Re: "Agenda" and persecution of Mormons

[Marci Hamilton]

In a message dated 7/14/2003 9:45:02 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

This is, of course, correct. However, does anyone know whether the LDS Church recognizes these people as members? Or, instead, is one excommunicated for entering plural marriages? It is my understanding that "fundamentalist Mormons" are not considered members of the Church. Moreover, although I'm pretty sure the people Marci refers to consider themselves to be members of the "true church," do they consider themselves members of the official (recognized, how does one say this?) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? How would one identify the relevant groups for constitutional purposes?

Bobby Lipkin

They are not members of the mainstream Mormon Church, which tries to distance itself from such groups (though prosecution of the groups has not been vigorous until recently).  They are members of the Fundamentalist Mormon Church.  There are other fringe groups as well that believe in plural marriage.  These groups would have to be taken into account for purposes of weighing the public interest in prohibiting plural marriages.  Depending on your assessment of the policy reasons against polygamy, you will answer the public interest question differently.  At this stage in history, it is a very difficult case for one to argue that anti-polygamy laws are anti-Mormon.

Marci