. POLYGAMY'S RAPE of RACHAEL STRONG
                            – Protected Environment for Predators

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Rachael Strong’s Mother Tells the Story

My name is Pauline Strong, and Rachael Renae Strong is my youngest daughter. In the winter of 2004, my daughter, my son, and I escaped after ten years in a fundamentalist Mormon cult, one we had entered with trust in the love and security they promised.
     What we experienced was their carefully planned indoctrination and crazy-making strategies, all designed to completely strip away a person’s personal identity and self-confidence. Control, of course, was their goal.
     My unusually beautiful Rachael was ten when we arrived there, and we did not realize that many of the men immediately had their eye on her. We assumed these men and women were the loving, God-fearing people they had presented themselves to be.
     I would like to briefly share our experience with the hope it will teach others the truth of cults.
     I grew up as a traditional Mormon girl and at age twenty, I was married in the Salt Lake Temple to a young man who had just returned from serving a two-year mission for the LDS Church. Throughout the thirty years of my marriage, my husband and I were always active members of the Church, and my husband served as bishop. Read more in the book...

Decriminalize Polygamy?

The media-favorite, pro-polygamy group "Principle Voices" is headed by three highly-educated, pro-plural marriage women promoting "decriminalization." To decriminalize a statute: Not to treat as criminal or impose a penalty; to reduce or abolish criminal penalties.
     Executive Director Mary P. Batchelor and Community Relations Director Anne Wilde were plural wives, but Anne’s husband died and Mary’s sister-wife, Vicky Prunty, left the family. Linda Kelsch, Community Services Director, is also a plural wife.

As previously stated, no one can agree on estimates of the number of polygamists in the country or in Utah or how many live as independents or in groups. The independents live quietly in mainstream society and are not part of a Polygamist Group, and Principle Voices leaders are all independents. It is no secret that decriminalization of polygamy is the goal of Principle Voices, and perhaps that goal is being accomplished with the state’s help.
     When Principle Voices first set their goal to change the way citizens of Utah think about polygamy, they knew they must begin with the Attorney General. They have now persuaded him that they can effectively represent the polygamist subculture: a male-dominated, authoritarian subculture. Yet all of the Directors of this group are female. And they are "independents," who have never had the experience of living within either an open or a closed polygamy group.

Interestingly, this is not the first time the male priesthood has used their women to soften the animus of the public. Brigham did it with suffrage and he did it when he instructed Mormon women to demonstrate against laws prohibiting polygamy.
     A critical question to ask: Is it reasonable to think that highly-educated, well-dressed, articulate pro-plural marriage women who have always enjoyed all the freedoms of society, and who have never lived in an open or closed group or been subjected to mind control abuses, can speak effectively on what is happening to under-educated, mind-controlled, and abused women.
     The leaders of Tapestry Against Polygamy don’t think so, and they have come from the front lines of the raging battle.

And the next question to ask: Is Principle Voices goal really to help women escaping from polygamy groups – or is it something else?  Read more in the book...

Trusting, Vibrant Rachael & Stepfather James D. Harmston

Manti, Utah, is tucked away in a mountain valley in central Utah. Everything a family needs, including food, clothes, and a movie theater, is within easy reach. There is even a junior college in the town of Ephraim ten miles to the north. Sanpete County, named after a Ute Indian Chief, is solid Mormon country, and the second temple built by Brigham Young is conspicuously located on a hill as you enter Manti from the north. Because it was one of the first temples, it had special significance for James D. Harmston, who prophesied that one day the Manti Temple would belong to him.

Her willowy beauty at age ten did not go unnoticed by the men in the TLC. Although her father soon removed her from the group and took her to live with him in Las Vegas, it only lasted a year. Then she returned to live with her mother, Pauline.
     Because of her earlier Mormon orientation, the TLC lifestyle was more novelty than bizarre. There were plenty of other kids in the group around Rachael’s age and it made assimilation easier. She was quickly enrolled in the group’s Academy school. No one was allowed to attend public school, nor were children or adults allowed to make friends with people outside the group. Jim had reinstated the "law of gathering" practiced in the nineteenth century by Brigham Young. In those days converts were instructed to emigrate to "Zion," which was Utah Territory, so Jim instructed all of his converts to emigrate to Manti, the new Zion. He taught that in the very soon to come winding-up of the "last days," Manti would be the only safe place in Utah, or the world for that matter. Read more in the book...

A Frustrated Attempt to Seek Justice

Pauline’s house was as clean and orderly as one might expect, and located just south and east of Manti’s business district. We were welcomed and made comfortable in the front room. Pauline and Rachael appeared anxious, no doubt wondering what they were getting themselves into, a normal reaction. After introductions and the usual small talk to put everyone at ease, we got down to business.
     I deferred to Jim Hill because his was a criminal investigation. After he had asked all the appropriate questions, I asked a few questions that pertained to a potential lawsuit. The interview went smoothly and professionally. Both Rachael and Pauline were advised that Jim would submit his investigation to an attorney in the A.G.’s office, who would make the decision to either file or not file a criminal complaint. He would ask the attorney to consider the crime of rape and bigamy.

Jim has a background similar to mine. Before becoming an investigator for the A.G.’s office, he worked in the Salt Lake City Police Department where he specialized in sex crimes investigation. I was therefore interested in how he would conduct his interview. He did a good job.
     I watched how Rachael handled herself and how she worded her answers. This is part of an investigator’s job. He wants to know how believable she will be on the witness stand, how she will handle the ugly questions that are always asked in sex crimes. Rachael was only twenty when she was victimized, now she was twenty-one, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with how she handled herself. And as the investigation progressed and I got to know her better, I concluded that I had not met a better witness, although I didn’t like thinking of her in that way.
     Rachael is a beautiful, intelligent young lady and a caring mother. I have two daughters close to her age. A good investigator does not allow himself to become personally involved in his investigations, but I couldn’t help think what I would do had I been her father. Read more in the book...

An Expendable Casualty

I want back to Manti where I took a more comprehensive affidavit from Rachael and her mother, addressing not only the crimes of rape, bigamy, and unlawful marriage, but those elements that would pertain to a lawsuit. It was obvious that Rachael was still dealing with the trauma. Harmston had done a good job. He and his wives had browbeat her so badly that she had doubts about her competency as a mother. He had tried to convince her she was mentally deficient and had a poor memory. Although she was making progress in shaking off the effects of mind control, on occasions she would have flashbacks – maybe he did have the power to stop her eternal progression.

I discussed Rachael’s emotional state with Attorney Don Redd and we agreed that Rachael, for her own sake and an eventual lawsuit, should be examined by a psychologist. As it turned out, the psychological evaluation was therapeutic. Many of the fears Harmston had planted in her head were dispelled.
     Vicky Prunty, director of Tapestry Against Polygamy, arranged for Rachael to be evaluated by the a well known and highly respected doctor of psychology in Utah. They spent twenty hours of interviewing, testing, evaluating, and report writing. Their "psychological assessment" consisted of twenty-nine single-spaced, typed pages. The assessment is privileged information so I won’t quote from it, but I will give you the substance.  Read more in the book...

A Look at Doctrine & Covenants 132

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds fast to their Doctrine & Covenants as sacred, including Section 132, and continues to publish this book and make it available to any who wish to purchase. The Manifesto, written to satisfy the federal government, is entitled "Official Declaration." It is the last entry in the Doctrine & Covenants. The text is ambiguous – believed to be a revelation by some, but interpreted by Fundamentalists as a mere recommendation. Everyone knew that the LDS Church issued the Manifesto only under extreme duress from the federal government, and not because this "commandment" had been withdrawn by God.

In examining the legal right of anyone to publish a book and be held accountable for its content, one might consider the case of the book Hit Man.
     Paladin Press, of Boulder, Colorado, is best known for publishing the book Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors by Rex Feral, a how-to manual on contract killing. The publisher was sued by the family of the victims whose murderer took this book as a guideline in three 1993 murders.
     Many members of the press supported Paladin Press, concerned that if a book could be found liable for murder, among other crimes, the First Amendment would be in serious danger....

Key Verses of Section 132 Scrutinized

People have asked if this is a bonafide revelation from God?
     Joseph Smith, who allegedly received the revelation says, "yes." Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, and a host of other Church General Authorities have born testimonies that support Joseph Smith. But which God did the revelation come from? The Mormon Godhead consists of three personages, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
     The consensus is that the Son is Jesus Christ. Inasmuch as the Latter-day Saint Church is the Church of Jesus Christ, the consensus of thought is that the revelation came from the Lord, Jesus Christ. Now let’s examine this a little further.
     The gospel, as related by the Mormons, is claimed to be the "restored gospel," the original gospel revealed by Jesus Christ. That means that the unique gospel revealed by Joseph Smith had been taught sometime in antiquity, presumably when Jesus walked upon the Earth.
     Section 132 is part of the "restored gospel" and during the nineteenth century was the central tenet of the Church, just as it is the central tenet of contemporary Mormon Fundamentalists. For a doctrine that important to be restored once again, you would expect it to be corroborated by the Bible.

Where in the Bible does it say God "commanded" Abraham to take plural wives, and where does it say plural marriage is a condition of exaltation? Where does it say that if a "first wife" refuses to allow her husband to take plural wives, she will be "destroyed." You can’t find it because it isn’t there. It is found in Joseph Smith’s revelations and the Book of Abraham, another exclusively Mormon scripture.
     The revelation consists of 66 Verses. In Verse 4, it is stated: "if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory."
     Verse 6 "...or you will be damned." In Verse 12 the Lord says, "no man shall come unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law." Verse 14 states: "whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed."
     Verses 15, 16 and 17 are rather long, so I’ll paraphrase. The Lord states that only those married by his law will continue in marriage in the celestial kingdom. There will be no marriages in the afterlife. Furthermore, only those married under his law can come into his presence. His law is plural marriage performed by his priesthood. Verse 18 through 20 are repetitious except that those who obey His law will continue to bear children in the afterlife and will become Gods like Him.
     In Verse 24 the Lord reveals that he is Jesus Christ. Verse 26 says that those who enter into the "new & everlasting covenant" (plural marriage) and then sin or transgress the law, after their resurrection "shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption."....

Section 132 makes plural marriage a commandment if one wants to come into the presence of God and become like God. In that sense, Section 132 is at war with monogamy. It also authorizes God’s prophet and priesthood holders to take women from other men.
     As a direct consequence of Doctrine & Covenants 132, literally thousands of women have been coerced into unwanted bigamous relationships – often resulting in disgraceful abuse. It falls within the mission of Tapestry Against Polygamy to expose the modern-day immorality that has resulted and its adverse impact upon the faith of those who trust and adhere to the creed.  Read more in the book...

Losing Your Husband to Polygamy

Consider the following real life story, which is one that has been acted out thousands of times over the last century.

Thirty-nine year-old Kelli Cox, pregnant with her sixth child, is a lifelong, faithful member of the LDS Church. Her husband, Jerry, was a successful excavation contractor. They exemplified the model LDS family, a nice home in an upper middle-class subdivision, a boat, fashionable clothes and friends to match. They were deeply involved in church functions, and Jerry was even a member of their local ward bishopric. From Kelli’s point of view life couldn’t have been much better. But that all changed when Jerry’s brother introduced him to Mormon Fundamentalism.
     Jerry started to read fundamentalist literature and without Kelli’s knowledge, he began to meet with Mormon Fundamentalist intellectuals. I can identify with Jerry, because I too went through that same step by step transition until I was converted, ironically, by some of the same people. However, in my case, my wife went through this conversion process with me. I did not go behind her back.
     As Jerry was being taught by the intellectuals, he was teaching what he learned to a single mom and on the sly. She wanted to know if Kelli was all right with Mormon polygamy. Jerry said, "Sure."
     You see, when people are "converted" to fundamentalism, many take on the accepted belief that you do whatever is needed to protect the "principle," even to lie. The single mom telephoned Kelli and found out Kelli was not all right with polygamy. Kelli was shocked. She knew Jerry was reading but had no idea he had progressed to the point he was teaching others and was appalled by his attempt to convert a single woman. His intent was obvious. Read more in the book...

Is "Breaking Down Barriers" Working?

The Safety Net Committee is an evolving entity, learning as it goes forward. The only unanswered question presently is whether the Attorney General will balance the focus between abused women and the pro-polygamists. He wants to make it "safe" for pro-polygamists to come to the meetings, and thus far this has been the primary focus. Words such as "victim" and "cult" are not acceptable in these meetings, because they offend the pro-polygamy people.
     Tapestry has proposed that Safety Net meetings and Town meetings provide a separate session for the abused women coming out of polygamy, as a matter of respect to those who are fearful of and intimidated by pro-polygamists. And these women know that any pro-polygamist attending the meeting will return to their group and report all that was said, further alienating what family and friends the woman may have there.
     Such respect is accorded abused women in everyday life, thus it is reasonable that the government would provide the same for women coming out of polygamy.

There is no question that the Safety Net meetings are pro-polygamy friendly. Whether that has to do with the government really wanting pro-polygamy people to "feel safe" or the fact that many people in Utah are members of the LDS Church, or whether they may have ancestors who practiced plural marriage, or perhaps a combination of it all – is hard to know. All this must be factored into how the Attorney General structures the Safety Net meetings if they want to be fair to the abused. An unbalanced meeting, whether intentional or not, is unprofessional.

One government employee attending a meeting said in his personal opinion, polygamy should be decriminalized. One wonders if he was there in his role as a government employee, why he felt he could voice his personal opinion.
     Another government employee stressed that their function was safety and keeping families together.
     Another one said that they wanted polygamists to receive equal assistance from the government.
     Dan Fischer, the proponent for the lost boys, said that if it took decriminalization to make the youth safer, then he would be for it. Well, if someone could show me how Rachael Strong, Kelli Cox, and all the other victims would be safer with decriminalization, I would be for it also. But with no accountability, no rules and no limits, you don’t have to be a politician, psychologist or lawyer to know that decriminalization would not make it safer for girls like Rachael or Elizabeth Smart.
     Elizabeth Smart, whose kidnaping (by a polygamist) in 2002 drew national attention, encouraged senators to approve a national sex offender registry bill that was passed by the House.
     "I don't want to see others go through what I had to go through," said Smart....
     "There is no greater evil than stealing the innocence of a child," said Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah.
     "We must take a stand, and today we have," said Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, saying the legislation "will protect children from perpetrators of brutal crimes against the most defenseless members of our society." Washington: "Elizabeth Smart lobbies D.C. senators" ‘Sex offender registry: The measure has already passed in the House.’ By Robert Gehrke. The Salt Lake Tribune. March 9, 2006....

A question I am often asked by the media is why young women go back to the fundamentalist group once they have left. In order to really understand, one must have an idea of the circumstances in which these young women were raised.
     The more secret, orthodox, authoritarian, and isolated the community, the more obstacles women and children leaving polygamist communities will encounter. The doctrines, practices, and teachings when compared to society at large are spurious and cult-like. Every aspect of their lives is dictated and controlled, from the kitchen to the bedroom. Giving the husband sex goes beyond duty, it is a commandment so that he can multiple and replenish, building up his kingdom.

It is difficult for one in mainstream society to comprehend the physical, mental, and emotional stress these abused women and children endure. That stress does not magically disappear when they leave the group. It takes an emotionally strong and resourceful woman or youth to make the break successfully even under the best of conditions. Even soldiers returning from war or prison camps struggle to acclimate back into society, and they were raised in that society....    Read more in the book...

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