Polygamy: A World Apart

A Provocative 360 Degree View Of This Intricate And Mysterious World

(CBS)  CBS News delves into the clandestine world of polygamy and the FLDS in a 48 Hours special with insider accounts, harrowing escape stories, interviews with law enforcement officials and an explosive interview with high-ranking FLDS member Willie Jessop.

The YFZ Ranch

What is next for the members of this Texas compound? Correspondent Peter Van Sant goes in search of answers as he interviews neighbors of the compound and Willie Jessop, who discusses life in the church in a confrontational interview. Read more.

Escape

Correspondent Erin Moriarty catches up with Sarah, who fled from the FLDS community in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1999. Her escape came at the expense of her family. As she prepares to reunite with Laura Chapman, the woman who helped them break free, Sarah recalls life in the FLDS: "One of the things we kept hearing over and over again was that they needed to break my spirit. I laughed too much. I was too happy." Read more.

Warren Jeffs: The Godfather

Correspondent Susan Spencer sheds light on the sect's practices and self-styled prophet, Warren Jeffs, who, despite being in prison for his conviction as an accomplice to the rape of a minor, continues to lead the FLDS empire in a number of states. Read more.

The Bold And The Beautiful

Correspondent Troy Roberts explores the modern face of polygamy. With one husband three wives - two of them twins - and 22 children living in a suburb of Salt Lake City, they have jobs, wear make-up and their kids go to public school. They do, however, face challenges fitting in. Read more.

Broken Ties

While the allegations of abuse against young girls have taken center-stage, what about the experiences of young boys? Correspondent Seth Doane reports on the emotional journey of four boys who studied under Jeffs. Now excised from the sect, they struggle to find their way in the outside world, separated from the security of their families and homes. Read more.

[dianal1113]

Please post the Title of the book the one young lady has written.

[rosemari2]

What was the comment at the end of the show, about the State paying the one town 2 million dollars per month to the -single mothers- of FLDS---------multiply THAT by 12 months and you can tell how this bunch of perverts got so rich, can''t you.

Don''t how Texas does it, but in my state if you want Welfare, you''d better name the father, or you are not going to get anything. And then the father pays--------but since they say they are a Religion, guess they don''t have to pay. Or pay taxes either, eh?


22 children by the same man?? those really nice looking women are nothing but brood sows--------all these children are damaged, and the rest of Society will have to deal with them.

They are all preverted sick inbreds. Probably breeding their own daughters, sisters, and mothers.

[corporatecon]

All the mormons in my community are running around trying to distance themselves from the FLDS; however, the two religions have far more in common that not in common. For example they both believe:

1. Both use the Book of Mormon as primary scripture.
2. Belief in latter day prophets
3. Belief in male patriarchy & priesthood
4. Belief in same early prophets, oseph Smith, Brigham Young through about 1930.
5. Polygamy (current mormons believe they will practice it in the next lilfe)
6. Fast & Testimony meetings
7. Male apostles
8. Use of Temples
9. Secret Ceremonies
10. Use of same unique terminology during worship
11. Demanding 10% in tithes as opposed to offerings in most other religions.
12. Control of kind of underwear members wear
13. They were the SAME church until the 1930s

There are sooo many more.

[savethechild]

religioncultWhen I wrote my comment I attacked only one person.I stated that this is NOT religious regarding polygamy.It is abuse going on at the FLDS ranch.I pointed out what about the ranch I felt was abusive such as girls being ASSIGNED to old men,cousins or uncles(inbreeding)women being REASSIGNED after being married to a man and spending time adjusting to that which includes adjustment to the sister wives and their children,then having there own children,and then being told there reassigned cuz another man needs you,leaving the family wrecked and torn apart.So your question is what makes it right to violate human rights and tare familys apart?I dont know,but it seems to be happening INSIDE the FLDS.I never mentioned anything LDS and from what I understand they want to be separated from the FLDS.Its giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are nothing like the FLDS.I personally dont agree with polygamy but I will keep and open mind cuz my focus is on the abuse of the FLDS not religion as you make it.If you are LDS I would assume you have a choice to live with your sister wives and call that a family.If there were sexual abuse reported in your home I sure hope all children are taken to protect them until the facts come to truth.In most religions you only live as a husband and wife with your children and the situation would be treated the same. Like I said,I fear FLDS cult is full of crime.

[savethechild]

religioncultWhen I wrote my comment I attacked only one person.I stated that this is NOT religious regarding polygamy.It is abuse going on at the FLDS ranch.I pointed out what about the ranch I felt was abusive such as girls being ASSIGNED to old men,cousins or uncles(inbreeding)women being REASSIGNED after being married to a man and spending time adjusting to that which includes adjustment to the sister wives and their children,then having there own children,and then being told there reassigned cuz another man needs you,leaving the family wrecked and torn apart.So your question is what makes it right to violate human rights and tare familys apart?I dont know,but it seems to be happening INSIDE the FLDS.I never mentioned anything LDS and from what I understand they want to be separated from the FLDS.Its giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are nothing like the FLDS.I personally dont agree with polygamy but I will keep and open mind cuz my focus is on the abuse of the FLDS not religion as you make it.If you are LDS I would assume you have a choice to live with your sister wives and call that a family.If there were sexual abuse reported in your home I sure hope all children are taken to protect them until the facts come to truth.In most religions you only live as a husband and wife with your children and the situation would be treated the same. Like I said,I fear FLDS cult is full of crime.

[jim4mtn]

I was very disappointed in the show''s failure to report such major issues as the Texas appeals court throwing out the lower courts decision to take the children from the FDLS parents without appropriate due process. Also wondered why it was not reported as local papers have done that the informant behind the originsl raid was actually a black woman in Colorado with a history of filing false accusations. Was hoping to see a show about the legal rights of the individual to practice a non-conforming religion vs. the state''s right to protect the individual. Expected a fair discussion about the FLDS rights as compared to state responsibilities to protect. Instead got a hatchet job that was biased from the start. This was not a news story it was an agenda. No matter what individual thoughts are about polygamy and especially the practices of the FLDS sect, we are still a country of laws. Where was due process shown let alone unreasonable search and seizure? In my opinion it was especially cruel and unnecessary to take pre-puberty children from their parents. If there are documented cases of sexual abuse they should be fully prosecuted. But lets use a little common sense.

[childconcern]

I hope the state of Texas continues to protect all the children, and that it does not buckle under to political pressures. This seems to be a very sick and twisted religious community. Yes, there has been sexual abuses in other religions, and no one has condoned it. At least the Catholic church admitted to the abuses and has tried to correct the problem. Yes, it took years to do--but it has been done. Unlike the FLDS who won''t admit to anything and screams about how they are being picked on. Give me (and the children) a break!!!

[religioncult]

savethechild:
What makes it OK to violate basic human rights & rip children from their family''s just because Warren Jeffs is a pervert? If there was molestation going on in an LDS family (which I''m sure there has been), would that make it OK to raid all of the families homes in that Ward & take their children away from them? It should be handled on a case by case basis. Not all Polygamists molest children! If this type of thing is OK with you, then you should just pray that no one in your religion/cult molests children or even makes allegations of it. You rights and family could be taken from you.... unless of course you''re catholic. they seem to be immune to this.... see my previous comment.

[jbhardman1]

There are just too many people that have left the flds faith and say that there is mass underage marriage and abuse going on to think it''s not happening. If one person says it, ok, but I have not heard the story of one flds person that left the faith and said that abuse and underage marriage wasn''t happening.

[denn034]

This conservative has no problem with the wealthy having rights but, I''m opposed to they''re having special rights by virtue of being the only one''s that can afford it. Polygamy costs money after all and the poor can practice it only by resorting to welfare fraud like the FLDS. Let me finish by pointing out Deuteronomy 17:17 in the Old Testament, Jesus'' monogamous and heterosexual "none else" statement on marriage, and Paul''s several "husband of one wife" statements in 1 Timothy and Titus in the New Testament.

[savethechild]

I find this very interesting how almost everyone has forgot the issue here and its not polygamy!! Its ABUSE that is going on in the FLDS! The ASSIGNMENT of young girls to old men cousins or uncles, women being reassigned to new husbands with no notice, and Lets not forget about the lost boys! Only one person has mentioned Willie Jessops name. What''s happening in the FLDS is a crime; reps like Willie Jessop can say all they want about there being no abuse but you can see the lie in his expressions of anger. If he is telling the truth he must be blind! Looks like he could see to me! I''''m very concerned about the events to come down there in Colorado City; something has to be done, and soon.

[wijapi]

Your limit of 1500 characters, will require a more blunt response than I desire. So here it is.
What gives you Christian/Jewish, leaders the right to tell anyone, who, or how many they can love, and live with?
Your Religions have been the basis of all the wars of the past two thousand years.
Two thousand, came; you said wait until 2001! That passed. Why do you still want people to follow you?
Religion and money(power) are the same.-WIJAPI%u2122

[wijapi]

Your limit of 1500 characters, will require a more blunt response than I desire. So here it is.
What gives you Christian/Jewish, leaders the right to tell anyone, who, or how many they can love, and live with?
Your Religions have been the basis of all the wars of the past two thousand years.
Two thousand, came; you said wait until 2001! That passed. Why do you still want people to follow you?
Religion and money(power) are the same.-WIJAPI%u2122

[religioncult]

What makes it OK to go after the Polygamists & take their children away from them based on one fake phone call, yet nothing has been done to the Catholic Church when THOUSANDS came forward with accusations of abuse?
Assuming that ALL polygamists are like Warren Jeffs is like saying that EVERY catholic priest molests children, or every catholic has been molested by someone in their church. COMPLETELY IGNORANT!!
So if the FLDS compound was raided in the best interest of the children, why has nothing been done to the Catholic Church? Over 13,000 people have come forward with accusations of molestation by the catholic church. The Pope did nothing about it. The current Pope actually sent a letter to all of the church officials advising them that if anyone came forward with allegations of sexual abuse, to not report anything until the statute of limitations was up. Who''s looking out for the Catholic children?
It''s very clear that it''s not about the children here, it''s about the political motivations and ignorant assumptions made by the Texas officials. Nothing more.

[corporatecon]

And why do you say that bdrlnt4rl ?

[proudtxmom]

crescentgirl, you asked "...if the husband and wives are all consenting adults...then what business do people have to tell them how they should live?" I''ll answer that for you. It''s everyone''s business to tell them how to live because it''s ILLEGAL. The main reason it''s illegal, is that fact that the other wives and their children would be eligible for welfare since they are not technically married. So this is just a breeding ground for welfare checks. This is not what the welfare system was meant for. These people who have all these children and collect welfare should be absolutely be ashamed of themselves that they are taking money right out of hard working peoples'' pockets to fund their wealth and they are directly taking this money out of the mouths of hungry, poverty-stricken children who truly need it. I''d love to hear them explain that to God some day after they die.

[lynzeep]

Wow! I am so disappointed at how biased and one sided your story on Polygamy was. You imply that the FLDS church encourages marriage to underage girls and that all its members participate in this. It is simply not true if you examine properly done research. It does occur but it is not common. Childhood protective services and the Texas judge who took all the children from the YFZ ranch would like you to think it is. They said that over 30 girls were the victims of underaged sexual abuse through marriage. Now the truth is coming out. There are actually only 5. That''s a big difference. Yes! Underage marriage and sexual abuse should be prosecuted but NO not all of these people are doing that. You can''t take away their kids because they are not at immediate risk and they are not from one big household which is what is required to take them away from their parents and homes. Further more, what about churches like my church; the Catholic church which has the unfortunate history of priests sexually assaulting boys? How come Texas hasn''t gone into that church and taken all their kids away. Your story is not accurate and very sensationalized. You guys are like the National Inquirer overexaggerating because it''s politically correct to hate those people. I am not a member of that church but know quite a few people who are. They have been very happy in the FLDS faith. How come you didn''t talk to them?

[naucoming4u]

Definition of chaos:

Mothers Day at a polygamy compound!

[crescentgirl]

I dont think polygamy is the issue here. I think the problem lies with any abuse of children or women that was allegedly going on. (I don''t know...i think the state''s case is falling apart based on lack of evidence.) Polygamy does not automatically equal abuse. I think this is the big mistake that people are making here. It is not practiced the same way everywhere...if the husband and wives are all consenting adults...then what business do people have to tell them how they should live? And for the poster who made comments about Muslim immigrants living here and practicing polygamy...please know your facts before you start spewing hate. Islam does allow one man to have up to four wives. This does not mean that every Muslim man has four wives. Islam has set limits on the practice of polygamy...such as he must treat them equally...provide them with shelter (same type for all)...each woman has a right to ask for her own home or dwelling. The husband must spend equal amounts of time with each wife...take care of all of his children equally from each wife, etc...so, you can see...most men would not be able to do this. As such...Islam teaches that if a man cannot fulfill all of these obligations and treat his wives equally, then, he should marry only ONE. Islam allows polygamy, but encourages monogamy. So, people, please check your facts...before you start posting garbage and spewing your hate and ignorance.

[bdrlnt4rl]

corporatecon

you just deemed yourself as the dumbest commenter in this site.