Dear : Governor Leavitt and Attorney General Graham
I am the leader of the Apostolic United Brethren, (AUB), a religious
organization with over 5,000 members, located primarily in Utah. As you may
know, the AUB membership adheres to the doctrines of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, but believe in the doctrine of plural marriage as well.
AUB members vote, pay taxes, serve in the military, educate their children, and
do all the kinds of activities associated with the rights and privileges of American
citizenship.
Recent media attention to activities of certain polygamist groups has given our
members grave concern, not only regarding the crimes alleged, but also because
it appears your offices and the press have unfairly implicated all polygamist
organizations as perpetrators of abuse. This broad-brush approach is
undeserving and should not be tolerated. After all, when prominent members of
the LDS Church are caught perpetrating abuse, we don’t see headlines such as
“Graham: Utah to Prosecute Mormons for Crimes!”
We believe it is important that you receive some basic information regarding
our religious beliefs, lifestyle, and philosophy of openness and freedom for our
members directly from us, instead of receiving it through the filter of prejudice
and suspicion which seems to have permeated recent news reports.
First let me say that AUB members devote themselves to the spiritual tenants
of their religion, which includes devotion to God, respect for men, women, and
children, the sanctity of marriage and family, and a fundamental belief in free
agency. The doctrine of free agency requires every man and woman to make
choices of his or her own free will and take responsibility for individual conduct.
Consistent with our belief of free agency, the AUB does not arrange marriage
between its members. We further view intermarriage between close relatives as
an abomination of God’s law. We discourage dating until the age of 17 and
advise our young adult members to postpone considering marriage until their
vocational or college education is obtained, or at least until the age of 21.
Toward this end, we offer scholarships and financial assistance when possible
so our young members may complete their formal education. Marriage should
be the result of love and commitment between consenting individuals, where
women are deemed equal to men in every way. Only through the exercise of a
person’s free agency should a person decide whether to undertake the benefits
and responsibilities of plural marriage, and whom to marry. Church leaders do
not make these decisions for its members.
Central to our belief of free agency is the responsibility to become
self-sufficient, law-abiding members of society. The AUB does not believe it is
above governance by man but find it unfortunate that one of our fundamental
religious beliefs was placed outside the law by what amounted to extortion by
the federal government as a price of statehood over one hundred years ago.
Nevertheless, AUB members are required to abide by the law and we can point
to a long history of openness and cooperation with law enforcement and social
agencies when dealing with transgressions by our members.
It is troubling that our fellow Utah citizens and legislature have not yet found
the courage to disavow anti-polygamy hypocrisy. While AUB citizens
voluntarily marry and support their spouses and children out of a sense of deep
spiritual and personal commitment, popular American culture promotes the idea
of cohabitation outside of wedlock without commitment and single parent
families have become the norm. Even worse, scoundrels such as Adham
Kashoggi and his wives were welcomed to this State with open arms and invited
to sample its many treasures. While our most prominent leaders courted this
man and delighted in the curiosity of his multiple wives, Utah citizens are
technically deemed criminals for engaging in the same practice of plural
marriage.
Let me be clear: AUB members abhor violence, abuse, and neglect in any
form. We condemn those who would manipulate sacred religious doctrine to
coerce or intimidate others for personal or financial gain. We affirm our
commitment to maintain cooperation with law enforcement agencies to assist in
the prosecution of abuse, violence, and crime where they might occur. As we
see it, this is the duty of any Christian.
Finally, the AUB discourages its members from seeking state and federal
assistance such as food stamps and Medicaid. This is often difficult because the
stigma accompanying our lifestyle makes it difficult to compete in the economic
marketplace. However, AUB members prefer to provide assistance to one
another rather than rely on government resources.
Considering our focus on God, family, education, and the American work
ethic, AUB members have endured the hypocrisy of being denigrated as a
“cult” far too long. Interestingly, many distinguished citizens of this State boast
proudly that a grandparent had several wives and numerous children, (rather like
coming over on the Mayflower), while castigating those “weird” polygamists.
While it might be popular to disparage, ridicule, or persecute polygamists, the
effect is to drive disaffected groups underground. Those groups are then left to
operate unchallenged in a shadow of secrecy.
AUB members will not waiver in our open exercise of religious freedom, and
we will continue to actively participate in social and religious development of this
State. Therefore, we invite you to engage in a dialogue with religious groups
such as ours so that we may work together on ways to best prevent the abuses
alleged to have occurred in the Kingston clan.
We applaud your position that polygamists should be prosecuted no more or
no less than other citizens who breach the law and look forward to continuing
our commitment and cooperation with government leaders and law enforcement
agencies to root out the abuse, intimidation, and violence left unchecked in
secret groups. Please contact me if your offices desire any assistance,
information, or education we may extend. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
OWEN ALLRED
Presiding Elder
Apostolic United Brethren