Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 117
for its practices, recently presented ―a well-orchestrated media blitz designed to ‗create
bridges‘ between themselves and the rest of Canada.‖
A PowerPoint presentation stressed the benefits of living in a polygamous community, while
teenagers as well as women involved in plural marriages spoke about being happy with their
lives. ―The evening very much carried with it a plea for tolerance and understanding.‖ The
event stressed that Bountiful represented a distinct culture. Leader Winston Blackmore
attacked the media for its coverage, and one of his wives said the number of attacks against
members of the community by non-members in the area had increased as a result of
―negative press.‖
―There is no doubt that what is ...happening in Bountiful is illegal under the laws of Canada.
Does a community‘s right to religious freedoms trump the rights of women and children and
basic human rights as decided under Canada‘s laws? What remains in doubt is how — and
when — the government is going to respond.‖ (Amanda Euringer, www.the tyee.ca, Internet,
4/22/05)
Individuality Discouraged
Laureen Jessop, and her sister Flora, both of whom grew up in the Fundamentalist Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints [FLDS], told a student group at the University of
Arizona College of Law that the FLDS suppresses individuality, forbidding words like ―I,‖ ―me,‖
and ―mine.‖ They also spoke of girls being assigned husbands by the prophet [Warren Jeffs]
soon after reaching puberty. (Linda Valdez, Arizona Republic, Internet, 5/1/05)
Convicted Polygamist Resumes Life
Rodney Holm, a former policeman in the Arizona communities dominated by the
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is now reportedly living
with two wives, a violation of his parole. He was convicted in 2003 of unlawful sexual conduct
with a minor — a 16-year-old third wife — and bigamy. The judge who sentenced him said he
did not really expect Holm to feel remorse for his crime. (The Spectrum, So. Utah, Internet,
6/5/05)
Meanwhile, eight FLDS members have been indicted on charges of sexual misconduct with a
minor [an underage wife]. One of them [Rodney Holm] is an ex-police officer previously
convicted of bigamy and illegal sex with a teenage girl he had taken as a third wife. (AP in
The Guardian, UK, 7/12/05)
Effects of Polygamy
With reference to the new settlement of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, in Eldorado, TX, ―Polygamy is not an activity whose effects are
restricted to the bedroom and consenting adults. Rather, it seems to corrupt civil society as
a whole, destroying education, individual rights, and the rule of law — in other words, the
foundations of democratic governance. Just as with slavery, to which polygamy was
compared in the presidential election of 1856, even a single instance can fundamentally
alter a society.‖ (Naomi Schaefer Riley, Dallas Morning News, Internet, 6/5/05)
General Assembly and Church of the First Born
Another Faith Healing Death
In the past three decades more than 300 children around the country have died from
medical neglect motivated by religious beliefs, according to Dr. Seth M. Asser, a critical care
pediatrician at the University of California San Diego who has studied the phenomenon. His
comments come in the context of the case of Maleta and Dewayne Schmidt, members of the
General Assembly and Church of the First Born, in Morgantown, IN, who were recently
for its practices, recently presented ―a well-orchestrated media blitz designed to ‗create
bridges‘ between themselves and the rest of Canada.‖
A PowerPoint presentation stressed the benefits of living in a polygamous community, while
teenagers as well as women involved in plural marriages spoke about being happy with their
lives. ―The evening very much carried with it a plea for tolerance and understanding.‖ The
event stressed that Bountiful represented a distinct culture. Leader Winston Blackmore
attacked the media for its coverage, and one of his wives said the number of attacks against
members of the community by non-members in the area had increased as a result of
―negative press.‖
―There is no doubt that what is ...happening in Bountiful is illegal under the laws of Canada.
Does a community‘s right to religious freedoms trump the rights of women and children and
basic human rights as decided under Canada‘s laws? What remains in doubt is how — and
when — the government is going to respond.‖ (Amanda Euringer, www.the tyee.ca, Internet,
4/22/05)
Individuality Discouraged
Laureen Jessop, and her sister Flora, both of whom grew up in the Fundamentalist Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints [FLDS], told a student group at the University of
Arizona College of Law that the FLDS suppresses individuality, forbidding words like ―I,‖ ―me,‖
and ―mine.‖ They also spoke of girls being assigned husbands by the prophet [Warren Jeffs]
soon after reaching puberty. (Linda Valdez, Arizona Republic, Internet, 5/1/05)
Convicted Polygamist Resumes Life
Rodney Holm, a former policeman in the Arizona communities dominated by the
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is now reportedly living
with two wives, a violation of his parole. He was convicted in 2003 of unlawful sexual conduct
with a minor — a 16-year-old third wife — and bigamy. The judge who sentenced him said he
did not really expect Holm to feel remorse for his crime. (The Spectrum, So. Utah, Internet,
6/5/05)
Meanwhile, eight FLDS members have been indicted on charges of sexual misconduct with a
minor [an underage wife]. One of them [Rodney Holm] is an ex-police officer previously
convicted of bigamy and illegal sex with a teenage girl he had taken as a third wife. (AP in
The Guardian, UK, 7/12/05)
Effects of Polygamy
With reference to the new settlement of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, in Eldorado, TX, ―Polygamy is not an activity whose effects are
restricted to the bedroom and consenting adults. Rather, it seems to corrupt civil society as
a whole, destroying education, individual rights, and the rule of law — in other words, the
foundations of democratic governance. Just as with slavery, to which polygamy was
compared in the presidential election of 1856, even a single instance can fundamentally
alter a society.‖ (Naomi Schaefer Riley, Dallas Morning News, Internet, 6/5/05)
General Assembly and Church of the First Born
Another Faith Healing Death
In the past three decades more than 300 children around the country have died from
medical neglect motivated by religious beliefs, according to Dr. Seth M. Asser, a critical care
pediatrician at the University of California San Diego who has studied the phenomenon. His
comments come in the context of the case of Maleta and Dewayne Schmidt, members of the
General Assembly and Church of the First Born, in Morgantown, IN, who were recently
