This Song Is For The Children

2008-07-12 00:38:36

[Editor's Note: The following letter and video were presented to FLDS Representatives on June 17, 2008 by members of the Principle Voices Coalition Committee. Words cannot express our gratitude and appreciation for the overwhelming generosity and support shown. Thank You!]

______________________________________________________

June 17, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Like you, we are individuals who have grown up with the desire to serve the Lord above all others, and have refused to forsake the holy principle of plural marriage.

In an effort to minimize the hostility towards our people and communities, representatives from most of the major groups, including independent Mormon fundamentalists, have come together and formed a coalition committee to build bridges between the Fundamentalist Mormon culture and those outside of the culture.

We, too, have parents and grandparents who were involved in the 1953 Raid. Hundreds of people in our families and communities are the living, breathing descendants of those who survived the Raid. So, when the raid happened in Texas it sent a huge shockwave of pain and emotional grief for everyone. Needless to say, our hearts went out to the men, women, and children of your community.

Not only did we feel pain and grief, we all felt an overwhelming need to do something. We could not sit idle while you suffered.

People telephoned and came up to us at church, asking, “What can we do to help?” There were even men in tears who asked us, “Can you get this money and theses things to the families in Texas, if we get them to you?”. Many donations came about as a result of people reading newspaper articles. We had people contacting us from all over the country.

Heartsick mothers wrote letters to those mothers who could not tuck their children into bed at night.

School teachers had their classes of all ages write letters to your children wanting to help them cope with the trauma of being taken from their parents.

Our children truly believed they had found a new best friend in each one of your children. They wrote each letter in hopes that someday they would receive a letter back. The letters from children totaled over 450 and were truly heartwarming.

Our coalition committee responded by inviting them to bring the letters and donations to us so we could have them shipped to you in Texas.

Mary Batchelor, director of the advocacy group Principle Voices, right, speaks at a pro-polygamy rally Monday, April 14, 2008, in Salt Lake City. The group put together over 500 gift packages destined for shelters in Texas where the children of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were being held. Photo credit: AP Douglas C. Pizac

Our goal was to create 419 care packages, but when the volunteers finished, the tally reached over 500, and continued to grow. Some of the items donated were musical instruments, blankets, diapers, rattles, baby wipes, toys, horseshoe sets, soccer balls, and lots of puzzles, games, bubbles and crayons. So that the mothers and children could have music they enjoy listening to, adult and children’s hymns were donated. Books of Mormon on tape and reading materials were also donated.

There were many notebooks, pens, and pencils donated to be used as daily journals, so the mothers and children could keep a diary and a record while they were in state custody.

At first, we didn’t know where to ship these donations. Our fear was that our letters and donations would be intercepted by Government officials and refused.

Members of our coalition committee actually flew to Texas and hand delivered the nearly 500 letters directly to the Ranch, hoping someday soon the mothers and children would return to their homes and be able to read them.

It is now our great joy that the children are back with their families, and we are able to give the rest of the donations directly to you.

We acknowledge the hand of the Lord in returning your children, and we sincerely hope the best for your families.

It is also our hope that we can cooperate and work together in times of need, whether it be one of us or all of us.

This experience has truly made us feel a deep appreciation and closeness to all of our brothers and sisters in Texas, Southern Utah, and those with whom history and our ancestry bind us together. Sincerely,

Principle Voices Coalition Committee

This Song is For The Children

Special Thanks to the Ensign Learning Center Jr. High Choir

Printer Friendly Version

Comments