Under the Banner of Heaven. TV series.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Pio1980

My contact is thru his replacement, David Watson, an open, decent, ethical responsible individual...

An open, decent, ethical, responsible polygamist? Who knew?

[Pio1980]

Originally Posted by finnbow

An open, decent, ethical, responsible polygamist? Who knew?

General perceptions like yours is why I started the thread, my perspective is atypical of both mainstream Mormons and non-members thru a familiarity with the history and culture.
Mormon "fundamentalism" (read poligamy) has a fairly strong argument as a more "pure" theological basis if Joseph Smith is accepted as a true prophet and seer founder and foundation to the faith for the truest of true believers that can square the circle of obedience to the sitting authorities vs obedience to what are considered essential principles as established by the founder. That's the theological attraction to prospective sub-converts, not the prospect of multiple sexual partners, tho the latter can find justification in the former. With people as unique individuals, taking on the requirements and responsibilities of multiple partners and the resulting offspring can be an emotional and financial burden that can easily overwhelm the unprepared participant. Also obvious is the absolute authority this sort of faith gives the leadership, ripe for abuse.
I've already previously mentioned Rulon Allred and Ervil Lebaron as two leaders of different sub-sects with very different styles and attitudes to their positions. Look them up on Wiki.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Pio1980

General perceptions like yours is why I started the thread, my perspective is atypical of both mainstream Mormons and non-members thru a familiarity with the history and culture.

Over ~20 years, I spent lots of time for work in Utah and southeastern Idaho and became close friends with lots of Mormons, though most would probably be considered Jack Mormons by the more observant of the faith. As a result, most were fairly critical of the mainstream LDS church, not exactly for the theology itself as for its insularity and social pressures imposed on non-Mormons or Jack Mormons in cities and towns with large LDS populations. Nearly all of them had read Krakauer's book when it came out, liked it, but were embarrassed (but not insulted) by its revelations.

[Pio1980]

Sounds like the folks I'd hang with.

The two main fundy sects are the FLDS, formerly of Short Creek (Warren Jeffs, remember them?) and the AUB of Bluffdale Utah and Pinesdale, Montana.

[Pio1980]

One of the things I shared with Maryanne Watson for her research was how the United States Navy unwittingly funded the resurgence of the Mormon fundementalist movement thru a contract with one of the sub-converts for his patented high sensitivity telephone headsets for wireless signal applications.
Web search "Nathaniel Baldwin, Utah Inventor and Patron of the Fundamentalist Movement by Merrill Singer" for the best account of that story.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Pio1980

Sounds like the folks I'd hang with.

Really good people, not to mention accomplished skiers, hunters and fly fishermen. I spent lots of time there on the slopes and on the South Fork of the Snake.

[BigElCat]

Originally Posted by Pio1980

The Church does harbor a quiet historical sense of persecution by Federal central authority and hostile opponents.

WACO was pretty well publicized.

Herd them all back in, kill them.

[BigElCat]

This all like a dream, like Dorothy, in the Wizard of Oz.

Steve, I sent you a vacuum tube radio from my uncle's estate because I knew you would appreciate it.

You can text me, I still have the same phone number.

I thought you were a physically large, 70 year old homosexual, Harley Davidson riding guy. Because that's what you presented on Audiokarma.

Thought you had rejected all this Christianity bullshit.

I'm drinking Budweiser again, looking at a Homeland Security drone if I play with my guns outside my house.

Y'all have good night.

[Pio1980]

Originally Posted by BigElCat

This all like a dream, like Dorothy, in the Wizard of Oz.

Steve, I sent you a vacuum tube radio from my uncle's estate because I knew you would appreciate it.

You can text me, I still have the same phone number.

I thought you were a physically large, 70 year old homosexual, Harley Davidson riding guy. Because that's what you presented on Audiokarma.

Thought you had rejected all this Christianity bullshit.

I'm drinking Budweiser again, looking at a Homeland Security drone if I play with my guns outside my house.

Y'all have good night.

You too, thnx for the radio!

All true enough, except I'm 75 now, lost bulk, downsized to an Indian Scout, and admire Christian ethics but not so much the dogma of necessity. My interest is cultural history of this uniquely American group of sub-sects.
I don't role-play on the internet, way too much work.

[BigElCat]

We're cool, Steve.

Not lying about the drone, either. The State of Kansas couldn't afford a drone that won't fit in the back of a pick-up truck.

It's not a Predator, just has an impressive ball gimbal camera. 10' square to the axis's of the four motors.

I'm fascinated by the history of the Mormon church. Carry on.

(edit..the Indian is impressive, excellent photo. You could be the lone biker of the apocalypse... like Raising Arizona).