At times, sources have claimed there are as many as 60,000 Mormon fundamentalists in the United States, with fewer than half of them living in polygamous households. However, others have suggested that there may be as few as 20,000 Mormon fundamentalists with only 8,000 to 15,000 practicing polygamy.
What are the largest Mormon fundamentalists?
The largest Mormon fundamentalist groups are the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church) and the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB). The LDS Church began prohibiting the contracting of plural marriages within the United States in 1890 after a decree by church president Wilford Woodruff.
What is the fundamentalist Mormon movement?
The fundamentalist Mormon movement emerged in the early 20th century when its founding members were excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), largely because of their refusal to abandon the practice of plural marriage after it was renounced in the " Second Manifesto " (1904).
Who are the fundamentalists?
Those who practice it are fundamentalists, apart from and distinct from anyone known as a Latter-day Saint or Mormon. Until 2007, the church was led by Warren Jeffs, who succeeded his father Rulon Jeffs in 2002.
How many Mormons are there in America?
Wilde says that about 38,000 people, mostly in the western U.S., are fundamentalist Mormons - though they are affiliated with different communities.
How many Mormon fundamentalists are in the US?
THE BEST ESTIMATES put the population of Mormon fundamentalists — those who practice polygamy— at approximately 35,000 people, most of whom live in the West.
How many Mormon sects are there?
In the entire world, there are only five kinds of Mormons.
How many members of FLDS are there?
10,000 membersAbout FLDS The FLDS has an estimated 10,000 members, most of whom live in Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah. The group also has followers near Eldorado, Texas, and in South Dakota, Colorado, Nevada, British Columbia, and Mexico. The spiritual leader of the FLDS church is considered a prophet of God.
Does the fundamentalist Mormons still exist?
The FLDS is still up and running and, according to one documentary released in 2018, Warren Jeffs is allowed visits from family in prison and still runs the sect to this day. Current members still treat Warren Jeffs as their prophet and believe he was wrongly convicted.
What religion is most similar to Mormonism?
IslamSimilarities. Mormonism and Islam each believe in a life after death: belief in the Last Judgment and an Afterlife is one of the Six Articles of Belief of Islam; it also forms an essential element of the Mormon belief system.
What are the five kinds of Mormons?
Groups within MormonismLatter-day Saints ("LDS")Fundamentalist Mormons.Liberal Mormons.Cultural Mormons.
Do FLDS still practice polygamy?
Between 6,000 and 10,000 people remain in Short Creek, and 85 to 90 percent of them are still FLDS members in polygamous families, Wisan estimates.
Can a woman be sealed twice LDS?
In 1998, the LDS Church changed the policy and now also allows women to be sealed to more than one man. A woman, however, may not be sealed to more than one man at a time while she is alive. She may only be sealed to subsequent partners after she has died.
Who leads the FLDS now?
Warren JeffsWarren Jeffs' father, Rulon Jeffs—known to his followers as Uncle Rulon—was the president of the FLDS from 1986 until his death in 2002. He was survived by approximately 20 wives and 60 children. Warren Jeffs succeeded his father as both president and 'prophet' and continues to lead the FLDS today.
What is the difference between Mormon and fundamentalist Mormon?
Mormon fundamentalists seek to uphold tenets and practices no longer held by mainstream Mormons (members of the LDS Church). The principle most often associated with Mormon fundamentalism is plural marriage, a form of polygyny first taught in the Latter Day Saint movement by the movement's founder, Smith.
Why do FLDS wear their hair like that?
The women's hair swept up over their foreheads relates to their spirituality. "It looks like a goose thing on top of their heads, the higher they can get that, the more righteous they are, so that's a trademark for them. They really are proud of that," Joni said.
How many FLDS are left?
It's not entirely clear, but A&E estimates that about 6,000 to 10,000 people are still believed to be a part of the church. Some, however, broke away after Jeffs' arrest and are adjusting to their new lives.
What is the difference between FLDS and LDS?
FLDS is an offshoot of LDS, a.k.a. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Mormon church. And while the Mormon church has not practiced polygamy for a long time, FLDS still does. The FLDS church also has strict rules and dress codes for women, and devoutly follow their leader, Warren Jeffs.
What are Mormon groups called?
They primarily belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or LDS, which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has more than 16 million members worldwide. Another Mormon denomination, the Community of Christ, is centered in Independence, Missouri, and has about 250,000 members.
Why did Emma Smith leave the LDS Church?
Disagreements erupted between Emma and Brigham Young, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, over the extent to which both the Smith family and the Church had a right to properties in Joseph's name and were liable for his debts.
What are Mormon churches called?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian, Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ.
How many people are in the FLDS community?
According to FLDS community historian Ben Bistline, most of the community’s 8,000 residents are in two major families descended from a handful of founders who settled there in the 1930s to live a polygamist lifestyle. “Ninety percent of the community is related to one side or the other,” Bistline said. He notes that the FLDS claim to be “the chosen people, the chosen few,” and this is why “they marry closely to preserve the royal bloodline.” “In the FLDS community, marriages with cousins and even closer relatives are common,’ according to Bistline. ‘There are people that have married their nieces…People who have married their aunts.’” ( “Birth defect is plaguing children in FLDS towns,” Deseret News Feb 9, 2006)
Who was the LDS president in 1890?
In 1890, fourth LDS President Wilford Woodruff, in order to save his church, was forced to relent and promise that polygamy would be abandoned. In an article titled “The ‘Lectures on Faith’: A Case Study in Decanonization,” writers. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Steven C. Walker, and Allen D. Roberts note:
Why did Alex Joseph leave the LDS Church?
Alex Joseph, left the LDS Church to join the Apostolic United Brethren. He later left this group to form the Confederate Nations of Israel. He died in 1998.
Did the LDS Church stop polygamy?
While the 1890 Manifesto’s promise to abandon polygamy did enable the LDS Church to eventually regain its property, it did not stop the practice of plural marriage. Instead, members who were intent on living the principle did so by having their marriages solemnized in Mexico and Canada as well as off shore on ships. Leaders encouraged such relationships. When the news of this duplicity began to enrage American sensibilities, the LDS Church was eventually compelled to issue another declaration of policy, the Manifesto of 1904, signed by then-president Joseph F. Smith, who was a practicing polygamist. From this point on, the LDS Church began to seriously punish, via excommunication, those who continued to live in polygamous relationships.
How many Mormon fundamentalists are there?
At times, sources have claimed there are as many as 60,000 Mormon fundamentalists in the United States, with fewer than half of them living in polygamous households. However, others have suggested that there may be as few as 20,000 Mormon fundamentalistswith only 8,000 to 15,000 practicing polygamy. Founders of mutually rival Mormon fundamentalist denominations include Lorin C. Woolley , John Y. Barlow , Joseph W. Musser , Leroy S. Johnson , Rulon C. Allred , Elden Kingston, and Joel LeBaron. The largest Mormon fundamentalist groups are the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church) and the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB).
Who coined the term Mormon Fundamentalist?
The term “ Mormon fundamentalist ” appears to have been coined in the 1940s by LDS Church apostle Mark E. Petersen to refer to groups who had left the LDS Church. However, Mormon fundamentalists do not universally embrace this usage and many simply consider themselves to be “Mormon”. Today, the LDS Church considers the designation “Mormon” to apply only to its own members and not to members of other sects of the Latter Day Saint movement. One LDS leader went as far as claiming that there is no such thing as a “Mormon fundamentalist”, and that using the two terms together is a “contradiction.” The LDS Church suggests that the correct term to describe Mormon fundamentalist groups is “polygamist communities”.
What does Mormon fundamentalists dislike?
Mormon fundamentalists dislike the term “ polygamy ” and view “ polygyny ” as a term used only by outsiders. They also refer to plural marriage generically as “ the Principle “, “ celestial marriage “, “the New and Everlasting Covenant”, or “the Priesthood Work.”. The practice of plural marriage usually differs little from ...
What is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of God. School of the Prophets. Independent Mormon fundamentalists. Mormon fundamentalism (also called fundamentalist Mormonism) is a belief in the validity of selected fundamental aspects of Mormonism as taught and practiced in the nineteenth century, ...
How many children were removed from FLDS?
Beginning April 4, 2008, over a four-day period, troopers and child welfare officials searched the church’s YFZ Ranch and removed 416 children into the temporary custody of the State of Texas.
How many members are there in the Apostolic United Brethren?
Apostolic United Brethren. The Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) is estimated to have about 5000 to 10000 members throughout Utah, Montana, Arizona, Wyoming, Missouri, and Mexico and is perhaps the largest Mormon fundamentalist group.
Who is the current FLDS bishop?
The current FLDS bishop is James Oler. In 2002 the Mormon fundamentalists in Bountiful divided into two groups: about half are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church), and the other half are members of the Church of Jesus Christ (Original Doctrine) Inc.
Who were the leaders of the Mormon fundamentalist movement?
Some of the locally prominent men in Short Creek, after being excommunicated by the LDS Church, later became leaders of the Mormon fundamentalist movement, including Lorin C. Woolley, J. Leslie Broadbent, John Y. Barlow, Charles Zitting, Joseph White Musser, LeGrand Wooley, and Louis A. Kelsch.
What is the fundamentalist church?
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ( FLDS Church) is one of the largest of the fundamentalist Mormon denominations and one of the largest organizations in the United States having members who practice polygamy. The fundamentalist Mormon movement emerged in the early 20th century, when its founding members were excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), largely because of their refusal to abandon the practice of plural marriage after it was renounced in the " Second Manifesto " (1904).
Why did the FLDS excommunicate so many boys?
Former members have reported that the FLDS Church has excommunicated more than 400 teenage boys for offenses such as dating or listening to rock music. Some former members claim that the real reason for these excommunications is the fact that there are not enough women for each male to receive three or more wives. Six men, aged 18 to 22, filed a conspiracy lawsuit against Jeffs and Sam Barlow, a former Mohave County deputy sheriff and close associate of Jeffs, for the "systematic excommunication" of young men to reduce competition for wives.
Why is the FLDS church considered a hate group?
In its Spring 2005 Intelligence Report, the Southern Poverty Law Center added the FLDS Church to its list of hate groups because of the church's racist doctrines, which include its fierce condemnation of interracial relationships. Warren Jeffs has said, "the black race is the people through which the devil has always been able to bring evil unto the earth ".
Why are there excommunications in FLDS?
Some former members claim that the real reason for these excommunications is the fact that there are not enough women for each male to receive three or more wives. Six men, aged 18 to 22, filed a conspiracy lawsuit against Jeffs and Sam Barlow, a former Mohave County deputy sheriff and close associate of Jeffs, for the "systematic excommunication" of young men to reduce competition for wives.
Where is the FLDS church located?
The FLDS Church headquarters were originally located in what was then known as Short Creek in Arizona, on the southern border of Utah. The settlement eventually expanded into Utah and became incorporated as the twin municipalities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. The historic location of the church was in Hildale and Colorado City, but the church also has a long-standing colony in Bountiful, British Columbia. In 2004, news reports suggested a possible shift of the church's headquarters to Eldorado, Texas, where a temple had been built by FLDS Church members. Since the purchase of land located 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Eldorado, then called the Yearning for Zion Ranch, there appeared to be a shift in the headquarters of the church, along with a large exodus of the "most faithful" church members. Other newer church settlements are 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Pringle, South Dakota, and Mancos, Colorado, with a presence in Minot, North Dakota, and Grand Marais, Minnesota.
How many members are there in the FLDS?
The exact number of members of the FLDS Church is not known, due to the relatively closed cultish nature of the organization. It was estimated to have 6,000 to 10,000 members residing in the sister cities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona; Eldorado, Texas; Westcliffe, Colorado; Mancos, Colorado; Creston and Bountiful, British Columbia; and Pringle, South Dakota. However, in recent years, membership has suffered due to purges by Warren Jeffs, and members leaving. There are also developing communities near Benjamín Hill, Sonora (south of Nogales in the state of Sonora ); Ensenada, Baja California (south of Tijuana ); and Boise City, Oklahoma. Members of the FLDS Church have owned machine shops that have sold airplane components to the United States Air Force and the Defense Logistics Agency; from 1998 to 2007 the receipts from these components totaled more than US$ 1.7 million.
Why are LDS fundamentalists called Mormons?
Fundamentalist Mormons say the apostles who’d been called by Taylor to perpetuate plural marriages later called new men to carry on the tradition.
What was the feeling among fundamentalist Mormons?
The feeling among fundamentalist Mormons is that government pressure, not faith, was behind the end of plural marriage. Even with the manifesto, there was dissension within. Taylor ’s son, John W. Taylor, was an apostle in the LDS Church.
What was the battle against Mormon polygamy?
The battle against Mormon polygamy continued while Taylor was underground, with 1887's Edmunds-Tucker Act forcing women to testify against their husbands, requiri ng anti-polygamy oaths and laying the groundwork for the U.S. government to seize high-value church properties, including temples.
How many wives did Joseph Smith have?
Though historians say that Joseph Smith had numerous wives, and some estimates exceed 30, he didn’t admit it. His first wife (and only legal one) denied it, too. Brigham Young, who succeeded Smith and in 1847 led Mormon pioneers west to what became Utah, reportedly married 56 women.
When did the LDS Church disavow polygamy?
Even though polygamy was disavowed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1890, the LDS Church is still trying to shake its association with the practice, known among Mormons as plural marriage.
Who was the first president of the Church?
Joseph Smith, Jr., the church's founder and its first president, was the one who introduced the idea.
Do Mormons believe in plural marriage?
In fact , even if LDS Church members don’t practice plural marriage on earth, their scripture still teaches that in heaven it is possible. Mormons also believe that families are sealed together for eternity. Though historians say that Joseph Smith had numerous wives, and some estimates exceed 30, he didn’t admit it.
Who was the founder of Mormonism?
What’s interesting is that the initial founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith was assassinated in 1845. Following that, Brigham Young brought polygamy into the mainstream and it was actually part of the core doctrine of the religion through the late 1800’s. At this time, as much as 30% of Mormon households practiced it.
What do Mormons believe about body?
Mormons believe that your body is a gift from God so you should not disfigure yourself in any way. This closely mimics what most Christians believe and the Bible tells us the same. Our body is God’s temple so we shouldn’t do anything to it that is irreversible or that changes our appearance.
How Do Mormons View Divorce?
So, divorce is considered a necessary evil in the Mormon Church and they do believe in annulment and everything that goes along with it . But, Mormons actually have two weddings.
What does it mean to grow up in a Mormon household?
Growing up as a child in a Mormon household means a lot of quality time with the family, typically patient parents, and a lot of activities that involve the Mormon community. In this section, we’re taking a look at some of the Mormon rules that may apply to children or teenagers.
How do Mormons dress?
When it comes to clothing, Mormons dress similar to how we should as Christians. Keep in mind that they follow the same biblical principles as us so they’re still instructed to dress modestly.
Why are Mormons not wearing garments?
The garments are not there to protect the person from evil spirits or anything like that, these are all myths and most Mormons take great offense to it because these garments are an important piece of their faith.
What are the rules of Mormonism?
There are many Mormon rules that guide the way they think, act, eat, and live but none of them stray too far from what we all believe as Christians. We all believe in living a modest and honest life that glorifies Christ. If you can forget about the polygamy, Mormons aren’t that different than anyone else.
History
- The LDS Church began prohibiting the contracting of plural marriages within the United States in 1890 after a decree by church president Wilford Woodruff. However, the practice continued underground in the U.S. and openly in Mormon colonies in northern Mexico and southern Alberta. According to some sources, many polygamous men in the United States ...
Distinctive Doctrines and Practices
- Most Mormon fundamentalists embrace the term Fundamentalist(usually capitalized). Mormon fundamentalists share certain commonalities with other fundamentalist movements, but also possess some clear distinctions of their own. Fundamentalists within the Mormon tradition do see religious authority as inerrant and unchanging, but tend to locate this authority within their vi…
Terminology and Relationship with The Lds Church
- The term “Mormon fundamentalist” appears to have been coined in the 1940s by LDS Church apostle Mark E. Petersen to refer to groups who had left the LDS Church. However, Mormon fundamentalists do not universally embrace this usage and many simply consider themselves to be “Mormon”. Today, the LDS Church considers the designation “Mormon” to apply only to its ow…
Mormon Fundamentalist Sects
- The majority of Mormon fundamentalists belong to sects that have separated themselves from the LDS Church. As such, most are considered to be “Brighamite” sects within the Latter Day Saint movement.
Overview
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of the fundamentalist Mormon denominations whose members practice polygamy. The fundamentalist Mormon movement emerged in the early 20th century, when its founding members were excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), largely because of their refusal …
History
The residents in the area of Hildale and Colorado City have a long history of practicing polygamy, dating to the mid-19th century. It is taught in the community that Brigham Young, then president of the LDS Church, once visited the area and said "this will someday be the head and not the tail of the church. This will be the granaries of the Saints. This land will produce in abundance suf…
Locations
The FLDS Church headquarters were originally located in what was then known as Short Creek in Arizona, on the southern border of Utah. The settlement eventually expanded into Utah and became incorporated as the twin municipalities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. The historic location of the church was in Hildale and Colorado City, but the church also has a long-standing colony in Bountiful, British Columbia. In 2004, news reports suggested a possible shift o…
Membership
The exact number of members of the FLDS Church is not known, due to the relatively closed cultish nature of the organization. It was estimated to have 6,000 to 10,000 members residing in the sister cities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona; Eldorado, Texas; Westcliffe, Colorado; Mancos, Colorado; Creston and Bountiful, British Columbia; and Pringle, South Dakota. However, in recent years, membership has suffered due to purges by Warren Jeffs, and members leaving. Th…
Distinctive doctrines
The FLDS Church teaches the doctrine of plural marriage, which states that a man having multiple wives is ordained of and a commandment by God; the doctrine requires it in order for a man to receive the highest form of salvation. In the church it is generally believed that a man should have a minimum of three wives in order to fulfill this requirement. Connected with this doctrine is the patriarchal doctrine, the belief that wives are required to be subordinate to their husbands.
Criticism
At the time of his death, church leader Rulon Jeffs was confirmed to have married 22 women and fathered more than 60 children. It was estimated in 2018 that Warren Jeffs might have over 79 wives. Because the type of polygamy which is practiced is actually polygyny, critics of this lifestyle claim that the practice of it inevitably leads to bride shortages, child marriages, incest, and chil…
In popular culture
Popular media, including books and television programs, have focused on the FLDS Church.
• In 2013, the TV Channel TLC planned to air two reality television series named Breaking the Faith and Escaping the Prophet. Both center on members of the FLDS leaving the group and adjusting to the outside world.
• On June 28, 2014, Lifetime premiered a new movie called Outlaw Prophet: Warren Jeffs which stars Tony Goldwyn as Warren Jeffs. Lifetime has also made an original …
Popular media, including books and television programs, have focused on the FLDS Church.
• In 2013, the TV Channel TLC planned to air two reality television series named Breaking the Faith and Escaping the Prophet. Both center on members of the FLDS leaving the group and adjusting to the outside world.
• On June 28, 2014, Lifetime premiered a new movie called Outlaw Prophet: Warren Jeffs which stars Tony Goldwyn as Warren Jeffs. Lifetime has also made an original mov…
See also
• Big Love
• Caliente, Nevada: FLDS controversy
• Factional breakdown: Mormon fundamentalist sects
• Former FLDS members