FLDS note

For those readers who are interested in the ongoing saga of the FLDS, there are two Web sources I want to draw your attention to.

One is the blog by Brooke Adams of the Salt Lake Tribune: blogs.sltrib.com/plurallife/index.htm

Brooke has been covering the polygs of Utah for some time, especially the FLDS group that migrated from the Salt Lake City area to Short Creek (the local name for the twin towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona) and the present controversies revolving around self-styled prophet Warren Jeffs. Her scope extends to the YFZ compound raided by Texas authorities and the properties owned by the group on the Front Range and she has developed a wide range of contacts and informants on all sides of the issue. I think she's a good source for understanding the complexity of the polygamous groups and the many issues involved.

The other site is the newly-revived blog of Winston Blackmore: sharethelight.ca/b2/

Winston was "bishop" of the FLDS believers in SE British Columbia until he was ousted by former prophet Rulon Jeffs, probably at the insistence of his son, Warren Jeffs. Now the little community they call Bountiful (Lister on the map ... and it is, indeed, bountiful!) is split between "Warrenites" and those who follow Winston or have, at least, been kicked out of the fold by Warren Jeffs. 

Winston's blog is focused on Bountiful and on the disputes about the UEP (the trust that holds FLDS assets in Short Creek and Bountiful), with less discussion of the larger picture. However, right now Winston is taking and answering questions posed to him about the FLDS and about him, his family and his community. A different point of view. There are also blog comments by various FLDS and non-FLDS posters on other subjects; that part (and the site) is maintained by Winston's brother.

Other links relating to polygamy generally and to the FLDS specifically are on both sites. It's interesting to see that, since Warren Jeffs was captured and jailed and since the YFZ raid, there seems to be more contact with the media and the outside world by FLDS followers. At one time, Warren banned TV, radio, newspapers, etc. (though I notice there's a little satellite dish on the railing of the big log house they hid in the canyon on one of their Mancos Valley properties!). tv