This such a sad situation. I started researching this group several years ago and then I visited Colorado City, AZ about four years ago. That is where this sect moved from. Warren Jeffs, their prophet who is now in jail started buying up land in TX in 2002 where he was planning to move the group. He was getting paranoid because a few people had managed to escape and he was afraid of being investigated. Most of these people were born into this lifestyle and it is all they know. The way of dress is about being pure and that the ways of the outside world are evil and everything about it. At one time some did have TV's and radios but that was absolutely forbidden several years ago. They have no concept of what life is like outside their compound. None of the houses there were finished as they were continually being enlarged to occupy their growing families. Boys and girls are not allowed to socialize with each other in any way. Pre-teens and teens have been beaten for talking with someone of the opposite sex. The girls are not educated past 8th grade and even then their “education” has been in their church's private school, where the girls are taught to cook, clean and take care of children. The girls are then married off as early as 12 or 13 to older men, generally when a girl turns 14 her father goes to the prophet who then chooses a husband for her, many times that being the girls's own uncles, grandfathers, half brothers or other relatives. Having more wives will, according to their religion give him a higher place in heaven. He then can become a god and rule his own planet. This part is also the belief of mainstream Mormons. When I was there it was quite literally out in the middle of nowhere. The entire town is FLDS and as a stranger driving through we were glared at and the females hang their heads down and started disappearing into their houses. We stopped at a few places like a gas station and a couple of markets and it was just the weirdest thing. You could literally feel the secrets around you and it was made clear you were not wanted there. The local police are also members so there is no way out. A year or two ago Dr. Phil did a special about two teen girls that had escaped and then a few months ago he did an update. These girls have had a horrible time trying to adjust on the outside. These people truly believe their very salvation is at risk if they even think of leaving.
Sorry for this being so long but there really is no way to put all the info about these people in this post. I too found it unbelievable and I have found all the reading and research to be very interesting, although some may think that’s kind of weird. If anyone is interested there are a number of good books about this and can be purchased at Amazon.com or you may find some in your library. Here are a few:
Escape by Carolyn Jessop
Colorado City Polygamists: An Inside Look for the Outsider by Benjamin G. Bistline
Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer
God's Brothel: The Extortion of Sex for Salvation in Contemporary Mormon and Christian Fundamentalist Polygamy by Andrea Moore-Emmett
The Polygamists: A History of Colorado City, Arizona by Benjamin G. Bistline
I am not putting them down or trying to be a shallow bia but I am just so shocked to see people who look like this in modern day America. I know about the Amish and all but I think this is different.... CUHRAZY!!!
