Montana School 1967-70: End of 1990 Writing I never got around to finishing the story of our polygamous years which I started writing in 1990. If you want to pick up the story where I left off, it is on the Family History Tape 4, Side A. I am planning to post the tapes and transcript of the Family History which John, Kathie, and I taped in 1988. I did find a piece about Rulon Allred which I started in the eighties. I will add this now and conclude with posting the letter Rulon wrote to John, Kathie, and me when we had come to the decision that he was not speaking for God in the matter of her marriage to Marvin. I will also look for the newspaper piece about his death (he was murdered) a few years later and post it RULON ALLRED 1 Carol Herbert “The King of Tam was a very good King. All day and every day he rode around Tam. He had to see that all were well and happy.” My little boy cuddled next to me as he read from his Beginner Book. I did not hear his next words for the portrait of a face from the past thrust itself before my eyes and on my consciousness with a vividness that transported me instantly to times and places past. The face was that of a man whom I had loved, whom I had once worshipped as the living symbol of man’s ability to communicate with the Divine. The man was Rulon C. Allred. Even as I see his face again and think his name, the old love for him and concern for him bridge the years and the events that have walled his little Kingdom forever in our past. He stands at the head of a group of people dedicated to “keeping the Principle alive.” The “Principle” is the early Mormon doctrine that in order to reach the Celestial Kindom (the highest degree of Heaven for the Mormons) and to achieve Godhood, which is the goal of all good Mormons, a man must have more than one wife living in earthly harmony with him. That means living polygamy in this life. 2 Carol Herbert In the 1860’s and 1870’s Brigham Young’s people in Utah defended their Constitutional and God-given right to live their religion as they saw fit, including their right to practice, in America, the patriarchal order of marriage established by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Mormon Church yielded to the political pressures of statehood, and their prophet received a “revelation,” that earthly plural marriage was no longer required for celestial exaltation. At least a portion of the Church membership believed the new stand to be based on revelation. Intimates of the prophet and of the apostles who headed the Mormon Church watched the prophet and his apostles marry more plural wives themselves after their Manifesto and decided that perhaps God’s requirements had not given way to political expediency, after all. There developed a core of men and women dedicated to the necessity of keeping the doctrine and practice of plural marriage “alive” under the auspices of the Mormon Priesthood, acting for the priesthood rather than the Church. As the years passed and the political and cultural pressures upon the Mormons increased, Priesthood holders who defended polygamy spoke more and more softly. Many took their polygamous families to Canada and to Mexico, two countries 3 Carol Herbert whose laws did not forbid them to practice their religion in this manner. But sons and daughters returned, bringing memories and diary accounts of men high in the hierarchy of Mormon Priesthood ordaining others to live plural marriage, to keep the “fullness of the Priesthood” on earth. Among these accounts were revelations to John Taylor, the head of the Mormon Church who preceded Wilford Woodruff, author of the Manifesto directing Mormons not to live plural marriage. These relations to John Taylor required him to ordain men to live and to perform plural marriages and to pass the keys of the Priesthood to this group of men rather than to the Church apostles who would head the Church upon his death. Thus, a new emphasis was given to Priesthood succession. There were now two heads, the head of the Church and the head of the priesthood rather than one man who was both, as in the past. And, it was the head of the Priesthood who was the “living prophet,” God’s oracle on earth, the man who stood to the modern world as Samuel and Peter had stood to older worlds. The doctrine developed that the two positions were separate and could be held by different men modernly as it had been done anciently. 4 Carol Herbert In the early 1900’s the men who had had the authority to perform plural marriages were gradually being cut off from the Church, either by death or ex-communication. With the death of Joseph F. Smith, prophet in the early 1900’s, the plural marriage Mormons, the Fundamentalists, believe that the keys of the fullness of the Priesthood passed, not to the head of the Church , but to a close Priesthood associate of the Prophet, John W. Woolsey. Today, Rulon C. Allred claims that these Priesthood keys have been conferred upon him. His followers believe that he stands at the head of the Priesthood on earth and that, as such, he communes with God and receives divine instructions for carrying forth the work of God on earth. We knew Rulon first as the prophet and later as a friend, a father, a man. The end of this writing. The rest of the story is told in my Montana School writings and on the Family History tapes (and transcripts). What follows is our last communication from Rulon C. Allred, which confirms his release of Kathie from her marriage to Marvin and which threatens us with eternal damnation. 5 Carol Herbert Image (293).jpg 6 Carol Herbert Image (294).jpg 7 Carol Herbert Image (295).jpg 8 Carol Herbert Below is Walter Cronkite's report of Rulon's death on CBS News. There are many articles available through googling his name. CBS Evening News for Wednesday, Oct 05, 1977 Headline: Polygamy / Lebaron Cult / Murders Summary: (Studio) Mormons outlawed polygamy 87 years ago, but break away groups continue practice. Now scandals with regard to murder have beset polygamists. REPORTER: Walter Cronkite (Salt Lake City, UT) Police say murder of Rulon Allred, in Salt Lake City suburb of Murray, UT, was act of religious terrorism. Allred was leader of 1 of largest polygamist sects in country [Leader's brother Owen ALLRED - says group has lost wonderful leader] Owen Allred is now head of sect. There are many living in West states who still believe in polygamy, as did their ancestors who settled in Colorado City, Arizona. Because they are usually peaceful and private, laws against polygamy are rarely enforced. Law now more interested in religious fanaticism of sect called Church of the Lamb of God, and its leader, Ervil LeBaron. 9 Carol Herbert LeBaron preaches death to polygamists who don't follow him; he and 10 followers are chgd. with murder of Allred. [Former LeBaron cult MPR. - says LeBaron believes he's had revelations to kill these people; has heard him say it.] Some LeBaron cultists have been apprehended in Dallas, Denver and Salt Lake City, but leader and 5 others still at large. Other killings and disappearances linked by officials to LeBaron include some near San Diego; Grantsville, UT; near Encinada and elsewhere in Mexico and murder of LeBaron's brother, Joel, in Encinada. [Salt Lake City deputy attorney David YOCUM - says group moves out just as officials locate them.] LeBaron cult is seen as embarrassment by most polygamists, some of whom are now beginning to talk openly with regard to plural marriage. Alec Joseph and 9 wives say plural marriage makes sense. [Margaret JOSEPH - isn't jealous re: sharing husband.] [Carmen JOSEPH - notes they regard jealousy and possessiveness as negative. Feels monogamy fosters these things.] Many polygamists now arming themselves due to LeBaron cult; Joseph says he's ready for LeBaron. [JOSEPH - wishes LeBaron would come around, because they'd prosecute him here, with .45 automatic.] LeBaron group has also threatened leaders of Mormon Church and security men were stationed at recent conference in Salt Lake City. 10 Carol Herbert Controversy with regard to polygamy goes back to days of Mormon founder Joseph Smith, who advocated plural marriage and was killed by mob. Mormons are as anxious as anyone to end LeBaron's cult, though they no longer practice polygamy within church, saying it's mockery of words of leader Brigham Young, with regard to wives, children, riches and dominion. 11.