10 Apr, 2008
534 women, children leave polygamist ranch
ELDORADO, Texas - Officials on Monday announced that 534 women and children — more than twice as many as had been earlier reported — were removed from a polygamist compound and that all 401 children have been placed in state custody because a judge deemed them in imminent danger of physical abuse.
State police earlier made an arrest as they searched the sprawling rural compound built by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs during an investigation into a possible underage marriage.
The days long raid on the sprawling compound built by the now-jailed Jeffs was sparked by a 16-year-old girl's call to authorities that she was being abused and that girls as young as 14 and 15 were being forced into marriages with much older men.
Dressed in home-sewn, ankle-length dresses with their hair pinned up in braids, some 133 women left the Yearning for Zion Ranch of their own volition along with the children.
The members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints spent their days raising numerous children, tilling small gardens and doing chores. But at least one former resident says life was not some idyllic replica of 19th-century life.
"Once you go into the compound, you don't ever leave it," said Carolyn Jessop, one of the wives of the alleged leader of the Eldorado complex. Jessop left with her eight children before the sect moved to Texas.
Jessop said the community emphasized self-sufficiency because they believed the apocalypse was near.
The women were not allowed to wear red — the color Jeffs said belonged to Jesus — and were not allowed to cut their hair. They were also kept isolated from the outside world.
They "were born into this," said Jessop, 40. "They have no concept of mainstream society, and their mothers were born into and have no concept of mainstream culture. Their grandmothers were born into it."
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, headed by Jeffs after his father's death in 2002, broke away from the Mormon church after the latter disavowed polygamy more than a century ago.
photo & story courtesy msnbc.msn.com, 4/8/08
Caught in a cult
Jude 1:8-10 (NLT)
8 In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. 9 But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) 10 But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.
How does today's God's Story scripture warn us about religious false teachers?
Jude, the brother of Jesus and James is the writer of today's scripture. He's warning believers about false teachers.
False teachers were religious, but not followers of Jesus Christ alone. They came up with their own "way" to Heaven, rather than God's way - through His Son, Jesus.
These phonies claimed that they had some sort of special, secret knowledge that gave them the answers to spiritual questions. Their "knowledge" of God was mystical in nature and not understandable to just anyone - so they claimed.
Today's story about The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, reminds us that false teachers believe the lies of Satan even though they may talk about Jesus. Keep in mind that though this cult broke away from the Mormon church (a false religion) a long time ago, the basis of their beliefs are the same. The Mormon church talks about Jesus but bases much of its theology on the dreams of its founder and angels. Neither the cult in Texas or the Mormon church believe that salvation is found in Christ and Christ alone.
The Biblical truth is that God has revealed Himself to us in His Word. By sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to become one of us, we can know Him and have a personal relationship with Him.
Jesus is the only way. That's the truth...because He is Truth!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our story?
- Thank God for the Truth He has revealed to you through His Word and the coming of Christ to live as one of us. Praise Him for the truth of Christ's death and resurrection, which pays for your sins and gives you hope now and forever! Ask His Spirit to help you grow through the study of His Word so that you will always be able to recognize what it true and false in our world.
- Learn more about the truth about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by going to http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/archives-ap.htm#Mormonism
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Pray that the people caught in this cult will come to know the Truth of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, and put her faith in Him and Him alone.
- Remember that your Mormon friends and neighbors may be some of the nicest, most moral and devoted people you will ever meet, but this does not make them followers of Jesus Christ and His Truth that He is the only way to receive salvation.
- Whenever you hear your friends talking about movies and music that touch on spiritual themes, use it as an opportunity to ask them questions about their story, about what they believe about Jesus.
- Pray for your friends who are being attracted to false religions.
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