Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
| Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | |
|---|---|
Former FLDS temple in the YFZ Ranch in Texas | |
| Classification | Latter Day Saint movement |
| Orientation | Mormon fundamentalist |
| Scripture | The standard works (with adjustments) |
| Theology | Continuing revelation |
| Structure | One Man Rule |
| Associations | United Effort Plan |
| Region | North America |
| Origin | Early 1900s (as Short Creek Community) |
| Branched from | The Priesthood Council |
| Separations | Centennial Park Church of Jesus Christ Inc. |
| Other names | The Fundamentalists, First Ward, FLDS Church |
| Mormonism and polygamy |
|---|
| Latter Day Saints portal |
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (abbreviated to FLDS Church or FLDS) is a Mormon fundamentalist group whose members practice polygamy. It is variously defined as a cult, a sect or a new religious movement. Warren Jeffs has been the church's president since 2002.
The FLDS has a large concentration of members in the twin towns of Colorado City, Arizona and Hilldale, Utah, where the church was formerly headquartered, in addition to various other populations across the Western United States, Mexico and Canada. The FLDS also previously owned a 1,700-acre complex near Eldorado, Texas known as the YFZ Ranch, which was the site of a high-profile law enforcement raid in 2008 that brought the church to mainstream public attention.
Since the mid-2000s, the FLDS has come under increasing scrutiny for allegations of child sexual abuse, child marriage, human trafficking, child labor abuses, welfare fraud and the ostracizing of members, with several prominent members and leaders having been investigated for or convicted of sexual offenses. Warren Jeffs himself was convicted on separate rape charges in Utah and Texas, respectively, and is currently serving a sentence of life plus twenty years in the latter state.