Continuing FLDS Tragedy

Retouched portrait of Mormon Bishop Ira Eldredge with his three wives (Nancy, Hannah, and Helvig), (c. 1864)

Public Domain as published before January 1, 1928

An offshoot of the infamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) is carrying on the heinous practices of Warren Jeffs, though Jeffs has now been incarcerated for over a decade [1].

Samuel Bateman, 47 y.o., the leader of this polygamous Mormon sect, claims to be Warren’s legitimate successor and a “prophet” in his own right [2A].

Bateman is alleged to have taken 20 or more wives, some as young as 8 or 9 y.o.  He is said to have traveled through Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska in order to have sex with underage girls.  As a result, Bateman is facing state and federal charges which include kidnapping and child abuse.

A total of eleven members of Bateman’s splinter group have now been charged with transporting children across state lines for purposes of sexual activity, recording that activity, destroying evidence, and witness tampering.

Mormon Polygamy Historically

Though it is today prohibited by the mainstream LDS, polygamy was among the original teachings of Mormonism, and practiced till 1890 [2B][3].  Doctrinally, polygamy was actually viewed by Mormons as being essential to Salvation, and more significant than baptism.

Downsides of Polygamy for Women

Polygamy — most recently pitched to the public under the seductive guise of polyamory — necessarily creates tensions and inequities, whether practiced by Mormons, Muslims, or others [4].  Women in such an arrangement do not have equal rights with their male partner.

Some “wives” will be favored over or replaced by others, causing harmful friction not only among these women, but their children.  Emotional abuse, depression, severe financial restrictions (even outright destitution), and ultimate abandonment are not uncommon [5A].

Polygamous relationships are, also, prone to domestic violence and/or sexual abuse, not to mention the negative impact they have on children [5B].

Abuse/Neglect on Multiple Levels

Apart from the abuse of power by polygamous sect leaders and the frequent sexual abuse of minors by them, young men approaching majority in polygamous sects are often pressured to leave or expelled for trivial infractions so that they do not pose competition to older, more influential men seen as better positioned (and more entitled) to acquire additional wives.

Such boys may be rendered homeless as a result, without marketable skills or the support of other family members [6].

Biblical View of Marriage

As defined in the Bible, marriage is a covenantal relationship between one man and one woman – sexually exclusive, and lifelong (Gen. 2: 24) [7].  Christ, Himself, affirmed this view (Matt. 19: 4-6).

Several prominent Old Testament figures were, however, polygamous.  Among these were Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon.  Does this not run counter to the biblical definition of marriage?

In the rigidly patriarchal societies of the past, women were forced to rely on their male kinsmen for provision and protection [8].  Untrained for work outside the home, unmarried women were largely relegated to prostitution or slavery.

Thankfully, that is no longer the case.

Mormonism as a Cult

All this demonstrates that Mormonism — whether mainstream or fundamentalist — in NOT a Christian denomination, but rather a cult [9].

Christians recognize that Christ — as the Son of God and the Second Person of the Trinity — restored mankind’s relationship with God by His death on the cross and Resurrection.

The Bible makes clear that Salvation, i.e. delivery from sin and its consequences (among them, death and permanent separation from God), is by faith alone (John 3: 16; Acts 16: 31; Eph. 2: 8-9) [10].  Polygamy is certainly not a requirement.

Other respects in which Mormonism differs radically from Christianity include mistaken Mormon beliefs as to the nature of God, the Trinity, and the deification of human beings [11].  The books in the Mormon canon — the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price — contradict the Bible, the revealed word of God [12][13][14].  This makes them patently false.

So the FLDS tragedy continues.

“…and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world” (1 John 4: 3 AMP).

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[1]  Wikpedia, “Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalist_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-Day_Saints.

[2]  WABI 5 News, “Members of polygamous group to appear in court on child sex abuse charges” by Terry Tang and Sam Metz of the Associated Press, 5/26/23, https://www.wabi.tv/2023/05/26/members-polygamous-group-appear-court-child-sex-abuse-charges/.

[3]  Wikipedia, “Mormonism and polygamy”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism_and_polygamy.

[4]  Wikipedia, “Polygamy in North America”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy_in_North_America.

[5A and 5B]  Middle Eastern Women and Society Organization (MEWSO), “Polygamy Is Brutal for the Wives” by Halaleh Taheri, 11/29/21, https://www.mewso.org/post/polygamy-is-brutal-for-the-wives.

[6]  Wikipedia, “Lost boys (Mormon fundamentalism)”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_boys_(Mormon_fundamentalism).

[7]  National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), “God Defined Marriage” by, 6/26/15, https://www.nae.org/god-defined-marriage/.

[8]  Got Questions, “Why did God allow polygamy/bigamy in the Bible?”, https://www.gotquestions.org/polygamy.html.

[9]  Got Questions, “Are Mormons Christians?”, https://www.gotquestions.org/Mormons-Christians.html.

[10]  Bible.org, “Lesson 14:  Salvation by Grace through Faith Alone (Ephesians 2: 8-9)”, 2007-2008, https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-14-salvation-grace-through-faith-alone-ephesians-28-9.

[11]  Luther College, “Is Mormonism Christian?” by Solveig Nelson, https://www.luthercollege.edu/university/academics/impetus/winter-2013-impetus/is-mormonism-christian/.

[12] Got Questions, “How should Christians view the Book of Mormon?”, https://www.gotquestions.org/book-of-Mormon.html.

[13]  Got Questions, “What is Doctrine and Covenants in Mormonism?”, https://www.gotquestions.org/Doctrine-and-Covenants.html.

[14]  Got Questions, “What is The Pearl of Great Price in Mormonism?”, https://www.gotquestions.org/Pearl-of-Great-Price.html.

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