| Battle Underway In A Utah Polygamist Town | |
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By Rod Decker KUTV Channel 2 | |
In St. George Friday, a judge will decide whether to sell the FLDS temple lot to pay lawyers' fees. The property of the FLDS Church and the homes of the members were taken by the state in 2005. The state trustee wants to sell property to pay fees. The polygamous FLDS donate all their property to a trust set up by their church. When the former polygamous prophet Warren Jeffs would not appear in court, the State of Utah seized the trust including the homes of FLDS members. Now the lawyers and administrators are selling off the land to pay themselves millions of dollars in fees. Years ago, Dan Barlow bought 80 acres here specifically to give to the FLDS Church. Donating property is a way to live his faith. "To consecrate is like being faithful. It’s like paying tithing or fast offerings. It’s a spiritual experience," said Barlow. Now the land Barlow consecrated, many of the town businesses, and most FLDS property have been taken by the State of Utah, and are now administered by Bruce Wisan, a state-appointed trustee, and his lawyers. Mr. Wisan declined to talk to us for this story. The temple long expected will be built on Berry Knoll by willing hands erected to serve Jehovah's will. Part of that land was Berry Knoll, sung about as a temple site in FLDS hymns. "This has always been an historical, sacred place," said Barlow. Now the trust attorneys want to sell land, including the temple site here, to pay more than $3 million in legal fees to lawyers' and the trustees. "They do have administrative fees, that's true and they do have legal fees, that's true," said Jethro Barlow. Jethro Barlow works for the state trust in Hilldale-Colorado City. The only way the trust can pay its expenses is to sell land to raise money. "We don't need the government interfering in it," said Willie Jessop. FLDS members say the state lawyers take their money and then harm them. For example, in this item state lawyers charged $343.75 to strategize in their quote. "Sociological and psychological, war with members of the trust." FLDS have to pay lawyers to make psychological war on them. "It violates everything this country was founded on," said Jessop. FLDS say since the state took their property, their town has gone downhill. Many houses stand unfinished. Western Precision used have high-tech jobs in this building on land owned by the FLDS. FLDS say the company left for Las Vegas because the state trustee demanded the company pay again for the land and building. Then the state trustee sold the land and building to pay legal fees. This FLDS land used to grow corn and wheat, but since the state has seized the land, it has been fallow says Merlin Jessop, who used to farm it. "I feel terrible, I wish they'd get out of the way and let me work," said Jessop. The state trustees say the town hasn't declined, and the FLDS won't cooperate. "I don't think the town's gone downhill. It went downhill severely before, that's why the state brought the fiduciary in," said Jethro Barlow. The state trustee is forcing these FLDS cattle off this land they now graze, saying they're trespassing. Rosy Barlow hopes to live here in the FLDS faith and doesn't want the state to sell the land. "This is where we grew up, and we want it for us," said Barlow. "Cause I was taught to be loyal to the leaders and obedient and to do what I was supposed to do," said Levi Barlow. Texas took their children. Utah took their homes. Still, the FLDS hope to endure as a people. "All our concerns are our children will have a place to live, and something to eat while we do it" said Merlin Jessop. | |
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KUTV.com Originally broadcast Thursday, November 13, 2008 | |
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