Avatar4321 Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Why don't we, as a church, do more to reach out and help the people being abused in many of these sects. Why aren't we preaching to reclaim them to the truth church?Or are there efforts I'm unaware of?
Calm Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 (edited) There are efforts. It has been awhile, but there is a pretty extensive set up for "lost boys" in Southern Utah and Nevada last I heard. Had a discussion about it waiting for Peter Pan to start with one of those involved. Edited June 28, 2015 by calmoriah
Popular Post halconero Posted June 28, 2015 Popular Post Posted June 28, 2015 Efforts that you're not aware of. I grew up in Creston, BC. This is home to the largest polygamist group in Canada, currently divided into three parties: those following Warren Jeffs, others Winston Blackmore, and the unaffiliated. The local ward and stake does reach out to them, though the process is complicated. Some of the biggest issues which make any outreach difficult include, but are not limited to the following: - Gender inequality and mistrust of the priesthood. Many of the women, especially those who leave, associate the priesthood with things like being reassigned to different husbands, being ordered to go into a period of isolated "repentance" (this usually involves leaving children and family behind to go do manual labour in northern Alberta or British Columbia) and other abuses. It's hard for them to dissociate the priesthood from these practices. In my experience sisters (both missionaries and regular members) are much more able to connect - Hostility from the community, both member and non-member. Educators, employers, companies, and other people in town are generally hostile or at least putoff by those coming from Bountiful (the name of the group). It makes it difficult to integrate, as the cultures/societies are so different in very significant ways - The church asks them to renounce any belief in their leaders' priesthood authority, but asks them to maintain a testimony of plural marriage. Obviously this causes issues for most of those leaving. - A desire to maintain families together. It would be inaccurate to label every man involved in plural marriage as an abuser, and every woman as a beaten house-wife. There are some very good men that I have met there who love their families, their children, and their wives. They provide for them, support them, are good neighbours, and great people. Some who have separated themselves from Warren Jeffs or Winston Blackmore have come to church, but find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place: adhere to the church's standards for baptism, which currently includes mortal monogamy, and abandon portions of their family, or continue to live polygamy but give up any chance for integration. In my experience, both they and the church have advised he latter. 6
halconero Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Oh, by the way. For those who actually begin progressing towards baptism, it's quite a lengthy process. All those raised or associated with a polygamist household or group, whether they be a child, husband, wife or even a monogamous family (there are a few of those who still associate with the polygamists sects/sustain them) have to write a letter to the First Presidency detailing their renunciation of any priesthood authority their former leaders might have. Their baptismal interview, if they were associated with the group yet non-participant in a polygamist relationship, is with the mission president automatically. If they have participated in a polygamist relationship they have their baptismal interview with a General Authority. I won't say who, or which particular Quorum, but you'll have to take my word and experience on this. 4
JLHPROF Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 A desire to maintain families together. It would be inaccurate to label every man involved in plural marriage as an abuser, and every woman as a beaten house-wife. There are some very good men that I have met there who love their families, their children, and their wives. They provide for them, support them, are good neighbours, and great people. Some who have separated themselves from Warren Jeffs or Winston Blackmore have come to church, but find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place: adhere to the church's standards for baptism, which currently includes mortal monogamy, and abandon portions of their family, or continue to live polygamy but give up any chance for integration. In my experience, both they and the church have advised he latter. Well of course. The only polygamists that could be "reclaimed" into the Church are those who left their families.Those who love their families and have strong relationships with their families cannot be welcomed into the Church. As you said, it is inaccurate to assume all polygamist want to "escape" from polygamy, even if they lose their testimonies of those fundamentalist groups, they still have families they love, spouses who love each other, children being raised.There really is no way for them to be baptized into the Church, even if leaving a fundmentalist group and being converted to the Church. Oh, by the way. For those who actually begin progressing towards baptism, it's quite a lengthy process. All those raised or associated with a polygamist household or group, whether they be a child, husband, wife or even a monogamous family (there are a few of those who still associate with the polygamists sects/sustain them) have to write a letter to the First Presidency detailing their renunciation of any priesthood authority their former leaders might have. Their baptismal interview, if they were associated with the group yet non-participant in a polygamist relationship, is with the mission president automatically. If they have participated in a polygamist relationship they have their baptismal interview with a General Authority. I won't say who, or which particular Quorum, but you'll have to take my word and experience on this. Any former practicing polygamist is required to be interviewed by an Apostle to be baptized into the Church. I have known several former fundamentalists who have gone through this process. As you said those fundamentalists who never practiced polygamy can be approved by a local authority. 1
BookofMormonLuvr Posted June 29, 2015 Posted June 29, 2015 The assumptions about "many polygamist groups" in this thread are faulty and apply really to only two group: Warren Jeff's FLDS and the Kingston's.Independents, and other organized groups, are rather normal and would be offended at idea of needing to be "rescued". 2
Avatar4321 Posted June 29, 2015 Author Posted June 29, 2015 I'm sore some non members are offended at our efforts to rescue them from hell. We are still required to preach to them.
BookofMormonLuvr Posted June 29, 2015 Posted June 29, 2015 I'm sore some non members are offended at our efforts to rescue them from hell. We are still required to preach to them.You might start by getting a better understanding of them, rather them lumping them all together with the FLDS and Kingstons. Approaching them from the views expressed here will seriously hamper your efforts, as your mis-characterizations will make it hard for you to be taken seriously. 1
Tsuzuki Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 I'm sore some non members are offended at our efforts to rescue them from hell. We are still required to preach to them.It will be an interesting day when polygamy becomes legal, and they start preaching to you.
longview Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) It will be an interesting day when polygamy becomes legal, and they start preaching to you.Do not lose the distinction between practicing polygamy in your church (whichever it is, even if your are unaffiliated) in accordance with your God (depending on your testimony on whether He has commanded it or not) as apposed to whether it is legal in your community or not at the appropriate time or not. Edited June 30, 2015 by longview
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