An interesting and thought provoking essay concerning the Mormon polygamous sect in Texas by classical scholar, Chronicles Magazine editor – and College of Charleston alumni – Thomas Fleming:
“When Texas Child Protective Services (what a grisly name, by the way) seized the children of mothers belonging the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, I wondered if the state of Texas was turning Yankee. By any legal or moral standard I could think of, the seizure was an abuse of power against the fundamental institution of all human societies, the family. Yesterday’s ruling by the state’s Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which condemned the action as illegal, restores my faith in the sanity of Texans.
The Fundamentalist Mormons are, admittedly, a weird bunch, and I personally find their cult disgusting… (But) In America today, I do not see that there is any basis for outlawing polygamy. It certainly cannot be Christian moral law: Christianity can scarcely be mentioned in a public school or government building, and there is hardly any aspect of Christian morality that is enforced by law, even if there are still statutes on the books that retain the impress of the Christians who passed the law. When is the last time that adultery or fornication were punished as such? Prostitution is illegal in most places–with what justification I cannnot imagine–but two consenting adults can do pretty much anything in the privacy of one of their homes.
Here is what the real issue is. State governments routinely promote teenage promiscuous sex in the sex education programs in government schools and in government-funded counseling centers. In many states, condoms are routinely provided to children on the pretext of preventing the spread of STD’s, when everyone knows or ought to know that the purpose, as much as the result, is to encourage teenage sex. And yet, here we have a state agency seizing a large group of children on the grounds that teenage girls are having sex with a man they regard as their husband and to whom they have promised fidelity.
If you want to talk about weird, what is weirder than the counselors, child-savers, and feminist prosecutors who want to rescue young women from polygamy only to turn them into unpaid strumpets. Today’s Chicago Tribune features an article titled “To many girls, sex with adults just part of life,” in which Mary Schmich interviews many young Chicago girls who openly talk about their sexual relations with older men. The young women she interviewed were mostly from the lower strata of society, but our entire culture, from top to bottom, is saturated with images of sexuality and promiscuity. From a little girl’s first Barby to the social pressure to engage in sex games in Middle School to TV shows, like Desperate Housewives, designed to justify and promote adultery, American women are given a consistent message: Do it!
Let us cut the hypocrisy. America, as a society, is dedicated to the sexual exploitation of women. The only “crime ” committed by the Fundamentalist Mormons is their commitment to marriage.”
5 Comments
I haven’t met anyone in favor of 14-year-olds being impregnated by older men. But when are the Texas Rangers going to raid the Dallas inner-city homes of pregnant 14-year-olds and cart off the other children, who might be subject to similar abuse? And when will they shutter the Planned Parenthood locations which refuse to report statutory rape of 14-year-olds by men in their twenties? Why isn’t there equal treatment under Texas’ law?
The locals in Eldorado were worried about the FLDS taking over the county, so State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran sponsored a bill in 2005 that raised the legal age of consent to marry in Texas from 14 to 16. This was specifically targeted against the FLDS. When the FLDS moved to Texas the legal age was 14.
Note how the Texas Child Protective Service implies that 18 is the legal age. The CPS can’t be trusted and can’t be trusted with foster children. Two-thirds of their foster children are on mind-altering drugs. Wouldn’t the FLDS children be better off if they were returned to their mothers? Prosecute the men who fathered children with “wives” 15 or less and let the others alone.
I believe the diabolical outcome of Lawrence v Texas by the U.S. Supreme Court ensures that polygamy will be found legal – so polygamy cannot be legally outlawed
The FLDS are not Mormons.
You make a good point about sexuality, but that does not mean FLDS does not need to be persecuted. They are also sexually exploiting teenagers and sometimes even at younger ages that mainstream society promotes. Besides, you are focusing on how we sexualise women. What about the men? If we tolerate polygamy, then only women have to obey strict social mores while a select group of men take on multiple wives (I wonder what happens in FLDS to the mathematically many unlucky young men who grow up without prospects). This group should be repressed by the State.
Perhaps rather than lowering the standards of judgment to make them even, we should raise them?
The AP style guide states that the term Mormon is to be used for members of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”.
And not for any other group.
The AP protocol is being followed by CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox etc. Any writer or news organization should do the same. Including you!
Martin Luther, Calvin, Knox, Huss, Wesley, Williams etc. all believed they were returning to the Original Catholic Christian Church. They became Protestants, protesting the ways of the established church.
If we follow your twisted logic, we would not call these groups Protestants, instead, they must be called “Fundamentalist Catholics”.
Likewise, we should not refer to these “Polygamist Sects” as Fundamentalist Mormons, Mormon Sects etc…
The claim to the name remains with the “Original Organization”. Thus, Catholics are Catholics and Mormons are Mormons.
These people in Texas are in absolutely no way indicative of Mormon ways, attitudes, or lifestyles. Their relgious doctrines are also antithetical to Mormons.
Polygamy was outlawed in Mormonism in 1890, by “Official, Canonized Decree”. Anyone, who enters into plural marriages, is promptly ex-communicated from the Church.
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young practiced polygamy, however 85% of adult Mormon males, never did, even prior to 1890.
Yes, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Solomon, David etc. were are all POLYGAMISTS! And every major religion reveres them as Prophets.
These men once practiced polygamy as did early Mormon leaders, once upon a time. But, not anymore.
Pioneer Mormons believed in Modernity, they were progressive, establishing Universities and schools along the way. This group in Texas does not even resemble 18th century Mormonism, in any way.
Always looking outward, the early Mormons established well over 300 cities and towns. They helped to construct the Transcontinental Railroad, and they took part in the largest organized migration in this Nations history.
They have been instrumental in Business, Commerce, Education, Military, Medicine, Science, Entertainment, etc, and have been credited with many inventions and technological advancements.
They now number 6 million in America and 13 million worldwide. Do any of the Mormons you know, act like the people in Texas? Prairie dresses, isolated communities, young brides, etc?
Mormons have never holed up into compounds and they don’t isolate themselves from society, never have and never will.
Even after they moved to the Rocky Mountains they welcomed newcomers. Donating land to the Catholics, Greeks, Jews and others who soon settled in the Utah territory.
Free Agency is the fundamental Mormon doctrine.
The early leaders of Mormonism would be apalled with these sects, they violate virtually every one of the Mormons 13 Articles of Faith including free will.
Let’s be responsble as journalists and not confuse people with innaccurate definitions.
good day
ajarizona
I am pleased to see that many people are appalled by the disgusting behavior of the FLDS people who force their will on others. Their practices are totally opposite of what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) view as appropriate, respectful behavior toward all mankind. If someone took the time to investigate the true “Mormon” faith, they would find women in leadership positions All women and baptized members of any sex are authorized to freely sustain or object to any callings of any leaders in the Church. Women are held up high and encouraged to develop their “divine nature as women” in the Church and men are warned to always respect womanhood (there is no double standard). Under no circumstances is there any polygamy authorized or practiced by faithful Latter-Day Saints. The modesty of both young men and young women is taught and expected, with no exceptions. A young girl (age 12 to 18) is still considered a young woman, but not encouraged (at all) to marry. The education and adolescent side of a female’s life are honored and older men are not given any privileges that would include evicting or shunning young men (viewed as competitors or indovoduals without status by polygamous faiths).
As a member of the Church, I am joyful that men and women in the “Mormon” church are encouraged to use their free-will and to choose the good over evil for themselves. But they MUST always respect the santity of children and marriage between two mature adults (or face Church discipline). Polygamy is not permitted. As a matter-of-fact — divorce is never an automatic option offerred when husbands and wives have marital difficulties. The idea has always been to strenthen one’s marriage (between one man and one woman) ALWAYS!