Windy Sydney

The FLDS raid in Texas has brought what occurred in Mormon History to the present. For weeks newspapers, television reports, and countless conversations has forced America to see for itself how hard it must have been for early Mormon women. Some women didn't get to choose who they married, it was decided for them. They were then thrust into a very intimate relationship with men they barely knew... all in the name of religion. Some people say that it was their decision to stay with the church, but I disagree. For those who believe Mormon Doctrine, they honestly had no choice. They wanted to go to heaven, therefore they paid the price on earth.

We can sit and think about the grown adults making these decisions and why they decide to stay until we go cross-eyed. Most of us just don't get it. For us, it is easy to say that polygamy is wrong, but for them it's all they know.

Yesterday I read a news article about the kids taken from the FLDS ranch going back to their families. The supreme court made the decision that the state of Texas handled the situation poorly, and that there wasn't sufficient evidence to take the children from their homes. Some people agree with the supreme court's decision, others are shocked and sad that the kids are no longer being protected from early marriage to older men.

A photo of Warren Jeffs kissing a13 year old bride has surfaced on the internet as well as on television. We are not talking about a quick peck, we are talking about a full-on french kiss. He is also picking up his young bride and holding her in his arms.

Yesterday night on a network news magazine show, the reported tried to show this photo to one of the polygamous lawyers working on the FLDS case. The lawyer refused to look at it, and even claimed that the photo was most likely doctored to paint the FLDS in a bad light. He kept telling the reporter over and over again that there was no evidence of underage marriage of young girls, and when faced with that evidence he refused to admit it's existence completely. It immediately struck me because many of the Mormons I know also refuse to look into the evidence of wrongdoing by someone they love.

I guess it's all about denial. If you don't look at the proof, you can't admit to yourself it exists. Thing is... the evidence DOES exist.

There IS a photo of Warren Jeffs kissing a 13 year old bride, and there IS evidence that Joseph Smith and the church are not what they claimed to be.

Deny. Deny. Deny.

I suppose living in a bubble/fantasy land makes you feel safe and secure. Like you have all the answers. Sadly, no one has answers. They just claim they do.

How can people claim that the FLDS church has nothing at all in common with the Mormon Church? The only thing separating the two groups is time.