I think this is an extremely sad situation. I feel really bad for the children. As with everything the ones that end up hurt the worst are the children. I wouldn't sign a petition to send the kids back. I think Texas did what needed to be done. This children are confused and scared. They have been raised in the confines of the compound. They are taught that outsiders are evil and then outsiders come in and take them away. They are afraid to talk to a lot of the people trying to help them. Authorities are havng a hard time even figuring out which children go with which parent because they won't talk. It's sad. I don't feel that the children should be returned. Not when it's the practice to have the girls spiritually married at such a young age. That is abuse. Plain and simple and should not be tolerated at all. I keep hearin in the news how these moms are so upset that their kids are gone. And being a mom I can get a glimpse of how awful it would be not to have my children here with me. To not hear their voices playing. The house would feel so empty. However if I was going to have one of my girls become spiritually married at 14, then I would hope that the authorities would come. As a mom I would not want my daughter to become a wife to some older man. I couldn't allow it. But in all honesty where did the practice start? With the very first prophet when he gave a revelation that an angel with a sword came to him and said that if he didn't enter into the practice then he would be destroyed.
Joseph Smith Jr and his 33 wives. Some of his wives teenagers. Some as young as 14 and 15. This angers me that now young girls are still being put through the same thing that Joseph Smith Jr started. I just pulled up on the lds website under family search joseph smith jr and it listed all his wives and the dates they were born and the dates they were married to him as well as other men. Yes I know everyone well get all defensive and say..."oh but the lds don't practice polygamy anymore".... true they don't. Thank God. But the history is there and cant be denied. The church leaders married more then one woman and married each others wives.
FamilySearch.org - Search
It's all there. I was taught in church that polygamy was needed because there were not enough men for all the women so men would take up more then one wife and support them. That's not what happened. I think to blame joseph smith whole heartedly for what is going on in texas might not be right, but if he didn't start it and say it was a must for exaltation I wonder if it would still being happening in the splinter groups. I find it disgusting. So signing a petition to free the children. No I won't. They probably are in better hands now. But I will continue to pray for them, that the Lord covers them in safety and love and helps heal their wounds like only he can do.