Are the FLDS (and other contemporary polygamists) the true followers of Joseph and Brigham?

I’ve heard the claim, many times, that it’s Warren Jeffs and his FLDS church (and similar such offshoots) that have preserved the true legacy of nineteenth century Mormonism, whereas the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has “sold out.”  Such folks, it’s said, are the true heirs of Mormonism’s founders.

The polygamists themselves make that claim, of course, but I hear it most commonly from hostile unbelievers — who intend, by it, not to praise the fundamentalists but to highlight the supposed evils of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

The claim is deeply false, on multiple counts.

I spent a great deal of time reading up on contemporary Mormon “fundamentalism” a few years ago, when I served as an “expert witness” for the federal government against Brian David Mitchell (the kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart) both at his competency hearing and, a year later, at his trial.

Someday, I intend to write up an accounting of the vast differences in both spirit and practice between nineteenth-century Mormonism and schismatics such as Warren Jeffs and Brian David Mitchell.

In the meantime — though I warn you that this story contains some fairly graphic and unpleasant material — you can clearly see one difference illustrated in this appalling item from CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/30/us/polygamist-flds-warren-jeffs-update/index.html

Posted from Victor, New York