by paul l.
Member since:
February 15, 2006

FLDS Polygamist Sect Leader CONVICTED - Accomplice to Rape

September 25, 2007 05:53 PM UTC
views: 0 | comments: 20
 This follows up on the articles that Kathryn and I published about a year ago on this case.  (e.g. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976762730, which has some links to in-depth newspaper articles on the group).
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Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs Convicted in Utah

He was found guilty on two counts of being an accomplice to the rape of a 14-year-old girl.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
ST. GEORGE, Utah (Reuters) - Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was found guilty on Tuesday of being an accomplice to rape for arranging a marriage between an unwilling 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old first cousin in 2001.

Jeffs, 51, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the two felony charges of accomplice to rape when he is sentenced at a later date.

Lawyers for the self-described "prophet" of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, whose members live at the Utah-Arizona border, had argued that Jeffs would not have known that rape would be committed after the marriage.

http://www.mix969.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=104668&article=2688518

Comments: 20

~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 25, 2007, 6:33pm UTC
PAUL HAVE YOU TOTALLY LOST YOUR MIND!
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 25, 2007, 6:35pm UTC
Paul:

I thought you were bringing this new year in on a new leaf. But here's what you do. You immediately attack Mitt Romney. I get/see the undertone here. It's sneaky. I just praised you on another article for non-partisan writing. Now this?
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 25, 2007, 6:37pm UTC
My personal belief is that men cannot handle polygamy -- they are too weak.

Women, on the other handle, can handle multiple husbands.

The problem with the system is that women should be allowed to have multiple husbands.

Change the law to allow that and many societal problems would be solved.
PERIOD. END OF SUBJECT.
Kathryn Flynn Sep 25, 2007, 6:43pm UTC
Paul, Thank you for this article. I was going to follow the trial but I am too busy. I saw it on the news a short while ago.

The comment by Jeffs' attorneys make them sound so incredibly naive but of course, their defense was really the only defense they could offer. Short of the truth. The truth is the best defense, as the truth needs no defense. But the defense was not going to go that route.

Let;s hope this is a beginning of the end for the polygamous FLDS sects in Utah/Arizona, Texas and British Columbia.
Donna Hammett-Tooker Sep 25, 2007, 6:49pm UTC
Polyandry is not viable either, Nalita, because men cannot handle not being the center of the emotional circle. And how many men do you know who would have no qualms "fathering" their wife's children even if it is not HIS child? I see too many babies shaken to death by jealous and/or uncaring boyfriends who neglect or abuse the children of their girlfriend if they do not murder them outright. Just listened to some of the lawyers' rhetoric that this is just another condemnation of the polygamous religious belief he practices that bothers the mainstream. I do not have a sister but if I did I would not want to share a husband with her nor with women I was not related to. And, do you ignore the ones who have not produced a child on Father's Day? I think one-at-a-time is a gracious plenty as I have always heard from older ladies in the South. My husband has a brother who is very like him in looks but if it had been a package deal, I would still be single. lol
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 25, 2007, 7:00pm UTC
Donna:

Your argument is logical, and brilliant. I am simply saying -- let's keep it real. I hesitate to even say it, because of the backlash, but I am going to anyway. It's time women STOPPED letting men believe they have the upper hand when we've always known we do.

Women are more emotionally and ogical matured; and logically, better equipped to manage this type of relationship; men cannot. This article PROVES it.

Disaster everytime. It would not have happened were this a woman.

Besides, a man cannot be raped.
paul l. Sep 25, 2007, 7:15pm UTC
Whoa. Miss a little and you miss a lot around here. Nalita, I love your sense of humor! Kathryn, you sure nailed that, and I think it will hasten the sect's demise. Donna, Nalita: You're both right, and I sure couldn't handle being part of a harem (would that be a him-em, or what?)!
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 25, 2007, 7:41pm UTC
Hey Guys:

Just a little follow up: Certain females who want to stay anonymous have sent me emails. I respect their right to anonymity.

BUT THEY AGREE WITH ME!

Except a couple said men can be raped.

Oh well, can't win them all.

(And one wasn't even one of my connections!)
penni d. Sep 26, 2007, 8:45am UTC
as a person who believes in the need at times for "BOBBITING" i think i shall say
no more.........
Gary Gentry Sep 26, 2007, 5:27pm UTC
Boys can't be raped? Tell that to the several female teachers who were sent to jail for having sex with their male students. Bulls&*! charge, but there you are.
Leah Christensen Oct 9, 2007, 1:15am UTC
These fundies are making it hard for mainstream Mormons. My husband is a Mormon, my mother was nervous at first, my minister was really nervous!!! Walker tells me there are fundie Presbyterians too, and that he went to just such a church in NC. I think all religions have their fundamentalist sects.

I wish these fundies would take the LDS about of FLDS. They are making things touch for Mormons like my husband.
paul l. Oct 9, 2007, 10:30am UTC
I agree, Leah, all religions seem to have their "fundies", and they can make it tough for the rest of us. "Fundies" is an interesting term to use for them, if you break it into two words.
Walker Bennett, SF Author Oct 9, 2007, 11:34pm UTC
It would be fun for me, if they would die! We got off to a bad start in the 1800's, but corrected that in 1898. However, most people still regard the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints as a cult and all polygamists.

The "Book of Mormon" is "Another testament of Jesus Christ", that changes NOTHING covered in the Bible.
Leah Christensen Oct 9, 2007, 11:51pm UTC
Right on about breaking the word up into two pieces.

While looking at Connie's profile on Gather (can't remember her full name but she's the one who "loves to research genealogy" I noticed that she put her religion as a member of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints, just like you said above, Walker. I sent her an e-mail telling her how HAPPY I was to see it written that way, and how much I appreciated it. I am Presbyterian, as I mentioned above, but I am married to a wonderful Mormon. Walker, being married to you has taught me more about the Mormons than anyone I know (who isn't Mormon, as are 99% of the people I know) could ever "teach" me. I'm sick of the propaganda. Thanks for telling me the truth (about the Mormons). I believe that evey religion tells a part of the truth. As long as we BELIEVE and love God and eachother, that's all that really matters.
Walker Bennett, SF Author Oct 9, 2007, 11:56pm UTC
That's precisely the point that we teach. The term "Mormons" leads people to believe that we worship something other that our saviour Jesus Christ, which is the farthest thing from the truth that you can ever have.

This has been promoted by Southern Baptists and the government of the United States ever since the government sponsored assasination of Joseph Smith.
Leah Christensen Oct 10, 2007, 12:01am UTC
Walker.

I am not familliar with "Mormon" as a word. What is it about the word "Mormon" that makes people think Mormons don't believe in Christ? How is the word "Mormon" any different than Baptist, Catholic, Mennonite, or Presbyterian?
Walker Bennett, SF Author Oct 10, 2007, 12:20am UTC
It's because of the additional book we have, the "Book of Mormon" that makes everyone nervous. We're not like Mary Baker Eddy who re-wrote the bible to her taste and founded Christian Science. the "Book of Mormon" is "Another testament of Jesus Christ"...an addition, not a reinterpretation. You'll remember that we also use the KJV Bible in the service.
Leah Christensen Oct 10, 2007, 12:22am UTC
OK Walker, now that makes sense. It's because MORMON is the NAME of that third testament that the word itsself makes them nervous. Thanks for clearing that up.
paul l. Oct 10, 2007, 8:40am UTC
Walker, so why is that book named the "Book of Mormon"? Who or what was "Mormon?"

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