The Polygamists: A History of Colorado City, Arizona (Paperback)

by Benjamin G. Bistline (Author) "Stephen V. Jones, assistant topographer to the second Colorado River expedition of John Wesley Powell, in describing his impression of the area, entered in his..." (more)
Key Phrases: second amended affidavit, new high school district, third amended affidavit, Colorado City, Short Creek, Fred Jessop (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
What some of the people have been forced to endure in Colorado City is little different from living in a third world country.

Ten-year-old Benjamin Bistline moved with his parents to Short Creek (Colorado City), Arizona, in 1945 to join with a group of excommunicated Mormons who believed in honoring the law of polygamy as revealed by the Prophet Joseph Smith and instituted by Brigham Young.

Mr. Bistline has compiled a detailed history of the significant events that shaped and sustained this community from the beginning. He tells of the shifts in power, changes in leadership philosophies, persecution from outside forces – and from within.

Mr. Bistline’s goal in writing this history is to reveal that the original leadership structure of a Council of men holding common and balancing power has slowly descended into A ONE-MAN TYRANNICAL RULE over the people.

Bistline has observed: 1) Older men being taught to take CHILD BRIDES before the girls are attracted to boys their own age. 2) BOYS DRIVEN OUT of the community for competing with older men for wives. 3) Plural wives expected to apply for GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE as single mothers. 4) Men out of favor are "EVICTED" from their homes with their wives and children reassigned to a more compliant man. 5) Community members AFRAID TO DISOBEY the "Prophet" out of fear for their eternal salvation.

RESIDENT HISTORIAN Ben Bistline is recognized as the most credible and knowledgeable source of information about Colorado City. He knows more about the people, their motives, their family connections, their religion, their strengths and their weaknesses than any other pundit. Mr. Bistline is contacted by media and the press from all across the country, and has appeared on CNN and ABC Primetime.

About the Author
Benjamin G. Bistline, the sixth of ten children, was born in Logan, Utah, on April 21, 1935, the son of John Anthony Bistline and Jennie Johnson Bistline. His parents were active members of the Mormon Church but became involved with polygamist families in Millville, Utah, and were excommunicated by LDS Church in 1937.

The family moved to Short Creek, Arizona, in 1945 to join a united order movement, also known as The United Effort Plan. His father soon became discouraged by John Barlow's ineptness in governing his Order, and by 1948 he had repented of his decision to join with Barlows' group at Short Creek. He then decided to rejoin the Mormon Church, but his wife refused to leave, taking a firm stand. Ben’s father died in April of 1949, before rejoining the LDS Church because of their policy of a one year repentance probation period after being excommunicated.

Ben’s mother had always wanted to live polygamy and this gave her the opportunity to do so. She married Richard Jessop as his fifth wife and they moved into his large household of four wives and about thirty children.

Ben lived in this polygamous household for the next three years until the raid on Short Creek in 1953. While living with his stepfather, he became romantically involved with one of the daughters, but the Raid interrupted the courtship. Ben was eighteen and Annie was fifteen. All minor children in the community were declared wards of the state of Arizona, and were transported with their mothers to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1953. They were released and allowed to return to Short Creek in 1955

Annie and Ben were married June 24, 1955, and remained in the society where they parented and raised sixteen children. He was never allowed to marry any other wives, after being deemed unworthy of the privilege by polygamist leaders because of his "rebelliousness." His refused to take what he was told at face value, he refused to join one of the leadership cliques, and he refused to live in blind obedience Thus he was never a polygamist. He and his wife would have accepted plural marriage.

In the early 1980s Ben became discouraged with the polygamists due to their changes in religious doctrine. He now lives on his own property in an area called Cane Beds, about two miles south of Colorado City. He and his wife are still very much involved with the polygamists due to extended family relationships.

Ben and his wife Annie joined the LDS Church in 1992. They believe the same doctrine as the LDS Church in regards to polygamy. They are members of the Kaibab Moccasin Ward where they have served in several church callings. Ben presently serves on the high council of the Kanab, Utah Kaibab stake.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Agreka Books (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888106743
• ISBN-13: 978-1888106749
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #254,711 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is so accurate!, January 20, 2006

By	Toniaann Smith - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book very enlightening. I learned a lot about a group of people I knew little about. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to know the truth about the society in Colorado City/Hildale. The author is not interested in sensationalism, but in reporting the truth. I moved to an area just south of these twin towns - found the people interesting and the book helps me to understand them better. They do have tv's, computers, etc. in spite of their commands otherwise - and they have vehicles and modern conveniences. They just dress like pioneers. Great book!

5 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars George Bush should stop polygamists, July 30, 2005

By	Ronnie Clay "R.C." (Winnsboro, Louisiana) - See all my reviews

I feel bad for what the women have to go through in Colorado City. They are force to marrie, even when their under age. Men are having mulitple wives and dozens of children. The people over their were clothes from and old century, theirs no entertainment for them to enjoy like television, radio, computers nothing. A person from the outside world comes in at night and get the girls out of that city to live a normal. They were talking about polygamisty on Opera and Dr. Phil. Why won't lazy George Bush do something about this.