“Perhaps it may make some of you stumble, were I to ask you a question. Does a man’s being a Prophet in this Church prove that he shall be the President of it? I answer, no! A man may be a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and it may have nothing to do with his being the President of the Church. Suffice it to say, that Joseph was the President of the Church, as long as he lived; the people chose to have it so. He always filled that responsible station, by the voice of the people. Can you find any revelation appointing him the President of the Church? The keys of the Priesthood were committed to Joseph, to build up the Kingdom of God on the earth. And were not taken from him in time or in eternity; but when he was called to preside over the Church it was by the voice of the people; though he held the keys of the Priesthood independent of their voice.” (Brigham Young 6/6/1853 JD 1:133)
In 1880, three years after the Prophet Brigham Young died and seven years before the Prophet John Taylor died, Mormon Apostle Wilford Woodruff recorded these words in his journal:
"Thus saith the Lord unto my servant John Taylor (?), and my servant Wilford Woodruff, and My servant Orson Pratt, and to all the residue of mine Apostles,… while my servant John Taylor is your President, I wish to ask the rest of my servants of the Apostles the question, although you have one to preside over your Quorum, which is the order of God in all generations, do you not, all of you, hold the apostleship, which is the highest authority ever given to men on earth? You do. Therefore you hold in common the Keys of the Kingdom of God in all the world. It is your right, privilege, and duty to inquire of the Lord as to His mind and will concerning yourselves and the inhabitants of Zion and their interests.”
Between this "revelation" and the Manifesto, Wilford Woodruff is the source of most all of the falling away of people from the truth. He was never the Prophet.
“Through some inadvertence, or perhaps mixed up with the idea of seniority of age taking precedence, Wilford Woodruff’s name was placed on the records of the time, and for many years after, before that of John Taylor. This matter was investigated some time afterwards by President Young and his council, sanctioned also by the Twelve, whether John Taylor held the precedency and stood in graduation prior to Brother Wilford Woodruff, and it was decided that his name be placed before Wilford Woodruff’s although Wilford Woodruff was the older man.” (John Taylor 10/7/1881)
“President Johnson explained to me the Wilford Woodruff held feelings against John Taylor. In some point in time, Wilford Woodruff considered he was senior over John Taylor in the Apostleship.” (Rulon T. Jeffs HOPS pg 79)
Wilford Woodruff, who was the senior in age of John Taylor but was ordained by John Taylor, wrote this “revelation” to his Priesthood head, President and Prophet John Taylor, and to all the Apostles in which he, Wilford Woodruff, is told: “Thus saith the Lord unto my servant John Taylor, and my servant Wilford Woodruff, and My servant Orson Pratt [also John Taylor’s senior in age], and to all the residue of mine Apostles,… you hold in common the Keys of the Kingdom of God in all the world. It is your right, privilege, and duty to inquire of the Lord as to His mind and will concerning … the inhabitants of Zion and their interests.”
This is something that is assumed by many Mormon Fundamentalist groups to replace D&C 132:7 Which states: “… there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred” This is not the only place this is described, but the one many feel replaced by the 1880.
The problem is Wilford Woodruff was not the Prophet or the President of the Church, John Taylor was. Note the date of the following written revelation:
Revelation to John Taylor June 27, 1882
1. “Verily thus saith the Lord, I have instituted my Kingdom and my laws, with the keys and the power thereof, and I have appointed you as my spokesman and my Constitution, with President John Taylor at your head, whom I have appointed to my Church and my Kingdom as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator unto and over my Kingdom; and I will honor him, and he shall speak forth the words that I will reveal unto him from time to time by the whisperings of my Spirit, by the revelation of my Spirit, by the revelation of my will and my word, or by mine own voice, as I will, saith the Lord, and ye shall listen to his words as my words, saith the Lord your God.”
14. “And now I speak unto you who are members of this Council, and of my Kingdom, and I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples of old, Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.
15. “I called you by my servant Joseph, and by my servant Brigham, and by my servant John. You did not teach and instruct me; but I have taught you and instructed you and organized you according to my eternal laws.
16. “Ye are my Constitution, and I am your God; and I will be acknowledged and my will and my word and my law shall bear rule in my Kingdom, saith the Lord. If it does not, then it is not my Kingdom, and then are ye not my man, and under the direction of man, then it is a kingdom of man, and it is not of me, and I will not acknowledge it, saith the Lord God.”
There is no question about who the Lord would reveal His mind and will to the Church through, and His mind and will to the Prophet, and in 1880 it was not Wilford Woodruff.
“It is my privilege as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ to have the revelations of Jesus. It is my privilege to live so as to have the gift of prophecy, and to have wisdom and knowledge from God. It is my privilege to have all these gifts and blessings resting down upon me by virtue of my calling. If I am faithful thereto they will rest upon me. But it is not my privilege to guide this ship. It is not my privilege to write revelations or commandments to this Church. Much as I may rejoice in the knowledge of God, much as I may be possessed of the revelations of Jesus, that is not a privilege which has been accorded unto me, nor has it been accorded unto any other Apostle, or officer, or member of this Church, but one, and that is the man whom God has chosen to hold the keys.”(George Q Cannon 12/2/1883)
In 1882, the U.S. Congress enacted the Edmunds-Tucker Act, a federal law which made polygamy a felony within its Territories. It also stated that anyone “in the marriage relation” with multiple spice could not vote in any election. It was written purposefully to not include adulterers, but only those who were “cohabiting as husband and wife”. Interestingly, in 1870 Utah had become the first place in the United States that allowed women to vote, and in 1975 a petition of over 22,000 Mormon women was sent to Congress asking to repeal the 1862 Morrill law. Women’s suffrage was stopped by the stronger anti-Polygamy Edmunds Act passed in 1887.
In his last public sermon, President John Taylor remarked:
"I would like to obey and place myself in subjection to every law of man. What then? Am I to disobey the law of God? Has any man a right to control my conscience, or your conscience, or to tell me I shall believe this or believe the other, or reject this or reject the other? No man has a right to do it. These principles are sacred, and the forefathers of this nation felt so and so proclaimed it in the Constitution of the United States, and said "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Now, I believe they have violated that, and have violated their oaths, those that have engaged in these things and passed that law, and those that are seeking to carry it out. Congress and the President of the United States and the Judiciary, and all administrators of the law are as much bound by that instrument as I am and as you are, and have sworn to maintain it inviolate. It is for them to settle these matters between themselves and their God. That is my faith in relation to this matter. Yet by their action they are interfering with my rights, my liberty and my religion, and with those sacred principles that bind me to my God, to my family, to my wives and my children; and shall I be recreant to all these noble principles that ought to guide and govern men? No, Never! No, NEVER! NO, NEVER! I can endure more than I have done, and all that God will enable me to endure, I can die for the truth; but I cannot as an honorable man disobey my God at their behest, forsake my wives and my children, and trample these holy and eternal obligations under foot, that God has given me to keep, and which reach into the eternities that are to come. I won't do it, so help me, God." (2/1/1885 JD 26:152).
John Taylor went into hiding after this address and died in hiding two and a half years later, on July 25, 1887
While in hiding men came to John Taylor with a “manifesto” to consider. The document was written to keep the leading men from losing their property along with the church property. The temple and all church property had been seized by the government over the belief in plural marriage. George Q. Cannon suggested for John Taylor to take the manifesto up with the Lord. On September 26, 1886 the prophet John Taylor recorded a Revelation. In it says: “All those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law. And have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham’s seed and would enter into my glory, they must do the works of Abraham. I HAVE NOT REVOKED THIS LAW NOR WILL I, it is everlasting, and those who will enter into my glory MUST obey the conditions thereof.” Most of the people of the church were unaware of the revelation, or of those who were at the meeting. (Read the story here)
John Taylor died ten months later, on July 25, 1887. Due to his being the senior Apostle, Wilford Woodruff then assumed the Presidency of the church.
John Wickersham Woolley was the senior Apostle ordained at the 1886 meeting held in his home, who did not later support the 1890 Manifesto. He obeyed his covenants made on that Sabbath Day, and yet he still respected the Church and their officers even after they turned away from the Celestial Law.
On September 24, 1890 Wilford Woodruff issued the written Manifesto in general meeting. It was not even considered by him to be a revelation from God until later. It says:
“To Whom it may concern: Press dispatches having been sent for political purposes…allege that plural marriages are still being solemnized and that…in public discourses the leaders of the Church have taught, encouraged and urged the continuance of the practice of polygamy- I therefore, as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, do hereby, in the most solemn manner, declare that these charges are false. We are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, or permitting any person to enter into its practice…Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws…. And now I publicly declare that my advice to the Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the law of the land.”
“I move that, recognizing Wilford Woodruff as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the only man on the earth at the present time, who holds the keys of the sealing ordinances, we consider him fully authorized by virtue of his position to issue the Manifesto… and that as a Church in General Conference assembled, we accept his declaration concerning plural marriages as authoritative and binding” (Lorenzo Snow 10-6-1890)
There is our dilemma, Wilford Woodruff. Which is more binding; the revelation declaring him co- head of the church with his leader and the other Apostles in 1880, or the “Manifesto” where Lorenzo Snow (the President of the Church after Wilford Woodruff) declares that Wilford Woodruff is the only man on earth with the sealing ordinances, and has the authority to end it? The dilemma is one of testimony, and conviction. But even Wilford Woodruff did not follow the Official Declaration of 1890 himself, the church records state:
1897 Sept, Wilford Woodruff, married 6th wife, Lydia Mountford. (President of the church, married Lydia a year before he died)
Our Prophet Leroy S. Johnson said:
“When Wilford Woodruff signed the Manifesto, he didn’t only sign away his rights to the Celestial Law, but he also signed away his rights to the Priesthood.” (2/12/84)
Here is the testimony of my great grandmother, Esther Morrison:
“At the time the manifesto was signed, I was staying with Mary… I remember so vividly when the word came about this…. Everything was so quiet, and it seemed as though there was a feeling of some terrible happening taking place. It was felt in the home and outside even in my young years, about 8 or 9 years old, and not understanding the great significance of what happened, I felt the dreadful impact of it.
Years later, about 1925, I attended a Daughters of the Pioneers meeting held at the home of Mrs. Joseph J Danes, on Fifth east, who was a daughter of President Wilford Woodruff. Also another daughter, Mrs. Beatty was there. She spoke on the Manifesto. During her talk she said:
“The day father signed the manifesto I was in the front room when he came home. I shall never forget his face. He moaned, and said “O God what have I done?” He immediately went upstairs to his room. He remained there for a whole week, never speaking to any of us (his family). When he came down and joined the family he looked awful. The ravages of sickness could never have made him look worse. It was awful.”
As a note here, my children, I desire to leave this to you. I know the law of plural marriage to be a heaven truth. Your father was an issue of that great law. You have a righteous heritage. Don’t trample on it, but treasure it, and accept the pattern given to you.” - Esther E. E. Morrison (who never lived plural marriage but encouraged my grandmother to when she had the opportunity)
In the FLDS church Priesthood lineage, Wilford Woodruff never was the Prophet. He lifted his heel against his leader in 1880, and in doing so, he lost his right to be the successor to John Taylor. He was not united with John Taylor after Brigham Young passed away. John Taylor had appointed John W Woolley and others to carry on in the work of the Celestial Law. The sealing keys of Elijah were given to him who did not lift his heel against the Celestial Law and the Keyholder of Priesthood.
John W. Woolley, as David of old, did not “set on the Lords anointed” but continued on in peace while fulfilling his covenants made on that September day in 1886. He continued in the Church even after he was excommunicated in 1914 for performing marriages and teaching the Celestial Law.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
John W Woolley, Prophet
John Wickersham Woolley was born December 30, 1831 in Newlin, Pennsylvania. He was the first of eight children born to Edwin Dilworth Woolley and Mary Wickersham Woolley. His father had 5 wives and 27 children. During his life he was a messenger boy for Joseph Smith at age 13, was ordained an elder by Brigham Young, was second councilor to his father, Bishop Edwin D. Woolley bishop of the 13th Ward in SLC, and he was a High Councilman in the Davis Stake. He was a Salt Lake Temple worker and sealer beginning in 1894. He was deputy sheriff of S.L. County, deputy Territorial Marshall, and Justice of the Peace of Centerville UT for 16 years. When John Taylor went into hiding in the 1880’s he spent much of his time at John Woolley’s home. On September 27, 1886 John Taylor received the 1886 Revelation in John Woolley’s home while in hiding from persecution.
John W. Woolley’s first wife was Julia Seales Ensign, they married March 20, 1851 and from whom came his six known children, John Ensign, Franklin, Lorin Calvin, Julia Adarena, Mary Emma, and Amy Irene. Seven days after the 1886 revelation was given, On October 4, 1886, John Taylor sealed him to Ann Everington Roberts, widowed mother of B. H. Roberts, he was 56. On March 23, 1910 John married Annie Fisher. LDS President Joseph F. Smith performed the wedding. John was active in the LDS Church up until 1914. He was excommunicated by the church Apostles in 1914, and died 24 years later, December 13, 1928 at age 96.
“John Woolley said that his brother Samuel told him if he did not live this law, he would not have his first wife. President Young taught him that, and others, and he did not believe it. But the Lord told him, and he believed Him. (He then told of how John Woolley’s wife was shown to him in the temple and the Lord told him so, etc., and how Joseph F. Smith married them.) Joseph F. Smith was hounded and died a martyr. Orson F. Whitney died a martyr, and others.” (John Y Barlow June 11, 1944)
“I can see a few faces here that were with us a few years ago. When we used to go up to Uncle John Woolley's and Lorin Woolley's, they would tell us of things -- how the Savior and Joseph Smith came to their place and what he told them to do to keep this principle alive. I have heard those men testify to that many times. I have been called into their Council and told of these things -- tutored up. I used to live just a little way from Uncle Lorin Woolley, and I knew Uncle John Woolley; and I heard the neighbors say that Joseph F. Smith used to go up and visit with him. They said that Joseph F. thought a lot of him, that he went up and pled with him and pled with him. Yes, he did -- he counseled with him, but he wasn't pleading with him as they thought he was doing.” (John Y Barlow 9/13/42)
[In 1928]… I visited Brother John W. Woolley who was then head of the Priesthood -- God's chosen servant in the earth. He was the first to hold the presidency after John Taylor in this line of Priesthood. My brother [Price] took me to see him, introduced me to him. I sat down on the couch after shaking hands with Brother Woolley. He looked a hole through me for a moment. I thought, "Oh, this man is going to tell me of all the trials and tribulations I have had." He startled me by saying, "Get up, young man, and come over here. I want to feel your hand again." I don't know whether I was shaking or whether I wasn't. I know I had a feeling that I was being tested. He looked me in the eye and said, "My boy, you'll do. You'll do." He told me to go and sit down, and I did. He says, "Now I know that I am among friends." And he opened up and told me of the revelation of 1886 and the eight-hour meeting.” (Leroy S Johnson 6/3/1978)
“When brother Price Johnson was talking of Brother John Woolley, I thought many are the hours I have spent with him. Many things were shown to me then. We have seen many of those things literally fulfilled” (JYB 5/25/41)
"I did not have the privilege of having a personal acquaintance with Uncle John W. Woolley, but my Father and brother Richard brought me many stories of his remarkable character and instructions; and knowing them to be honest and that they did not lie, I was privileged to believe what they related to me. We lived in Millville, Utah, at this time, and in the early 1920's, my father and older brothers worked in Salt Lake City, at the Baldwin Radio Plant, where Uncle Lorin Woolley worked also.
My father related that Uncle John Woolley said that the Church authorities were about to cut President Joseph F. Smith off the Church. President Smith reported to his senior, John W. Woolley, who said, "No, Joseph, let them cut me off the Church." Later, members of the Twelve required President Smith to recant his position before the people. He asked by phone if he should do so, and John W. Woolley said, "If you do, that will be the last speech the Lord will let you make." Uncle Lorin told us that President Smith sweat blood on his garments, who explained, "I would rather do this than have my blood on my brethren's hands."
I remember hearing the news of Uncle John Woolley's passing and I felt very sad. He died December 13, 1928, at the age of 97, when I was eighteen years old." (Fred M. Jessop)
John W. Woolley’s first wife was Julia Seales Ensign, they married March 20, 1851 and from whom came his six known children, John Ensign, Franklin, Lorin Calvin, Julia Adarena, Mary Emma, and Amy Irene. Seven days after the 1886 revelation was given, On October 4, 1886, John Taylor sealed him to Ann Everington Roberts, widowed mother of B. H. Roberts, he was 56. On March 23, 1910 John married Annie Fisher. LDS President Joseph F. Smith performed the wedding. John was active in the LDS Church up until 1914. He was excommunicated by the church Apostles in 1914, and died 24 years later, December 13, 1928 at age 96.
“John Woolley said that his brother Samuel told him if he did not live this law, he would not have his first wife. President Young taught him that, and others, and he did not believe it. But the Lord told him, and he believed Him. (He then told of how John Woolley’s wife was shown to him in the temple and the Lord told him so, etc., and how Joseph F. Smith married them.) Joseph F. Smith was hounded and died a martyr. Orson F. Whitney died a martyr, and others.” (John Y Barlow June 11, 1944)
“I can see a few faces here that were with us a few years ago. When we used to go up to Uncle John Woolley's and Lorin Woolley's, they would tell us of things -- how the Savior and Joseph Smith came to their place and what he told them to do to keep this principle alive. I have heard those men testify to that many times. I have been called into their Council and told of these things -- tutored up. I used to live just a little way from Uncle Lorin Woolley, and I knew Uncle John Woolley; and I heard the neighbors say that Joseph F. Smith used to go up and visit with him. They said that Joseph F. thought a lot of him, that he went up and pled with him and pled with him. Yes, he did -- he counseled with him, but he wasn't pleading with him as they thought he was doing.” (John Y Barlow 9/13/42)
[In 1928]… I visited Brother John W. Woolley who was then head of the Priesthood -- God's chosen servant in the earth. He was the first to hold the presidency after John Taylor in this line of Priesthood. My brother [Price] took me to see him, introduced me to him. I sat down on the couch after shaking hands with Brother Woolley. He looked a hole through me for a moment. I thought, "Oh, this man is going to tell me of all the trials and tribulations I have had." He startled me by saying, "Get up, young man, and come over here. I want to feel your hand again." I don't know whether I was shaking or whether I wasn't. I know I had a feeling that I was being tested. He looked me in the eye and said, "My boy, you'll do. You'll do." He told me to go and sit down, and I did. He says, "Now I know that I am among friends." And he opened up and told me of the revelation of 1886 and the eight-hour meeting.” (Leroy S Johnson 6/3/1978)
“When brother Price Johnson was talking of Brother John Woolley, I thought many are the hours I have spent with him. Many things were shown to me then. We have seen many of those things literally fulfilled” (JYB 5/25/41)
"I did not have the privilege of having a personal acquaintance with Uncle John W. Woolley, but my Father and brother Richard brought me many stories of his remarkable character and instructions; and knowing them to be honest and that they did not lie, I was privileged to believe what they related to me. We lived in Millville, Utah, at this time, and in the early 1920's, my father and older brothers worked in Salt Lake City, at the Baldwin Radio Plant, where Uncle Lorin Woolley worked also.
My father related that Uncle John Woolley said that the Church authorities were about to cut President Joseph F. Smith off the Church. President Smith reported to his senior, John W. Woolley, who said, "No, Joseph, let them cut me off the Church." Later, members of the Twelve required President Smith to recant his position before the people. He asked by phone if he should do so, and John W. Woolley said, "If you do, that will be the last speech the Lord will let you make." Uncle Lorin told us that President Smith sweat blood on his garments, who explained, "I would rather do this than have my blood on my brethren's hands."
I remember hearing the news of Uncle John Woolley's passing and I felt very sad. He died December 13, 1928, at the age of 97, when I was eighteen years old." (Fred M. Jessop)
"John W. Woolley filled a little niche in the line of Priesthood. He had to live in obscurity out of the lives of most people. There were only a few people that knew his position, and those who did find out his postition had a hard time doing so. They had to be men of God and the Spirit of God would have to be upon them in order to find it out." (Leroy S. Johnson 12/28/1952)
Olive Woolley Coombs (daughter of Lorin Woolley): Grandfather was really a different individual. At the age of 90 he got our and chopped and thinned beets for two or three hours a day and was very, very accurate with them. He was very healthy, and I remember he got up very early in the morning. He ate only two meals a day-noon and night- and then went to bed very early—by 7pm every night. He ate very simple meals. The thing I remember most was bread and milk and cheese; and honey was always on the table at my Grandfathers home.”
Rhea Allred Kunz- When my husband and I met him, your grandfather was very forthright. He didn’t mince words with anyone. His mind was clear as a bell.
Olive- No he didn’t. He was very alert even the day he died. You see he died just a few days before his 97th birthday.”
Rhea- As I recall, we saw him just about a week to ten days before he died. He sat erect with a long flowing beard. We were in the very room where the Savior visited Pres. John Taylor on that memorable night of September 26-27, 1886. He talked with us on how the room had been changed since that time—two other doors having been added and this sort of thing.
Olive- “Father had a much more severe life in things that take the physical body down, such as being gored by a bull and the riding he did for John Taylor…when father was a minute man for John Taylor, he did a lot of riding in the cold. However, Grandfather had a hard life too, being in the army as he was. He was in the Nauvoo legion, you know. He had a rough life too, but he seemed to be a little more hale and hearty than my dad. Dad was a little more frail.”
Rhea- There is something that I recall you told me about long ago….You had asked him a certain question. By his skillful manipulations, he had helped you work out the answer yourself. Then he finally said, when you had it right, “You are too smart for your own britches.”
Olive- “You might be talking about President Joseph F Smith when he came out of the tabernacle at Bountiful. I was a child of seven—I well remember my age. Daddy had taken me over to the Stake Conference in Bountiful. We had taken Grandfather with us. They had disfellowshipped Grandfather before this time. That didn’t stop Grandfather from going to church. It didn’t stop Grandfather from preaching the Gospel. It didn’t stop him from any of this. Father and I were standing in front of the Tabernacle after the meeting, waiting for Grandfather to come out. He liked to say hello to this one and that one. Joseph F Smith was the General Authority present at the conference. He walked up to us just as Grandfather walked up, and Pres. Smith put his arm around Grandfathers arm and said, “John, I’m very sorry about what has been done. I want you to know it wasn’t my will. It was voted. But I have the assurance that if you will come back into the Church secretly we are ready and willing” And he. Grandfather, said, “I appreciate that very much, but since I was taken out publicly, the way you must take me back is publicly, because I feel I have done nothing wrong, and my Lord, I’m sure, agrees with me.” That was all there was to it, but it was quite a thing to a little kid standing there.”
“I should mention the firesides Grandfather had at the old home. It included the Barlow’s, and the Jessop’s and everybody that used to come out there to Grandfather’s. They would talk and enjoy the scriptures and have songs and have a regular wonderful visit of friends.”
"I was acquainted with Brother John W Woolley back in 1928. He sealed my first plural wife to me under very wonderful circumstances. There is an incident about his death that not too many people are really acquainted with. On the morning that he was to leave this earth, he got all cleaned up and told his wife to leave the house. She hesitated, and he said “I want you to go; you MUST go.” So she left the house under these strange circumstances; and when she came back later, he was lying on the floor dead. He had previously indicated to certain people that Joseph Smith and others were coming for him very, very soon.
… At this particular time, to find authority was one of the most difficult things that you could ever imagine. I had no idea where I should go, or what to do. So that started another period of fasting and prayer to know where to go. One day, out of the clear blue sky, when I was working alone in my own little shop, a perfect stranger walked in. I happened to have my Doctrine and Covenants laying there on the bench. He walked over and said, “What are you searching for?” I told him. He says “Okay I’ll help you.” This was brother Worth Kilgrow. He said “I’ll take you to the man.” I said “Okay” So, even at that particular time in the Church, this whole thing had been going on. If you wanted to be sealed, you had to go and talk to the man and he might make you wait as long as six months. And another thing—He would NEVER perform a sealing without revelation. This I testify to, here and now. There is NO sealing’s without revelation, whether anybody here on this earth knows this or not, but that’s a FACT of the matter. So I took my wife and this young lady, Hilda- she was the same age as I, and we went there. I left her outside and went in to talk to him. I had no sooner walked in than he said, “You are Carl Jentzch, yes?” I said yes, and I had never seen the man. He said “Where is the girl?” I never even asked him. I said, “Oh, she’s out in the car.” He said, “What’s she doing out there? Why don’t you bring her in? “ I asked “Now?” You know, I had never told her. I had said “Well, we’re going to have to figure on a six month’s wait; that’s all there is to it. Brother John Woolley won’t do it.” So I went and said “Hilda, he wants to talk to you” I took her by the hand and we walked into the house. I’ll never forget that man’s face. He had a beautiful face—his eyes were piercing. He could look right through you. He could read your thoughts just as if they were written on a page. And his eyes pierced through me and I just faltered, like two hot pokers, you might say. He questioned both of us, and then turned to me and said, “The only thing I can’t understand is what took you so long to get here. I have been waiting for months for you. I’m only talking here so that you’ll be at ease. All right, I’m going to seal you two together now
… He told me something else, too. I’ll try to put it in his own words: “One thing, there’s no bargain counter into heaven; you will pay the same price that Abraham paid, or any other man” I said “What do you mean?” “The sacrifice of all things, If you are not willing to sacrifice all things, you are not worthy of the Kingdom.” (Carl Jentzch)
John Wickersham Woolley died December 13, 1928 seventeen days before his 97th birthday. He outlived all of his known children except Lorin Calvin Woolley.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
The Greatest President We Never Had
To announce his candidacy to be President of the United States, the most influential religious leader in American history proclaimed his political views with this press release: (abridged)
“Born in a land of liberty, and breathing an air uncorrupted with the sirocco of barbarous climes, I ever feel a double anxiety for the happiness of all men, both in time and in eternity.
My cogitations, like Daniel’s, have for a long time troubled me, when I viewed the condition of men throughout the world, and more especially in this boasted realm, where the Declaration of Independence “holds these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;” but at the same time some two or three millions of people are held as slaves for life, because the spirit in them is covered with a darker skin than ours; and hundreds of our own kindred for an infraction, or supposed infraction, of some over-wise statute, have to be incarcerated in dungeon gloom, or penitentiaries, while the duelist, the debauchee, and the defaulter for millions, and other criminals, take the uppermost rooms at feasts, or, like the bird of passage, find a more congenial clime by flight.
"The wisdom which ought to characterize the freest, wisest, and most noble nation of the nineteenth century, should, like the sun in his meridian splendor, warm every object beneath its rays; and the main efforts of her officers, who are nothing more nor less than the servants of the people, aught to be directed to ameliorate the condition of all, black or white, bond or free; for the best of books says, “God hat made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” …
“The great Washington, further advised Congress that “among the many interesting objects which will engage your attention, that of providing for the common defense will merit particular regard, To be prepared for war in one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” As the Italian would say- “Buono aviso.”…
“The elder Adams, in his inaugural address, gives national pride such a grand turn of justification, that every honest citizen must look back upon the infancy of the United States with an approving smile, and rejoice that patriotism in their rulers, virtue in the people, and prosperity in the Union once crowded the expectations of hope, unveiled the sophistry of the hypocrite, and silenced the folly of foes. Mr. Adams said “If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable, it is when it springs not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information, and benevolence” …
“General Jackson, upon his ascension to the great chair of the chief magistracy, said, “As long as our government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will, as long as it secures to us the rights of person and property, liberty of conscience, and of the press, it will be worth defending; and so song as it is worth defending, a patriotic militia will cover it with an impenetrable aegis.”
General Jackson’s administration may be denominated the acme of American glory, liberty, and prosperity; for the national debt, which in 1815, on account of the late war, was $125 million, and being lessened gradually, was paid up in his golden day, and preparations were made to distribute the surplus revenue among the several states; and that august patriot, to use his own words in his farewell address, retired leaving “a great people prosperous and happy, in the full enjoyment of liberty and peace, honored and respected by every nation of the world” …
“No honest man can doubt for a moment but the glory of American liberty is on the wane, and that calamity and confusion will sooner or later destroy the peace of the people. Speculators will urge a national bank as a savior of credit and comfort. Hireling pseudo priesthood will plausibly push abolition doctrines and doings and “human rights” into Congress, and into every other place where conquest smells of fame, or opposition swells to popularity. Democracy, Whiggery, and cliquery will attract their elements and foment divisions among the people to accomplish fancied schemes and accumulate power, while poverty, driven to despair, like hunger forcing its way through a wall, will break through the statutes of men to save life, and mend the breach in prison glooms…
“Now, O people! Turn unto the Lord and live, and reform this nation. Frustrate the designs of wicked men. Reduce Congress at least two-thirds. Two Senators from a State and two members to a million of population will do more business than the army that now occupy the halls of the national Legislature. Pay them two dollars and their board per diem (except Sundays.) That is more than the farmer gets, and he lives honestly. Curtail the officers of government in pay, number, and power; for the Philistine lords have shorn our nation of its goodly locks in the lap of Delilah.
“Petition your State Legislatures to pardon every convict in their several penitentiaries, blessing them as they go, and saying to them, in the name of the Lord: Go thy way and sin no more. Advise your legislators, when they make laws for larceny, burglary, or any felony, to make the penalty applicable to work upon roads, public works, or any place the culprit can be taught more wisdom and more virtue, and become more enlightened. Rigor and seclusion will never do as much to reform the propensities of men as reason and friendship. Murder only can claim confinement or death. Let the penitentiaries be turned into seminaries of learning, where intelligence, like the angels of heaven, would banish such fragments of barbarism. Imprisonment for debt is a meaner practice than the savage tolerates, with all his ferocity. …
“For the accommodation of the people in every state and territory, let Congress show their wisdom by granting a national bank, with branches in each State and Territory, where the capital stock shall be held by the nation for the Central Bank, and by the states and territories for the branches; and whose officers and directors shall be elected yearly by the people, with wages at the rate of two dollars per day for services; which several banks shall never issue any more bills than the amount of capital stock in her vaults and the interest.
“The net gain of the Central Bank shall be applied to the national revenue, and that of the branches to the states and territories revenues. And the bills shall be par throughout the nation, which will mercifully cure that fatal disorder known in cities as brokerage, and leave the peoples money in their own pockets.
“Give every man his constitutional freedom and the president full power to send an army to suppress mobs, and the States authority to repeal and impugn that relic of folly which makes it necessary for the governor of a state to make the demand of the President for troops, in case of invasion or rebellion.
“As to the contiguous territories to the United States, wisdom would direct no tangling alliance. Oregon belongs to this government honorably; and when we have the red man’s consent, let the Union spread from the east to the west sea; and if Texas petitions Congress to be adopted among the sons of liberty, give her the right hand of fellowship, and refuse not the same friendly grip to Canada and Mexico. …..
“The Southern people are hospitable and noble. They will help rid so free a country of every vestige of slavery, whenever they are assured of an equivalent for their property. The country will be full of money and confidence when a National Bank of twenty millions and a State Bank in every state, with a million or more, gives a tone to monetary matters, and makes a circulating medium as valuable in the purses of a whole community as in the coffers of a speculating banker or broker.
“In the United States the people are the government, and their united voice is the only sovereign that should rule, the only power that should be obeyed, and the only gentlemen that should be honored at home and abroad……..
“When the people petitioned for a National Bank, I would use my best endeavors to have their prayers answered, and establish one on national principles to save taxes, and make them its controllers of its ways and means. And when the people petitioned to possess the territory of Oregon, or any other contiguous territory, I would lend the influence of the Chief Magistrate to grant so reasonable a request, that they might extend the mighty efforts and enterprise of a free people from the east to the west sea, and make the wilderness blossom as the rose. And when a neighboring realm petitioned to join the union of liberty’s sons, my voice would be:
COME- yea, come, Texas; come Mexico, come Canada; and come, all the world; let us be brethren, let us be one great family, and let there be universal peace.”
---Joseph Smith February 7, 1844 (five months before his assassination)
“Born in a land of liberty, and breathing an air uncorrupted with the sirocco of barbarous climes, I ever feel a double anxiety for the happiness of all men, both in time and in eternity.
My cogitations, like Daniel’s, have for a long time troubled me, when I viewed the condition of men throughout the world, and more especially in this boasted realm, where the Declaration of Independence “holds these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;” but at the same time some two or three millions of people are held as slaves for life, because the spirit in them is covered with a darker skin than ours; and hundreds of our own kindred for an infraction, or supposed infraction, of some over-wise statute, have to be incarcerated in dungeon gloom, or penitentiaries, while the duelist, the debauchee, and the defaulter for millions, and other criminals, take the uppermost rooms at feasts, or, like the bird of passage, find a more congenial clime by flight.
"The wisdom which ought to characterize the freest, wisest, and most noble nation of the nineteenth century, should, like the sun in his meridian splendor, warm every object beneath its rays; and the main efforts of her officers, who are nothing more nor less than the servants of the people, aught to be directed to ameliorate the condition of all, black or white, bond or free; for the best of books says, “God hat made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” …
“The great Washington, further advised Congress that “among the many interesting objects which will engage your attention, that of providing for the common defense will merit particular regard, To be prepared for war in one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” As the Italian would say- “Buono aviso.”…
“The elder Adams, in his inaugural address, gives national pride such a grand turn of justification, that every honest citizen must look back upon the infancy of the United States with an approving smile, and rejoice that patriotism in their rulers, virtue in the people, and prosperity in the Union once crowded the expectations of hope, unveiled the sophistry of the hypocrite, and silenced the folly of foes. Mr. Adams said “If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable, it is when it springs not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information, and benevolence” …
“General Jackson, upon his ascension to the great chair of the chief magistracy, said, “As long as our government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will, as long as it secures to us the rights of person and property, liberty of conscience, and of the press, it will be worth defending; and so song as it is worth defending, a patriotic militia will cover it with an impenetrable aegis.”
General Jackson’s administration may be denominated the acme of American glory, liberty, and prosperity; for the national debt, which in 1815, on account of the late war, was $125 million, and being lessened gradually, was paid up in his golden day, and preparations were made to distribute the surplus revenue among the several states; and that august patriot, to use his own words in his farewell address, retired leaving “a great people prosperous and happy, in the full enjoyment of liberty and peace, honored and respected by every nation of the world” …
“No honest man can doubt for a moment but the glory of American liberty is on the wane, and that calamity and confusion will sooner or later destroy the peace of the people. Speculators will urge a national bank as a savior of credit and comfort. Hireling pseudo priesthood will plausibly push abolition doctrines and doings and “human rights” into Congress, and into every other place where conquest smells of fame, or opposition swells to popularity. Democracy, Whiggery, and cliquery will attract their elements and foment divisions among the people to accomplish fancied schemes and accumulate power, while poverty, driven to despair, like hunger forcing its way through a wall, will break through the statutes of men to save life, and mend the breach in prison glooms…
“Now, O people! Turn unto the Lord and live, and reform this nation. Frustrate the designs of wicked men. Reduce Congress at least two-thirds. Two Senators from a State and two members to a million of population will do more business than the army that now occupy the halls of the national Legislature. Pay them two dollars and their board per diem (except Sundays.) That is more than the farmer gets, and he lives honestly. Curtail the officers of government in pay, number, and power; for the Philistine lords have shorn our nation of its goodly locks in the lap of Delilah.
“Petition your State Legislatures to pardon every convict in their several penitentiaries, blessing them as they go, and saying to them, in the name of the Lord: Go thy way and sin no more. Advise your legislators, when they make laws for larceny, burglary, or any felony, to make the penalty applicable to work upon roads, public works, or any place the culprit can be taught more wisdom and more virtue, and become more enlightened. Rigor and seclusion will never do as much to reform the propensities of men as reason and friendship. Murder only can claim confinement or death. Let the penitentiaries be turned into seminaries of learning, where intelligence, like the angels of heaven, would banish such fragments of barbarism. Imprisonment for debt is a meaner practice than the savage tolerates, with all his ferocity. …
“For the accommodation of the people in every state and territory, let Congress show their wisdom by granting a national bank, with branches in each State and Territory, where the capital stock shall be held by the nation for the Central Bank, and by the states and territories for the branches; and whose officers and directors shall be elected yearly by the people, with wages at the rate of two dollars per day for services; which several banks shall never issue any more bills than the amount of capital stock in her vaults and the interest.
“The net gain of the Central Bank shall be applied to the national revenue, and that of the branches to the states and territories revenues. And the bills shall be par throughout the nation, which will mercifully cure that fatal disorder known in cities as brokerage, and leave the peoples money in their own pockets.
“Give every man his constitutional freedom and the president full power to send an army to suppress mobs, and the States authority to repeal and impugn that relic of folly which makes it necessary for the governor of a state to make the demand of the President for troops, in case of invasion or rebellion.
“As to the contiguous territories to the United States, wisdom would direct no tangling alliance. Oregon belongs to this government honorably; and when we have the red man’s consent, let the Union spread from the east to the west sea; and if Texas petitions Congress to be adopted among the sons of liberty, give her the right hand of fellowship, and refuse not the same friendly grip to Canada and Mexico. …..
“The Southern people are hospitable and noble. They will help rid so free a country of every vestige of slavery, whenever they are assured of an equivalent for their property. The country will be full of money and confidence when a National Bank of twenty millions and a State Bank in every state, with a million or more, gives a tone to monetary matters, and makes a circulating medium as valuable in the purses of a whole community as in the coffers of a speculating banker or broker.
“In the United States the people are the government, and their united voice is the only sovereign that should rule, the only power that should be obeyed, and the only gentlemen that should be honored at home and abroad……..
“When the people petitioned for a National Bank, I would use my best endeavors to have their prayers answered, and establish one on national principles to save taxes, and make them its controllers of its ways and means. And when the people petitioned to possess the territory of Oregon, or any other contiguous territory, I would lend the influence of the Chief Magistrate to grant so reasonable a request, that they might extend the mighty efforts and enterprise of a free people from the east to the west sea, and make the wilderness blossom as the rose. And when a neighboring realm petitioned to join the union of liberty’s sons, my voice would be:
COME- yea, come, Texas; come Mexico, come Canada; and come, all the world; let us be brethren, let us be one great family, and let there be universal peace.”
---Joseph Smith February 7, 1844 (five months before his assassination)
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Unknown Grave
There's an unknown grave in a green lowly spot
The form that it covers will ne'er be forgot.
Where the haven trees spread and the wild locusts wave
Their fragrant white blooms o'er the unknown grave.
Over the unknown grave.
And near by its side does the wild rabbit tread,
While over the bosom the wild thistles spread.
As if in their kindness to guard and to save
From man's footstep intruding the unknown grave,
Guarding the unknown grave.
The heavens may weep and the thunders moan low,
Or the bright sunshine and the soft breezes blow,
Unheeding the heart, once responsive and brave,
Of the one who sleeps there in the unknown grave,
Low in the unknown grave.
The Prophet whose life was destroyed by his foes
Sleeps now where no hand may disturb his repose.
Till trumpets of God drown the notes of the wave
And we see him arise from his unknown grave,
God bless that unknown grave.
The love all embracing that never can end,
In death, as in life, knew him well as a friend,
The power of Jesus the mighty to save
Will dispell of its treasure the unknown grace,
No more an unknown grace.
- David Hyrum Smith (Youngest son of Joseph Smith Jr.)
Joseph Smith Jr. murdered in Carthage IL, June 27, 1844
The form that it covers will ne'er be forgot.
Where the haven trees spread and the wild locusts wave
Their fragrant white blooms o'er the unknown grave.
Over the unknown grave.
And near by its side does the wild rabbit tread,
While over the bosom the wild thistles spread.
As if in their kindness to guard and to save
From man's footstep intruding the unknown grave,
Guarding the unknown grave.
The heavens may weep and the thunders moan low,
Or the bright sunshine and the soft breezes blow,
Unheeding the heart, once responsive and brave,
Of the one who sleeps there in the unknown grave,
Low in the unknown grave.
The Prophet whose life was destroyed by his foes
Sleeps now where no hand may disturb his repose.
Till trumpets of God drown the notes of the wave
And we see him arise from his unknown grave,
God bless that unknown grave.
The love all embracing that never can end,
In death, as in life, knew him well as a friend,
The power of Jesus the mighty to save
Will dispell of its treasure the unknown grace,
No more an unknown grace.
- David Hyrum Smith (Youngest son of Joseph Smith Jr.)
Joseph Smith Jr. murdered in Carthage IL, June 27, 1844
Two Little Shoes
They were all scuffed and worn from adventure
That only little Al understands
The laces, once broken are mended
Tied in knots by a boys little hands
When his two scrawny arms came around me
In a hug I could never refuse
My heart fills with love overflowing
When I think of those two little shoes
And each night I kneel, my heart sings a prayer
Thanks, Dear Lord, for one little boy
And two little shoes on the stair
On the Stair
I think of the harsh words I've spoken
When those shoes scattered mud on the floor
But O how my heart now is broken
For I cannot see it anymore
I see them at night where he'd leave them
On his way to a dream coming true
And each night I kneel, my heart pleads in prayer
Please Dear God bless one little boy
And those two little shoes on the stair
On the stair
That only little Al understands
The laces, once broken are mended
Tied in knots by a boys little hands
When his two scrawny arms came around me
In a hug I could never refuse
My heart fills with love overflowing
When I think of those two little shoes
And each night I kneel, my heart sings a prayer
Thanks, Dear Lord, for one little boy
And two little shoes on the stair
On the Stair
I think of the harsh words I've spoken
When those shoes scattered mud on the floor
But O how my heart now is broken
For I cannot see it anymore
I see them at night where he'd leave them
On his way to a dream coming true
And each night I kneel, my heart pleads in prayer
Please Dear God bless one little boy
And those two little shoes on the stair
On the stair
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Teresa Jeffs vs Natalie Malonis
Natalie Malonis, attorney ad litem for the poor little Isrealite girl, sixteen year old Teresa Jeffs,
is trying to make Willie Jessop pay her expenses (oh, I mean keep him from Teresa) She states:
“Teresa and I established a very good rapport from the start, and I felt that Teresa was forthright and honest, although a bit shy…..
Teresa was very pleased to see me, as were all of the girls placed there with Teresa. I have visited Teresa several times at her placement in Midland, and I had almost daily telephone contact with her. Teresa and I had a very good attorney-client relationship while she was in the States custody…”
But from Teresa’s point of view it was:
To the Judge:
“On Friday April 29, 2008 she [Natalie Malonis] stated in your court that I, her client, had a baby, and that I would not disclose to her whether it was a boy or a girl. I do not have a baby. She also said in open court that I was a victim of sexual abuse, which is NOT the truth …
"On the same day, she came to High Sky Children’s Ranch where I was detained with a group of fourteen other girls. Ms Malonis arrived there around 10:00 pm. She stayed in my room interrogating me until 1:00 am. She was very upset with me, yelling at me and talking very harshly against my family, saying that everyone was lying to her. I felt very intimidated and threatened by her. I would not look at her, and had no desire to speak to her. She told me very harshly to look at her, and wanted me to talk to her, but I would not because I knew that no matter what I said, she would not believe me, but would only assume that I was lying to her. It was a very unpleasant experience and I lost any confidence I ever had in her….
“…she told me that if she could get my Mother to agree with the restrictions put upon me, then I could go home… Ms. Malonis has said many times that my Mother agreed to this order, however my Mother was tricked into signing it in order to come and get me. Later I found that she did not have to sign anything…”
To Natalie she wrote:
“You let me call my mother on your phone while sitting there. While talking to her I could feel a perfect love from her. She asked me what she could do for me. I told her that I needed her prayers. I spent a little bit of time with her which I enjoyed. You wanted me to tell her all that you had said, but I had no desire to repeat that language, but wanted to set it aside. You then talked to her and repeated to her what you had said to me. I stepped out the door for a second, checking on the girls in the other room which was an encouraging sight, knowing that I had a friend in them. I didn’t want to hear much of what you were saying.
“I can’t describe the feelings I had at that time. I felt like the devil was trying to tear my heart apart.
“After mother hung up, we sat there for a good amount of time. Not a word was said. I layed on my bed with my hand in front of my face. I had no desire to speak, but wanted to be kind and forgiving. It got to be around 1:00 am. and I was one tired girl, feeling like I had been run through the wringer. You were tired also and finally got up to go. You told me you would come in the morning again to visit with me again and take me out to breakfast because we weren’t able to go to dinner that night. I wasn’t looking forward to morning at all. You asked me to walk you out to the door. I wanted to be kind and so I stood up, told you thank you and walked you to the front door. You stopped to talk to some of the staff and I left to go to my bed. Later on I heard that you had told the staff that you had had a very interesting conversation with me and that you wanted them to watch me closely and not allow me to be in my room for very long periods of time, but to call me out. I heard that you had said you were concerned about me and so on, which was silly to me for you to say that. You telling the staff that you had a very interesting conversation with me didn’t please me very much. I felt like that was confidential to me and they didn’t need to know about anything between my Ad Litem and I”
Later, after Teresa asked for a new attorney, Natalie wrote to the judge in her affidavit:
“Teresa and I had many discussions over the phone and through email. We once again had established a very good attorney-client relationship…
[Until Teresa was allowed to go to the Ranch, where Willie WAS NOT ] “Later in the day, I received correspondence from Teresa that she blamed me for her being subpoenaed to the grand jury and she expressed anger and hostility toward me”
And she wrote to Teresa( great attorney client relationship, move along, no threats here):
“Writing that letter to the Judge was about the most foolish thing you could have done. The Judge is now convinced that you are not able to make good decisions for yourself, and she is convinced also that your mother is not able to make proper decisions for you either Teresa, the Judge wants to take you back in custody and what's worse is that these poor choices may end up with your siblings back in custody if the Judge and CPS think your mother is not able to reign you in. The judge would probably not allow me to withdraw right now even if I requested it because the Judge sees me as the only person who is looking out for what is in your legal interests.”
After this horrific threat, Teresa wrote to Natalie:
“Natalie, quit all your lying about everything. You need to realize that I have a mind of my own and I can do things on my own if I choose to. I just want you to realize that I am not putting up with you any longer when you are acting this way and trying to make your name so great, saying to the whole world that you are “protecting Warren Jeffs’ daughter”. That is nothing great to do because I live in a happy family and I have been happy all my life until you and CPS have been so bothersome and nosy! Let me live a free life.
I want you to quit telling the whole world that Willie is making me do all this. Last I knew, he had gone to salt lake and I have had nothing to do with him in the last while. It was my own dear choice and idea to write to the judge and ask for a new lawyer. I wrote it myself and I took the time out of my day to do it. Quit blaming it all on someone else when you have absolutely no proof. No one can change my mind, not even Willie! But, I feel this way about you and I am hoping that you will be kind enough to leave me alone. It feels like you are trying to restrict me from every person in my life that I want to talk to or have anything to do with and you want to be the decider of what I do and who I have to do with.”
Because of these emails, in her affidavit Natalie wrote:
“This manner of communication was extremely out of character for Teresa and it was completely at odds with our prior discussions… [what does a false statement get you?]
“I believe that it was not Teresa who was communicating with me, and if it was Teresa I believe she was being coerced into taking a position that she would withhold information and avoid service of the grand jury subpoena.”
But Teresa actually said (anger and threat?):
“Quit worrying about me so much hoping that I have protection. If I feel like I need protection in one way or another, I will tell someone. I feel like I need protection from you right now! If you can believe such a thing! My attorney is going against my wishes. Maybe you need a restraining order that you can absolutely have nothing to do with me and you have to stay 1000 ft away from me! What do you think of that? I think that would be most wonderful.
“Please don’t feel bad. I just want to get this straight with you. Now don’t think that someone else is typing this note to you. I wish you were standing by me to watch me type it so I can show you proof that this is me all the way. Nobody told me to come and type this. In fact, I haven’t showed this restraining order to anyone yet. I am the only one that has seen it. I will show it to my mother as soon as I email this letter to you.
“Straighten up your back and realize that you cannot keep playing around with me. With the help of the Lord I will stand for the right, no matter what you or anyone else threatens me with. No one around me that loves me has threatened me that if I don’t stand for the right then they will do something to me. Never in my life have I been threatened so much until I had to do with you and CPS.
“Well, thank you Natalie for stepping aside. I am expecting it of you. Go live a happy, merry life! -Teresa Jeffs”
Who will win, the little Israelite girl, or the Gestapo?
is trying to make Willie Jessop pay her expenses (oh, I mean keep him from Teresa) She states:
“Teresa and I established a very good rapport from the start, and I felt that Teresa was forthright and honest, although a bit shy…..
Teresa was very pleased to see me, as were all of the girls placed there with Teresa. I have visited Teresa several times at her placement in Midland, and I had almost daily telephone contact with her. Teresa and I had a very good attorney-client relationship while she was in the States custody…”
But from Teresa’s point of view it was:
To the Judge:
“On Friday April 29, 2008 she [Natalie Malonis] stated in your court that I, her client, had a baby, and that I would not disclose to her whether it was a boy or a girl. I do not have a baby. She also said in open court that I was a victim of sexual abuse, which is NOT the truth …
"On the same day, she came to High Sky Children’s Ranch where I was detained with a group of fourteen other girls. Ms Malonis arrived there around 10:00 pm. She stayed in my room interrogating me until 1:00 am. She was very upset with me, yelling at me and talking very harshly against my family, saying that everyone was lying to her. I felt very intimidated and threatened by her. I would not look at her, and had no desire to speak to her. She told me very harshly to look at her, and wanted me to talk to her, but I would not because I knew that no matter what I said, she would not believe me, but would only assume that I was lying to her. It was a very unpleasant experience and I lost any confidence I ever had in her….
“…she told me that if she could get my Mother to agree with the restrictions put upon me, then I could go home… Ms. Malonis has said many times that my Mother agreed to this order, however my Mother was tricked into signing it in order to come and get me. Later I found that she did not have to sign anything…”
To Natalie she wrote:
“You let me call my mother on your phone while sitting there. While talking to her I could feel a perfect love from her. She asked me what she could do for me. I told her that I needed her prayers. I spent a little bit of time with her which I enjoyed. You wanted me to tell her all that you had said, but I had no desire to repeat that language, but wanted to set it aside. You then talked to her and repeated to her what you had said to me. I stepped out the door for a second, checking on the girls in the other room which was an encouraging sight, knowing that I had a friend in them. I didn’t want to hear much of what you were saying.
“I can’t describe the feelings I had at that time. I felt like the devil was trying to tear my heart apart.
“After mother hung up, we sat there for a good amount of time. Not a word was said. I layed on my bed with my hand in front of my face. I had no desire to speak, but wanted to be kind and forgiving. It got to be around 1:00 am. and I was one tired girl, feeling like I had been run through the wringer. You were tired also and finally got up to go. You told me you would come in the morning again to visit with me again and take me out to breakfast because we weren’t able to go to dinner that night. I wasn’t looking forward to morning at all. You asked me to walk you out to the door. I wanted to be kind and so I stood up, told you thank you and walked you to the front door. You stopped to talk to some of the staff and I left to go to my bed. Later on I heard that you had told the staff that you had had a very interesting conversation with me and that you wanted them to watch me closely and not allow me to be in my room for very long periods of time, but to call me out. I heard that you had said you were concerned about me and so on, which was silly to me for you to say that. You telling the staff that you had a very interesting conversation with me didn’t please me very much. I felt like that was confidential to me and they didn’t need to know about anything between my Ad Litem and I”
Later, after Teresa asked for a new attorney, Natalie wrote to the judge in her affidavit:
“Teresa and I had many discussions over the phone and through email. We once again had established a very good attorney-client relationship…
[Until Teresa was allowed to go to the Ranch, where Willie WAS NOT ] “Later in the day, I received correspondence from Teresa that she blamed me for her being subpoenaed to the grand jury and she expressed anger and hostility toward me”
And she wrote to Teresa( great attorney client relationship, move along, no threats here):
“Writing that letter to the Judge was about the most foolish thing you could have done. The Judge is now convinced that you are not able to make good decisions for yourself, and she is convinced also that your mother is not able to make proper decisions for you either Teresa, the Judge wants to take you back in custody and what's worse is that these poor choices may end up with your siblings back in custody if the Judge and CPS think your mother is not able to reign you in. The judge would probably not allow me to withdraw right now even if I requested it because the Judge sees me as the only person who is looking out for what is in your legal interests.”
After this horrific threat, Teresa wrote to Natalie:
“Natalie, quit all your lying about everything. You need to realize that I have a mind of my own and I can do things on my own if I choose to. I just want you to realize that I am not putting up with you any longer when you are acting this way and trying to make your name so great, saying to the whole world that you are “protecting Warren Jeffs’ daughter”. That is nothing great to do because I live in a happy family and I have been happy all my life until you and CPS have been so bothersome and nosy! Let me live a free life.
I want you to quit telling the whole world that Willie is making me do all this. Last I knew, he had gone to salt lake and I have had nothing to do with him in the last while. It was my own dear choice and idea to write to the judge and ask for a new lawyer. I wrote it myself and I took the time out of my day to do it. Quit blaming it all on someone else when you have absolutely no proof. No one can change my mind, not even Willie! But, I feel this way about you and I am hoping that you will be kind enough to leave me alone. It feels like you are trying to restrict me from every person in my life that I want to talk to or have anything to do with and you want to be the decider of what I do and who I have to do with.”
Because of these emails, in her affidavit Natalie wrote:
“This manner of communication was extremely out of character for Teresa and it was completely at odds with our prior discussions… [what does a false statement get you?]
“I believe that it was not Teresa who was communicating with me, and if it was Teresa I believe she was being coerced into taking a position that she would withhold information and avoid service of the grand jury subpoena.”
But Teresa actually said (anger and threat?):
“Quit worrying about me so much hoping that I have protection. If I feel like I need protection in one way or another, I will tell someone. I feel like I need protection from you right now! If you can believe such a thing! My attorney is going against my wishes. Maybe you need a restraining order that you can absolutely have nothing to do with me and you have to stay 1000 ft away from me! What do you think of that? I think that would be most wonderful.
“Please don’t feel bad. I just want to get this straight with you. Now don’t think that someone else is typing this note to you. I wish you were standing by me to watch me type it so I can show you proof that this is me all the way. Nobody told me to come and type this. In fact, I haven’t showed this restraining order to anyone yet. I am the only one that has seen it. I will show it to my mother as soon as I email this letter to you.
“Straighten up your back and realize that you cannot keep playing around with me. With the help of the Lord I will stand for the right, no matter what you or anyone else threatens me with. No one around me that loves me has threatened me that if I don’t stand for the right then they will do something to me. Never in my life have I been threatened so much until I had to do with you and CPS.
“Well, thank you Natalie for stepping aside. I am expecting it of you. Go live a happy, merry life! -Teresa Jeffs”
Who will win, the little Israelite girl, or the Gestapo?
Great News!
I just recieved this email and I think it will really help! I think I will send him all my personal information!:
"Hello, I am an investment consultant working with Bank Of Scotland, HBOS. at their Offshore Department Edinburgh, Scotland. I will be happy to work this deal out with you if you have a coperate or personal Bank Account and if you are capable to keep TOP SECRET. I need strong Assurance that you will never let me down, if I transter this money to your account. During one of our periodic auditing, I discovered a dormant accounts with holding balance of £36,000.000.00 {Thirty Six million British Pounds Sterlings only} this account has not been operated for the past years. As at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received. If you are not familiar with my Bank profile, you are free to ask. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible if you are interested, on replying send the account information as below together with your international passport: Bank Name................Bank Address.............Beneficiary Name.........Account Number...........Swift Code...............Your Tel/Fax Numbers.....State & Country.........Company name ..........(If any).
Thank you for your time and attention.
Warmest regards,
Mr.Ryan Bolton.
Contact via E-mail: ryanbolton009@yahoo.co.uk"
"Hello, I am an investment consultant working with Bank Of Scotland, HBOS. at their Offshore Department Edinburgh, Scotland. I will be happy to work this deal out with you if you have a coperate or personal Bank Account and if you are capable to keep TOP SECRET. I need strong Assurance that you will never let me down, if I transter this money to your account. During one of our periodic auditing, I discovered a dormant accounts with holding balance of £36,000.000.00 {Thirty Six million British Pounds Sterlings only} this account has not been operated for the past years. As at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this business until your response is received. If you are not familiar with my Bank profile, you are free to ask. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible if you are interested, on replying send the account information as below together with your international passport: Bank Name................Bank Address.............Beneficiary Name.........Account Number...........Swift Code...............Your Tel/Fax Numbers.....State & Country.........Company name ..........(If any).
Thank you for your time and attention.
Warmest regards,
Mr.Ryan Bolton.
Contact via E-mail: ryanbolton009@yahoo.co.uk"
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The FLDS Online Store
"Hearing rumors that there were more children at the Ranch, CPS in late May wanted access to the [YFZ] Ranch. It was denied them. Had they gained access, they would have found some very busy people at work. Men, women, and yes, even children.
There was a birth taking place; a birth of continuance, of hope, and of the future.
Please feel free to visit the website created by necessity and inspired by the love for their children."
- from Free The FLDS Children
You will find a wide selection of baby and childrens clothing, from dresses to trousers, shirts to slips, pajamas to nightgowns. All made in America by some of the sweetest mothers on the planet!
FDLSDRESS.com
There was a birth taking place; a birth of continuance, of hope, and of the future.
Please feel free to visit the website created by necessity and inspired by the love for their children."
- from Free The FLDS Children
You will find a wide selection of baby and childrens clothing, from dresses to trousers, shirts to slips, pajamas to nightgowns. All made in America by some of the sweetest mothers on the planet!
FDLSDRESS.com
Longing of a Sister and Mother
“Will I ere forget that fateful day when we came home and found our loved ones gone; no happy children scampering here and there? The bassinet where slept our newest tiny. Tis emptied of its precious load, but the pillow still waits, and quilts and blankets in readiness for her return. And little golden-haired Janice, with her dimpling little body, energetically scampering hither and yon; her darling round face, either bubbling over with smiles, else clouds and tears, so fast changing from one to the other with her little joys and sorrows.
“Joe Billy and Charles’ bed is empty of two little boys- blue eyed, teasing and roguish-cannot be seen anymore, with the little cars, playing make believe, doing what they’ve seen dear Daddy do. Jimmy too, with his ‘some treasured’ toy he carries around, and refuses to put away, even when bedtime comes. His chair is empty now, at meal times, like all the others, where two rows of little ones sat at the table, where the happy din of voices asking for food, with thank-you’s and pleases. Then there’s Regina; her highchair is also lacking; that little chunk of fairest face, and blue eyed sweetness. O why? Oh why are they gone? Is this not America? Her little crib is empty also, waiting her return.
“And my little Mary! The one who would cling to me so, who always came scampering to me when I came back, who loved to sleep in my bed. Oh Mary! The tears are falling fast! The swing in the shade of elm trees seem to be waiting for someone. The neighbor’s twins come sometimes but they cannot keep it filled, and the sand pile had your footprints still there when we came home, and your playthings still lay by. Little Hallie comes in, searches the house with her eyes and then goes out, without seeing whom she had come to see. You!
“Well, then there are the larger ones of the crew—Dorothy, ten, with her dark blue eyes and her saucy chin, and two great braids of blonde hair, quick of movement and anxious to learn to cook, embroidery and sew—Thelma, her sandy complexion, clear-eyed and beautiful, dainty to the minute and anxious to be neat and sweet. Oh, how we miss you here my lovely ones.
“And Laura, fair like our little Regina, with white braids of hair falling far down her back. Her smile was ever fair to see, like a beam of sunlight in her room, it came ever so regal and free. And Hannah, her “old way”, though only six, so quaint, also fair of face, sweet of countenance and full of grace, so full of mischief at times, and fun and sorrowful at others.
“Then there are the boys, Neil, Terry, and Dwight—we miss you coming and going, your work, your play, your happy voices, and there is a vacancy here where you should be. The mountains speak of you, the fields and gardens miss you, as also the pup; he’s growing up too fast. Dear little sons, pray and be patient for this is a long, hard fight.
“And the dear beloved mothers of these babes, I love them with all my heart and soul, and cry, “Oh GOD, let me have them back, we will do better!” Oh Arizona [Texas], one star in the constellation of the blue, is yours, in our dear flag. Are you going to defile it, darken it’s sacred beauty by blasting the hopes of some of your citizens, by separating little ones from their dear mothers, and separating children and mothers from their dear fathers? And why, O why? Arizona? [Texas?] When our fathers came and fought and died for freedom, who, God-inspired, composed the Constitution, which insures the rights of liberty and freedom, and of religious worship to all in our fair country?”
-Myrtle Vera Cooke (1953)
“Joe Billy and Charles’ bed is empty of two little boys- blue eyed, teasing and roguish-cannot be seen anymore, with the little cars, playing make believe, doing what they’ve seen dear Daddy do. Jimmy too, with his ‘some treasured’ toy he carries around, and refuses to put away, even when bedtime comes. His chair is empty now, at meal times, like all the others, where two rows of little ones sat at the table, where the happy din of voices asking for food, with thank-you’s and pleases. Then there’s Regina; her highchair is also lacking; that little chunk of fairest face, and blue eyed sweetness. O why? Oh why are they gone? Is this not America? Her little crib is empty also, waiting her return.
“And my little Mary! The one who would cling to me so, who always came scampering to me when I came back, who loved to sleep in my bed. Oh Mary! The tears are falling fast! The swing in the shade of elm trees seem to be waiting for someone. The neighbor’s twins come sometimes but they cannot keep it filled, and the sand pile had your footprints still there when we came home, and your playthings still lay by. Little Hallie comes in, searches the house with her eyes and then goes out, without seeing whom she had come to see. You!
“Well, then there are the larger ones of the crew—Dorothy, ten, with her dark blue eyes and her saucy chin, and two great braids of blonde hair, quick of movement and anxious to learn to cook, embroidery and sew—Thelma, her sandy complexion, clear-eyed and beautiful, dainty to the minute and anxious to be neat and sweet. Oh, how we miss you here my lovely ones.
“And Laura, fair like our little Regina, with white braids of hair falling far down her back. Her smile was ever fair to see, like a beam of sunlight in her room, it came ever so regal and free. And Hannah, her “old way”, though only six, so quaint, also fair of face, sweet of countenance and full of grace, so full of mischief at times, and fun and sorrowful at others.
“Then there are the boys, Neil, Terry, and Dwight—we miss you coming and going, your work, your play, your happy voices, and there is a vacancy here where you should be. The mountains speak of you, the fields and gardens miss you, as also the pup; he’s growing up too fast. Dear little sons, pray and be patient for this is a long, hard fight.
“And the dear beloved mothers of these babes, I love them with all my heart and soul, and cry, “Oh GOD, let me have them back, we will do better!” Oh Arizona [Texas], one star in the constellation of the blue, is yours, in our dear flag. Are you going to defile it, darken it’s sacred beauty by blasting the hopes of some of your citizens, by separating little ones from their dear mothers, and separating children and mothers from their dear fathers? And why, O why? Arizona? [Texas?] When our fathers came and fought and died for freedom, who, God-inspired, composed the Constitution, which insures the rights of liberty and freedom, and of religious worship to all in our fair country?”
-Myrtle Vera Cooke (1953)
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The United Effort
The United Order, the economic order of Heaven, the effort of men and their families living in a community with all things in common; is the highest order between men ever established on earth. There is but one example of lasting success in history, and that is the Ancient City of Enoch. The Apostles in Jerusalem started to live it after the days of Christ. The Nephites lived it after Jesus came to them. But eventually these orders failed.
In order for men to live with all things in common they must overcome most every sin and weakness within them. Men have to devote their lives to God and the Priesthood more than they require their wives to devote themselves to them. It creates a family organization between men who have united families. Absolute sacrifices is required, absolute trust, absolute conversion, and great faith. Happiness comes from knowing you are doing Gods will.
The United Effort Plan was formed at the direction of the prophet John Y Barlow in 1942. This was a legal trust created to provide a sanctuary for the United Order. The original 600+ acres in the trust was land owned by Leroy S Johnson. He refused to take his property back from John Y Barlow at the failure of the first attempt by several men to hold their property in common. The UEP Trust was a document that Brigham Young spoke about:
"It is a matter that I am paying particular attention to, with some of my brethren, to see if we have skill enough to get up an organization and draw up papers to bind ourselves together under the laws of the United States, so that we can put our means and labor together and join as one family. As soon as we can accomplish this, and get an instrument that lawyers cannot pick to pieces and destroy, and apostates cannot afflict us, we expect to get up this institution, and enter most firmly into it" (JD 16:122)
The property was to be divided up into individual lots for the members of the church, designated by the trustees of the Trust. When a member of the church went to the trustees with his just wants and needs, he was given a lot as a stewardship, to build up the church under the Trust. Any building put onto the property became property owned by the Trust. In essence, it was a donation to the church , and thus to the United Effort Plan, by the men building on the property.
The purpose of the Trust being held as a Trust was to keep anyone who left the church from staying there and using their influence to attack the leadership of the church from the UEP property. And to preserve and protect the Unity of the men and women who would stay from the influences of the apostates and the world.
But bitter men, when they feel that they are injured, never assume they could be in the wrong. When they leave the “wrongs” of the church, they feel like they should be repaid everything they gave to the church through building upon the Trust lands. It is akin to demanding all of the tithes and offerings from any church a follower leaves. But a good man would leave in a moment if he felt like he needed to seperate from those who did not believe as he did. A good man would be glad to leave if he left for a good reason. A good man is a defender, not an attacker.
Brigham Young left behind several houses when he was persecuted in the east and driven to Utah. When the President of the United States sent the Army to stop the Mormons from wrongs that didn’t exist in 1857 30,000 Saints boarded up their homes and started to move away, some with straw on them ready to burn them down. When Leroy S Johnson and others finished building seven houses on Dayer Labaron’s property in Mexico, he freely left them when Dayer refused to let them live in them unless they accepted him as the head of the Kingdom of God. And recently after a judge confiscated the UEP to "help" the FLDS people, several men have walked away from very large and expansive homes. The keys are in Bruce Wisan’s pocket.
The FLDS trustees of the UEP did not evict anyone unless they had a place to go. The purpose of the trust was to preserve the unity of the faithful followers, those who no longer wanted to follow were expected to find somewhere else to live. But no one was evicted who did not have accommodations arranged for themselves elsewhere. The eviction notices were most often for those who moved away but tried to give the home to another dissadent. When Milton and Lenore Holm left the church, Milton’s brothers (my uncles) went to him and volunteered to help him pay for a new place off of the UEP anywhere he might want one, even up in Idaho where his mother and step-father (who had left the church several years earlier) lived. When the famous “historian” Benjamin Bistline moved off of the UEP property, he moved into a home in Cane Beds, AZ that the FLDS gave to him and refurbished for him. His wife said it was the best house she ever lived in. He was never evicted from the shack he lived in on the UEP, even though he had become embittered over ten years earlier. The only eviction notices ever given by the FLDS trustees were to those they knew had homes and accommodations elsewhere. No family was ever thrown on the street by the FLDS.
In order for men to live with all things in common they must overcome most every sin and weakness within them. Men have to devote their lives to God and the Priesthood more than they require their wives to devote themselves to them. It creates a family organization between men who have united families. Absolute sacrifices is required, absolute trust, absolute conversion, and great faith. Happiness comes from knowing you are doing Gods will.
The United Effort Plan was formed at the direction of the prophet John Y Barlow in 1942. This was a legal trust created to provide a sanctuary for the United Order. The original 600+ acres in the trust was land owned by Leroy S Johnson. He refused to take his property back from John Y Barlow at the failure of the first attempt by several men to hold their property in common. The UEP Trust was a document that Brigham Young spoke about:
"It is a matter that I am paying particular attention to, with some of my brethren, to see if we have skill enough to get up an organization and draw up papers to bind ourselves together under the laws of the United States, so that we can put our means and labor together and join as one family. As soon as we can accomplish this, and get an instrument that lawyers cannot pick to pieces and destroy, and apostates cannot afflict us, we expect to get up this institution, and enter most firmly into it" (JD 16:122)
The property was to be divided up into individual lots for the members of the church, designated by the trustees of the Trust. When a member of the church went to the trustees with his just wants and needs, he was given a lot as a stewardship, to build up the church under the Trust. Any building put onto the property became property owned by the Trust. In essence, it was a donation to the church , and thus to the United Effort Plan, by the men building on the property.
The purpose of the Trust being held as a Trust was to keep anyone who left the church from staying there and using their influence to attack the leadership of the church from the UEP property. And to preserve and protect the Unity of the men and women who would stay from the influences of the apostates and the world.
But bitter men, when they feel that they are injured, never assume they could be in the wrong. When they leave the “wrongs” of the church, they feel like they should be repaid everything they gave to the church through building upon the Trust lands. It is akin to demanding all of the tithes and offerings from any church a follower leaves. But a good man would leave in a moment if he felt like he needed to seperate from those who did not believe as he did. A good man would be glad to leave if he left for a good reason. A good man is a defender, not an attacker.
Brigham Young left behind several houses when he was persecuted in the east and driven to Utah. When the President of the United States sent the Army to stop the Mormons from wrongs that didn’t exist in 1857 30,000 Saints boarded up their homes and started to move away, some with straw on them ready to burn them down. When Leroy S Johnson and others finished building seven houses on Dayer Labaron’s property in Mexico, he freely left them when Dayer refused to let them live in them unless they accepted him as the head of the Kingdom of God. And recently after a judge confiscated the UEP to "help" the FLDS people, several men have walked away from very large and expansive homes. The keys are in Bruce Wisan’s pocket.
The FLDS trustees of the UEP did not evict anyone unless they had a place to go. The purpose of the trust was to preserve the unity of the faithful followers, those who no longer wanted to follow were expected to find somewhere else to live. But no one was evicted who did not have accommodations arranged for themselves elsewhere. The eviction notices were most often for those who moved away but tried to give the home to another dissadent. When Milton and Lenore Holm left the church, Milton’s brothers (my uncles) went to him and volunteered to help him pay for a new place off of the UEP anywhere he might want one, even up in Idaho where his mother and step-father (who had left the church several years earlier) lived. When the famous “historian” Benjamin Bistline moved off of the UEP property, he moved into a home in Cane Beds, AZ that the FLDS gave to him and refurbished for him. His wife said it was the best house she ever lived in. He was never evicted from the shack he lived in on the UEP, even though he had become embittered over ten years earlier. The only eviction notices ever given by the FLDS trustees were to those they knew had homes and accommodations elsewhere. No family was ever thrown on the street by the FLDS.
Lest We Forget
"The CPS worker standing in front of me started coaxing my boys to her. I could see we had no choice. Her eyes met mine. I can not judge her heart, but she had a certain look in her eyes. I’m sure the look in my eyes said, “HELP!”
"Parley turned to me; he was done with this CPS business. He said, “I’m not staying out here. I’m coming back there with you.” This was not a joke any more to him. I said to him quietly, “Par, let’s just be peaceful.” He stated again that he was not staying with them. I said, “Par, if we cooperate, these people will help us get back home.” He stated it again. By now these people were out of patience with us. I looked at Parley and said, “Parley, I’ll be right back out to get you boys.” They herded me away. Any child that tried to follow, they herded in the opposite direction. The supervisor said to the children, “Come on, y’all; come and play with me!” Then the official giving the orders had us line up single file and walk back to the famous side room. The door shut behind us.
"I was the first in line and saw about 30 CPS workers right ahead of me in a group with others scattered throughout this building. As we stood there, a CPS worker came and stood by each one of us. A man about 5’5” came and stood by me and gave me his name, which I don’t remember. As the CPS official read her next order, about 40 armed policemen came out from behind the famous curtained partitions, and stood on the other side of her. I felt as though I was surrounded by the demons of hell.
"The order said that they had full custody of our children. By this time I started crying; I didn’t care if I was shot down or what. I raised my hand and exclaimed, “I have broken no law!” No flicker in the official’s face, not a word missed; she carried on as if I were not there. I felt as though I was about to pass out, so I knelt on the floor sobbing, holding four packages of animal crackers. I stood back up as she said we were ordered to leave these premises and not return. She said there were two buses waiting outside; one would be going to the compound and the other to a women’s violence shelter.
"My mind was racing about 1000 miles an hour. The man had my arm, taking me out. I thought, “What is the compound? What are these choices they are giving us?” I asked, “Will I see my children if I go to the shelter?” He said, “Most likely.” Brenda nudged me and said, “Marie, we’re going home.” I turned to this man and asked, “If I go home, will I ever see my children again?” He looked at me and stated, “Probably not.”
"Parley turned to me; he was done with this CPS business. He said, “I’m not staying out here. I’m coming back there with you.” This was not a joke any more to him. I said to him quietly, “Par, let’s just be peaceful.” He stated again that he was not staying with them. I said, “Par, if we cooperate, these people will help us get back home.” He stated it again. By now these people were out of patience with us. I looked at Parley and said, “Parley, I’ll be right back out to get you boys.” They herded me away. Any child that tried to follow, they herded in the opposite direction. The supervisor said to the children, “Come on, y’all; come and play with me!” Then the official giving the orders had us line up single file and walk back to the famous side room. The door shut behind us.
"I was the first in line and saw about 30 CPS workers right ahead of me in a group with others scattered throughout this building. As we stood there, a CPS worker came and stood by each one of us. A man about 5’5” came and stood by me and gave me his name, which I don’t remember. As the CPS official read her next order, about 40 armed policemen came out from behind the famous curtained partitions, and stood on the other side of her. I felt as though I was surrounded by the demons of hell.
"The order said that they had full custody of our children. By this time I started crying; I didn’t care if I was shot down or what. I raised my hand and exclaimed, “I have broken no law!” No flicker in the official’s face, not a word missed; she carried on as if I were not there. I felt as though I was about to pass out, so I knelt on the floor sobbing, holding four packages of animal crackers. I stood back up as she said we were ordered to leave these premises and not return. She said there were two buses waiting outside; one would be going to the compound and the other to a women’s violence shelter.
"My mind was racing about 1000 miles an hour. The man had my arm, taking me out. I thought, “What is the compound? What are these choices they are giving us?” I asked, “Will I see my children if I go to the shelter?” He said, “Most likely.” Brenda nudged me and said, “Marie, we’re going home.” I turned to this man and asked, “If I go home, will I ever see my children again?” He looked at me and stated, “Probably not.”
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Lisa Sandberg or Goebbels?
email sent to:
lsandberg@express-news.net
I just finished reading your last article "Few willing to break away", and I am rather sorry that I talked to you today before reading it.
What you wrote in that article borders on Nazi Propaganda in my mind. I hope you are more fair in the future.
For one, Elissa Wall did not leave her husband Allen until she was excommunicated for having sex with my cousin Lamont Barlow. She would come back to her and Allen's home even after her Vegas escapades with Lamont. She was as forced to marry as you are forced to write for the Chronicle.
Sam Brower is a P I hired by Dan Fischer to find ways to destroy the FLDS church, and he does not know what he is talking about. Many people have left the church and the community. Just because they don't check in with him doesnt mean they are afraid of anything. He is completely full of it when it comes to his allegations of the parents hauling off with the children, and the fact that you perpetuate the myth is reckless, unfair, and callous.
And Steven "King" Singular? Give me a break.Taking as "evidence" the stories of bitter ex wives as the basis of a book, does not make him any more an expert than Nancy Grace.
"There was enormous pressure put on women"
The only pressure put on anyone is from those who are trying to destroy the church. The women in the FLDS, if you are too dim witted to not already have noticed, are not there for any other reason than they want to be. The only pressure they feel is from bitter ex members, authorities, and news reporters trying to force them to stop believing in their religion. The reason they wouldn't want to testify against the men is because they believe the men to be innocent, and for no other reason. Period.
As far as going underground, I only wonder if you would go underground if your people were persecuted as much as mine are. Just think of Germany...
The victims are the FLDS people, and they are victimized by libelous, one sided articles like that one.
Again, I am not afraid of speaking the truth to anyone who will tell it fairly. But if you are planning on using me to write stories like that one, prepare for another "clam up".
I was going to write to tell you that there is more than one "William Jessop" and some other details, but I think I may be sorry for communicating with you at all, or with Susan for that matter.
Apologies if I have jumped to conclusions,
Al Holm
------------------
To the Editor of the Houston Chronicle:
Hello, I am a former member of the FLDS church. Recently a reporter named Lisa Sandberg contacted me about a story she was writing concerning the FLDS leadership. I had not read her previous stories before the interview, and the person who gave her my telephone number was someone I had thought I could trust with it. So I spoke openly to Ms Sandberg.
Unfortunately after reading her other spiel I regret to having told her anything as I believe she has a destructive agenda in her articles concerning the FLDS people. Especially the most recent rant titled "Sect chief's daughter seeks order against FLDS official" which is sheer propaganda unmatched since Hitler's right hand man Joseph Goebbles. This witch hunt against an innocent people needs to stop. And the Houston Chronicle needs to stop being an outlet for one sided slander and accusations against that church.
Although I have not read her article about me, I believe that she wants to portray me as angry or confused about the leadership of the FLDS church. Which is not true. I do not know who the current leader is, but it is not something I am worried about in the slightest bit. I told her that I had a difficult time reaching the leaders because some of them are underground due to the extreme amount of persecution against them. It has nothing to do with me being unable to rejoin the church. That is my own fault. Also she will likely portray that I think Warren Jeffs was off his rocker in prison interviews or in photo's that have appeared on the internet. While I believe he did have a nervous breakdown due to his solitary confinement, and I do not approve of girls getting married under the legal age in the state they reside, I have no dispute with that man whom I have had only a wonderful relationship with my entire life. He is the most humble man I have ever met who is still alive, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that he would never have willfully mistreated anyone, least of all young girls. Regardless of what bitter, vendetta driven ex members say. [Edit HERE is her article]
As one who was born and raised in the FLDS I have witnessed many weddings and marriages in that church, including my own. Lisa asked me about how many were to underage girls that I saw, and I replied very few, one in twenty at the very most. In fact much much less than one in twenty. Due to the fact that the marriages are arranged after the ladies request, and all contact with the opposite sex is not allowed outside of marriage, the marriage vow is merely the beginning of courtship. Most marriages are not consummated for months if not years after the original ceremony. This I know from personal experience as well as careful study of our church history. The exceptions are very rare.
Thank you for allowing me to write in your editorial section. You may contact me at my email address: pligchild@gmail.com or view my blog at FLDSView.blogspot.com
lsandberg@express-news.net
I just finished reading your last article "Few willing to break away", and I am rather sorry that I talked to you today before reading it.
What you wrote in that article borders on Nazi Propaganda in my mind. I hope you are more fair in the future.
For one, Elissa Wall did not leave her husband Allen until she was excommunicated for having sex with my cousin Lamont Barlow. She would come back to her and Allen's home even after her Vegas escapades with Lamont. She was as forced to marry as you are forced to write for the Chronicle.
Sam Brower is a P I hired by Dan Fischer to find ways to destroy the FLDS church, and he does not know what he is talking about. Many people have left the church and the community. Just because they don't check in with him doesnt mean they are afraid of anything. He is completely full of it when it comes to his allegations of the parents hauling off with the children, and the fact that you perpetuate the myth is reckless, unfair, and callous.
And Steven "King" Singular? Give me a break.Taking as "evidence" the stories of bitter ex wives as the basis of a book, does not make him any more an expert than Nancy Grace.
"There was enormous pressure put on women"
The only pressure put on anyone is from those who are trying to destroy the church. The women in the FLDS, if you are too dim witted to not already have noticed, are not there for any other reason than they want to be. The only pressure they feel is from bitter ex members, authorities, and news reporters trying to force them to stop believing in their religion. The reason they wouldn't want to testify against the men is because they believe the men to be innocent, and for no other reason. Period.
As far as going underground, I only wonder if you would go underground if your people were persecuted as much as mine are. Just think of Germany...
The victims are the FLDS people, and they are victimized by libelous, one sided articles like that one.
Again, I am not afraid of speaking the truth to anyone who will tell it fairly. But if you are planning on using me to write stories like that one, prepare for another "clam up".
I was going to write to tell you that there is more than one "William Jessop" and some other details, but I think I may be sorry for communicating with you at all, or with Susan for that matter.
Apologies if I have jumped to conclusions,
Al Holm
------------------
To the Editor of the Houston Chronicle:
Hello, I am a former member of the FLDS church. Recently a reporter named Lisa Sandberg contacted me about a story she was writing concerning the FLDS leadership. I had not read her previous stories before the interview, and the person who gave her my telephone number was someone I had thought I could trust with it. So I spoke openly to Ms Sandberg.
Unfortunately after reading her other spiel I regret to having told her anything as I believe she has a destructive agenda in her articles concerning the FLDS people. Especially the most recent rant titled "Sect chief's daughter seeks order against FLDS official" which is sheer propaganda unmatched since Hitler's right hand man Joseph Goebbles. This witch hunt against an innocent people needs to stop. And the Houston Chronicle needs to stop being an outlet for one sided slander and accusations against that church.
Although I have not read her article about me, I believe that she wants to portray me as angry or confused about the leadership of the FLDS church. Which is not true. I do not know who the current leader is, but it is not something I am worried about in the slightest bit. I told her that I had a difficult time reaching the leaders because some of them are underground due to the extreme amount of persecution against them. It has nothing to do with me being unable to rejoin the church. That is my own fault. Also she will likely portray that I think Warren Jeffs was off his rocker in prison interviews or in photo's that have appeared on the internet. While I believe he did have a nervous breakdown due to his solitary confinement, and I do not approve of girls getting married under the legal age in the state they reside, I have no dispute with that man whom I have had only a wonderful relationship with my entire life. He is the most humble man I have ever met who is still alive, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that he would never have willfully mistreated anyone, least of all young girls. Regardless of what bitter, vendetta driven ex members say. [Edit HERE is her article]
As one who was born and raised in the FLDS I have witnessed many weddings and marriages in that church, including my own. Lisa asked me about how many were to underage girls that I saw, and I replied very few, one in twenty at the very most. In fact much much less than one in twenty. Due to the fact that the marriages are arranged after the ladies request, and all contact with the opposite sex is not allowed outside of marriage, the marriage vow is merely the beginning of courtship. Most marriages are not consummated for months if not years after the original ceremony. This I know from personal experience as well as careful study of our church history. The exceptions are very rare.
Thank you for allowing me to write in your editorial section. You may contact me at my email address: pligchild@gmail.com or view my blog at FLDSView.blogspot.com
Friday, June 20, 2008
The UEP Attack
Summary by Samuel S. Barlow
“On July 29, 1963, J. Marion Hammon invited Harold Blackmore to move to Hildale, Utah. He was assigned a lot on United Effort Plan property, but soon became apostate, and demanded payment for the consecrations of materials and time he had made.
"The first day of spring 1968, he left after expressing his greed and denouncing the effort in unity. On June 8, 1976, Harold Blackmore made a demand for a deed from the United Effort Plan to his son James Blackmore, who had now joined him in his apostasy. They threatened a civil lawsuit in the courts of Arizona if the demand was not met. On July 22, 1976, a civil summons and complaint was served on the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson in an attack on the United Effort Plan. There then followed a barrage of letters to the public officials against the Priesthood Council, the public schools, the religious community in general, and the United Effort Plan. The Priesthood was publicly branded as the "Holy Mafia" by Blackmore.
"On July 17, 1977, a letter of complaint was sent from Harold Blackmore to the Attorney General attempting, through bold accusations and falsehoods to get the State of Arizona to take up a cause against the religious leadership of the United Effort Plan.
"On July 21, 1977, Harold Blackmore aired his gripes before the Utah Board of Education in an attempt to get them to take up his cause. There followed a media crusade, an investigation by a national syndicated columnist, and feature articles in the major newspapers of Arizona and Utah which were very negative.
"President Johnson made reference to Blackmore's activities in a sermon dated September 3, 1978, at Salt Lake City: "We are not out of the woods yet, and we are still being persecuted by the enemies of righteousness. We all know what went on a year ago when Harold Blackmore was trying to blackmail us."
New Apostates Seek Harold Blackmore's Help
"During the early 1980's, there was a group of apostates who rebelled against the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson. They joined with Harold Blackmore (who is without question the most vocal apostate of our time) in a conspiracy to destroy the United Order Effort which had been established in the Short Creek Valley since 1935.
"They selected Harold Blackmore as a guiding spirit because he had attempted to destroy the United Effort Plan in the courts of Arizona in the 1970's. The new generation of apostates now sought his leadership and began to participate with him.
"Blackmore's plan, as he described it in his sworn deposition testimony, was to activate the mass communication media and bring the world in upon us, and in this way put as much pressure on the elected governmental officials as they possibly could through allegations of criminal wrongdoing. They then planned to call on the public officials to do something that would destroy us or put a stop to our unity.
"They started a media campaign which went every direction. It attacked the local officials, the Bishop, the United Effort Plan, the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson, and the Prophet Rulon T. Jeffs. The apostates objected to every effort of progress appointed by the Prophet.
"They also objected to the formation of the Colorado City Town Corporation, and the organization of a High School District. They publicly lamented any adjustments that were made by the brethren in managing the United Effort Plan, such as requiring people to live properly.
"They conducted a very intense crusade of anonymous letters and negative news reports with reckless disregard for the truth. They alleged that assault weapons were cached on United Effort property, fanaticism, fear, and a forsaking of respect for life and property, predicting bloodshed, mass graves, etc.
"After they were unable to get any of the local officials, the county attorneys, or the County Sheriffs to take any action, they requested help from the State Highway Patrol, and the State Criminal Intelligence investigators, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who commenced an investigation and interviewed President Rulon T. Jeffs.
"Each new ear that would listen, they approached it in such a bombastic way that no public official dared turn a deaf ear to their inflated stories and complaints. But after comparing what was alleged by the apostates with the truth, all evidence of criminal wrongdoing was extinguished by the lack of evidence.
"In desperation, this coalition of apostates sought help from the Attorney Generals of both Utah and Arizona. They then went to the U.S. District Attorney trying to find a way to have some governmental agency carry the expense of their desired attack on the Priesthood work and the United Effort Plan.
"Because these efforts to stimulate a criminal investigation all failed, they came to a point in time when they decided to file a civil action in the Federal Court. Because of threats against religious leaders by the Ervil LeBaron followers, there was a major law enforcement coverage acting in the security and protection of the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson during that period of time, much to the disappointment of the apostates.
"The storm clouds were gathering during the latter part of Uncle Roy's administration as the one man on the earth who held the keys of the sealing powers of the holy Priesthood. Some of those who claimed to be brethren, some of them having high and holy callings, actually joined with the enemies. They were very active in promoting a program that would bring distress and destruction and dissolution of the United Effort Plan, and whatever possible hardship they could bring on the leaders of the Priesthood. They had become traitors. This was the environment when the Prophet Rulon T. Jeffs took the leadership of the Priesthood after the death of the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson."
Tenant-at-Will Letter -- Summary by Elder Samuel S. Barlow
"President Jeffs sent notice out to the people who lived on the United Effort Plan property, setting forth the UEP's policy in support of the building code that had been adopted by the newly organized town of Colorado City, Arizona, and the town of Hildale, Utah. This building code was the uniform state building code of the State of Utah and Arizona. This was designed to provide for orderly growth of the area, which included development on the United Effort Plan land.
"A great howl went up in the camp of the apostates because the words "tenant-at-will" were used to describe the occupancy of the land without a term lease. This phrase "tenant-at-will" was then used as a "bone of contention" by the coalition of apostates that had formed by this time.Harold Blackmore declared in deposition:
"But then they did us a marvelous favor. They wrote the Tenant at Will there, and that tipped the scale. And the suit that's filed is the result."
"He stated the base of opposition was broadened enough so that they could collect sufficient money to file a major lawsuit in the Federal Court. He also admitted to having gifted and loaned money to fund the initial filing of the federal lawsuit.”
Tenant-at-Will" Letter:
TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE RESIDING UPON UNITED EFFORT PROPERTY:
"As you know and as was explained to you in great detail when you became residents on the property, you are tenants at will and reside on the property at the pleasure of the trustees.
"Some or all of you have made improvements to the property with the consent of the administration of the trust. Any such voluntary improvements become part of the land and are not to be moved, transferred, demolished or assigned to other occupants without the consent of the United Effort Plan.
"The above policies have been in effect since the creation of the United Effort Plan and this letter is not intended to represent any change but merely the written clarification of pre-existing policy.
"Since the incorporation of both Hildale and Colorado City certain additional formalities are required before any improvements can be constructed on the property located in either of those towns. The United Effort Plan is most supportive of the governments of those towns and desires that all of the ordinances with regard to building permits and inspections be complied with. The United Effort Plan will require that building permits be issued by the proper authority before any improvements are made on the property. As the residents have no authority to improve the land without the consent of the United Effort Plan, the application for each building permit must be approved by one of the agents for the Plan and we are notifying the towns of Hildale and Colorado City of this fact and request that they not grant any building permit unless approved by an agent.
"The agents of the trust authorized to approve applications for building permits are the trustees of the Plan: (6 men listed)
"The willful violation of any of the policies set forth above shall constitute grounds to terminate the violator's tenancy at will on the property.
Very truly yours,
(Signed:) Rulon T. Jeffs
President of the United Effort Plan by order of the Board of Trustees. (Stamped USPS June 29, 1987)
“On July 29, 1963, J. Marion Hammon invited Harold Blackmore to move to Hildale, Utah. He was assigned a lot on United Effort Plan property, but soon became apostate, and demanded payment for the consecrations of materials and time he had made.
"The first day of spring 1968, he left after expressing his greed and denouncing the effort in unity. On June 8, 1976, Harold Blackmore made a demand for a deed from the United Effort Plan to his son James Blackmore, who had now joined him in his apostasy. They threatened a civil lawsuit in the courts of Arizona if the demand was not met. On July 22, 1976, a civil summons and complaint was served on the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson in an attack on the United Effort Plan. There then followed a barrage of letters to the public officials against the Priesthood Council, the public schools, the religious community in general, and the United Effort Plan. The Priesthood was publicly branded as the "Holy Mafia" by Blackmore.
"On July 17, 1977, a letter of complaint was sent from Harold Blackmore to the Attorney General attempting, through bold accusations and falsehoods to get the State of Arizona to take up a cause against the religious leadership of the United Effort Plan.
"On July 21, 1977, Harold Blackmore aired his gripes before the Utah Board of Education in an attempt to get them to take up his cause. There followed a media crusade, an investigation by a national syndicated columnist, and feature articles in the major newspapers of Arizona and Utah which were very negative.
"President Johnson made reference to Blackmore's activities in a sermon dated September 3, 1978, at Salt Lake City: "We are not out of the woods yet, and we are still being persecuted by the enemies of righteousness. We all know what went on a year ago when Harold Blackmore was trying to blackmail us."
New Apostates Seek Harold Blackmore's Help
"During the early 1980's, there was a group of apostates who rebelled against the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson. They joined with Harold Blackmore (who is without question the most vocal apostate of our time) in a conspiracy to destroy the United Order Effort which had been established in the Short Creek Valley since 1935.
"They selected Harold Blackmore as a guiding spirit because he had attempted to destroy the United Effort Plan in the courts of Arizona in the 1970's. The new generation of apostates now sought his leadership and began to participate with him.
"Blackmore's plan, as he described it in his sworn deposition testimony, was to activate the mass communication media and bring the world in upon us, and in this way put as much pressure on the elected governmental officials as they possibly could through allegations of criminal wrongdoing. They then planned to call on the public officials to do something that would destroy us or put a stop to our unity.
"They started a media campaign which went every direction. It attacked the local officials, the Bishop, the United Effort Plan, the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson, and the Prophet Rulon T. Jeffs. The apostates objected to every effort of progress appointed by the Prophet.
"They also objected to the formation of the Colorado City Town Corporation, and the organization of a High School District. They publicly lamented any adjustments that were made by the brethren in managing the United Effort Plan, such as requiring people to live properly.
"They conducted a very intense crusade of anonymous letters and negative news reports with reckless disregard for the truth. They alleged that assault weapons were cached on United Effort property, fanaticism, fear, and a forsaking of respect for life and property, predicting bloodshed, mass graves, etc.
"After they were unable to get any of the local officials, the county attorneys, or the County Sheriffs to take any action, they requested help from the State Highway Patrol, and the State Criminal Intelligence investigators, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who commenced an investigation and interviewed President Rulon T. Jeffs.
"Each new ear that would listen, they approached it in such a bombastic way that no public official dared turn a deaf ear to their inflated stories and complaints. But after comparing what was alleged by the apostates with the truth, all evidence of criminal wrongdoing was extinguished by the lack of evidence.
"In desperation, this coalition of apostates sought help from the Attorney Generals of both Utah and Arizona. They then went to the U.S. District Attorney trying to find a way to have some governmental agency carry the expense of their desired attack on the Priesthood work and the United Effort Plan.
"Because these efforts to stimulate a criminal investigation all failed, they came to a point in time when they decided to file a civil action in the Federal Court. Because of threats against religious leaders by the Ervil LeBaron followers, there was a major law enforcement coverage acting in the security and protection of the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson during that period of time, much to the disappointment of the apostates.
"The storm clouds were gathering during the latter part of Uncle Roy's administration as the one man on the earth who held the keys of the sealing powers of the holy Priesthood. Some of those who claimed to be brethren, some of them having high and holy callings, actually joined with the enemies. They were very active in promoting a program that would bring distress and destruction and dissolution of the United Effort Plan, and whatever possible hardship they could bring on the leaders of the Priesthood. They had become traitors. This was the environment when the Prophet Rulon T. Jeffs took the leadership of the Priesthood after the death of the Prophet Leroy S. Johnson."
Tenant-at-Will Letter -- Summary by Elder Samuel S. Barlow
"President Jeffs sent notice out to the people who lived on the United Effort Plan property, setting forth the UEP's policy in support of the building code that had been adopted by the newly organized town of Colorado City, Arizona, and the town of Hildale, Utah. This building code was the uniform state building code of the State of Utah and Arizona. This was designed to provide for orderly growth of the area, which included development on the United Effort Plan land.
"A great howl went up in the camp of the apostates because the words "tenant-at-will" were used to describe the occupancy of the land without a term lease. This phrase "tenant-at-will" was then used as a "bone of contention" by the coalition of apostates that had formed by this time.Harold Blackmore declared in deposition:
"But then they did us a marvelous favor. They wrote the Tenant at Will there, and that tipped the scale. And the suit that's filed is the result."
"He stated the base of opposition was broadened enough so that they could collect sufficient money to file a major lawsuit in the Federal Court. He also admitted to having gifted and loaned money to fund the initial filing of the federal lawsuit.”
Tenant-at-Will" Letter:
TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE RESIDING UPON UNITED EFFORT PROPERTY:
"As you know and as was explained to you in great detail when you became residents on the property, you are tenants at will and reside on the property at the pleasure of the trustees.
"Some or all of you have made improvements to the property with the consent of the administration of the trust. Any such voluntary improvements become part of the land and are not to be moved, transferred, demolished or assigned to other occupants without the consent of the United Effort Plan.
"The above policies have been in effect since the creation of the United Effort Plan and this letter is not intended to represent any change but merely the written clarification of pre-existing policy.
"Since the incorporation of both Hildale and Colorado City certain additional formalities are required before any improvements can be constructed on the property located in either of those towns. The United Effort Plan is most supportive of the governments of those towns and desires that all of the ordinances with regard to building permits and inspections be complied with. The United Effort Plan will require that building permits be issued by the proper authority before any improvements are made on the property. As the residents have no authority to improve the land without the consent of the United Effort Plan, the application for each building permit must be approved by one of the agents for the Plan and we are notifying the towns of Hildale and Colorado City of this fact and request that they not grant any building permit unless approved by an agent.
"The agents of the trust authorized to approve applications for building permits are the trustees of the Plan: (6 men listed)
"The willful violation of any of the policies set forth above shall constitute grounds to terminate the violator's tenancy at will on the property.
Very truly yours,
(Signed:) Rulon T. Jeffs
President of the United Effort Plan by order of the Board of Trustees. (Stamped USPS June 29, 1987)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Get Up and Win the Race
They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win the race.
Or tie for first, or if not that,
At least take second place.
And fathers watched from the side
Each cheering for his son
And each boy hoped to show his dad
That HE would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they went
Young hearts and hopes afire
To win and be the hero there
Was each young boy’s desire
And one boy in particular
Whose father was in the crowd
Was running near the lead and thought:
“My father will be proud”
But as they sped down the field
Across a shallow dip
The little boy who thought to win
Lost his step and slipped!
Trying hard to catch himself
His hands flew out to brace
And mid the laughter of the crowd
HE FELL FLAT ON HIS FACE
So down he fell and with him hope
He couldn’t win it now
Embarrassed, and he only wished
To disappear somehow
But as he fell his father stood
And showed his anxious face
Which to the boy so clearly said:
“GET UP AND WIN THE RACE”
He quickly rose, no damage done
Behind a bit that’s all
And ran with all his mind and might
To make up for his fall
So anxious to restore himself
To catch up and to win
His mind went faster than his legs
HE SLIPPED AND FELL AGAIN!
He wished then that he had quit before
With only one disgrace
“I’m hopeless as a runner, now;
I shouldn’t try to race”
But in the laughing crowed he searched
And found his fathers face
That steady look which said again:
“Get up and win the race!”
So up he jumped to try again
Ten yards behind the last
“If I’m to gain those yards,” He thought
“I’ve got to move real fast.”
Exerting everything he had
He regained eight or ten
But trying so hard to catch the lead
HE SLIPPED AND FELL AGAIN!
Each thought to win the race.
Or tie for first, or if not that,
At least take second place.
And fathers watched from the side
Each cheering for his son
And each boy hoped to show his dad
That HE would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they went
Young hearts and hopes afire
To win and be the hero there
Was each young boy’s desire
And one boy in particular
Whose father was in the crowd
Was running near the lead and thought:
“My father will be proud”
But as they sped down the field
Across a shallow dip
The little boy who thought to win
Lost his step and slipped!
Trying hard to catch himself
His hands flew out to brace
And mid the laughter of the crowd
HE FELL FLAT ON HIS FACE
So down he fell and with him hope
He couldn’t win it now
Embarrassed, and he only wished
To disappear somehow
But as he fell his father stood
And showed his anxious face
Which to the boy so clearly said:
“GET UP AND WIN THE RACE”
He quickly rose, no damage done
Behind a bit that’s all
And ran with all his mind and might
To make up for his fall
So anxious to restore himself
To catch up and to win
His mind went faster than his legs
HE SLIPPED AND FELL AGAIN!
He wished then that he had quit before
With only one disgrace
“I’m hopeless as a runner, now;
I shouldn’t try to race”
But in the laughing crowed he searched
And found his fathers face
That steady look which said again:
“Get up and win the race!”
So up he jumped to try again
Ten yards behind the last
“If I’m to gain those yards,” He thought
“I’ve got to move real fast.”
Exerting everything he had
He regained eight or ten
But trying so hard to catch the lead
HE SLIPPED AND FELL AGAIN!
DEFEAT! He lied there silently
A tear dropped from his eye
“There’s no sense running anymore”
“Three strikes, I’m out; Why try?”
The will to rise had disappeared
All hope had fled away
So far behind; So error prone
A LOSER all the way.
“I’ve lost, so what’s the use,” He thought
“I’ll live with my disgrace”
But then he thought of his father
Who soon he’d have to face
“Get Up” An echo sounded low
“Get up and take your place,
You were not meant for failure here
Get up and win the race”
“With borrowed will get up” he heard
“You haven’t lost at all
For winning is no more than this:
To rise each time you fall”
So up he rose to run once more
And with a new commit
He resolved that win or lose
At least he wouldn’t quit
Three times he he’d fallen, stumbling,
Three times he rose again
Too far behind to hope to win
He still ran to the end
They cheered the winning runner
As he crossed the line first place.
Head high, and proud, and happy
No falling; no disgrace
But when the fallen youngster
Crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him a great big cheer
For finishing the race
And even though he came in last
With head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he won the race
To listen to the crowd
And to his father he sadly said
“I didn’t do too well”
“To me, you won,” his father said
“You rose each time you fell”
**
And now when life seems dark and hard
And difficult to face
Thinking of that little boy
Helps me in my race
“Quit, give up, You’re beaten!”
They still shout in my face
But I listen to my Father say:
“Get up and win the race!”
A tear dropped from his eye
“There’s no sense running anymore”
“Three strikes, I’m out; Why try?”
The will to rise had disappeared
All hope had fled away
So far behind; So error prone
A LOSER all the way.
“I’ve lost, so what’s the use,” He thought
“I’ll live with my disgrace”
But then he thought of his father
Who soon he’d have to face
“Get Up” An echo sounded low
“Get up and take your place,
You were not meant for failure here
Get up and win the race”
“With borrowed will get up” he heard
“You haven’t lost at all
For winning is no more than this:
To rise each time you fall”
So up he rose to run once more
And with a new commit
He resolved that win or lose
At least he wouldn’t quit
Three times he he’d fallen, stumbling,
Three times he rose again
Too far behind to hope to win
He still ran to the end
They cheered the winning runner
As he crossed the line first place.
Head high, and proud, and happy
No falling; no disgrace
But when the fallen youngster
Crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him a great big cheer
For finishing the race
And even though he came in last
With head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he won the race
To listen to the crowd
And to his father he sadly said
“I didn’t do too well”
“To me, you won,” his father said
“You rose each time you fell”
**
And now when life seems dark and hard
And difficult to face
Thinking of that little boy
Helps me in my race
“Quit, give up, You’re beaten!”
They still shout in my face
But I listen to my Father say:
“Get up and win the race!”
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Communist Dictator
The FLDS religion has three central tenants that distinguish it from every other religion on the planet, and although other religions and churches ascribe to parts or all of them in one form or another to a certain degree, no other religion ascribes to all three with the determination and devotion to them that the FLDS faithful do. These are in essence the crowning laws that if lived faithfully can create characters that will be worthy of the highest heaven:
1-The Holy United Order (referred to in the Bible and Book of Mormon as “All Things in Common”) This is the Economic Order of heaven. Also called the Order of Enoch
2-The Celestial Law of Marriage, including the plurality of wives. This is the Family Order of Heaven. Also called the Law of Abraham
I list the two highest laws for us to ponder upon. Many who may read this may be very vengeful about them, or at least indifferent to them, wanting me to get to the central one; the one that makes these two laws livable on earth. But I would like you to imagine yourself taking your entire life; stripping it of selfishness, and putting it into these two laws.
Men must overcome all jealousy to live the first one. It is the most difficult. Their effort must be completely selfless or the Order will not function. Masculinity is rather independent and confrontational, and these things must be subdued in the heart. In all of history, this economic order has only one lasting success story, found in the Pearl of Great Price. After the Savior came the early Saints set up this order in Israel and in America, but they did not last. The YFZ community in Texas is one of the central efforts set up today. There are others, but they all have this in common; unity of economic effort; giving all for the common good.
The second law requires the ladies to overcome their jealousy. That is easy for them. No lady has ever had a problem living polygny. OK! I am just joking! But ladies do have an inward ability to be more compassionate and caring, humble and religious. There are struggles, for sure, jealousy and selfishness cannot survive, but day to day life is easier for the ladies who share the duties of the home. It is not difficult when they can find a man who is stalwart and loyal to his leaders and an example of how to live pure. Joining forces with him is not as difficult as is portrayed by the few who abandon the idea.
Few people have any idea how wonderful the home and community is with those who are determined to overcome themselves and live these laws to their last breath. I have never seen a happier more peaceful people. But I must tell you, these two laws cannot be lived without the one that this post is titled after. I promise you, it is impossible.
The FLDS church is a family, and church organization under the wing of the Constitutional laws of the United States. The political order within the church itself is a Benevolent Dictatorship; in essence communism, or communalism.
Personal free will is what the war in heaven was fought over. It is what the American war of Independence was fought over. Almost every war that ever was, was one fought over freedom from tyranny and oppression. But by reading the Bible, you can see that God puts specific limits on our freedom, but only through benevolent love. The Ten Commandments are not the ten suggestions. While I know, and all who strive to follow those Commandments know that they are happier and feel more blessed when they follow those Commandments, God will force no one to follow them or any of His other laws like tithing. The Ten Commandments are a distinct list of what our Father in heaven commands us to do. What is our punishment if we don’t obey them?
If God was right next to you (as He is), what do you think He would do if he saw you lying? Or take His name in vain? Does He strike you dead, or damn you to hell? Are they not commandments? When you think of your Father in heaven, do you think of a tyrant, or one who loves you unconditionally?
He loves us unconditionally, but He blesses those who obey His commandments more than those who don’t. He will not force us to obey, but he will and does exclude us from the blessings of obedience. This is perfect merciful justice.
We believe that all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. The Ten Commandments are the beginning and foundational laws, and the Law of Abraham and the Order of Enoch are the highest. In order to live the highest laws, men must have a central Priesthood authority for them to look up to and obey. The anxious, those who desire to throw off all selfishness seek to obey more and more; they are those who want to obey with all their hearts. Obedience is like delicious fruit to them. So they look for the man who they believe is the most like God; the one who they can trust to tell them what the Lord wants them to do. It is their belief in God that turns them to this one man.
I don’t know of a lady who does not want to be married. Motherhood is what most girls dream about. Marriage is the greatest step in a ladies life. I have never in my life even heard of a girl who was married before they wanted to be. That is until long after they were married and changed their mind, some decide to change their mind and remember that they didn’t date their husband and so they must have been forced.
No one can ever be forced to live their religion. No matter how big a gun you have pointed at their head, you cannot force someone to have faith in the prophet or God. It would be completely pointless to pressure someone to tell the truth against their will, let alone get married against their will. You can’t get to heaven unless you want to. The prophet would never even want to make you. The only thing that could be considered force in the gospel is the guilty conscience we get if we don’t obey it. You never will have a guilty conscience if you are innocent; the innocent have no reason to be worried.
Heavenly Father is a dictator, He dictates. If we will ask and listen, He speaks to each of us and tells us what we should do to govern our personal responsibilities. Each person is responsible for themselves, a mother is responsible for her children, a father is responsible for his home, and the prophet is responsible for the obedient church members.
“You may keep Plural Marriage and live it pretty strict, but you reject the United Order. United Order and Plural Marriage are the highest orders of the Priesthood. Whether we keep them or whether we reject them it is going to be up to us….
What difference does it make who the man is at the head? Who the man is doesn’t make a bit of difference. When he is placed there, God tells him to set certain men apart. What difference does it make who it is? I am well aware that I am not as good a man as Uncle John Woolley and Lorin. I haven’t had the experience yet. But I do know this Gospel is true and that these brethren here are called of God. I do know that every man that fights it. I don’t care who it is, will reject the counsel of God concerning themselves.” (John Y Barlow 9/14/47)
1-The Holy United Order (referred to in the Bible and Book of Mormon as “All Things in Common”) This is the Economic Order of heaven. Also called the Order of Enoch
2-The Celestial Law of Marriage, including the plurality of wives. This is the Family Order of Heaven. Also called the Law of Abraham
I list the two highest laws for us to ponder upon. Many who may read this may be very vengeful about them, or at least indifferent to them, wanting me to get to the central one; the one that makes these two laws livable on earth. But I would like you to imagine yourself taking your entire life; stripping it of selfishness, and putting it into these two laws.
Men must overcome all jealousy to live the first one. It is the most difficult. Their effort must be completely selfless or the Order will not function. Masculinity is rather independent and confrontational, and these things must be subdued in the heart. In all of history, this economic order has only one lasting success story, found in the Pearl of Great Price. After the Savior came the early Saints set up this order in Israel and in America, but they did not last. The YFZ community in Texas is one of the central efforts set up today. There are others, but they all have this in common; unity of economic effort; giving all for the common good.
The second law requires the ladies to overcome their jealousy. That is easy for them. No lady has ever had a problem living polygny. OK! I am just joking! But ladies do have an inward ability to be more compassionate and caring, humble and religious. There are struggles, for sure, jealousy and selfishness cannot survive, but day to day life is easier for the ladies who share the duties of the home. It is not difficult when they can find a man who is stalwart and loyal to his leaders and an example of how to live pure. Joining forces with him is not as difficult as is portrayed by the few who abandon the idea.
Few people have any idea how wonderful the home and community is with those who are determined to overcome themselves and live these laws to their last breath. I have never seen a happier more peaceful people. But I must tell you, these two laws cannot be lived without the one that this post is titled after. I promise you, it is impossible.
The FLDS church is a family, and church organization under the wing of the Constitutional laws of the United States. The political order within the church itself is a Benevolent Dictatorship; in essence communism, or communalism.
Personal free will is what the war in heaven was fought over. It is what the American war of Independence was fought over. Almost every war that ever was, was one fought over freedom from tyranny and oppression. But by reading the Bible, you can see that God puts specific limits on our freedom, but only through benevolent love. The Ten Commandments are not the ten suggestions. While I know, and all who strive to follow those Commandments know that they are happier and feel more blessed when they follow those Commandments, God will force no one to follow them or any of His other laws like tithing. The Ten Commandments are a distinct list of what our Father in heaven commands us to do. What is our punishment if we don’t obey them?
If God was right next to you (as He is), what do you think He would do if he saw you lying? Or take His name in vain? Does He strike you dead, or damn you to hell? Are they not commandments? When you think of your Father in heaven, do you think of a tyrant, or one who loves you unconditionally?
He loves us unconditionally, but He blesses those who obey His commandments more than those who don’t. He will not force us to obey, but he will and does exclude us from the blessings of obedience. This is perfect merciful justice.
We believe that all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. The Ten Commandments are the beginning and foundational laws, and the Law of Abraham and the Order of Enoch are the highest. In order to live the highest laws, men must have a central Priesthood authority for them to look up to and obey. The anxious, those who desire to throw off all selfishness seek to obey more and more; they are those who want to obey with all their hearts. Obedience is like delicious fruit to them. So they look for the man who they believe is the most like God; the one who they can trust to tell them what the Lord wants them to do. It is their belief in God that turns them to this one man.
I don’t know of a lady who does not want to be married. Motherhood is what most girls dream about. Marriage is the greatest step in a ladies life. I have never in my life even heard of a girl who was married before they wanted to be. That is until long after they were married and changed their mind, some decide to change their mind and remember that they didn’t date their husband and so they must have been forced.
No one can ever be forced to live their religion. No matter how big a gun you have pointed at their head, you cannot force someone to have faith in the prophet or God. It would be completely pointless to pressure someone to tell the truth against their will, let alone get married against their will. You can’t get to heaven unless you want to. The prophet would never even want to make you. The only thing that could be considered force in the gospel is the guilty conscience we get if we don’t obey it. You never will have a guilty conscience if you are innocent; the innocent have no reason to be worried.
Heavenly Father is a dictator, He dictates. If we will ask and listen, He speaks to each of us and tells us what we should do to govern our personal responsibilities. Each person is responsible for themselves, a mother is responsible for her children, a father is responsible for his home, and the prophet is responsible for the obedient church members.
“You may keep Plural Marriage and live it pretty strict, but you reject the United Order. United Order and Plural Marriage are the highest orders of the Priesthood. Whether we keep them or whether we reject them it is going to be up to us….
What difference does it make who the man is at the head? Who the man is doesn’t make a bit of difference. When he is placed there, God tells him to set certain men apart. What difference does it make who it is? I am well aware that I am not as good a man as Uncle John Woolley and Lorin. I haven’t had the experience yet. But I do know this Gospel is true and that these brethren here are called of God. I do know that every man that fights it. I don’t care who it is, will reject the counsel of God concerning themselves.” (John Y Barlow 9/14/47)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Father
When I was young, my father'd say
Come on son, we've got work today!
Sometimes it seems like yesterday
Then I'd climb up the closet shelf
When I was all by myself!
Grab his hat, and fix the brim
Pretending I was him
No matter how hard I try
No matter how many years go by
No matter how many tears I cry
I still can't say..... goodbye
He always took care of his family
He had many mouths to feed
Yet he always had time for me
Wind... blows throught the trees
Street lights.... they still shine bright
Moon... still looks the same
But I miss my father tonight!
I walked by a salvation army store
Saw a hat like my daddy wore
Tried it on, when I went in
Still trying to be... like him
No matter how hard I try
No matter how many tears I cry
No matter how many years go by
I still can't say.... goodbye
Come on son, we've got work today!
Sometimes it seems like yesterday
Then I'd climb up the closet shelf
When I was all by myself!
Grab his hat, and fix the brim
Pretending I was him
No matter how hard I try
No matter how many years go by
No matter how many tears I cry
I still can't say..... goodbye
He always took care of his family
He had many mouths to feed
Yet he always had time for me
Wind... blows throught the trees
Street lights.... they still shine bright
Moon... still looks the same
But I miss my father tonight!
I walked by a salvation army store
Saw a hat like my daddy wore
Tried it on, when I went in
Still trying to be... like him
No matter how hard I try
No matter how many tears I cry
No matter how many years go by
I still can't say.... goodbye
-adapted from a song performed by Chet Atkins
Maggie Knows
http://www.truthwillprevail.org/index.php?index=0&parentid=1
"As we drove away from the facility, a chilling numbness wrapped itself around my heart, the harsh reality of unpreventable injustice, and I felt helplessly appalled at the inhumanity of gross misunderstanding.
"I knew that the state employees didn't really have anything against me personally, but it was painfully obvious that we were victims of an intrusive and manipulative invasion of a government entity out of control, a nameless, faceless monster, bloated with horrendous pride and vindictive prejudice, fed by the hateful sap flowing en masse from the venomous fangs of anti-FLDS crusaders.
"The evil demon, motivated by anger, jealousy, lying, hate, money, power, and corruption, had wound its vicious tentacles in and out, around and among hundreds of unaware, yet corruptible human beings, servants of the vast domain of the State of Texas.
"What a shame that people in responsible positions would be foolish and gullible enough to allow themselves to be "educated" by contemptible snakes and their lying propaganda against us, and then without conscience, form biased and inaccurate opinions without taking responsibility for their own actions, apparently incapable of searching for truth, allowing themselves to be controlled by the Master Puppeteer.
"We know the CPS is not the instigator of this despicable crime. They simply and detestably fall into the identity of the wicked tool, a destructive sledgehammer, slathered with the murky grease of religious and political corruption, intended to mar and destroy an unpopular religion, wielded by none other than Satan himself."
"As we drove away from the facility, a chilling numbness wrapped itself around my heart, the harsh reality of unpreventable injustice, and I felt helplessly appalled at the inhumanity of gross misunderstanding.
"I knew that the state employees didn't really have anything against me personally, but it was painfully obvious that we were victims of an intrusive and manipulative invasion of a government entity out of control, a nameless, faceless monster, bloated with horrendous pride and vindictive prejudice, fed by the hateful sap flowing en masse from the venomous fangs of anti-FLDS crusaders.
"The evil demon, motivated by anger, jealousy, lying, hate, money, power, and corruption, had wound its vicious tentacles in and out, around and among hundreds of unaware, yet corruptible human beings, servants of the vast domain of the State of Texas.
"What a shame that people in responsible positions would be foolish and gullible enough to allow themselves to be "educated" by contemptible snakes and their lying propaganda against us, and then without conscience, form biased and inaccurate opinions without taking responsibility for their own actions, apparently incapable of searching for truth, allowing themselves to be controlled by the Master Puppeteer.
"We know the CPS is not the instigator of this despicable crime. They simply and detestably fall into the identity of the wicked tool, a destructive sledgehammer, slathered with the murky grease of religious and political corruption, intended to mar and destroy an unpopular religion, wielded by none other than Satan himself."
Friday, June 13, 2008
Lest we Forget
http://www.truthwillprevail.org/index.php?parentid=1&index=64
Alvin, Texas
"I’m a physician at a small Emergency Room. Tonight I saw one of the children from the FLDS compound who was recently bused to a nearby community. I want to express to you my extreme concern about this baby and all of the very young children in this current situation. The child I saw was under two years old, has been separated from her mother and all familiar adults, taken away from familiar surroundings, and been the subject of intense scrutiny which the child can’t understand. Now the child is ill. I have never seen such a listless, subdued, sad toddler in my life. She doesn’t eat well and her caretaker thinks she may have been breastfed at home as she is so much trouble with bottles. She is losing weight. She doesn’t play with things. She is almost non-responsive to the strange adults around her. This is a child in profound mourning for the loss of her mother, who is sick and by all appearances is going to get sicker.
Why on earth can this mother not be here to comfort this baby? I am not exaggerating in the least when I say this child looks like she wants to die….
Please do something to reunite at least these small infants with their mothers. This is so wrong."
Cedar City, Utah
"I have no association with the FLDS faith. Although I do not know any of these children personally, I have had close association with many of the children of the FLDS community here in Utah. Several FLDS families lived on a large mountain subdivision project over which I acted as supervisor. They stayed in this picturesque setting during the summers as the men worked with their construction equipment to build the roads and install the infrastructure for the subdivision. I ate lunch with them daily. I observed the interaction of the men with the women and children on a daily basis. Men and women were respectful and kind to each other and to their children. In three years of almost daily contact with these good people I have never seen any kind of abuse. To the contrary I have seen loving parents teaching enduring values of industry, honesty, respect for family and nation."
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Poll
The poll is closed and the results are in from all those who have visited this site:
How do you feel about the taking of all the children in the Texas Raid?
About time 52 votes (12%)
Give CPS benefit of the doubt 18 votes (4%)
Should have happened differently 25 votes (6%)
A complete travesty of justice 315 (76%)
I don’t know if you wonder, but the only reason I even put up this poll was to see how many religious bigots were frequenting my site. I am sure the 52 who did vote wish they could have voted more, but o well. I wish I could have voted more too, because it was and is continually, a complete travesty of justice.
How do you feel about the taking of all the children in the Texas Raid?
About time 52 votes (12%)
Give CPS benefit of the doubt 18 votes (4%)
Should have happened differently 25 votes (6%)
A complete travesty of justice 315 (76%)
I don’t know if you wonder, but the only reason I even put up this poll was to see how many religious bigots were frequenting my site. I am sure the 52 who did vote wish they could have voted more, but o well. I wish I could have voted more too, because it was and is continually, a complete travesty of justice.
How To Tell a Story
First I want you to know that these two stories are absolutely true from my memory.
THE BEATING
Warren Jeffs, the master over the innocent unsuspecting children of Alta Academy, commanded me to go and stand in front of the whole high school class. I was terrified with fright. At the same time he sent a red headed muscular adult man, who had a snarkey grin on his face, to face me and the three or four other soon to be victims; one of them being an innocent underage girl. The crowd was on the edge of their seats with sinister glee in that they were not forced to the front, and a sick curiosity as to what was going to happen next.
Then, just as we who were commanded to the front began to interact with one another in conversation, the red-headed muscular man pulled out an over sized club and began beating us! The club made its heavy effects upon my poor head and back. The other victims each felt the same effects. If we made any protest against the abuse the massive weapon crashed down upon our skulls with all the more reckless abandon.
And while we were here the most tender and vulnerable, moaning and groaning in poor anguish, the onlookers roared with sadistic laughter! Not the least of those entertained by the spectacle, was the ominous dictator of the class Mr. Warren Jeffs
THE SKIT
When I graduated from Alta Academy I and my brother of the same age were 18, legal adults. In our senior year we were both in the high school Chorus and Home Entertainment class taught by Mr. Jeffs. One day he called on us to perform a skit. One we would have to invent ourselves. He gave us a few days to gather props and costumes.
The skit, we decided, would be a United Nations Assembly. I was the delegate from England, my two other brothers and my sister for other countries. My red headed brother, the same age as I, decided to be an aborigine from Rwanda. The topic of our assembly was one of tremendous world importance, “What are we going to have for lunch”.
“As the head of this assembly, I would like to have you all realize the grave urgency that we must come to a conclusion! We must not spend days and weeks as we have so many times before, only to realize the fact that fish and chips are the only logical choice!” I said (in my aingleesh awksent). My red headed brother pulled out a foam waffle-ball bat and whacked me over the head. “No! Twinkies!” he yelled. So I sat down quietly. Each delegate stood to make their speech and they all received the same treatment. It ended with a barrage of argument out of turn and thuds of a foam bat. Mr. Jeffs stopped us because, well, it was dumb. “Give them a hand” he required the class so we wouldn’t feel so embarrassed.
---
Both of those stories are of the same event. The first one I exaggerated the fear, pain, and most especially the laughter. The second one I exaggerated my speech giving ability.
The first one is how Carolyn Jessop and Elissa Wall would write it, or Kathy Jo Nicholson and Jaleena Fischer would describe it. The second version? The only thing that has going for it is…, well…, accuracy.
THE BEATING
Warren Jeffs, the master over the innocent unsuspecting children of Alta Academy, commanded me to go and stand in front of the whole high school class. I was terrified with fright. At the same time he sent a red headed muscular adult man, who had a snarkey grin on his face, to face me and the three or four other soon to be victims; one of them being an innocent underage girl. The crowd was on the edge of their seats with sinister glee in that they were not forced to the front, and a sick curiosity as to what was going to happen next.
Then, just as we who were commanded to the front began to interact with one another in conversation, the red-headed muscular man pulled out an over sized club and began beating us! The club made its heavy effects upon my poor head and back. The other victims each felt the same effects. If we made any protest against the abuse the massive weapon crashed down upon our skulls with all the more reckless abandon.
And while we were here the most tender and vulnerable, moaning and groaning in poor anguish, the onlookers roared with sadistic laughter! Not the least of those entertained by the spectacle, was the ominous dictator of the class Mr. Warren Jeffs
THE SKIT
When I graduated from Alta Academy I and my brother of the same age were 18, legal adults. In our senior year we were both in the high school Chorus and Home Entertainment class taught by Mr. Jeffs. One day he called on us to perform a skit. One we would have to invent ourselves. He gave us a few days to gather props and costumes.
The skit, we decided, would be a United Nations Assembly. I was the delegate from England, my two other brothers and my sister for other countries. My red headed brother, the same age as I, decided to be an aborigine from Rwanda. The topic of our assembly was one of tremendous world importance, “What are we going to have for lunch”.
“As the head of this assembly, I would like to have you all realize the grave urgency that we must come to a conclusion! We must not spend days and weeks as we have so many times before, only to realize the fact that fish and chips are the only logical choice!” I said (in my aingleesh awksent). My red headed brother pulled out a foam waffle-ball bat and whacked me over the head. “No! Twinkies!” he yelled. So I sat down quietly. Each delegate stood to make their speech and they all received the same treatment. It ended with a barrage of argument out of turn and thuds of a foam bat. Mr. Jeffs stopped us because, well, it was dumb. “Give them a hand” he required the class so we wouldn’t feel so embarrassed.
---
Both of those stories are of the same event. The first one I exaggerated the fear, pain, and most especially the laughter. The second one I exaggerated my speech giving ability.
The first one is how Carolyn Jessop and Elissa Wall would write it, or Kathy Jo Nicholson and Jaleena Fischer would describe it. The second version? The only thing that has going for it is…, well…, accuracy.
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