There is an article put out on August 29th by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints dealing with the capture of Warren Jeffs and how he is in NO way associated with the church and it's members. This is the article taken from the official church website at lds.org and from... http://lds.org/newsroom/showrelease/0,1550...1-23938,00.html Polygamist Sects Are Not Mormons, Church Says 29 August 2006 SALT LAKE CITY Many news outlets are reporting on the recent arrest of fugitive polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, who is on the FBIs Most Wanted list. Some media outlets have been very careful to describe Warren Jeffs as a fugitive polygamist sect leader. Other reports refer to Mr. Jeffs as a Mormon, fundamentalist Mormon, or as the leader of a Mormon sect. Some may debate what the definition of a Mormon is, but terms like Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Mormon Temple and Mormon missionaries are universally understood to refer to the 12-million member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Quite simply, calling Warren Jeffs a Mormon is misleading and confusing to the vast majority of audiences who rightfully associate the term Mormon with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The following information may be helpful in further drawing the distinction: Warren Jeffs Is Not a Mormon Warren Jeffs is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and never has been. Mormons Do Not Practice Polygamy The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discontinued the practice of polygamy in 1890. (Read history.) In 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley said: "I wish to state categorically that this Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of this Church. Most of them have never been members. They are in violation of the civil law. ... "If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church." (Read full statement.) There Is No Such Thing as a "Mormon Fundamentalist" or "Mormon Sect" The term "Mormon" is a nickname commonly applied to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is no such thing as a "Mormon fundamentalist," nor are there Mormon sects." A correct term to describe these polygamist groups is "polygamist sects." The inclusion of the word "Mormon" is misleading and inaccurate.
