommodate plural
marriage.‖
The appeal claims traditional marriage is no longer the norm in the U.S., that domestic laws
against cohabitation and fornication, for example, are anachronistic and hardly enforced
against those practicing new lifestyles. It is ironic, Holm adds, that the relevant laws are
―asserted as weapons ...against those living a traditional, family-grounded, religious-
based lifestyle.‖
Prosecutors contend that there is no constitutional right to have sex with a minor. (Pamela
Manson, Salt Lake Tribune, Internet, 7/2/04)
Investigation Requested, Promised
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association has called for a public investigation into
allegations of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and denial of equal rights by members of
the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS),
in the town of Bountiful. The civil liberties group stresses that the alleged abuse, not
polygamy, is the issue.
Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has announced it will investigate the
FLDS. The police team will include a social worker because of [what this report calls] ―the
unique challenges of dealing with victims of abuse who come from a cult-like community.‖
Investigators are especially interested in allegations that the drop-out rate at the Bountiful
Elementary-Secondary School is far greater than the rate at other provincial schools, that
students are taught blind obedience to church leaders, and that the religious curriculum is
racist and white supremacist, and discriminates against women. (Daphne Bramham,
CanWest News Service, Internet, 7/21, 22/04)
General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn
Parents Charged in Faith Healing Death
A Johnson County, IN, grand jury has decided that DeWayne and Maleta Schmidt, members
of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, should be charged with reckless
homicide for relying on congregational prayer to cure their baby daughter, who died of a
treatable infection shortly after birth. The death was the third among untreated children in
the church. A leader of the congregation says the church doesn‘t shun members who look
