Cross-border power struggle hits B.C. colony of polygamists
 Son of sect's ailing leader strips Canadian of authority, reassigns his youngest wives
 
By Robert Matas
The Globe and Mail
 
VANCOUVER -- A power struggle over the leadership of a polygamist religious group is tearing apart the controversial colony of Bountiful in British Columbia and may force the Canadian leader to leave with more than a dozen of his wives.

Winston Blackmore, 46, has served for almost 20 years as deputy to the Prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bountiful, an isolated farming community of about 1,000 people 750 kilometres east of Vancouver.

Rulon Jeffs of Colorado City, Ariz., had been the breakaway group's Prophet.

Mr. Jeffs is 94 or 95 years old, and in failing health. Mr. Blackmore had expected to be recognized as Prophet when Mr. Jeffs dies.

But this summer, in a pre-emptive move, Warren Jeffs, one of Rulon Jeffs's 60 children, assumed the title, in effect undermining Mr. Blackmore's claim to the top position in the religion.

Moving swiftly, Warren Jeffs demoted Mr. Blackmore from his position of leader of the Canadian colony and stripped him of his authority, including his power to officiate at weddings. The younger Mr. Jeffs also mounted a concerted attack to discredit Mr. Blackmore within the religion, and "reassigned" Mr. Blackmore's youngest wives to men in the United States, a change the wives have refused.

People familiar with the colony said Mr. Blackmore has at least 29 wives and about 100 children. Many of the young wives were sent to him from colonies in the United States.

A breakaway group from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established the Canadian colony of Bountiful along the Canada-U.S. border, north of Idaho, in the late 1940s. The church's headquarters are in Hildale, Utah.

Polygamy is a tenet of the church, and observers estimate that its communities in Canada and the U.S. include about 30,000 polygamists. Its supreme official, the Prophet, has sole authority to assign women for marriage.

The quarrel has opened a rift between Canadian and U.S. church members and caused tension among the Canadians, those who have inside knowledge of the secretive community said.

Ron Barton was appointed by the Utah legislature to investigate suspected crimes of victimization committed against young girls in closed communities such as white-supremacist groups and polygamist communities. His work has dealt mostly with allegations of underage marriages, incest, domestic violence, welfare fraud and tax evasion.

Mr. Barton said from Salt Lake City that he had been told Mr. Blackmore had been "taken out of power" in the church and that Rulon Jeffs was taken to hospital in the past week or two.

"There are a number of things going on," Mr. Barton said. "Warren Jeffs is attempting to solidify his power."

The reports have not been verified, he added.

Mr. Barton said he is concerned about the transfer of girls among the polygamist colonies in the United States and Canada.

Recent news-media reports indicate that young teenagers were brought to Canada from colonies in Utah and Arizona to be married in Bountiful. However, the RCMP said they have found no evidence to support criminal charges.

"There's a perception among many people in society that polygamy is a victimless crime," Mr. Barton said. "Everyone knows about polygamy [in the church colonies] and says, 'People have different standards; it is just part of their culture.'

"On the other hand, young girls need to be protected when they are too young to make a decision."

Jay Beswick, an American who follows the affairs of the breakaway church closely, said the campaign against Mr. Blackmore includes differences over doctrine, allegations of financial irregularities and a dispute over authority to assign young girls for marriage.

Mr. Blackmore is believed to have officiated at marriages in Bountiful that Warren Jeffs had not arranged, he said.

Mr. Blackmore has been called to account for his role in providing shelter along the Canada-U.S. border for a young woman who ran away from a church colony in Colorado City, Ariz., Mr. Beswick said.

Mr. Beswick said that Warren Jeffs tried to strip Mr. Blackmore of his younger wives and kick him off the land. After the women insisted on staying in Mr. Blackmore's compound, Warren Jeffs sent their parents to Canada to persuade them to comply. But the tactics failed, he said.

Debbie Palmer, who is Mr. Blackmore's stepmother, was two years old when her parents joined the colony of Bountiful in 1957. She left Bountiful 13 years ago. She said that the factions in Bountiful appear to be at a standoff. "It's a really weird situation."

"These things just do not happen at Bountiful," she said, referring to the wives' defiance of an order from headquarters.

Her half-brother Jim Oler has been appointed to replace Mr. Blackmore, Ms. Palmer said.

Rulon and Warren Jeffs had asked Mr. Blackmore's brother Richard to be the deputy in Canada, but he refused, she said. The position subsequently was offered to another Bountiful resident, who also refused.

Mr. Oler accepted the position temporarily during the transition in leadership, she added.

Mr. Oler said he does not want the affairs of the colony publicized. "These things are private in our church, and they do not need to be discussed. It is really something I do not want to discuss with you."

Warren Jeffs, who lives in Colorado City, was not available for an interview. Colorado City Mayor Dan Barlow said that Mr. Jeffs does not speak to reporters.

Mr. Blackmore did not respond to requests for an interview.
 
globeandmail.com
Originally published September 9, 2002
 
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