Arrest raises reactions in polygamist groups
 
By Rachel Tueller
rtueller@thespectrum.com
 
ST. GEORGE - The arrest of polygamist group leader, Warren Jeffs, the self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, raised strong reactions Tuesday among others often grouped with, but not affiliated with, Jeffs and his followers.

Some believe the issues surrounding Jeffs have blackened the eye of polygamy culture.

"We're not like the FLDS, we are willing to talk to government officials. We don't want abuse, neglect and domestic violence - we believe in being hard-working, paying our taxes and taking care of our children that come into our families," said Susie Timpson, who serves as chairwoman for the Centennial Park Action Committee.

CPAC conducts public outreach and education and represents the views of a group that broke away from the FLDS church years ago and now lives in the community of Centennial Park, Ariz., which neighbors Colorado City. CPAC's mission is to combat the negative focus media most often center reports of polygamy on, Timpson said.

"We've realized that it's important for people to come into our community and to see our people, to see our schools, the culture - so that the only thing out there isn't negative things that are just swirling around in the media," she said.

CPAC has opened the doors of the community to various media outlets. CPAC's also extended educational outreach to government agencies and those within its own community. CPAC has made presentations to Utah and Arizona Attorneys General offices and participated this month in a youth rally in Salt Lake City at the county building. The group also works routinely with the Arizona Department of Economic Security and Child Protective Services.

"We have had an opportunity to talk about ourselves and show that the stereotypes are not really true," Timpson said Tuesday.

She said many in her group are relieved that Jeffs was brought into custody. The Jeffs issue, Timpson said, has created a problem for her group, which distinguishes itself from both the FLDS church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and calls itself The Work of Jesus Christ.

"If we could really come to the truth of some of these things and if there are crimes that are committed, if people are being abused or underage marriages occur, it would be more beneficial than to have these high-flying rumors occur," Tipson said. "If we could come to the truth through his being apprehended then it would be beneficial."

But CPAC members also believe it's important for Jeffs to receive the right to defend himself in court.

Although the groups are not connected, some view factors surrounding recent events involving Jeffs is questionable.

"We think it's strange that he should be on the 10 Most Wanted list in the first place, considering the crimes he has been charged with and what the other nine on that same list have been charged with," Timpson said.

CPAC member Marlyne Hammon sees two sides to the issue. Hammon can empathize in some respects with those who may suffer from the impacts of the events surrounding Jeffs' arrest, but having come from polygamist culture - not the FLDS religion - and seeing the negativity about polygamists who are often broad-brushed in the media, Hammon's also concerned about a fair trial.

"With the anti-polygamist rhetoric that has been so prevalent in the media I'm afraid people have already convicted him in their minds. To me it would be hard to find somebody who is not aware, to be impartial about it. That's one of my concerns because I know how people look at polygamists," said Hammon.

But if crimes were committed by Jeffs, Hammon hopes justice would be served.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published August 30, 2006
 
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