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ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 22925 • Posted: Wednesday November 12, 2008  

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Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has at least 8 properties in the state

WESTCLIFFE, Colo. (CBS4) —  They have been in the news for bigamy, accusations of forced marriages, mistreatment of women and young boys. Now the polygamist group the FLDS or Church of Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints has quietly purchased at least eight properties in Colorado.

Two of the properties are near Mancos in Montezuma County in southwest Colorado, another near Crawford in Delta County and five near Westcliffe in Custer and Fremont counties.

CBS4’s Rick Sallinger has become the first TV reporter allowed inside one of their compounds to see how they live and what they are doing. He reports going through their gate is like leaving one world and passing into another.

It is a place where some of man’s laws are at odds with what they see as God’s laws; a collision of values that has led to raids, arrests and seizure of children in other locations.

FLDS

Theologically, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) is a sect of Mormonism.

Theologically, Mormonism in turn is a cult of Christianity

Theologically, the FLDS is also considered to be a cult of Christianity

Sociologically, the FLDS is a high-demand, high-control, destructive cult. Among other things, it teaches and practices polygamy, breaks up families and marriages, and has engaged in arranged and forced marriages.

Explanation: Sociological vs. theological definitions of the term ‘cult.’

In contrast to the Mormon Church, the FLDS practices a more original version of Mormonism. Mormonism’s doctrines constantly change in response to outside pressure and realities.

Research resources on the FLDS

Comments & resources by ReligionNewsBlog.com

Beneath the soaring peaks of the Sangre de Cristos and the Wet Mountain Range — they have come here in search of a safe haven.

“I think we just came here for a place of safety while this goes on, we’re not going to settle here,” FLDS Member Margaret Jessop told CBS4.

These FLDS members moved to Colorado after law enforcement actions involving their church in Utah and Arizona, what they refer to as Short Creek.

Lee Steed is the man who bought the properties in this Colorado area. He agreed to speak on camera if we would not show his face.

“Why did you buy up all this property?” Sallinger asked.

“It’s been my privilege to help these people and to find places to live for people to remove from the persecution at Short Creek,” Steed, an FLDS member, replied.

The location, he insists, is only intended for church widows and grandmothers who came to Colorado 2 to 3 years ago from their traditional base.

“We enjoyed it there until persecution … they just moved in,” Jessop sighed.

That persecution, they say, continued this year when the FLDS compound in El Dorado, Texas, was raided. More than 400 children were removed then later returned to their mothers. That included Jessop’s grandchildren.
[...]

On the walls above her here in Colorado are pictures of Warren Steed Jeffs, the man they call their prophet. But he now is behind bars convicted as an accomplice in the rape of a teenage girl.

“I think it’s terrible. I think he was falsely accused,” FLDS member Dorothy Barlow said.
[...]

FLDS member Debbie Steed says there is no reason to dislike their group,

“Well I think any group or individual who has issues against our religion is misinformed,” she said.
video link:

http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=49192@kcnc.dayport.com49192@kcnc.dayport.com

• Read Rick Sallinger’s account of the events that led to his reporting of this story.
• Watch a video report of this story, as well as two follow-up reports

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Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: FLDS, Polygamy Tags: FLDS, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Sai, fundamentalist mormons, mormon fundamentalists, Polygamy, warren jeffs, warren s. jeffs Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: FLDS, Polygamy Read Another Article Previous entry: Parents in prayer-death case, Dale and Leilani Neumann, forced to close coffee shop Next entry: Eight arrested in KKK-related killing, police say RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books FLDS Most Popular Today NewsChannel 10 allowed inside self proclaimed messiah’s compound Wanda Barzee pleads guilty to charge in Elizabeth Smart case Judge cancels hearing in case against Warren Jeffs Atheists ‘just as ethical as churchgoers’ research shows

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