Prophet still a no-show, new judge appointed in UEP trustee case
 
The Eldorado Success
YFZ temple

Despite rumors to the contrary, work continues apace at the YFZ Ranch where a concrete footer has been poured to support a wall around the temple site. Construction also continues on the temple itself where a base has been prepared for a sweeping stairway leading to the front doors on the building’s east side. Workmen have erected a new scaffold support on the north wall, and a cement storage silo has been erected near the building’s front.

Law enforcement officials in Arizona, Texas and Utah remain on the lookout for Warren Jeffs, the self-appointed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jeffs was indicted by a Mohave County Arizona grand jury June 9, 2005 on two felony counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Conduct with a Minor.

Since that time eight of Jeffs followers have been jailed on similar charges, but the prophet remains at large and a $10,000 reward offered jointly by the states of Arizona and Utah for information leading to Jeffs’ arrest has yet to be claimed.

YFZ update

Here in Schleicher County, work continues at the YFZ Ranch, particularly on and around the massive temple building. Scaffold supports are being erected on the north side of the building, apparently in preparation for the application of limestone blocks, similar to stone that has already been applied to much of the building’s south side.

A concrete footer is being poured, apparently for a wall around the temple. Steel reinforcement bars can be seen protruding upward from the footer and more concrete forms are being installed. Also, a cement silo has been placed near the temple and the area where the temple’s front steps will be is being prepared.

Aerial photos taken Tuesday reveal numerous women and children working in the YFZ orchards and gardens and workmen can be seen at various sites on the property. Other photos show several women, dressed in ankle-length frontier-style dresses, riding around the property on a golf cart. The photos directly conflict with a rumor that spread on the Internet earlier in the week that claimed the temple had been boarded up and the YFZ had been abandoned.

New Utah Judge

As reported in last week’s edition of The Success, Utah District Judge Deno Himonas recused himself from the case involving the appointment of new trustees for the United Effort Plan Trust, a charitable trust once controlled by the FLDS church. Judge Himonas removed Warren Jeffs and several of his followers from the UEP board of directors but when it came to his attention that a law firm he was once associated with now represents one of the people being considered for appointment as a substitute trustee, the judge removed himself from the case.

Judge Denise Lindberg was appointed to take over the case, but reportedly could not attend the hearing slated for today. A new hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, August 4, 2005, at which time Judge Lindberg will hear from interested parties in the case. The judge has ruled that interested parties include: The Corporation of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS Church); the recently removed UEP trustees; the Attorneys General of Utah and Arizona; and all UEP beneficiaries, including those who have filed lawsuits against the trust. The judge said the beneficiaries include anyone who has “consecrated time, talents or resources to UEP.”
 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published July 21, 2005
 
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