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As the name implies, it is more radical than other churches of the Latter Day Saints. The '''Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''' believes everything in the Book of Mormon and is strongly opposed to homosexual acts, women's equality, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion.

As the name implies, it is more radical than other churches of the Latter Day Saints. The '''Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''' believes everything in the Book of Mormon and is strongly opposed to homosexual acts, women's equality, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion.

Members still practice polygamy today, but prosecution is difficult and rare because the wives typically decline to testify. A notable exception was the arrest and conviction in 2007 (on a charge of being an accomplice to rape) of FLDS leader and prophet Warren Jeffs (b. 1955). Jeffs had previously been on the FBI's Most Wanted list. The conviction was later overturned.

Members still practice polygamy today, but prosecution is difficult and rare because the wives typically decline to testify. A notable exception was the arrest and conviction in 2007 (on a charge of being an accomplice to rape) of FLDS leader and prophet Warren Jeffs (b. 1955). Jeffs had previously been on the FBI's Most Wanted list. That conviction was later overturned by the Utah Supreme Court because of erroneous jury instructions.<ref>[http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top%20stories/story/Utah-Supreme-Court-reverses-Warren-Jeffs/UmCT7ZKXNE6dLZ94CqF6NA.cspx Utah Supreme Court reverses Warren Jeffs conviction] Metcalfe, Dan and Chris Vanocur, July 27, 2010, abc4.com, retrieved August 24, 2011</ref> Jeffs was then transferred to Texas to face charges of sexual assault on two underage girls in November 2010, after the Utah Supreme Court refused to block his extradition.<ref>[http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2010/12/01/polygamist_sect_leader_jeffs_a.html Polygamist sect leader Jeffs arrives in Texas] Ward, Mike, December 1, 2010,  statesman.com, retrieved August 24, 2011</ref> In July 2011, a jury convicted him on two counts, and in August 2011, the jury took less than 30 minutes to sentence him to life in prison.<ref>[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52354441-78/jeffs-sexual-child-jurors.html.csp Warren Jeffs gets life in prison for sex with underage girls] Whitehurst, Lindsay, August 9, 2011, ''Salt Lake City Tribune'', retrieved August 24, 2011</ref>

 

FLDS communities are located in remote, small towns, mainly in the American Southwest, where the church's leadership takes care to prevent surveillance. They resemble groups of Mormons that left the U.S. for Canada and Mexico about 1900. The colony known as Bountiful, British Columbia is still active in Canada.

FLDS communities are located in remote, small towns, mainly in the American Southwest, where the church's leadership takes care to prevent surveillance. They resemble groups of Mormons that left the U.S. for Canada and Mexico about 1900. The colony known as Bountiful, British Columbia is still active in Canada.

 

[[Category:LDS Church]]

[[Category:LDS Church]]