Colorado City Polygamists: An Inside Look for the Outsider [Paperback]

Eldorado, Texas, is being invaded by polygamists from Colorado City. Texas “outsiders” unfamiliar with what they do and how they do it are aggressively seeking information about the group. And they should . . .especially now that sexual abuse charges have been filed and the Lost Boys cast out of the community are finding advocates. The public needs to know how the one-man dictatorship developed and how maniacal Warren Jeffs rules today. He and his lieutenants are highly skilled and articulate business men who have mastered the art of deception and therefore pose a threat to any community they inhabit.

Colorado City historian Benjamin Bistline’s first deeply documented book, The Polygamists: A History of Colorado City, Arizona was written to present the truth of the beginnings of the group and its original religious doctrine. Over the years, that doctrine has been verbally “rewritten” by religious leaders to support their claim of God’s approval of their one-man tyrannical dictatorship. For “outsiders” to whom Colorado City and polygamy are new, the first book was overwhelming with deep documentation. So we offer you this book, condensed, simplified, and easy to follow. People across America are asking how it is that girls as young as thirteen can be forced to marry, and not even to young men but old men; and how it is that women are treated as chattel and belong not to themselves or their husband, but to the Priesthood; and how it is that wives and children can suddenly be reassigned to a “more obedient” man; and how it is that teenage boys are cast out so older men can have more wives. And finally, how is it that tax dollars of American citizens are not only supporting many large polygamist families, but helping their communities expand. Polygamy abuses in America remain in the public eye thanks to Oprah, CNN, ABC Primetime, A&E Television and other media sources, including newspapers The Salt Lake Tribune, The Spectrum of St. George, Utah, The Phoenix New Times, The Arizona Republic, and the Deseret Morning News. With polygamists setting up an enclave in Texas, The Eldorado Success, San Antonio Express-News, Fort Worth Star Telegram, The Dallas Morning News, and others are working to make their citizens aware.

For “outsiders” to whom Colorado City and all its issues are new, Ben’s first book The Polygamists: A History of Colorado City, Arizona, was overwhelming with deep documentation. So we offer you this book, condensed, simplified, and easy to understand.

As a publisher, we believe the public needs to know how all this developed, what methods were used and by whom, and for what purpose.

Americans are asking: How is such a society allowed to exist in this country?

AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR BEN BISTLINE ABOUT TEXAS. Answers in the book. . . Q. Some, including Ross Chatwin, have compared Warren Jeffs to Adoph Hitler. What do you think? A. Well, I think Ross is referring first to the reputation Warren developed when he was in charge of the Academy in Salt Lake and the tactics he used to get children to come and tell him of anyone, friend or family member, mother or father, who said anything contrary to his strict interpretation of the doctrine. Then he would call the person in and “talk” to them. Then, of course, when he became First Counselor in Colorado City, he sent his thirteen-, fourteen-, and fifteen-year-old young men, he named them “Uncle Warren’s Sons of Helaman” but they were more like the Hitler-youth program (based on young warriors in the Book of Mormon), and sent them into people’s homes, forcing them to make a statement that they would acknowledge him as their leader and would accept whatever doctrine he preached to them.

And then when he had his brother ordain him as prophet, he began excommunicating his brethern and reassigning their wives and children to men more willing to completely commit to him and whatever he told them to do, or to believe.

And the newspaper reported that apparently Warren had been secretly taping sessions where people came in to confess their sins and then he used it later to blackmail them. I guess anyone can read about Warren and draw their own conclusions. Interview continues in the book. . .

Benjamin G. Bistline, the sixth of ten children, was born in Logan, Utah, on April 21, 1935, the son of John Anthony Bistline and Jennie Johnson Bistline. His parents were active members of the Mormon Church but became involved with polygamist families in Millville, Utah, and were excommunicated by LDS Church in 1937.

The family moved to Short Creek, Arizona, in 1945 to join a united order movement, also known as The United Effort Plan. His father soon became discouraged by John Barlow's ineptness in governing his Order, and by 1948 he had repented of his decision to join with Barlows' group at Short Creek. He then decided to rejoin the Mormon Church, but his wife refused to leave, taking a firm stand. Ben’s father died in April of 1949, before rejoining the LDS Church because of their policy of a one year repentance probation period after being excommunicated.

Ben’s mother had always wanted to live polygamy and this gave her the opportunity to do so. She married Richard Jessop as his fifth wife and they moved into his large household of four wives and about thirty children.

Ben lived in this polygamous household for the next three years until the raid on Short Creek in 1953. While living with his stepfather, he became romantically involved with one of the daughters, but the Raid interrupted the courtship. Ben was eighteen and Annie was fifteen. All minor children in the community were declared wards of the state of Arizona, and were transported with their mothers to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1953. They were released and allowed to return to Short Creek in 1955

Annie and Ben were married June 24, 1955, and remained in the society where they parented and raised sixteen children. He was never allowed to marry any other wives, after being deemed unworthy of the privilege by polygamist leaders because of his “rebelliousness.” His refused to take what he was told at face value, he refused to join one of the leadership cliques, and he refused to live in blind obedience Thus he was never a polygamist. He and his wife would have accepted plural marriage.

In the early 1980s Ben became discouraged with the polygamists due to their changes in religious doctrine. He now lives on his own property in an area called Cane Beds, about two miles south of Colorado City. He and his wife are still very much involved with the polygamists due to extended family relationships.

Ben and his wife Annie joined the LDS Church in 1992. They believe the same doctrine as the LDS Church in regards to polygamy. They are members of the Kaibab Moccasin Ward where they have served in several church callings. Ben has served on the high council of the Kanab, Utah Kaibab stake.

Scripture References for the Reader

To assist the reader in understanding topics about the diverse positions taken by the Fundamentalists in Colorado City over the course of many decades, listed here are some of the scriptures they rely on.

The three standard works of Mormon scripture used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) are the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. And they use the Holy Bible. The polygamists claim to be the true Church, and only temporarily a sub-culture of the LDS Church. They believe that the LDS Church is out of order for discontinuing plural marriage, and that one day God will hand over the LDS Church to the polygamists and they will rule.

A critical issue within the polygamist group is “who” among them holds the “keys” or the authority to act in God’s name, and how that authority is carried out.

When Brigham Young was president, he acted on his own regarding decisions for the Church and its members, not necessarily consulting with his counselors or the other apostles. But after John Taylor became president, Wilford Woodruff, an apostle to Taylor, was in Arizona with a group of sheep herders and was praying about the many challenges the Church was having. He then received the 1880 Revelation regarding the leadership decision-making of the Group. It came in two parts: There was to be a senior man, by order of ordination (the prophet) who would lead the group, and they (the prophet, his two counselors, and the twelve apostles) would vote and make decisions together. President Taylor and his counselors and apostles then voted to accept this revelation as coming from God.

From that time forth this has been the policy in the LDS Church. The prophet, his two counselors, and the twelve apostles must always be in agreement regarding any action taken.

These are the same guidelines of leadership given to the early Fundamentalists by Lorin Woolley, who claimed to be one of five men commissioned by LDS Prophet John Taylor in 1886 to carry on the principle of plural marriage. But over the years, the polygamist leadership has evolved into a One-Man Rule that many call a dictatorship. During this evolution, various Priesthood Council Members disagreed, some strongly and others not so strongly, and eventually the early teaching of all holding common power wherein they make decisions as a group fell by the wayside. A key verse in the Doctrine & Covenants seems to explain what has happened. D&C 121:39 “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.”

As the reader follows the developing and ever-changing leadership doctrines of the early polygamists, he will encounter references to “keys of the priesthood,” and the question of “who” legitimately holds the keys to act in God’s name: a group of men or one man assuming supreme authority over the people and their eternal salvation.

In the LDS Church, it is understood that the current prophet holds the keys delegated to him by Jesus Christ, and each prophet beginning with Joseph Smith has held the keys. Beginning with John Taylor none acted arbitrarily, but as a group with his counselors and apostles. The prophet holds the keys for the entire church and from that position he delegates a portion of the keys to various male priesthood members to carry out certain responsibilities. Also discussed is the high priesthood of the LDS Church.

The following verses address these topics.

One Man Rule Justification (quoted by the polygamist leadership)

D&C 132:7 And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine appointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead. (italics added)

The polygamist group now called First Ward in Colorado City quotes the above verse as their justification of the one-man rule.

The Reassignment of Wives

D&C 132:44 And if she hath not committed adultery, but is innocent and hath not broken her vow, and she knoweth it, and I reveal it unto you, my servant Joseph, then shall you have power, by the power of my Holy Priesthood, to take her and give her unto him that hath not committed adultery but hath been faithful; for he shall be made ruler over many.

The polygamists consider a wife to belong not to the man, but to the priesthood, and if the husband is out of favor, the wife/wives (and children) are reassigned to another man.

Holding the Women’s Eternal Salvation in Their Hands

D&C 132:64 And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her; for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law.

A powerful verse that controls the women who fear for their heavenly salvation.