Bountiful, British Columbia

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Coordinates: 49°02′N, 116°27′W

Coordinates: 49°02′30″N 116°27′00″W / 49.04167, -116.45
Bountiful, British Columbia
Location of Bountiful in British Columbia
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Region	Kootenays
Regional district	Central Kootenay
Population (2007)
- Total	1,000 estimated
Time zone	MST^[1] (UTC-7)
Postal code span

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.

1 History
2 Rumours of abuse
3 YFZ Ranch Raid
4 See also
5 Further reading
6 External links
7 References

[edit] History

The first member of the group that purchased property near Lister was Harold^[2] (aka) Micheal Blackmore, who moved there with his family in 1946.^[3] 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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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 their bishop, Winston Blackmore, who split with the FLDS after concluding the FLDS leader, Warren Jeffs, had exceeded his authority and become too dictatorial.

[edit] Rumours of abuse

On the April 19, 2005 Bountiful's leaders 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.

On September 25, 2007 Jeffs was found guilty of being an accomplice to rape. Prosecutors said Jeffs forced a 14-year-old girl into marriage and sex with a 19-year-old man. Jeffs faces five years to life in prison on each of two felony charges. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said,"Everyone should now know that no one is above the law, religion is not an excuse for abuse and every victim has a right to be heard."^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

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.".^[8]

On April 8, 2008 the B.C. government has been told it should ask the province's highest court for a legal opinion on polygamy instead of proceeding first with charges against members of a polygamist cult in the community of Bountiful.

Lawyer Leonard Doust said the court should be asked whether Canada's laws against polygamy are constitutionally valid, and whether they could withstand a court challenge on the grounds that multiple marriages fall under the right of religious freedom.

Minister of Attorney General Wally Oppal said it's no secret he favours a more aggressive approach to the issue, but he must consider the opinions given by two highly respected lawyers — Doust and the special prosecutor who gave the same advice earlier.

Opposition justice critic Leonard Krog said the time for studying the issue is over and the government should lay charges, saying a prosecution would send a message that it's unacceptable to have children being married to old men.

[edit] YFZ Ranch Raid

The settlement has close ties to the YFZ Ranch in Texas, which was the subject of a child abuse investigation and mass removal of its children due to speculation of a culture of underage marriage similar to those rumored in Canada. Two Canadians from Bountiful traveled to Texas after shortly after their daughter was removed in the raid of 2008. They told authorities that their 17-year old daughter was visiting her grandmother, and wanted to take her home. An observer who has compiled genealogical maps of the families says that her father helped build the YFZ compound in Texas, but her grandmother does not live there, and speculates she might have been placed in a "spiritual marriage".^[9]

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

Perrin, Dave, Palmer, Debbie (2004). Keep Sweet:Children of Polygamy. Dave's Press Inc. ISBN 0-9687943-3-5.
Krakauer, Jon (2004). Under the Banner of Heaven:A story of Violent Faith. Anchor Books, 337. ISBN 1-4000-3280-6.