The Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) is a fundamentalist Mormon sect that split from the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon church) in the early 20th century. The FLDS believes in the original teachings of Mormon founder Joseph Smith, including plural marriage (polygamy), and considers itself the true successor to Smith’s church. Key beliefs and practices of the FLDS include:
Origins and History
The FLDS has its origins in the late 19th century when the LDS church disavowed polygamy under pressure from the U.S. government. Some Mormons refused to give up the practice and formed fundamentalist groups to continue living polygamy. In the 1920s, a group of fundamentalist Mormons settled along the Arizona-Utah border and were led by Joseph Musser. After Musser’s death, leadership passed to Leroy S. Johnson who founded the FLDS in 1954. The FLDS established its headquarters along the Utah-Arizona border in an area called Short Creek (later renamed Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah).
Under Leroy Johnson, the FLDS grew rapidly and expanded settlements into neighboring states like Texas. After Johnson died in 1986, Rulon Jeffs assumed leadership of the church. Jeffs had much more authoritarian leadership and took dozens of wives. When Rulon Jeffs died in 2002, his son Warren Jeffs became prophet. Under Warren Jeffs’ leadership, the church became even more isolated and authoritarian. Jeffs was arrested in 2006 and is currently serving a life sentence for sexual assault of minors. With Jeffs imprisoned, the church has splintered into rival factions.
Polygamy
The FLDS believes in practicing polygamy or “plural marriage” as commanded by God. They believe Jesus Christ taught polygamy and Mormon founder Joseph Smith received a revelation to restore the practice. Male members of the FLDS can marry and have children with multiple wives. Women are taught from childhood to expect and prepare for a polygamous marriage. Often these marriages involve older men marrying teen girls which has led to prosecution for sexual misconduct of minors. The FLDS practices arranged marriages chosen by the prophet, who aims to ensure qualified and worthy men get wives of childbearing age. Women have little autonomy in choosing spouses or refusing arranged marriages.
Authoritarian Leadership
The FLDS is characterized by authoritarian leadership under a “Prophet” who is considered God’s spokesman on earth. Absolute obedience and submission to the prophet is required. The prophet makes all major decisions for the church and members must get the prophet’s approval to marry, work, or make other life choices. The prophet also manages the distribution of wives. Members consider any dissent against the prophet’s decisions as going against God’s will. This authoritarian system enabled abuse of power by former leaders like Warren Jeffs.
Segregation from Society
The FLDS lives in isolated, closed off communities in remote areas of Utah, Arizona, Texas, and South Dakota. They believe the outside world (referred to as “Gentiles”) is evil and wicked. Contact with outsiders is limited and strictly controlled. The church create their own municipalities like Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona where they control all aspects of local government, law enforcement, and education. Their schools emphasize FLDS beliefs and give limited education. Media and outside information are censored. This isolation indoctrinates members and makes it difficult for those wishing to leave.
Dress and Grooming Standards
The FLDS has strict dress and grooming standards rooted in modesty and tying people to the group. Women wear prairie-style dresses with long sleeves and puffy shoulders, along with braided updos. Girls are dressed like adult women, including wearing Makeup. Men dress in button-up shirts with long sleeves and trousers. Their hair is cut short. Clothing helps identify insiders and keep out outside influences. Members who don’t follow standards can face punishments like public reprimands or work duty. Some clothing may also hold special meaning, like a bride wearing a blue wedding dress as a sign of purity.
No Recreational Activities
The FLDS prohibits most recreation and entertainment considered frivolous or worldly, including television, movies, the internet, video games, and secular music. They can only do wholesome activities that bring them closer to God like singing hymns, praying, and reading scriptures. Children have structured playtime with toys approved by the prophet. Adults focus time on worship, household work, and jobs serving the community. These prohibitions isolate members from outside worldviews and make leaving the church difficult due to lack of education and work history.
Economic Structure
The FLDS practices a communal approach to economics and sharing of resources. Members tithe income to the church. The church distributes resources like housing, food, clothing, and property according to members’ needs. Most businesses are communal operations overseen by leading priesthood men. Work assigned by the prophet takes priority. Children provide unpaid labor. Wives are dependent on husbands and church welfare. This economic structure creates financial dependency and makes leaving difficult without outside support.
Obedience over Emotion
Members are taught that obedience to God and his prophet matters above all else, including one’s own desires, emotions, or family. Feelings are considered unreliable and dangerous compared to following God’s commands. Members suppress individuality or dissent. Leaving the group or disobeying the prophet, even for one’s family, would be considered wicked. This emphasis on obedience enables control and exploitation by leaders. Some former members describe feeling unable to leave, even when aware of abuses, due to fears of damnation.
Sexual Abuse and Child Marriages
Under Warren Jeffs’ leadership, the FLDS faced increasing scrutiny for underage marriage and sexual abuse. Jeffs arranged marriages between older prominent men and underage brides as young as 12. Girls were removed from school and married off quickly. Boys were expelled from the community to reduce competition for brides. Some boys faced child abuse for minor infractions. Jeffs and other senior men sexually abused girls citing religious justification. Some children born from polygamy were intentionally misidentified to hide familial relations. Jeffs is now serving life in prison for child sexual assault.
Birth Defects
Due to the small, isolated nature of FLDS communities and members marrying within the group, genetic disorders are common in the FLDS. Conditions like fumarase deficiency and extremely rare syndromes have appeared frequently, likely due to the closed religious group intermarrying over generations. The church discourages members from seeking genetics counseling or tests which might discourage marriage within the faith. Some former members describe pressure to go forward with marriages between close relatives despite knowledge it could impact children.
Lost Boys
To free up young brides for older church leaders, the FLDS began expelling young boys, teens, and young men, known as “Lost Boys.” Boys faced banishment by the prophet for even minor infractions like wearing short sleeve shirts or having interest in girls. Once exiled, boys lost family and community connections overnight. Many went from highly structured FLDS life to experiencing homelessness in cities like St. George, Utah with no education, life skills, or support systems. This practice destroyed hundreds of lives and tore apart families.
Questioning Faith and Leaving
Members who doubt or question the FLDS faith face enormous pressure to suppress doubts and remain obedient. Open dissent can result in public shaming, physical abuse, or exile from family and friends. Leaving the church often means cutting ties to one’s entire support system. Former members describe psychological trauma, depression, and suicide attempts after leaving. Transitioning to the outside world can be overwhelming after isolation. Government agencies and non-profit groups have emerged to help exiled members with housing, education, employment, and new community ties.
Current Status
After Warren Jeffs arrest, the FLDS fractured into several rival groups and lost followers. Estimates suggest current membership may be under 5,000 compared to 10,000 at its peak. Communities like Colorado City remain loyalist strongholds, though the mayor is now an ex-FLDS member. Groups in Texas, South Dakota, and Canada have broken ties with the main church. Rival leaders like Winston Blackmore and William E. Jessop claim authority and plural wives. With leadership in flux, the future of the FLDS remains uncertain.
In summary, the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints emerged in the early 20th century dedicated to preserving Mormon founder Joseph Smith’s original teachings, including polygamy. The church is characterized by authoritarian leadership by a Prophet, isolation from society, strict dress and lifestyle rules, arranged marriages including underage girls, and a communal economic structure. These factors have enabled exploitation and abuse by leaders like Warren Jeffs. While the church faces uncertain times after Jeffs’ arrest, fundamentalist Mormon groups continue practicing polygamy despite mainstream LDS church rejection of the doctrine.
