About Face...FLDS Officials Retreat from YFZ Hunting Retreat Story
 Allred now claims property intended for FLDS community
 
The Eldorado Success
 
Eldoradoans can expect as many as 200 new neighbors soon, that's if the latest story being told by YFZ Ranch officials is to be believed. David Allred, the Hildale, Utah man who handled the purchase of some 1,691 acres of land four miles north of Eldorado, and who organized a company called YFZ L.L.C. to manage the property, met with Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran and Justice of the Peace James C. Doyle on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 28th in an attempt to address a storm of controversy surrounding the land.

Allred reportedly admitted that the story he had told locally that the YFZ Ranch would be a corporate hunting retreat, was just that, a story. Instead, he claimed that the ranch had always been intended as a community of members of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints. Allred said he had hoped the cover story would help to fend off the media frenzy that ultimately followed the FLDS to Eldorado.

Allred was joined in the meeting by three other men, Ernie Jessop, who was identified as the Presiding Elder of the group and the man who is currently in charge of day-to-day activities at the YFZ Ranch. Also present were Allan Steed, who holds the office of Patriarch in the FLDS and Roy (or Royce) Steed who was identified as High Counsel.

The men reportedly told Doran and Doyle that they wanted to "be proactive" and notify local officials about their intentions at the ranch. They said the hunting retreat story had "backfired," thereby bringing the very media attention that they sought to avoid.

Sheriff Doran, said he had only a couple of hours notice about the meeting, tried to arrange for the men to meet with County Judge Johnny Griffin only to find that the judge was out of town and wouldn't be home until later that evening. He said he called Judge Jimmy Doyle in so that more than one person would be present to hear the men's story.

Doran said he prepared a list of questions he wanted answered, as well as questions he has heard from community members. Included among those questions was the issue of polygamy.

"They admitted that, yes, plural marriage, or celestial marriage, as they refer to it, is at the very core of their belief system and is a very sacred part of their religious beliefs," Doran said.

"I told them that it is unlawful in Texas to engage in two or more state-sanctioned marriages at the same time," Doran said. "But, polygamous marriages, or marriages that are off-the-books, aren't addressed by state law."

"I made it clear, however, that taking on a spiritual or celestial bride under the age of 16 and the consumation of such a marriage is considered a felony in Texas," the Sheriff said. "Such a violation could result in state prison time followed by a lifetime of having to register as a sex offender."

Doran said that the men told him that some members of their group may have been involved in underage marriages in the past, but that the practice is not tolerated anymore.

"They say they want to be left alone to live as they choose, without interference from the government," Doran added.
Some of the interference the men are concerned about came last week from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which cracked down on the YFZ Ranch for air and water quality violations.

"They were concerned that the TCEQ had been called in on them specifically because of who they are," Doran continued. "I assured them that the city and county, as well as several local businesses, are regularly monitored by the TCEQ. Yes, the state has tough environmental rules, but they are tough for everyone."

Another of the questions the men addressed were the buildings that are being constructed on the YFZ. They told Doran and Doyle that two more buildings are under construction, bring the total to five. The buildings are designed to house a group of Prophet Warren Jeff's closest followers, the men reportedly said.When asked about the number of inhabitants Allred replied that a group of people, not to exceed 200, will inhabit the buildings when they are done. He said the individuals will be hand-picked by Warren Jeffs.

The number, higher than previously claimed by the ranch officials, prompted another series of questions.

"They told us that they represent the FLDS church under its Prophet Warren Jeffs," Doran said. "They said the group is nonviolent and hard-working, but that they are a closed community."

For his part Judge Doyle asked the men if they planned to do any shopping or buy any materials in Eldorado. The men replied that most of their building material is being shipped in from Bountiful, British Columbia, Canada. They acknowledged buying some supplies at City Lumber in San Angelo and a tractor at Porter Henderson Implement Company, also in San Angelo. As for groceries, and everyday household supplies, the men explained that they buy in such large quantities that it is more cost effective to purchase from a wholesale warehouse like Sam's.

Among other questions the men addressed were:
  • Q. Is the FLDS a threat to our local indigent health care or welfare system.
  • A. No, their intent is not to move to Eldorado and apply for welfare, or overwhelm the local indigent health care system.

  • Q. Can our school system expect an increase from the new FLDS community?
  • A. No, they do not plan on enrolling any students in the public school system. Members of the FLDS currently home school their children under a Utah-approved home school system. They anticipate enrolling their children under a similar system here in Texas.

  • Q. Will there be FLDS owned construction companies competing with local contractors?
  • A. No, they do not intend to take away any jobs from the local economy and they don't anticipate forming any construction companies here.

  • Q. Why did the FLDS choose Eldorado?
  • A. They looked at several pieces of property in the West Texas area and chose the property north of Eldorado because it appealed to them and the price range fit what they were willing to pay.

  • Q. Does the FLDS plan to take over the local government?
  • A. No, they say they are a closed society that prefers to be left alone to raise their families according to their own beliefs. They claim to have no desire to run for any local office, thus drawing unwanted attention to themselves. They did say, however, that they reserve the right to vote and that they regularly practice that right.

  • Q. Should we worry about the FLDS recruiting local youths to join their community?
  • A. No, they say it is not their practice to recruit from outside their ranks. They maintain that the new community will consist of a select few of their true believers who closely follow the teachings of the FLDS, or the original Mormon doctrine.
When asked what he thought of the new story being offered by the FLDS leaders Justice of the Peace James Doyle said, "We'll just have to wait and see."

For his part, Sheriff Doran says he remains skeptical and will continue to monitor things closely at the YFZ Ranch.
 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published May 6, 2004
 
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