Polygamy Part of Religious Lifestyle

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May 15, 2009 5:22 pm US/Mountain

Polygamy Part of Religious Lifestyle

Written for the Web by CBS4 Special Projects Producer Libby Smith

Reporting
Rick Sallinger
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COLORADO CITY, Ariz. (CBS4) ―

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It's been more than a year since authorities raided the Texas compound of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints or FLDS. Police believed that under-age marriage and abuse was happening on the compound and they removed all the women and children. Families have been reunited now, and many of them are moving back to the Church's base along the Utah-Arizona border.

Driving through the twin cities of Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah is like stepping back in time. Residents wear conservative, handmade clothing, The men, women and children are covered from neck to ankle - a sign of modesty, respect and devotion to God.

"I had a little girl come up to me and say, 'You don't believe in the Prophet'. She was probably 6-years-old. I said, 'Why?' 'You're not wearing long underwear'," said former FLDS member Dawna Bastline.

These towns were founded by polygamist leaders. Marrying multiple wives is one tenet of the FLDS. The Church teaches that men must have at least 3 wives to reach the highest levels of heaven. The religion also extends to every aspect of life. FLDS children are home schooled. Church leaders banned dogs after a child was bitten. Television is also banned.

"My dad got a call…'You got a TV in your home? Get rid of it. No questions, no nothing. Get rid of it now'," Bistline told CBS4.

"They don't allow them to go to the movies. They don't allow them to listen to music. They don't allow them to have extra-curricular activities - basketball, baseball, whatever," explained Michelle Chatwin, a former FLDS member's wife.

While FLDS is prevalent in these communities, not everyone here practices polygamy or has arranged marriages. Andrew Chatwin left the FLDS and lived in Colorado for a time before moving back to this border town. He chose his wife instead of agreeing to an arranged marriage and she is not a FLDS member either.

"I actually had a man come up to me and say I was committing adultery for marrying her. I looked down and said, 'No I'm married to her. You can't commit adultery for being married to your wife'," Chatwin said.

Even among those who do practice polygamy, there are different sects and different rules. A few miles away from Colorado City and Hildale, there is another community, Centennial Park, Arizona, where the style of dress is slightly less conservative. Residents here feel less pressure than some FLDS members along the border.

"Well, you're walking into a society where the government has taken our children away from our Church, taking our lands currently. We feel that we are under a tremendous attack," said Willie Jessop, FLDS spokesman.

Nearly all the homes in the border towns were under Church ownership. They were held in a trust called the United Effort Plan or UEP. Now the federal government has seized the property, including the private UEP parks.

The twin towns of Colorado City and Hildale are in America, but it's a different way of life than what you'll find in most of the 50 states.