Who Has Walked in Their Shoes?

This world we live in can be a confusing place. It is difficult understanding others, let alone ourselves. I guess it does have to start within ourselves. The greater self-understanding, the more we can walk in another's shoes, accepting or rejecting their beliefs without condemning the person.

This week we watched a documentary and listened to those who participated in the FLDS group, those who wrote about this group or those who are welcoming the ones who left the group and are trying to adjust to a strange new world outside of the one they were born into.

The group is a cult, an offshoot of the Mormon church, the FLDS, who now reside within the borders of our beautiful Black Hills. It is not an easy thing to ignore this group when they live so close, practicing polygamous marriage, blind obedience, raping of young girls by the elders and money laundering and cheating our government of money, all within the boundaries of a "religion". We know the protections that surround a "religious" group ....fifth amendment, no taxes and no invasion of privacy. It is all in our constitution, these protections. There are those in power who are reluctant to go after them because they hide behind "religion".

Yes, this particular group even got more water rights without proving how many residents would be using the water. Our South Dakota water board approved the request of Seth Jeffs, brother of Warren and leader of the Pringle, SD compound, by a vote of 9 to 1. Was it in respect of "religion" or was there a money exchange under the table? We may never know for certain but what we do know is that this cult knew what they were doing when they settled in our Black Hills. They found scenic privacy and a government that often looks the other way. It is ingrained in South Dakota politics from accepting requests for uranium mining from a foreign government to cover ups involving high ranking government officials.

Things were put into perspective by Sam Brower, the writer of Prophet's Prey, a book about his long-time investigation of the group that follow the leader, Warren Jeffs, and his brothers who continue to lead the cult while Warren commands from behind prison walls. Brower believes that Warren is insane and the government should look upon this group, not as a "religion", but for what it really is.....an illegal syndicate.

The members follow blindly, having been immersed in this cult since birth. They turn over all of their money to the "church" and work hours on-end in construction of buildings such as Walmart and Costco or making parts for the government space programs. Meanwhile, the elders live in luxury, impregnating young girls, ejecting the young men who ask too many questions or prove to be a rival for the under-age girls, money laundering, exploiting the food stamp program, cheating honest taxpayers and our democratic system, all in the name of "religion".

So, in a nutshell, we have an insane leader with greedy, sociopathic elders and obedient followers who have little chance of breaking away from a fear-instilled group. Those who do manage to break free will face years of recovery time. Even though the world they left was filled with fear and blind obedience, it was the only world they knew. Who of us could ever "walk in their shoes" or completely understand?

It is too easy to judge and condemn. Until we have experienced brain-washing, fear of the unknown and change, it may be best to read, listen, learn and then try to influence the press and powers that be to look upon this group as what it really is...a true crime syndicate controlling its members through ignorance, isolation and fear.

I applaud the members of the large audience in Hot Springs, SD, who came to the presentation to raise their awareness. The questions asked showed me that there are folks here who care and who want to learn and in one way or another, try to help those who are enslaved by a mentally disturbed, but very clever, controlling leader.

Life can be very confusing and disturbing, but there is hope, proven by those who stood on the stage at our Mueller Civic Center in Hot Springs. They are raising awareness and are putting their time and energy into helping those who have fled the group, seeking a better life for themselves.

And, after all, it is in helping others that we truly help ourselves. It is the key to happiness. We may choose to remain islands or we can reach out in this confusing world and give a hand to those who are struggling to break free from mind control and find the path to self-awareness and their own inner peace.