| Attorneys to negotiate polygamy-related land sale Court placed in recess to allow for more talks | |
| The Spectrum | |
A court hearing to decide whether land that belonged to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints should be sold has been recessed so that the opposing attorneys can try to work out an agreement. State-appointed accountant Bruce Wisan manages the FLDS’ United Effort Plan Trust and wants to sell the 770-acre parcel of trust land in northern Arizona known as Berry Knoll to pay trust management bills. The trust holds an estimated $110 million in communal property. On Wisan’s watch, the newly formed trust, its beneficiaries, including current and former church members, could seek private ownership of their homes or property either through holding a deed outright, or by placing the assets in a family trust. The FLDS contend, however that the new trust prevents them from returning the asset to the church. Approximately 1,000 members of the FLDS church crowded the courthouse today for the hearing. The building's front lawn and lawn across the street had filled with people by 8:30 a.m. Many were texting on cell phones, while others took to more traditional pastimes like reading or knitting. The vast majority stood in silence, waiting for Third District Judge Denise Lindberg's decision on the land. One man said he planned to wait with wife and baby "as long as they needed." The man, who refused to give his name, said he expected Lindberg to rule in favor of the other party. "But the Lord can always intervene," he said. "We will willingly submit to any of the complications the Lord places upon us." The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the St. George Police Department patrolled the area to manage the crowd. For more on this story, please see tomorrow’s print edition of The Spectrum & Daily News. David DeMille and Alyson Van Deusen contributed to this report. | |
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TheSpectrum.com Originally published November 14, 2008 | |
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