A businessman pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring with the leader of an offshoot polygamous sect near the Arizona-Utah border to transport underage girls across state lines, making him the first man to be convicted in what authorities say was a scheme to orchestrate sexual acts involving children.
Moroni Johnson, who faces 10 years to life in prison, acknowledged that he participated in a scheme to transport four girls under the age of 18 for sexual activity. Authorities say the conspiracy between the 53-year-old Johnson and the sect’s leader, self-proclaimed prophet Samuel Bateman, occurred over a three-year period ending in September 2022.
Authorities say Bateman had created a sprawling network spanning at least four states as he tried to start an offshoot of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which historically has been based in the neighboring communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. He and his followers practice polygamy, a legacy of the early teachings of the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which abandoned the practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it. Bateman and his followers believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven.
What does them being polygamous have to do with anything?
These polygamist Mormon cults have a long history of child abuse. It is relevant that they continue to arrange child marriages and facilitate child abuse even as their previous leader is spending the rest of his life in prison for the exact same thing.
But what does mentioning them being polygamst do other than try to associate the two together.
Like they don’t even say thr word Mormon in the tittle which is much more relevant.
It is inherently hierarchical to have a situation where men can have multiple wives but women cannot have multiple husbands. Can you see the increased potential for oppression and abuse there?
That isn’t true for all people who practice polygamy. It’s not an inherently bad practice.
This article is just trying to associate any deviation from normal values with these disgusting acts, just like when people do the same with trans people.
Because polygamy is generally associated with being different; and being different makes you weird and suspect according to the news now.
Edit: I’m not saying I agree with this line of logic. Simply stating an explanation.
Being different has ALWAYS made people weird and suspect.
Please refer to LGBTQI+ people, anyone with a physical deformity, non-white people walking down the street in a rich neighborhood, etc etc etc
Exactly. It makes them an ‘other,’ which the status quo wants you to mistrust and be weary of.