Warren Jeffs Cult prepares for end of world tonight...

[Mark]

Jeffs claims religious persecution in opening statement

Polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs on Wednesday gave a 30-minute opening statement at his child sexual abuse trial that never mentioned sex, marriage to underage girls or any other evidence presented by prosecutors.

Instead, the 55-year-old man — who is accused of having sex with two girls he allegedly took as plural wives — delivered a survey of the history of Christianity, Mormons, the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the United States.

He referenced religious persecution in Europe, the discovery of America, God’s revelation to Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith — which sparked the beginning of the church — and how Smith was killed by a mob and became a martyr.

He also talked about government raids on polygamist communities in Short Creek in 1953, and in 2008 at the FLDS Yearning For Zion Ranch, in Eldorado, Texas.

"Two times in our history, families carried away with the government, intent to break up families because of prejudiced beliefs," Jeffs told the jury.

He had opened his remarks by saying: "In the history of earth reported by men, religion has been all important in the way of life among peoples and nations."

Warning the jury against prosecuting someone on the basis of religion, Jeffs added, "If it comes against unpopular religions a persecuting zeal, where should it end?"

He closed his remarks by saying, "Amen."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52318021-78/jeffs-prosecutors-evidence-girl.html.csp

[Psalm 51:17]

1/15/12

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs may be serving a life-plus-20-year sentence in a Texas prison, but his grip on most of his 10,000 followers doesn't appear to be lessening and some former insiders say he's imposing even more rigid requirements that are roiling the church and splitting its members.

The edicts from Jeffs, head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, form the basis for what he's called the "Holy United Order." An estimated 1,500 men, women and children church members failed to meet the stringent standards by a Jan. 1 deadline, said Willie Jessop, a former FLDS spokesman who no longer reveres Jeffs.

Whether those members were excommunicated outright or have been put on probationary status until they can prove they meet the standards remains unclear, Jessop and others said. Some marriages have been dissolved and families split up as Jeffs works from his prison cell to reshape his church.

Since about mid-November, Jeffs' brother, Lyle Jeffs, has been conducting personal interviews with members to determine their worthiness under the new order, the former church members say.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/imprisoned-jeffs-imposes-change-polygamous-sect-160155002.html

[Mark]

This is why you should follow the Bible written by Jesus than the cult of a man.

[Kilika]

Yep, lest you fall into a ditch!

[Mark]

we missed this one 

Fears of mass suicides as followers of jailed cult leader Warren Jeffs prepare for end of the world TONIGHT

Followers of cult leader, Warren Jeffs, who is behind bars for sexually assaulting young girls, are reportedly preparing for the end of the world tomorrow, after their former leader warned of Armageddon before midnight.

The only supermarket and major meeting point of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints community across the movement's key sites - Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah - has been closed, and an expert in the sect has warned CNN the preparations could be a dangerous signal.

Sam Brower, a private investigator who represents more than 100 former FLDS members, said law enforcement officers will monitor the situation in Jeffs' community closely - rather than just dismissing it as another false Armageddon warning from the radical preacher.

'The consensus seems to be that Warren is indicating that by the end of the year, the end of the world will be here', he told CNN.

Alluding to the proclamation's sinister implications, he added: 'Jim Jones, Koresh - history has showed us these things happen when religious zealots take charge of a group of people.'

The community, which has up to 10,000 members worldwide, appears to remain loyal to their 'prophet' even though he is serving life plus 20 years for sexually abusing children.

CNN reporters approached residents to ask them about Jeffs' alleged latest claim but they refused to comment.


rest: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255093/Warren-Jeffs-followers-prepare-end-world-close-2012-experts-warn-proclamation-mean-sinister-sect-loyal-convicted-sex-offender.html

[Mark]

Texas Seizes Ranch of Polygamous False Prophet

The sprawling Yearning for Zion Ranch in west Texas, where polygamist leader Warren Jeffs sexually assaulted young girls and justified it by claiming he was the "prophet of God," is now the property of the state of Texas.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, which raided the El Dorado, Texas, ranch in April of 2008, said in a statement released on Thursday that the walled compound has been entered by law enforcement officers and "the residents have agreed to vacate the property."

Jeffs was convicted of sexual assault in 2011.

The statement noted that the state on Jan. 6 secured a forfeiture judgment from the 51st Judicial District Court. Efforts to seize the property were initiated in 2012 by the Attorney General's Office.

"Law enforcement personnel are working with the occupants of the ranch to take all reasonable actions to assist with their departure of the property, to preserve the property, and to successfully execute the court order," the DPS said.

The DPS didn't say how many people were still living on the 1,700-acre compound with a gleaming white temple building in the center, located about 200 miles west of Austin. At one point, Jeffs held sway over some 700 followers on the ranch, where he and other leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, took young girls to be their "spiritual brides."

There are similar FLDS communities in Utah and Arizona.

Jeffs, 58, is serving a sentence of life plus 20 years in the Texas prison system. He was convicted of sexual assault relating to what his sect called "celestial marriages" to two underage girls at the religious compound.

Flora Jessop, who was raised in the FLDS and later fled from the controversial denomination and has become an advocate for children in the cult, said Texas deserves the property for having the courage to do the right thing.

"For being the first ones to step up and put these men in prison for the crimes they have committed against the children," Jessop told Reuters. "We have yet to have Utah and Arizona step up and do that same thing."

In the raid, officials seized thousands of documents indicating widespread sexual abuse of children at the ranch, which Jeffs opened in 2003. Several dozen children who were placed in foster homes following the raid were eventually ordered to be released to their parents, but the documents led to the prosecution of Jeffs and several other FLDS men.

The state has not said what it plans to do with the property.

http://www.charismanews.com/us/43560-texas-seizes-ranch-of-polygamous-false-prophet

[Psalm 51:17]

It was only 8 years ago when this guy got caught over what he did.

Pt being that it's amazing how in such a short span of time, it's easy to forget these big news items.