Doris Hanson Director, A Shield and Refuge Ministry

I received a note from a long-time supporter asking the question, do we see many ex-polygamists embrace Christianity.   The short answer is, no we don’t.  That’s not to say we don’t see any of them turn to Jesus because some do.  And that’s not to say that we know of every single person who does accept the Jesus of the Bible.  Obviously, there are former polygamists who get saved and we are not informed of it.

A few months ago I attended a conference focused on how to transition from Mormonism to Christian Faith.  They said that only 11% of former LDS turn to Biblical Christianity.  If only 11% of former Mormons pursue Biblical truths, I would guess former polygamists would have a much lower percentage.  But that doesn’t negate the need for Christian outreaches to either the polygamists or the Mormons.  Jesus said:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.   ~ Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus tells us only a “few” find the way to life.  That means we can tell the Gospel to thousands of people thousands of times, but only a few will respond.  This is sad because every soul is one that Jesus Christ died for. And every soul who turns to Jesus is worth every effort put forth to bring the truth to that person.  Sometimes it is discouraging and we ask for your prayers.  But we also remember Paul’s teaching about it:

1 Corinthians 3:6-7  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Thank you for your support of this ministry!

SUGGESTED READING:

Brainwash to Hogwash: Escaping & Exposing Polygamy

It is a completely different world for us who were born and raised in Mormon Fundamentalism.  We were brainwashed from the cradle to believe that everyone outside of our group is our enemy and cannot be trusted.

To help others understand the dilemma escapees face in their attempts to leave, we have been suggesting reading material written by escapees who have successfully integrated into the world outside of Mormon Fundamentalism.

This month our featured book is written by Jenny Jessop Larson, a former member of the FLDS polygamists of Hildale, UT and Colorado City, AZ.  Its title is Brainwash to Hogwash: Escaping and Exposing Polygamy.

From the back cover we read:

“Growing up in Fundamental Latter Day Saints is like being brainwashed by a bunch of hogwash! They tell you who to marry and what to wear.  People there are so controlled.”

The author, Jenny Larson, grew up in the FLDS, she says that even as a child she was skeptical of the teachings of her church and doubted their prophet.  Her mother was treated like dirt and was just a baby machine, and one of many multiple wives who suffered at the hand of the polygamy group.  She eventually left the FLDS and took Jenny and her siblings with her.

Quote from page 311:

“It is difficult for outsiders to understand the control their leaders exercise over each individual in FLDS.  Most wonder why the women go along with it.  The women have real fears of being persecuted by their own and losing everything they have if they do not show they have a testimony of “The Gospel.”

I lost everything when I sought a better life. I lost my entire world as I knew it. I was thrown into a land that I feared greatly—one that I had been warned about my entire life. I lost my husband, my children, and those whom I thought were my friends, my home and technically my salvation. I felt I was a woman without a country and with only the clothes on my back.”

On pages 315-316 she tells about the abuse, poverty and economic inequalities:

“There is a lot of abuse in the polygamist group. Wives abuse other wives and other wives’ children.  The half brothers and sisters abuse each other. Husbands abuse wives and children.  There is not just hand to hand abuse, but also sexual abuse.”

“..Members live in poverty, so they can support the prophet and his big family who live high on the hog. You turn all your money into the prophet’s account and keep just enough to buy the bare necessities. That is the reason so many polygamists are on government welfare."

“If you work for a polygamist company, they withhold a certain amount of your paycheck to give to the prophet.. You have no choice.”

Brainwash to Hogwash is available at amazon.com

POLYGAMY IN THE NEWS

Melissa Ellis escaped from the Kingston polygamy group in 2012 and has subsequently been forced into several court battles for child custody.  She recently filed a complaint with the Utah State Bar because her ex-husband's attorneys are polygamists who can work for him for free. He as been represented by two different attorneys while she struggles to pay for her own legal counsel, and says she is fighting against this travesty of justice. Polygamy is prohibited by the Utah State Constitution, which says:  “Polygamy shall be prohibited forever.”  Licensed attorneys must take an oath to uphold the United States and the Utah State Constitutions. Bigamy is a felony in Utah with a maximum punishment of five years in prison.  Ellis listed five men and two women who are polygamists and are practicing law in Utah. The Utah State Bar has begun an investigation into Ellis’ complaint which will likely take several months to complete.

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   "A northern Utah man accused of not properly taking care of the livestock he was hired to oversee is facing charges after 46 cows starved to death.

Jeremiah Daniel Kingston, 29 ... was charged along with Natural Choice LLC ... [a Kingston polygamy group business]  ..with wanton destruction of livestock, a second-degree felony. According to charging documents, Kingston and his company were contracted to care for 585 cows, "which included responsibilities to 'supervise supply of water to livestock,' 'moving of livestock around pastures as needed,' and 'put forth reasonable efforts to minimize death, loss, and theft.'"     KSL News | Apr 12th, 2019

Kingston did not provide enough food, water and shelter... the conditions became so deplorable that 46 cattle died  from  starvation.  Those that didn't die were incapable of walking, numerous cows became unable to produce milk, and many of them have suffered permanent physical impairments.  Witnesses explain that they observed Kingston attempting to hide dead cows by dragging them into bushes and covering them with sticks and brush.    The value of the livestock is over $300,000.

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

MORMON POLYGAMY HISTORY

“Brigham was invited to preach. He consented, and the people all gathered... The subject of his discourse, polygamy, which he attempted to justify from Scripture, and the example of the ancient patriarchs. His reasoning was something like this: That if it was right to have one wife, it was right to have two, or even more, since actions in themselves morally wrong — for instance murder, theft, or similar crimes — are not allowed, even in one instance. That the law of the United States, which allowed one wife to every man, and denied his right to more than one, was highly tyrannical; that in many cases the practice of polygamy was attended with many benefits ...that the purpose of marriage being the perpetuation of the human species, it followed that when the wife ceased bearing, or was otherwise incapable or unwilling to raise a family, it became the husband's duty to take another wife, This he proved by the example of Abraham and Jacob. David, he said, had several wives, yet the Lord never reproved him for it, and if it was right then, it remains so yet.

This doctrine, though nothing new to me, excited the surprise and consternation of many women. They were not prepared for such a state of things. They had been converted to Mormonism by the missionaries whom Smith had sent out, with instructions to deal only in the pure milk of the Gospel, by which he meant those parts of Mormonism the most comfortable to the generally-received opinions of the day, reserving the meat — such things as polygamy and spiritual wifeage — for those more advanced in the knowledge of the blessings designed for the Faithful.

It was easy to perceive that these doctrines were rather unpalatable to the majority of the females, though the men seemed pleased, and many of them really exultant. Not a few began immediately to direct their glances where stood a bevy of blooming girls, and greatly to the chagrin of their companions, four or five passed directly over to them, and commenced a conversation.”

Mrs. Alice Young Clawson The Mormon Wife: A Life Story of the Sacrifices, Sorrows and Sufferings of Woman, pg 283-284

FROM OUR MAILBOX:

I so enjoy your program. You have a clarity of thought, a courageous spirit, a wide grasp of Mormon teachings. LDS teaching is filled with so much falsehood and I greatly appreciate people like you who are able to counter the false teachings and give voice to the Biblical message. You are able to reach an audience I never could. Your voice is needed, and is making a difference.   God bless you. I know you hear negative feedback from people blinded by that huckster Joseph Smith, and I wanted to send you a note to say I support you and applaud your efforts.

God bless, from California!  --SM

“Its wrong, I don’t understand the Utah problem during the time of Joseph Smith. He was a criminal that Missouri put in jail but he got out. Why didn’t Utah send him back to jail to Missouri, they didn’t. What was their problem? It makes me think they are living so badly drinking etc. they obviously didn’t care. --JH”

Note: I think this lady doesn’t have the facts about early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, and the Mormons' migration west. Joseph Smith was killed before the Mormons came to Utah. He was jailed several times before his final imprisonment which was for destroying the printing press in Nauvoo, IL. He was killed in jail when a mob barged in and a gun battle ensued. Joseph Smith had a gun which had been smuggled in to him, he fired it and killed at least two men in the mob. Also, contrary to her comments, although Salt Lake City could boast of having many bars, most of the Mormons did not drink, but many Gentiles living and working in Utah were heavy drinkers.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• The upcoming lawsuit against the Kingston Group’s $1.2 billion tax fraud, pray justice will be done.
  
  
• Rachel will soon be going to court “again” to receive full custody of here three female children.  He polygamist ex-husband does NOT cooperate with court stipulations.  One of the girls is now old enough to be married off.  Please pray for justice in this situation.
  
  
• Pray for safety of those who “blow the whistle” on illegal activities of polygamists.  Vengeance is a normal practice in Mormon polygamy groups.

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