FLDS and Colorado City, AZ

Here's the passing tourist's view, for what it's worth:

I've driven past Colorado City on the way from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon's North Rim. Looks *very* normal from the main road and there's nothing to tell an unsuspecting passer-by who isn't familar with the place that it's not quite what it seems.

Someone on here mentioned that if you go into town (i.e. off the main road which bypasses Colorado City) the residents don't like it one little bit. I made the decision not to stop off for a comfort break based on a TV documentary I saw a few years ago. I'm usually pretty tolerant about what people choose to believe (so long as it doesn't hurt others or they don't try to convert me!), but these people... yeah, let's leave it there.

Update:

Just read this article on the BBC's website. Again, not strictly relevant, but interesting all the same:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28890069

If you're writing a novel, you may want to consider creating a similar cult from scratch. Understanding the inner workings of the FLDS is something psychologists are still trying to do, and could take years to research.

If you're really set on writing about the FLDS, consider picking up Escape from amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0767927575/?tag=absowrit-20

It's a first-person account of one of the women.

Not set in the same town, but here's a book written by a former member who is also a participant of AW:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1612182186/?tag=absowrit-20

By all means, read Jon Krakauer's book, Under the Banner of Heaven. He covers Colorado City, the FLDS and Uncle Rulon Jeffs (father of the now-imprisoned Warren Jeffs) in much unflinching detail. There's a photo of Colorado City on the cover.

caw