Christian Pure

FLDS vs LDS: What the FLDS Is and How It Split From the Latter-day Saints

Christian Pure Team

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Published

Summary

  • The FLDS, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, grew from fundamentalists who kept plural marriage after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ended it with the Manifesto of 1890 and the Second Manifesto of 1904.
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says it has no affiliation with any polygamous group, and anyone who practices plural marriage cannot remain a member.
  • Both use the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, but the FLDS teaches that plural marriage is necessary for exaltation and gives its prophet sole power over marriages.
  • FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs was sentenced in Texas in August 2011 to life in prison plus 20 years for sexually assaulting girls aged 12 and 15; he will be eligible for parole in 2038.
  • The FLDS still exists but is much smaller: in 2025 the Hildale mayor estimated that possible Jeffs followers make up about 5% of Short Creek, down from about 95%.

The FLDS is a small polygamist church that broke away from the Latter-day Saints. Its full name is the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It shares roots and scriptures with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the church most people mean by “LDS,” but the two split over plural marriage and are not connected. The Church of Jesus Christ ended plural marriage between 1890 and 1904 and now removes from membership anyone who practices…

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Bibliography (Click to show)
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “The Manifesto and the End of Plural Marriage.” Gospel Topics Essays. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/the-manifesto-and-the-end-of-plural-marriage?lang=eng
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Plural Marriage.” Gospel Topics. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/plural-marriage?lang=eng
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Official Declaration 1 (the Manifesto, 1890). Doctrine and Covenants. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/od/1?lang=eng
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants, section 132. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng
  • Church Newsroom. “Polygamy.” https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/background-information/polygamy
  • Church Newsroom. “Church Seeks to Address Public Confusion Over Texas Polygamy Group” (2008). https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-seeks-to-address-public-confusion-over-texas-polygamy-group
  • Church Newsroom. “Style Guide — The Name of the Church.” https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/style-guide
  • Church Newsroom. “Facts and Statistics.” https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics
  • Encyclopedia of Mormonism (1992). “Fundamentalists.” https://eom.byu.edu/index.php/%22Fundamentalists%22
  • Železny-Green, Evan. “Polygamy on the State Line: Short Creek Settlement.” Intermountain Histories. https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/704
  • “Modern polygamy started in 1929.” Deseret News, April 19, 2008. https://www.deseret.com/2008/4/19/20083058/modern-polygamy-started-in-1929/
  • “Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Fast Facts.” CNN, updated August 20, 2026. https://www.cnn.com/us/fundamentalist-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-fast-facts
  • “Texas high court: Removal of sect kids ‘not warranted.’” CNN, May 29, 2008. https://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/29/texas.polygamists/index.html
  • “A year after FLDS raid, Texas has no regrets.” Houston Chronicle, 2009. https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/A-year-after-FLDS-raid-Texas-has-no-regrets-1729381.php
  • “Warren Jeffs sentenced to life in prison after 30-minute deliberation.” Associated Press in the Deseret News, August 9, 2011. https://www.deseret.com/2011/8/9/20386305/warren-jeffs-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-after-30-minute-deliberation/
  • Alberty, Erin. “What it took to get Warren Jeffs into prison.” Axios Salt Lake City, August 10, 2026. https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/08/10/warren-jeffs-sentence-polygamy-sex-abuse-texas-utah
  • “How the FLDS church consolidated power on the Utah-Arizona border.” High Country News, 2016. https://www.hcn.org/articles/mormon-fundamentalists-control-short-creek-polygamy-utah-warren-jeffs/
  • “Leader of Arizona polygamous sect sentenced to 50 years in conspiracy to transport children for sex.” Associated Press via CBS News, December 9, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/samuel-bateman-arizona-polygamous-sect-flds-prison/
  • “Short Creek-area mayor trying to rebrand former FLDS community.” KJZZ, October 23, 2025. https://www.kjzz.org/the-show/2025-10-23/short-creek-area-mayor-trying-to-rebrand-former-flds-community-a-measles-outbreak-isnt-helping
  • “Colorado City Seeks to Rehab its Image for Future Growth.” Phoenix Magazine, May 1, 2025. https://www.phoenixmag.com/2025/05/01/colorado-city-seeks-to-rehab-its-image-for-future-growth/
  • Mikita, Carole. “Dress of FLDS women explained by former member.” KSL, 2008. https://www.ksl.com/article/3092303/dress-of-flds-women-explained-by-former-member
  • Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Inmate record, Warren Steed Jeffs (SID 08888382). https://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/InmateSearch/viewDetail.action?sid=08888382
  • Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453.

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