So, here's the current situation facing FLDS Church members (Imagine if they were LDS Church members and dealing with the same reality):
Jeffs is headed to prison for life, summarily found guilty of serious crimes by a non-FLDS jury, thanks to a justice system which Jeffs declares is in fundamental violation of God's law.
Given Jeffs' conviction, how do you think the FLDS faithful will react?
And, if Warren Jeffs was Joseph Smith, how do you think the LDS faithful would react?
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From a news story in the Arizona Republic, "Jeffs Gets Life; Sect’s Future in Question," 10 August 2011:
BACKGROUND
"Hours after fundamentalist-church leader Warren Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison by a Texas jury on Tuesday, experts offered conflicting views of what will become of his sect and its polygamist commune along the Arizona-Utah border.
"Some former sect members say Jeffs will remain in charge from behind bars, while others familiar with the religious group predict a turnover in leadership as followers learn details of the criminal case and conviction.
"Jeffs, known as the 'president and prophet, seer and revelator' of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, stood silent as the maximum sentence was read after less than a half-hour of deliberation.
"The 55-year-old leader was found guilty last week of sexual assault against two underage girls he took as brides."
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OPINION #1: Members of the Church Will Ignore Jeffs Conviction and Continue to Regard Him as God's Prophet
"Isaac Wyler, a former member of the sect who still lives in Colorado City, Ariz., said there was no immediate reaction in the polygamist outpost.
“'I just drove through town, and not one word from the FLDS,' he said Tuesday morning. 'It’s like it hasn’t happened.'
"Wyler predicted that Jeffs, who has overseen the church from jail for the past five years, will maintain his authority despite the conviction and sentence.
“'He will definitely remain as prophet behind bars,' Wyler said. 'And they (subordinates) will be telling everybody that God’s going to tear the prison down and let him loose. When that doesn’t happen, they’ll say it’s because they (church members) lacked faith.'"
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OPINION #2: Jeffs is a Fallen Prophet, Irretrievably Toasted in the Eyes of His Followers
Ken Driggs, a Georgia attorney who wrote a thesis on Colorado City’s history and befriended polygamous families in the town, . . . said [FLDS] church underlings are aware of devastating evidence presented against Jeffs during trial and a new order of leadership is likely to arise.
“'It was bad, bad stuff. Just vile,' Driggs said. 'I just think Warren is tainted in a way now that he will never come back with the influence he had.'. . .
". . . Driggs said Jeffs has excommunicated many members and admitted at one point while in jail that he was a false prophet. He predicted that members will find new leadership. 'He’s driven a wedge between a lot of the people and himself,' Driggs said. 'They still consider themselves fateful people. But they realize there is a new reality.'"
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OPINION #3: Jeffs Will Not Be Exposed by New Church Leadership Bent on Maintaining Power
"Roger Hoole, a Utah attorney who has fought a series of legal battles against the sect, said Jeffs bans followers from use of news media and the Internet, where they might learn the truth about his crimes. He said the question now is whether underlings will inform the members about what happened in court.
“'Are they going to come clean and expose Warren Jeffs for what he really is?” Hoole said. “I don’t think so. These leaders want to maintain control. I mean, it’s all been control of money and sex.'"
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OPINION #4: Jeffs Got a Raw Deal
"Michael Piccarreta, a Tucson attorney who represented Jeffs against the charges in Arizona, said the outcome in Texas is a miscarriage of justice because searches were conducted unlawfully and Jeffs was forced to represent himself.
“'It’s an old-fashion, Texas-style lynching,' he said. 'If you deny an individual a lawyer of his choice, the result is predictable.'
"Over six months, Jeffs fired seven attorneys, each time asking the court for a delay to hire a new one. He fired the last one as opening statements were set to begin. When the judge refused to delay the trial, Jeffs acted as his own attorney but called only one defense witness, a church member who read scripture.
'
“He wasn’t going to get a fair shake in rural west Texas,' Piccarreta said. 'They wanted a quick trial, and they weren’t going to wait around for him.'"
http://tucsoncitizen.com/arizona-news/2011/08/10/jeffs-gets-life-sects-future-in-question/_____
My take? (for what it's worth): Opinions #1 and #4
As the freakish phenomenon of the true-believing Mormon amply demonstrates, nothing fazes the blindly devoted.
I suspect that if it was a convicted child rapist Joseph Smith who was in prison, faithful Mormons would be:
--singing "Praise to the Man;"
--claiming persecution of Smith (and them) at the hands of the godless Gentiles;
--sending Smith fan mail;
--praying for Smith's miracle release;
--plotting Smith's prison break; and/or
--hoping for the death of those who had sent Smith to the pokey for life. (Remember the Oath of Vengeance in the LDS temple ceremony targeting the persecutors of the prophets?)
What say ye?
Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 08/10/2011 07:28PM by steve benson.