Flds - why did they begin with LDS to begin with? DId they feel a need to associate themselves with LDS? Was Jeffs and LDS before he left and began this?
I mean why LDS? why not Jehovah witness or baptist or ch of christ or catholic and then bastardize that? I cant get over the similarity to LDS - I know it going to do tremendous damage to LDS name in the world because most dont understand they are really different.
Joel33 do they claim Joseph Smith and the prophets and the D and C and the BOM as scripture as well the Bible, do you know???
I realize you are not the expert, but thought I would ask.

There are several small splinter groups that splintered off of the LDS church after Joseph Smith died. Then several more that splintered off after the LDS church abandoned polygamy.

Then on occassion you get guys that decide they want more than one wife so they break away from the LDS church and start a church where they can marry a few.

Jeffs did not start the FLDS church as far as I know. I believe he was raised in it as one of the many sons of it previous prophet. I also believe that the FLDS church has been around for over 50 years.

I heard today that they are placing all the children in foster homes until the DNA testing can be completed. Talk about culture shock. It'll be like taking someone from the 1800's and plopping them into today. Those poor children.

Did you say "poor"?

I think the word you're looking for is "fortunate".

Yes, fortunate, once they get past this traumatic period of being ripped away from the only people they've known and thrown into a world that they cannot understand. It would be like one of our kids being dropped off in a foreign country without anyone around them that they know and not knowing anything about that way of living.

TRAGIC NOW - but derfinatley going to be good for the kids...

It truly won't be as bad as you think, because alot of them are already running away at the age of 13 or 14 anyway. Typically girls because they are facing the prospect of marrying someone that is distasteful to them.

Yes, in those cases I can't blame them, although the men that were interviewed said they never saw young teen girls with older men...

I fret over the little ones and the babies...

Has anyone else been following the story? You in Texas are probably getting much more information, but Today's interview had two couples on; one had 5 children and one had 6. Supposedly the state promised that the children would be kept together with their siblings but that hasn't happened. One family has two children in San Antonio, 2 in Liverpool and 1 in Amarillo. They literally live in their SUV traveling the state to try to visit their children. The state has also told them if they return to the ranch they will not get their children back. They have only been able to visit the two girls (just the moms) no males are allowed to see the girls. The boys haven't been assigned a case worker so they have been unable to make appointments to see them and it's been over a month without any contact.

Another issue that came up was a question of one of the children's ages. The girl and the family say that she is 23. They have a birth certificate and a driver's license for her, but the state claims the girl is only 15 or 16. They told the family that they did not believe either of them. (The girl has her own 2 year old daughter).

Do you think they're telling the truth? and does the state have the right to impose all of these restrictions?

Texas CPS has stepped in a whole lot of stuff they shouldn't have... I can't say much, but I know some people who had trouble getting CPS to act on some cases they should have and other times when CPS jumps in with both feet when they should have interviewed and examined.

Semi-related:

Polygamy in Toronto. But it's okay, because they're Muslims.

It breaks my heart to hear the whole thing, and frankly i am pretty ticked about it all. the removal of the kids ... how simply traumatic. i am so angry. why is it that law enforcement are pretty REGULARLY Stupid ???? it irks me ... i cant even watch it anymore on tv. the situation is just plain awful. i hope they pay BIG TIME for this. the removal of those kids from thier parents or homes was so moronic and cruel. i hope heads roll.

I've actually read a few op-ed pieces calling for legalization of polygamy so that the marriages can be officially licensed and sanctioned in order to prevent the marrying off of the under-age.

How would that prevent the marrying off of the under-age? Unless the law follows their religious beliefs then they'll feel like they're above the law and following god's will. Wouldn't be any different than 19th century mormonism, eh?

Pretty informative story regarding how badly CPS got it wrong:

Social workers behaving badly

19th century mormonism polygamy cannot accurately be viewed or judged based on todays social mores and taboos. It needs to be viewed within the context of the entirety of the 19th century culture.

For instance, in the 19th century in America it was not uncommon for folks to get married at much younger ages. 16, 17 years old was not uncommon. Obviously in today's culture, that would be viewed as very odd to say the least, even by members of the LDS church.

The reason the modern polygamists marry under age brides is not religious. It's clearly about dominance and perversion, these are the only gals brainwashed enough to go along with it.

The idea would be that if it were legalized the FLDS would then register their marriages with the proper authorities and the state could then monitor the ages of the parties involved. Rather than the current system where it is not legal and these women are simply considered "spiritual brides".