I have to stay at it," she said. Yearning for Zion Ranch, with boundaries approximately one mile by two miles, was acquired by Davis S. Allred in 2003. I wondered if we were in America or Russia," Shannon said. The heavy duty overhead supports are consistent with rumors that a larger-than-life stone statue of Warren Jeffs was destined to be positioned above for all to see. In September 2007, Warren Jeffs, the ranch's leader, was convicted on two counts of accomplice to rape. Every indication was that the call was genuine, and law enforcement was duty-bound to respond. (Jeffs is serving a life plus twenty years sentence for the sexual assault of two underage girls he had taken as his spiritual wives.) Others believe that the building will replace the old temple, which has not been used since the Texas Rangers raided it in 2008. But law enforcement and prosecution naturally dont want to turn over information because theyre in the middle of an investigation. The Yearning for Zion Ranch, or YFZ Ranch,[1] was a 1,700-acre Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints community of as many as 700 people, located near Eldorado in Schleicher County, Texas, United States. Child-sized shovels and miniature wheelbarrows sit on the porch of their three-story, log cabin-like home.. I remember Randy saying, The worst thing that can happen for CPS is for us not to have the information. And at the end of the dayand Im not saying this to blame anybodybut we did not have the information in time for the full adversary hearing, so we were not able to distinguish children and family units; Judge [Barbara] Walther was not able to look at individual families, she had to see a collective unit, and thats why the court ruled there wasnt sufficient evidence to determine a per-child situation. If they have questions for me, theyll ask. The Ensign road is trash everywhere. In April 2014, the State of Texas took physical and legal possession of the property. I said something along the lines of, Nice of you to finally show up, and he said, Ive been here the whole time. I was stunned to know that he had been on the ground and wouldnt meet with us, because so many issues would have been much simpler if wed had clear communication. YFZ Ranch remains in limbo 10 years after raid near Eldorado Rural School Districts Are Facing Financial Ruin. And the view was. We needed the records in orderwe didnt know who most of the children were. While the precise purpose of the new building is unclear to outsiders, rumors are flying. In 2014, the state seized the YFZ property; right now, its in litigation from a former member. The Ironhand guys run the lease road and pick up trash. We take very good care of them. But that will never happen as long as Warren Jeffs is still alive. "I finally figured out that every time that I differed in opinion, that was a brainwash.". Meeting rooms available for reservations provide a peaceful setting for meeting, family functions and celebrations. Whats the Next Chapter for the FLDS Ranch? I wish we could have helped every one of those kids. "I have to tell you, I talk for a living," she says. These guys got a pretty detailed tour of the ranch in 2017. If those children stayed and we had another Waco, the question would always be: Why didnt you get the children out? Yearning for Zion Ranch Visit - mormonfundamentalism.com "I couldn't believe it. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. When asked about the raid that took their children, one mother says it "turned [our lives] upside down and inside out.". I dont think that Randy Stout [co-lead counsel] and I ever stood in one place for more than three minutes. OPRAH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF HARPO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2023 HARPO PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I was listening to the calls that Flora Jessop was receiving from Sarah, and they were convincing calls, Ill tell ya; she knew everything about the FLDS. "Can you imagine what it's like to come back to nothing? Salt Lake television reporter John Hollenhorst took to the skies above the YFZ Ranch outside Eldorado to report on new, strange construction underway at the polygamist ranch. It's important that you see it, and that's something that people don't quite get. The French Visitor Center has concessions, public seating and restrooms. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. YFZ Ranch - Wikiwand Eldorado Justice of the Peace Jimmy Doyle flew Hollenhorst up in his plane to survey the new building, a semi-circle made of poured concrete. If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Could Texas Really Eliminate Property Taxes. The ranch, belonging to the FLDS Church, is located about four miles outside of El Dorado in west central Texas. They expected fifty kids max at the ranch and found almost five hundred. They deserve to know there is a family out there that cares for them. We are pleased to host three guest posts from Craig L. Foster, Newel G. Bringhurst, and Brian Hales. "This whole situation is abusive and out of hand," said Merril Jessop, a presiding elder in the FLDS Church. (View a slideshow of detailed photos of the amphitheater. Some State Officials Prefer It That Way. Sheriff Doran and Ranger [Brooks] Long had developed a rapport with Merril Jessop, and we could talk with him and accomplish our goal and mission: to look for the so-called child making the outcry. Now Its Making a Comeback. We lost track of every single one of the kids and families on that compound after CPS returned them. The Yearning for Zion (YFZ) Ranch, a polygamist community in Eldorado, Texas, made national headlines in March 2008 when armed authorities raided the community. I worry about those boys and girls who went back into homes. Authorities had been tipped off by a phone call claiming the 16-year-old caller was being abused by her husband, a 50-year-old man. "If you know what it's like to have a little child look you in the eyes, throw their arms around your neck, smile and give you a hug, then you know what it's like (here now)," she said, turning her head and sobbing into her shoulder. When The Oprah Winfrey Show was granted unprecedented access to the Yearning for Zion (YFZ) Ranch, home to the most devout members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), in 2009, Oprah met Richard, his three wives and their nine children. Original airdate: March 30, 2009. "We study animals and everything that has a purpose," she says. Sometimes they didnt know who gave birth to them. I think we did everything we could do. You can't argue with the outcome of the raid. The YFZ Ranch - CBS News The Yearning for Zion (YFZ) Ranch, a polygamist community in Eldorado, Texas. MySA, March 4, 2016, http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Polygamist-diary-describes-secret-bed-used-for-4078569.php, accessed November 2, 2017. What that was used for almost makes yourits a sickening feeling. The leader of the Yearning For Zion Ranch says he doesn't understand how the government could sweep in and seize all their children based on an unproven allegation. Editor's note: For exclusive video from the YFZ Ranch, click here. There were hundreds of kids who didnt give us consistent information: names had different spellings, children offered different dates of birth. thirty-foot statue of Warren Jeffs holding the hand of a little girl, Texas Monthly Expands Into Feature Documentaries With Upcoming Film, Texas Monthly Welcomes Two New Members to the Editorial Staff, In Hunt, Its All About the River and the Rodeo, Everyone in Stephenville Thought They Knew Who Killed Susan Woods, In the Aging Oil Business, These Young CEOs Stand Out, Meanwhile, in Texas: A Snake Sank Its Teeth Into Austins Energy Grid. "It's a discussion that takes a lot of spiritual training and understanding to understand the principles in that way of life," he says. This is a small but growing subreddit, much like the city is. We needed the records so we could organize the children and family units for the adversary hearings. Rough-hewn limestones are used throughout for terracing and landscaping. The Raid on YFZ Ranch, Ten Years Later - Rick Alan Ross They were sent back to hell. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune About two and a half weeks before the raid, I received a call from Rozita Swinton, who claimed to be in the FLDS. When she was finally allowed to return to her home on the ranch, because of an ongoing search of the property by authorities, she said nothing was the same. she asks Willie. Some women nursing babies that were thirteen months old were separated from their infants. Behind the scenes of Oprah's YFZ Ranch visit, Watch a typical day for Richard and his family, Inside the ranch while the children were away, Lisa Ling goes inside a polygamist compound. He was sentenced to two consecutive prison terms of five years to life and remains in prison. "I think when you get married it's the start of a relationship, to start going forward in a new era," one girl says. Although child welfare workers allowed most of the mothers to accompany their children to the temporary shelters, Nancy said she was not allowed to go. I told them this was a very secretive group. She quickly returned to the ranch but wasn't allowed inside. We found out about the removal when CNN showed the kids carted off on buses. Carolyn Jessop, a former FLDS member, is one of its most vocal critics of the church. Looking for online definition of YFZ or what YFZ stands for? We arrived in Eldorado, Texas, the closest town to the ranch, and met up with our Ranger guide who then drove us to the outer gate of the ranch. The fact is, there were children being abused there, and not a single one of those victims has ever been found. The YFZ Ranch raid 10 years later: 'Texas had the guts to do what other Thats a common strain, a push-pull of competing interest between law enforcement and CPS. I would have gone about this in a way that would not have harmed a childthat would not have taken so many kids in custody. I think theyve been through enough. Nothing about the raid haunts me. Empty, ransacked homes, many things were taken, no pictures left.". "What does your faith and religion teach about black people?" Aired on 03/30/2009 | CC tv-pg. Would it still be possible to receive the information to view Friday's portion remotely?, J Stuart on Juanita Brooks Conference Schedule: We sent a link to the information yesterday., J Stuart on Juanita Brooks Conference Schedule: emails were sent to those who registered!, https://web.archive.org/web/20050707083014/http://www.myeldorado.net/YFZ%20Pages/YFZ032504b.html, http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Polygamist-diary-describes-secret-bed-used-for-4078569.php, Juvenile Instructor A Visit to the Yearning for Zion Ranch?Part 2 of 3, Juvenile Instructor A Visit to the Yearning for Zion Ranch?Part 3 of 3, Categories of Periodization: Accommodation, Categories of Periodization: Modern Mormonism, Categories of Periodization: Territorial Period. Norbert's work in West Africa is introducing Saints there to the need and, Nita Giles on Juanita Brooks Conference Schedule: Where do we meet Sat morning for the Juanita Brooks St George tour at 9;00 am? Texas contended most of the crimes were committed on the ranch, which sits outside the town of Eldorado. "Investigators determined that there is a widespread pattern and practice among the residents of YFZ ranch in which minor female residents are conditioned to expect and accept sexual activity . While doing so, our Ranger guide pointed out the grain silos and a tall tower and platform on them. At dinnertime, Oprah joined Richard, Joy, Alice, Rosie and their nine children. Number two, if they violate a law, you take action so they know where the line in the sand is drawn. A decade after the largest custody battle in U.S. history, some of those involved speak about their memories. I tried to let them know that they didnt need to be worried about their own kids, but that the kids on that compound were very much in danger. For $40, You Can Get an Excellent Steak Dinner Off a Dirt Road in the Panhandle. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. We were asking them questions as simple as Who are you? I've met my match in this room. [2][3], Former Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints community in Texas, Age dispute and Child Protective Services, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Monica, a mother of five children between the ages of 11 and 3, said she wants the world to know her children were happy and safe at home. A home is being built on the YFZ polygamous ranch near Eldorado, Texas, Saturday. Nancy was at the ranch when Texas rangers and other authorities began taking away the children. I had been looking into FLDS cases for about five years when the raid occurred. Photographer Trent Nelson collected photos of the ranch that stood for "Yearning for Zion." But having said that, when first started practicing law, one of the partners had put together several cases against the Roman Catholic Church. At the gate, the Ranger pointed to places where warrants had been taped to the bars?the adhesive residue still being present. Now Its Making a Comeback. The only women who were allowed to stay were mothers nursing babies under one year old. Youre in a difficult situation either way. "The only abuse my children have ever had is since they've been taken away. Photographer Trent Nelson collected photos of the ranch that stood for "Yearning for Zion." The property was suppose to be a sanctuary. Nate Carlisle. Texas is trying to care for a polygamous ranch while trying to sell it Miscellaneous, [] See Part Iof this series on the YZR byCraig Foster, Newel Bringhurst, and Brian Hales HERE [], Pingback by Juvenile Instructor A Visit to the Yearning for Zion Ranch?Part 2 of 3 November 21, 2017 @ 11:07 am, Pingback by Juvenile Instructor A Visit to the Yearning for Zion Ranch?Part 3 of 3 November 22, 2017 @ 6:00 am, Ardis E. Parshall on MHA Award Winners 2023: I'm so proud of the two winners of the public history award! The fallout from the report was immense: law enforcement entered the property to search for Sarah, who, they found out months later, didnt exist. Jeffs stated, We need to keep this particular property so private and sacred and secret that not even the faithful who are driven will know of this place, because this is where the sacred records are. When it comes to reading fiction, Tammy says it doesn't have a place in the curriculum. A Visit to the Yearning for Zion Ranch?Part 1 of 3. "What can be more important than the safety and protection of the children of America?" Child-sized shovels and miniature wheelbarrows sit on the porch of their three-story, log cabin-like home. I was in a three-way call with her and law enforcement in Arizona. Who is your mother? And that alone became tricky. Yearning for Zion Ranch, with boundaries approximately one mile by two miles, was acquired by Davis S. Allred in 2003. Betty had a hard time adjusting to life in the outside world, and two days after her 18th birthday she left her mother and siblings to return to the YFZ Ranch. Put new text under old text. Oprah Goes Inside the Yearning for Zion Polygamist Ranch Eldorado Justice of . YFZ Ranch - YouTube Multiple log structures were already showing the wear of the Texas climate. They put me off saying they don't have the authority to let me in and there's no proof the children are mine. Why the mass removal when the allegations were so specific? After Waco and Ruby Ridge, the feds tended to shy away from any potentially bad press. Watch a day in the life of members of the Yearning for Zion (YFZ) Ranch. Procreation takes place in a ritual by one of the twelve high priests assigned to impregnate women. [2] [3] Background A Remarkable Visit to the Yearning for Zion Ranch (Inside YFZ ranch) I found this blog a while ago after watching the Netflix documentary on the YFZ ranch. "We believe our bodies our sacred from [our neck to our feet]," one girl says. After providing historical background at a polygamy trial in Cranbook, Canada in April 2017, Brian Hales met a Texas Ranger who had been involved in the 2008 raid of the Yearning for Zion (YFZ) Ranch. The Ranger had offered to give Brian a tour, so, taking the Ranger up on his invitation, Brian Hales, Craig Foster, and Newell Bringhurst visited YFZ on October 28, 2017. Most importantly stay civil when addressing other Redditors directly. ETG thats the new name for the former YFZ Ranch where the ranchs operators plan to routinely hold tactical training events for the military and governmental agencies. That would satisfy me. "I said, 'I'm not going to do that,'" she said. YFZ RANCH, Texas The children's shoes still sit neatly, side by side where they last left them. A lot of houses are in need of repair; a lot of them leak. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. FLDS raid in Texas: How did this happen? - Deseret News Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002. Betty says she rejoined FLDS because she wanted to return to her old life, family and religion. With folded hands, Shannon talks about how Texas officials wont let her see her children, who were taken from the YFZ polygamous ranch near Eldorado, Texas, last week. "The word [compound] makes it look like somebody's restricted," Willie says. "It's miserable. "I kept thinking, 'How can they do that?' Doc IIIIIII. This subreddit has no affiliation with any governing or regulatory bodies in San Angelo, TX. Much of that experience is a blur. Do we just take our own vehicles to the, Sher on Juanita Brooks Conference Schedule: Where is the Utah Tech main theatre? The online campus maps don't have it listed., Chris on Juanita Brooks Conference Schedule: I just registered. See Part I here and Part II here. Some day they may approach me. All rights reserved. A childs wheelbarrow sits next to a normal size one outside one of the homes on the YFZ Ranch. "The children would cry and hang onto their mothers," she said, trembling and wiping away tears. They were sent back to hell. What followed was the largest child custody battle in U.S. history, eliciting age-old struggles between religious freedom and the role of government. "I had nowhere to go," said Monica, 34. New Building at YFZ Ranch Puzzles Neighbors - Texas Monthly ETG - that's the new name for the former YFZ Ranch where the ranch's operators plan to routinely hold tactical training events for the military and governmental agencies. Of all the structures on the Yearning for Zion ranch, none was more striking than the temple. Now it's just a memory for the FLDS. Tom Foster writes about business, innovation, and creative people. Newspapers released names of facilities caring for the . Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas empty 10 years after raid sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Im keeping the land viable for when it will be liquidated. At some point, Randy and I were in a meeting in the DAs office with other decision-makers. The logs were said to have come from the FLDS community up in Bountiful, British Columbia and no doubt the dry heat have weathered the exteriors significantly. Jessop then went one further, inviting a fellow Texan, President George Bush, to come and see what the state is doing to its citizens. They're breaking every rule. The 1,700-acre YFZ Ranch was once home to approximately 700 adults and children, but since the raid that number has dwindled to three or four hundred.