BOUNTIFUL, BRITISH COLUMBIA

The settlement of 'Bountiful' is located in the Creston Valley of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, near Cranbrook and Creston. The closest community is Lister, British Columbia.
Bountiful's community is made up of members of a polygamist group. The polygamists live in a commune style compound outside of Lister. The settlement is named after Bountiful in the Book of Mormon.

Contents

History

Rumours of abuse

See also

Further reading

External links

References

History

The first member of the group that purchased property near Lister was Harold^[1] (aka) Micheal Blackmore, who moved there with his family in 1946.^[2] Other members of the church who believed in the principles of plural marriages soon followed. After Winston Blackmore became the bishop in the 80's, the group took the name of Bountiful.
In 1998 the estimated population was 600 and has since grown to about 1,000. Most of the residents are descended from only half a dozen men.^[3]
The polygamous settlement is either of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) or an offshoot of FLDS based on the teachings of Winston Blackmore, a longstanding bishop of the polygamous community who split with the FLDS after concluding their leader, Warren Jeffs, had exceeded his authority and become too dictatorial.

Rumours of abuse

On the April 19, 2005 they held an extensive press conference in an effort to dispel many of the rumours of abuse that had surrounded their community.
Bountiful has come under intense scrutiny for its involvement in the polygamous sect. Warren Jeffs, who was considered one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, is thought to have visited a dozen or so times in 2005. The ''Vancouver Sun'' on January 28, 2006, released information stating that Utah's attorney general is collaborating with British Columbia's attorney general in attempting to deal with polygamy and the alleged abuse in these communities. Jeffs was captured by the authorities outside Las Vegas during August 2006 during a routine traffic stop.
Winston Blackmore's family invited the media to visit on May 16, 2006 in response to a recent visit by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, indicating that they feel persecuted. Three of his wives may face deportation, as they are US citizens and would not be considered legally married to a Canadian.^[4]
On June 6, 2007, the province of British Columbia announced the appointment of high-profile Vancouver criminal lawyer Richard Peck as a special prosecutor to review the results of a police investigation into possible polygamous activity or other offences by members of the community.^[5]
On August 1, 2007, Richard Peck concluded that there isn't enough evidence to charge the group with sexual abuse or exploitation charges as it has been extraordinarily difficult to find victims willing to testify and the defendants are likely to claim "religious freedom" as a defense.
Peck suggested that British Columbia ask the courts whether the current laws concerning polygamy are constitutional. Peck said that it's time to find out once and for all if Canada's laws against polygamy will stand. He stated that, "If the law is upheld, members of the Bountiful community will have fair notice that their practice of polygamy must cease.".^[6]

See also

★ Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

★ Polygamy

Further reading

★ Keep Sweet:Children of Polygamy, , Palmer, Debbie, Perrin, Dave, Dave's Press Inc, 2004,

External links

★ Winston Blackmore's newsletter

★ Religious Tolerance: ''Polygyny in the Mormon Movement: Bountiful, British Columbia''

★ CBC: ''The Fifth Estate'' - The Bishop of Bountiful Documentary disproves conflicts between the cult and secular Canadian community.

★ Polygamy's Lost Boys Global Documentary

★

References

1. Bountiful, BC Daniel Woods
2. Keep Sweet:Children of Polygamy, , Palmer, Debbie, Perrin, Dave, Dave's Press Inc, 2004,
3. Polygyny in Bountiful, British Columbia, Canada Religious Tolerance
4. B.C. polygamists claim persecution
5. Prosecutor to probe B.C. polygamists
6. Not enough evidence to charge Bountiful members: Prosecutor