Fundamentalist Mormon Polygamist Warren Jeffs Remains at the Helm from Prison

By Al Stefanelli
God Discussion
November 22, 2012

http://www.goddiscussion.com/104389/fundamentalist-mormon-polygamist-warren-remains-at-the-helm-from-prison/


Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints leader Warren Jeffs was arrested six years ago and imprisoned for life after being convicted of sexually assaulting children. His incarceration has not stopped him from remaining at the head of the church. Known as 'The Prophet,' Jeffs still calls the shots.

His church, which maintains a small commune on the Arizona/Utah border, have been disavowed by the LDS church, which refers to them as a radical splinter group.

ABC news reports journalist Mike Watkiss stating about the community of roughly 8000,

"Anybody who thinks that Warren Jeffs' incarceration ended his rule in this community has no idea what they're talking about. He is in many ways more powerful because now he's martyred."

Mike Watkiss has covered the FCLDS community for the past 25 years.

The report also refers to a 2008 raid on the 'Yearning for Zion' compound in Eldorado, Texas, which brought national attention to the group after it was found to be housing pregnant children/child brides and a lifestyle more indicative of the 19th century than the post-modern world that surrounded them.

Watkiss further stated,

"The prophet literally tells people where they will live, whom they will marry. Warren buys the allegiance of these men because they can't get into heaven without him, because he needs to give them three wives. That's the only way you're going to get to heaven."

Community members state they miss their leader, in spite of the stifling grip he maintained over their everyday lives, which included the forbidding of intimacy between husbands and wives and Jeff's selection of fifteen men who would sire all the future FLDS children.

More details, facts and commentary can be found on the ABC website, and the network will be airing a special '20/20: Breaking Polygamy,' coming up Friday, 23 November, at 10 pm EST