History of polygamist sect

History of polygamist sect

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a rogue offshoot of the Mormon Church, which has disavowed the sect. Polygamy is a central FLDS tenet, and FLDS followers believe the Mormon Church was wrong to have banned it in 1890. Here's a brief history of the group and recent events involving its leader, Warren Jeffs, who is imprisoned:

* 1930s: The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints breaks from the Mormon Church.

* 2002: Sect leader Rulon Jeffs dies and his son Warren becomes prophet, or leader, of the FLDS.

* 2003: Warren Jeffs starts banishing "unworthy" men and boys from the church. He reassigns wives and children to new husbands and fathers.

* 2005: Jeffs goes into hiding after felony criminal charges are filed against him in Arizona for the alleged arrangement of marriages between underage girls and adult men.

* 2006: In April, felony criminal charges are filed against Jeffs in Utah, accusing him of rape by accomplice in arranging a 2001 marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin.

* 2007: Jeffs is convicted and sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison.

* March 29-31, 2008: A 16-year-old girl calls a domestic violence shelter and reports that she lives at the YFZ (Yearning for Zion) Ranch, an FLDS compound near Eldorado, Texas, and that she has been sexually and physically abused by her 49-year-old husband.

* April 3: Texas police enter the YFZ compound and begin interviewing residents.

* April 4: Police begin removing children from the compound; eventually, 416 children are removed and placed in state custody.



Sources: Associated Press, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services,

Times reporting