This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In tearful speeches, Utah backers of plural marriage spoke out Monday at a rally in support of the children and their mothers who have been moved out of their homes on a polygamous sect's ranch in Texas.
"We know their needs are very unique compared to other children in foster care," Mary Batchelor said of the young members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Batchelor, director of Principle Voices, a Salt Lake City-based education and advocacy organization for polygamous families, said there has been an outpouring of support for the FLDS children since an April 1 raid in Eldorado, Texas, by authorities investigating possible abuse.
She told a crowd of about 100 people gathered at the City-County Building in downtown Salt Lake City that the group has collected letters of comfort from children, toys, baby items, CDs and cassette tapes with LDS hymns and books to send to Texas. Donors also have contributed television sets, Batchelor said.
Heidi Foster, a member of the polygamous Kingston clan, said the group has collected more than $4,000 in cash donations. She said her heart "just warms" when reading letters from children and plural wives in Utah that tell their counterparts in Texas that they have their support.
Kent Johnson, 18, compared the Texas action to a 1953 raid on the FLDS on the Utah-Arizona border. Numerous women and children were taken to Phoenix and separated for months from their families.
Johnson said his grandmother and great-uncle have told him about the trauma they suffered years ago. "They didn't know who had done wrong," he said, adding that they were afraid for their lives.
At the end of the rally, the organizers released balloons representing the 416 children and 139 women taken from the Texas ranch.
"You are in our hearts and prayers," a note attached to each said. "We love you."
Principle Voices has set up a bank account on behalf of the FLDS children. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank branch under Donate For the Children, in care of Batchelor.