It has been a long time coming, but justice has finally caught up with the sick and perverted leader of a religious cult, who took child brides as young as 12 in a lifetime of polygamy and debauchery in the name of religion. Warren Jeffs quite deservedly got a life sentence for aggravated sexual assault, plus 20 years for sexual assaulting a child.

As leader of the Fundamentalist Mormon church, Jeffs preached and practiced polygamy, basing his life on that of Joseph Smith,supposed founder of Mormonism in 1820 in New York state, and himself believed to have had no fewer than 30 wives.

55 year-old Jeffs trial was, without doubt the most high-profile prosecution against a Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints member to date, the accused representing himself most of the time, but absent from the final stages, calling the whole thing a violation of his religious rights.

Those so-called religious rights held no sway with the Texas jury that needed 40 minutes only to sentence him to the maximum allowed, following his last week being convicted on two counts relating to 12 and 15 year-old girls that he had taken as brides.

His so-called church, based since 2004 in Eldorado, west Texas, and claiming to adhere to the traditional Mormon practice of plural marriage, is now finished, which is just as well, as the real Mormon church abandoned polygamy as far back as1890.

Jeffs had ten thousand self-dubbed polygamist Mormons as followers, himself having 78 wives, including 24 that took as brides at 16 or even younger. Audio evidence of this sicko giving sexual instructions to underage wives was played to horrified jurors at the trial, who also saw DNA evidence of Jeffs having fathered a child with a girl aged only 15.

Such a despot was he, within his church, that fathers refusing to handing over their daughters to him got expelled, and Jeffs was at fault for breaking up 300 families, offering fathers their own young brides in exchange for their daughters

This deluded pervert truly believed that his outrageous behavior was an example of a pure, natural way of life, and one of the laws of god, but thankfully the jury saw through the ridiculous religious fervor to the damaged personality that simmers just below the surface. Sexual abuse of children is the vilest of unnatural acts, and this awful individual got what he thoroughly deserved. Thank heaven for sanity among the jury at this trial, and may he never get out.

Atheists Enjoy Sex Better Than Any Other Group of People

Recent studies have found out that atheists have a better sex life than followers of religion who are normally plagued with guilt and therefore cannot enjoy their sex lives to the maximum. 

Researchers found out that religious people are normally plagued with intense guilt during a sexual activity and for several days if not weeks after the sexual activity has occurred.

Unlike believers or followers of religion, atheists are hardly plagued with guilt if they engage in intercourse and this group of people are normally willing to discuss their sexual fantasies since they are not governed by a set of laws or rules which is normally the case of the religious people. Atheists tend to get more satisfaction during sexual intercourse than religious people.

The study into this issue was led by psychologist Darrel Ray and Amanda Brown both from the Kansas University. The pair surveyed almost 15,000 people amongst whom included followers of religion and non-believers.

Both groups of people when questioned admitted that carried out sexual activities like the viewing of adult movies, masturbation to pornography, having affairs and even engaging in oral sex.

The study however found out that the followers of religion did not enjoy their experiences because of the laws associated with their religious beliefs. This therefore left them feeling guilty and regretting their actions. But this was hardly the case in the non-believers.

According to the survey, strict religious groups such as Mormons rated their sex lives the lowest among all religious groups. They ranked highest on the scale of sexual guilt. The Jehovah’s Witness came in second on the scale of sexual guilt and were followed by Pentecostal, the Seventh Day Adventist, and Baptist.

Homeschooling gives the parents control of who and what influences the learning experience of their children and they can tailor the curriculum to benefit the needs and interest of each child.

Individual attention is another excellent benefit of homeschooling because you can control the pace needed for the students to absorb the lessons. English lessons may come easy for an individual student, therefore, more time could be devoted to math, science, geography or other studies. There is not a time requirement per subject which gives the student the advantage of learning without the stress of competing with others.

Homeschooling can become an extended family activity with parents and siblings involved in the learning process. Field trips can be quality family time where everyone learns to make decisions without negative peer pressure.

Parents can tailor the curriculum to instill confidence in the child without competition for individual attention. Each student is different, some learn from reading or writing while others comprehend better from seeing things in action. Parents can decide when the student needs more help or offer rewards on major accomplishments.

Students in the public school environment are exposed to the moral values of the teachers, coaches and the other students. Parent educators can teach respect for others, morals and religious rites that help the students develop character and values that will make them become responsible and respected adults.

Public school has its place and it is the most economical and convenient educational choice for most students. However, some parents are concerned that their children are being either pushed to hard or are being held back from their full potential by waiting for other students to catch up with the class. Other issues concern discipline, health requirements and grouping children by age rather than ability.

If you can provide an income sufficient for one parent to devote the time required, to follow through with your children’s education, homeschooling may be the best way to accommodate the individual needs and interest of your family.

You should contact your local school board, county or state officials concerning the requirements for homeschooling. They can help you with curriculum and provide the information needed to be successful with your child’s education.

Being barefoot, because it makes you feel so much more in touch with the earth than shoes do

Cuddles, because they feel good

Dragons, because they gaurd treasure

Elephants, because they never forget

Fermatas, because you hold them

Glee, because they’re making old songs new again

Harry Potter, because he’s everyone’s favorite wizard

Invader Zim, because Gir is cute

Jacob Black, because life is better half naked

Kissing, because it’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on

Love letters, because everyone likes to get mail

Mormons, because they have funny underwear

Nymphomaniacs, because they have fun

Octomom, because anyone crazy enough to have that many kids at once has got to be awesome

Pi, because it’s 2/3 of pie

Quail, because they are so small and cute

Rowing, because it is the sport of the gods

Smiling, because when you do it on a motorcycle you get bugs in your teeth

Tennessee, because you can marry your cousin there

Umbrellas, because they keep the rain off your face

Vincent Van Gogh, because he chopped off his own ear

Washington State, because vampires don’t live there

X, Malcom, because he died for what he believed in

Yellowcard, because their new album comes out next month

Zorro, because he’s the greatest hero-villain ever

Advocates for polygamy are closely watching the Supreme Court in British Columbia, Canada, as a case is set to challenge the legal obstruction of polygamy there. With the new TLC reality show, “Sister Wives” (about a family of polygamists) gaining attention here in the United States, how far off is the challenge to the laws in this country that make polygamy illegal? Advocates for it argue that what right does the law have to come between what consenting adults agree to?

You may be surprised at the history of the laws that made marriages to multiple women illegal in this country. There may be an opening to make a case for allowing it especially given the precedence being set state by state for same-sex marriages. As we look over what the driving forces were for making polygamy illegal, we have to ask ourselves if the founding fathers left the door open for the challenge.

When the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act was introduced in Congress back in 1862, the act was designed specifically against Mormons on two accounts. One reason was to prevent the practice of multiple marriages and the other was to limit the property dominance of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in what was then just the Utah territory. The law was enacted with certain compromised not often discussed when talking about the famous president of the time. President Abraham Lincoln signed the act into law, but essentially gave Brigham Young and his followers a pass in exchange for them not getting involved in the Civil War. The law that Lincoln signed had no funds allocated to enforce it. It is thought that Lincoln himself (as President) gave Young a sort of “wink and handshake” about the law with that stipulation that Young and his growing followers would not weigh in on the war. In fact, federal forces in Utah were given specific instruction not to press the issue with the local inhabitants so while monogamy was the law of the land, it wasn’t strictly enforced where bigamy was happened most often.

By 1882, the act was amended by the Edmunds Act (followed latter by the Edmunds-Tucker Act) which made polygamy a felony. This was America at the height of the Victorian-era and polygamy was seen as an immoral act similar to slavery. The idea of a man marrying multiple women did not meet within the confines of the conservative era and the issue was publicized as a form of slavery. The standard of law set by these amended acts remains as law to this day.

Over the years, there have been challenges to the law and in the case of Reynolds vs. U.S. in 1897, the Supreme Court ruled that the ban on polygamy did not interfere with the right of freedom of religion because bigamy was not protected under the freedom of religion. The Court cited in it’s decision that a person could only marry one person because that is the way it had been since King James 1 of England in English law and that was the basis for America’s laws at the time of our country’s founding. The Court argued that should bigamy be allowed, what would be next as a form of religious allowance – human sacrifices? It further stated that Congress could not legislate against religious opinions but could do so against religious actions.

With today’s culture being extremely different than that of 19th-century America, there are questions as to whether the rulings then could be upheld in light of a more liberal country. Certainly, laws against slavery of any sort are now separate from laws about marriage. With the equality for all at the center of civil rights today and the apathetic principle of government has no place between what happens between consenting adults, it seems somewhat likely that bigamy laws and polygamy could be challenged amidst the challenges of same-sex marriages. 

As America moves forward into this new century, traditional principles based solidly in Christianity will continue to be challenged. With the growth of non-Christian beliefs, new influences from Islam and Atheists, and a growing sentiment of live-and-let-live, the standards set for the last two centuries in this country will likely be further eradicated under the banner of new freedoms. What has the American Christian done to encourage such actions? Has the exclusion of certain citizens created animosity in this country against Christians so much so that Christian beliefs will likely become the minority? Has Christ’s call to make disciples of all nations gone unanswered? The future has never been more uncertain.

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by

you’ll soon find out.

Top of Form 1

Hi, my name is Martin Kertzman and i am not an alcoholic. no, no, i know you can’t tell by look at me, but trust me, i haven’t touched a drop until it was gone. I’ve spent hours curled up, almost lifeless in bathroom puking as if there was no tomorrow. i have ruined relationships that i held most dear, i can’t even remember my kids names, if i have any. Its time to change.

Last week i was at a bar, not drinking when my girlfriend called and asked if i would go and pick up some milk on the way home, i said yes. i never made it home that night, i was out not drinking with a bunch of mormon party animals, our battle cry was joseph smith and our drink of choice was moral suppority, i woke up that mourning in a tent out side a planet parenthood, with a sign that neatly read, stop killing babies. how did i get mixed up with such a crazy crew!

i got home around noon, my girl friend was at work, and i took this time to par take in not drinking, so i sat there, wasting away, my blood completely ridden with booze free blood, my brain was sharp and quick. so i took this time to waste my time reading and broaden my horizons, i know it was selfish, i know it wasn’t right, i know she would be hurt, but it didn’t matter. The temptation to not drink was too powerful, i caved. and this is when i realized i couldn’t do this alone, she never did come home.

Later that night i was back at some bar, drinking water, which i know is extremely good for you and considered the source of all life, but thats my sober mind playing tricks on me. i knew it, and there i was, chugging it down as if there was no tomorrow, hell for all i know there wasn’t. i stayed till close and drove home. It was on that drive where i thought, hell why not A.A., i need help. i cried like a baby that night, not because i had thrown my life away, but because i stubbed my toe and it really hurt.

A few days passed, and my not drinking continued, at an epic pace! all day, not drinking, non stop, one glorious bender, better the burn out then fade away. if i lived through this, i thought, id go get help. And then it was then i ran into those Mormons again. We stayed up all night playing monopoly and drinking ice tea, happily throwing our lives away but in our indoor voices so we wouldn’t wake up the kids. Dillian was his name, and Jake was his father, Jake isn’t a very good monopoly player, he was too kind for his own good. Just like my girlfriend was, she could stand that i didn’t drink but she couldn’t stand that i was not an alcoholic, it drove her mad. it was then i realized how much i hurt people with my selfish not drinking ways, i was tearing everyone i knew apart. I cried and Jake put his arm around my shoulder.

“don’t fret friend god has a plan for us all” he said calmly

“i cant take it anymore” i cried louder

“god will provide you with his love and you will overcome this.”

i cried even louder

Jake took a deep breath ” hey, would you mind being a little more quite, you’ll wake up my kids.”

i shook my head no, slobber and snot flying off my face, as if my disgrace was now bubbling up to the surface like some sort of shame volcano

“can someone find him a pillow” Jake said ” a pillow, no not the good one, a bad one, that one, it’ll do.”

i cried myself to sleep that night. and i had a dream. i don’t remember what, i wrote some of it down when i woke up but all i got was clowns, nurses, roller disco and i underlined story of my life 3 times which naturally indicated its importance, but i accidentally left it in my pocket leaving nothing but a blur, i just thought there and smiled, that was the story of my life.

i mean how did i get this way, where did i go wrong, in college i could not drink till my hearts content, but now, it was too much. I had to stop, but more importantly, i wanted to stop not drinking. so here i am. I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, I’m only human. and i am here to become more interesting, to dumb myself down to lower my ambitions, i am here to stupefy myself into oblivion, i am here to learn to judge my sex life in pounds and not in petty standards, but more importantly i am here to get wasted and leave my days of non drinking hooliganism behinds me, because once a hooligan always a hooligan and if there i one thing a hooligan needs its an excuse. good night and god bless! or maybe more fitting CHUG CHUG CHUG!

by

Confessions Of A Sober Amiercan Holligan.

by

you’ll soon find out.

Top of Form 1

Hi, my name is Martin Kertzman and i am not an alcoholic. no, no, i know you can’t tell by look at me, but trust me, i haven’t touched a drop until it was gone. I’ve spent hours curled up, almost lifeless in bathroom puking as if there was no tomorrow. i have ruined relationships that i held most dear, i can’t even remember my kids names, if i have any. Its time to change.

Last week i was at a bar, not drinking when my girlfriend called and asked if i would go and pick up some milk on the way home, i said yes. i never made it home that night, i was out not drinking with a bunch of mormon party animals, our battle cry was joseph smith and our drink of choice was moral suppority, i woke up that mourning in a tent out side a planet parenthood, with a sign that neatly read, stop killing babies. how did i get mixed up with such a crazy crew!

i got home around noon, my girl friend was at work, and i took this time to par take in not drinking, so i sat there, wasting away, my blood completely ridden with booze free blood, my brain was sharp and quick. so i took this time to waste my time reading and broaden my horizons, i know it was selfish, i know it wasn’t right, i know she would be hurt, but it didn’t matter. The temptation to not drink was too powerful, i caved. and this is when i realized i couldn’t do this alone, she never did come home.

Later that night i was back at some bar, drinking water, which i know is extremely good for you and considered the source of all life, but thats my sober mind playing tricks on me. i knew it, and there i was, chugging it down as if there was no tomorrow, hell for all i know there wasn’t. i stayed till close and drove home. It was on that drive where i thought, hell why not A.A., i need help. i cried like a baby that night, not because i had thrown my life away, but because i stubbed my toe and it really hurt.

A few days passed, and my not drinking continued, at an epic pace! all day, not drinking, non stop, one glorious bender, better the burn out then fade away. if i lived through this, i thought, id go get help. And then it was then i ran into those Mormons again. We stayed up all night playing monopoly and drinking ice tea, happily throwing our lives away but in our indoor voices so we wouldn’t wake up the kids. Dillian was his name, and Jake was his father, Jake isn’t a very good monopoly player, he was too kind for his own good. Just like my girlfriend was, she could stand that i didn’t drink but she couldn’t stand that i was not an alcoholic, it drove her mad. it was then i realized how much i hurt people with my selfish not drinking ways, i was tearing everyone i knew apart. I cried and Jake put his arm around my shoulder.

“don’t fret friend god has a plan for us all” he said calmly

“i cant take it anymore” i cried louder

“god will provide you with his love and you will overcome this.”

i cried even louder

Jake took a deep breath ” hey, would you mind being a little more quite, you’ll wake up my kids.”

i shook my head no, slobber and snot flying off my face, as if my disgrace was now bubbling up to the surface like some sort of shame volcano

“can someone find him a pillow” Jake said ” a pillow, no not the good one, a bad one, that one, it’ll do.”

i cried myself to sleep that night. and i had a dream. i don’t remember what, i wrote some of it down when i woke up but all i got was clowns, nurses, roller disco and i underlined story of my life 3 times which naturally indicated its importance, but i accidentally left it in my pocket leaving nothing but a blur, i just thought there and smiled, that was the story of my life.

i mean how did i get this way, where did i go wrong, in college i could not drink till my hearts content, but now, it was too much. I had to stop, but more importantly, i wanted to stop not drinking. so here i am. I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, I’m only human. and i am here to become more interesting, to dumb myself down to lower my ambitions, i am here to stupefy myself into oblivion, i am here to learn to judge my sex life in pounds and not in petty standards, but more importantly i am here to get wasted and leave my days of non drinking hooliganism behinds me, because once a hooligan always a hooligan and if there i one thing a hooligan needs its an excuse. good night and god bless! or maybe more fitting CHUG CHUG CHUG!

you’ll soon find out.

Top of Form 1

Hi, my name is Martin Kertzman and i am not an alcoholic. no, no, i know you can’t tell by look at me, but trust me, i haven’t touched a drop until it was gone. I’ve spent hours curled up, almost lifeless in bathroom puking as if there was no tomorrow. i have ruined relationships that i held most dear, i can’t even remember my kids names, if i have any. Its time to change.

Last week i was at a bar, not drinking when my girlfriend called and asked if i would go and pick up some milk on the way home, i said yes. i never made it home that night, i was out not drinking with a bunch of Mormon party animals, our battle cry was Joseph smith and our drink of choice was moral suppority, i woke up that mourning in a tent out side a planet parenthood, with a sign that neatly read, stop killing babies. how did i get mixed up with such a crazy crew!

i got home around noon, my girl friend was at work, and i took this time to par take in not drinking, so i sat there, wasting away, my blood completely ridden with booze free blood, my brain was sharp and quick. so i took this time to waste my time reading and broaden my horizons, i know it was selfish, i know it wasn’t right, i know she would be hurt, but it didn’t matter. The temptation to not drink was too powerful, i caved. and this is when i realized i couldn’t do this alone, she never did come home.

Later that night i was back at some bar, drinking water, which i know is extremely good for you and considered the source of all life, but thats my sober mind playing tricks on me. i knew it, and there i was, chugging it down as if there was no tomorrow, hell for all i know there wasn’t. i stayed till close and drove home. It was on that drive where i thought, hell why not A.A., i need help. i cried like a baby that night, not because i had thrown my life away, but because i stubbed my toe and it really hurt.

A few days passed, and my not drinking continued, at an epic pace! all day, not drinking, non stop, one glorious bender, better the burn out then fade away. if i lived through this, i thought, id go get help. And then it was then i ran into those Mormons again. We stayed up all night playing monopoly and drinking ice tea, happily throwing our lives away but in our indoor voices so we wouldn’t wake up the kids. Dillian was his name, and Jake was his father, Jake isn’t a very good monopoly player, he was too kind for his own good. Just like my girlfriend was, she could stand that i didn’t drink but she couldn’t stand that i was not an alcoholic, it drove her mad. it was then i realized how much i hurt people with my selfish not drinking ways, i was tearing everyone i knew apart. I cried and Jake put his arm around my shoulder.

“don’t fret friend god has a plan for us all” he said calmly

“i cant take it anymore” i cried louder

“god will provide you with his love and you will overcome this.”

i cried even louder

Jake took a deep breath ” hey, would you mind being a little more quite, you’ll wake up my kids.”

i shook my head no, slobber and snot flying off my face, as if my disgrace was now bubbling up to the surface like some sort of shame volcano

“can someone find him a pillow” Jake said ” a pillow, no not the good one, a bad one, that one, it’ll do.”

i cried myself to sleep that night. and i had a dream. i don’t remember what, i wrote some of it down when i woke up but all i got was clowns, nurses, roller disco and i underlined story of my life 3 times which naturally indicated its importance, but i accidentally left it in my pocket leaving nothing but a blur, i just thought there and smiled, that was the story of my life.

i mean how did i get this way, where did i go wrong, in college i could not drink till my hearts content, but now, it was too much. I had to stop, but more importantly, i wanted to stop not drinking. so here i am. I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, I’m only human. and i am here to become more interesting, to dumb myself down to lower my ambitions, i am here to stupefy myself into oblivion, i am here to learn to judge my sex life in pounds and not in petty standards, but more importantly i am here to get wasted and leave my days of non drinking hooliganism behinds me, because once a hooligan always a hooligan and if there i one thing a hooligan needs its an excuse. good night and god bless! or maybe more fitting CHUG CHUG CHUG!

“Back in World War II, we viewed the Japanese as ‘yellow, slant-eyed dogs’ that believed in different gods,” he told the magazine. “They were out to kill us because our way of living was different. We, in turn, wanted to annihilate them because they were different. Does that sound familiar, by any chance, to what’s going on today?”

“‘The Pacific’ is coming out now, where it represents a war that was of racism and terror. And where it seemed as though the only way to complete one of these battles on one of these small specks of rock in the middle of nowhere was to – I’m sorry – kill them all. And, um, does that sound familiar to what we might be going through today? So it’s– is there anything new under the sun? It seems as if history keeps repeating itself.”

I’m sorry Tom Hanks, but this is a slap in the face to every American that laid down their life to bring an end to the inhalation of the Jews (which represented the very definition of racism) and defend America against the cowardly attacks that Japan initiated. Your statements simply are not congruent with reality or factual history. We can disagree whether global warming is happening or not, but the happenings of WW2 are documented events, and your comments do not represent what actually happened or why it happened.

This isn’t the first time that the mild and meek appearing Tom Hanks has insulted whole sectors of the very country that has afforded him his plush lifestyle. During California’s proposition 8 debate, which prohibits gay marriage, he blamed the Mormon church. He went on to call Mormons that were against gay marriage, “ Un-American.”

Again, I’m sorry Tom Hanks, but voting ones conscious is the very epitome of being American? In fact, Tom Hanks attempting to force votes by using social, political, or wealth pressures would be the “Un-American” act. Now, that really does sound familiar….to that of a socialist mentality.

The 1912 Exodus of Mormon Colonists from Mexico

In the summer of 1912, nearly four thousand Americans living in Mexico flooded across the border into Dog Springs, New Mexico; Douglas, Arizona; and El Paso, Texas.  They were fleeing from the wrath of the Mexican Revolution. Twenty-five years earlier they fled south to escape from the United States government and its anti-polygamy statutes.

          The Edmonds-Tucker Act of 1887 was the strongest in series of anti-polygamy legislation passed by the U.S. Congress. This act compounded the sanctions of the previous acts (Morrill in 1862 and Edmonds in 1882). In addition to making polygamy a felony punishable by five years in prison and a $500 fine, the Edmonds-Tucker Act disenfranchised polygamists.  They were prohibited from holding public office, buying property, voting, or serving on juries. Worse still, it required plural wives to testify against their husbands (VanWagoner, 1989). 

The official posture of the Latter-day Saints (Mormons) was that plural marriage was a religious right protected by the Constitution. Congress and the Supreme Court disagreed.  The practice continued regardless of the legislation bringing many Mormon families into conflict with the United States government. It also created the greatest obstacle to Utah’s achieving statehood.  Mormon polygamy officially ended with the issuance of the Manifesto in 1890. Only marriages entered into before the Morrill Act of 1862 were allowed to remain legal in the eyes of the law.

Many polygamist families, tired of the harassment by federal marshals, left the United States to establish colonies in Mexico. Beginning in 1885, Mormon authorities began negotiating with the President Diaz of Mexico to allow settlement in the northern states of Sonora and Chihuahua.  By 1887 houses were under construction and farms were being cultivated. There were some land disputes with local Mexican leaders, but these were resolved and the settlers built their meeting houses, churches, mills, businesses, and homes out of sturdy materials intended to endure (Romney, 1938).

Polygamy was illegal in Mexico, but Pres. Diaz and his government turned a blind eye. Not all the colonists were polygamists, but the majority was. Other Mormons immigrated to Mexico to take advantage of property ownership opportunities (Hardy, 1963). 

          Life in the Mexican wilderness was fraught with hardship, but the Mormons did in Mexico what they did so successfully in the western states; they worked together and prospered. President Diaz liked the Mormon settlers. He recognized the general improvements they made to the infrastructure of the country; irrigation systems, schools, cultivation, roads, and the benefits of increased trade with the neighboring settlements. By 1912, the colonist’s population numbered 4,225 with property valued in the millions of dollars. There were eight colonies by 1912; Colonia Diaz, Colonia Juarez, Colonia Dublan, Colonia Pacheco, Colonia Oaxaca, Colonia Garcia, Colonia Morelos, and Chuichupa.

The Mormons stayed aloof from Mexican politics and only a few became Mexican citizens. This refusal to assimilate into Mexican society created suspicion and hostility among the revolutionaries toward the Mormon colonists.  With the overthrow of Diaz, the Mormons lost their powerful protector.

Warring factions of the Mexican Revolution threatened the safety of the colonists. Several Mormons were murdered in the early months of the revolution and few of the suspected murders were arrested.  Ragtag armies bullied their way into shops and ranches demanding food, firearms, supplies, and horses (Young, 1968). 

The colonists maintained their neutrality, which did not win them friends on either side. Peaceful negotiations proved unsuccessful. When Salazar, a leading revolutionary general, demanded that the Mormons surrender all their guns to his army, the Mormons knew they would be defenseless.  They hurriedly made preparations to move their families out of the country.

At 7:30 a.m. on July 29, 1912, the Colonia Diaz colonists were informed that they would need to leave in three hours.  By 10:30 a.m., 800 colonists were ready to board trains bound for El Paso.  The trains contained mostly women and children.  Many of the men rode north hoping to avoid militia in an effort to drive their remaining livestock across the border. As many as 1,500 colonists found themselves homeless in El Paso during the summer of 1912 (Young, 1968).     

The Sonora colonists left their homes on August 30, 1912 in 60 wagons carrying 450 people. They headed for Douglas, Arizona. It was a miserable journey through mud and driving rains. 

Once villages were abandoned, Mexican troops ransacked and burned homes and property. Livestock was slaughtered and left to rot in the street.  Furniture was set ablaze within comfortable, clean homes.  Machinery was smashed to bits.  For a revolution ignited by poverty, such wanton acts of destruction revealed an alarming rage. The Sonora colonies were utterly destroyed never to be resettled (Romney, 1938).

After 25 years of careful cultivation, the crops and orchards were particularly bountiful that season and the colonists were forced to leave just before harvest.  George Sevey wrote in his memoirs of the day the women and children left, “Our gaze is now turned toward the north, there like field after field of corn, oats, and potatoes, clothed in that deep rich verdure which promises abundant harvest of mature products.” (Landon, 2004, p. 80).

Not all the colonists living in the Chihuahua colonies left.  Many living in the rural settlements stayed for a few more months, some for as long as two years after the others had left.   By 1914, things had gotten so dangerous, that virtually all the Mormons left.  Not until 1920 did the Mormon Church encourage colonists to return.  Nearly one fifth did.  Their descendants (including the extended family of Governor Mitt Romney) occupy those areas to this day.

Much has been written about the Mexican colonies and the exodus of the settlers. That terrible summer of 1912 cannot be adequately understood outside of the context of polygamy, social upheaval, and cultural isolation. The exodus of the colonists was achieved in a short time and in several waves.  Some left by train, others by wagon or on horseback.  Many of the men rode the back trails driving cattle, careful to avoid the marauding Mexican revolutionary soldiers. Many were robbed, some were beaten, and a few were killed (Young, 1968).

Primary sources give the detailed firsthand accounts and convey a sense of fear and loss.  Secondary sources provide a larger perceptive. Many colonists believed that they would return within a month. Others were doubtful of ever seeing their homes again.

          As colonist, William Morley Black, wrote in his 1915 autobiography, “We went to Mexico for a common cause, and for 25 years we had toiled together and had become endeared to each other by the sacrifice we made, and as a finishing touch to our experiences we had drunk together from the bitter cup of expulsion from our homes.”

References

Hardy, B. C. (1963). The Mormon colonies of northern Mexico: A history, 1885-1912. (Doctorial dissertation, Wayne State University). Retrieved from ProQuest Disserations and Theses database. (DAI-A 28/11, 4571.)  

Landon, M. N. (2004). We navigated by pure understanding: Bishop George T. Sevey’s account of the 1912 exodus from Mexico.BYU Studies, 43(2), 63-101.

Romney, T. C. (2005). The mormon colonies in Mexico. Salt Lake City, UT: University of Utah Press.

VanWagoner, R. S. (1989). Mormon Polygamy: A History. Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books.

William Morley Black 1826-1915. Retrieved from http://black.forefamilies.com/wmblack.html

 Young, K. (1968). Ordeal in Mexico: Tales of danger and hardship collected from mormon colonists. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company.

What is even more shocking is this was not the first 9-11 attack that has occurred on U.S. Soil brought about by religious fanatics and that resulted in the deaths of innocent people.

On September 11, 1857 the Francher-Baker party, a group of Arkansas immigrants, traveling by wagon train that was bound for Southern California were attacked and killed by a group of Mormon fanatics. One hundred and twenty unarmed men, women, and children were slaughtered in a place called Mountain Meadows. Their bodies left exposed to the elements to rot, while 17 children under the age of 7 were kidnapped and forced to live with their kidnappers until their rescue a year later.

Trial transcripts and other documents regarding this event give little clue why the Francher-Baker party was selected for annihilation. Other wagon trains had passed through Utah unmolested by any Mormon. This particular party was observed to be quiet, polite, and well bred by the people they met along the trail. There is nothing in their actions or behavior that should have led to their deaths.

There have of course been some supposition as to why the Francher-Baker party were killed.

One such theory is that the Utah Wars, had put the Mormons on edge making everyone who crossed their borders a suspect in their eyes.

However, the Utah Wars involved a problem between the U.S. Army and Brigham Young’s Militia. It began when President Buchanan decided to replace Young as governor of Utah without first notifying Young of his intent. When Young discovered the presidents plan, he and his followers feared that they would be driven out of Utah, just as they had been driven out of Illinois and Missouri in the past.

While it is understandable that the Mormon’s would be on edge over such an eventuality, they could not have possibly mistaken a wagon train of men, women, and children as a military threat to Brigham Young or his followers.

A second theory and one that has a bit more basis is that the Mormon’s who attacked this wagon train did so simply because most of the party was from Arkansas and had members from Missouri traveling with them.

It is certainly understandable that having been persecuted and driven from Missouri that the Mormons would not look forward to having people from that state enter their new home territory. Added to that is the fact that earlier in 1857, a much beloved Mormon apostle named Parley Pratt had run away with the wife of a man named J.H. McLean. McLean hunted down Pratt and killed him in the town of Van Buren, Arkansas. The Mormon’s angered by the death of yet another Mormon, vowed revenge.

While it seems highly illogical, that 120 immigrants should be held accountable for McLean’s actions this may have at least played some part in the decision to end these people’s lives.

The third theory and probably the most likely one, was simple greed. The Francher-Baker wagon train was far wealthier than most. A good number of the immigrants were well to do, and they were traveling with not only 40 covered wagons, but a couple of fine quality carriages and over 800 head of cattle. The travelers were also noted to be better dressed than most. This party would not have gone unnoticed as they made their way west and greed has a way of making people do strange and things.

Whatever, the reason two stake presidents, Issac Haight and William H. Dame, who resided in the area near Mountain Meadows made the decision to attack the train. They sought to protect themselves, by ordering another member of the Mormon church and an Indian Agent John Lee, to make the attack look like an Indian Attack. Lee believing these men to be the mouth piece of God complied.

On September 7, Lee and other Militia as well as some Paiute Indians attacked the unsuspecting wagon train. One can only assume that since they had the element of surprise they believed they could make short order of killing their victims.

They had not counted on the cool head of the party’s leader however. Alexander Francher, had twice before made the trip to California and no doubt had faced attacks on other occasions. He ordered the wagons thrown down, their wheels chained together, and shallow trenches dug to better protect his party.

What started out as an attack turned into a siege. Despite being trapped inside the circle of wagons with no fresh water and a dwindling food supply and running low on ammunition the immigrants would not give in.

Word was sent back to Haight regarding the situation and apprising him that the immigrants now knew that militia were involved in the attack. Haight sent word back, that the Militia must now annihilate the entire party except for those too young to bear witness against them.

On September 11, Lee still believing he was following orders from God, approached the the wagon train with another Militiaman. They were waving a white flag.

The immigrants agreed to talk to them. Lee promised the immigrants that if they laid down their weapons and allowed the Paiutes to take their livestock he would have his men escort them safely to Cedar City where they could make arrangements to continue their journey.

Considering their desperate situation, the immigrants agreed.

The small children and the injured were loaded into wagons, and the women and older children were ordered to follow on foot, the men took up the rear with a militia man walking beside each man to protect them from further attack by the Paiutes.

Approximately, a mile and a half from the camp a signal was given and each of the militiamen turned and fired at the immigrant walking beside him. All the men of the party were killed almost instantly.

The women and children then fled and were set upon by Paiutes. The injured in the wagons were killed where they sat and laid.

Seventeen young children were then taken screaming, and covered in the blood of their parents and injured to the homes of several Mormon’s where they were to be adopted and raised.

At least one buggy and much of the livestock as well as the immigrants possessions were taken by the Mormons. Some was divided up, others were sold and the money place in the community coffers.

The attempted cover up of the entire incident began almost as soon as the massacre ended. Lee sent a report to Brigham Young the Mormon leader that the wagon train had been set upon by Indians and all but a few young children killed.

Slowly the facts began to come out and an investigation was launched. It would however, take 20 years before any justice was served and then only one man, John Lee would pay for deaths of the immigrants. He was eventually put to death by firing squad at Mountain Meadow.

None of the other Militia men who took part in the attack were ever convicted. Haight and Dame escaped capture and so they too got away with murder.

Both then and in more recent times members of the Latter Day Saints have attempted to explain away the actions of these few fanatics. Making people resent the continuing cover up of the entire story.

The one bright spot in this entire story is the attempt at forgiveness and healing that has started to take place between the descendants of the victims and the descendants of John Lee.

While no one dismisses the actions of this man, who was at least partially responsible for the tragic waste of human life no one holds his descendants responsible. On the other hand the descendant’s of Lee have expressed their regret for the loss that occurred at his hands.