Utah Polygamy

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

2008-07-24T22:07:00.000-07:00

Many of us who have left, been excommunicated, or have become disillusioned by the United Latter-day Church leadership have but one question we would like answered.

How can a man who seemed so loyal, so intelligent, and so kind suddenly become so aggressive, so mean, and even threaten the lives of his former friends, family, and others seemingly overnight? It seems that while serving under President Heber's leadership, he seemed so loyal, so humble, seemingly willing to do anything and everything to help the people of the church. In his talks, he often remarked how wonderful it was to serve this church and would always end his talks by bearing his testimony of Presidents Heber and George, as well as Joseph Smith with a great fire in his eyes.

Yet, overnight, he overturned it. President Heber had laid down districts for the church's membership, rules about not marrying underage girls, keeping peace in the church despite contention.

What happened?

How did it happen?

What motivated and continues to motivate President Tucker in his all out assault against the church body?

These questions and more seem to keep us awake at night.

Because of this, I've talked with a few ex-members and we have decided to start a small support group. We will be meeting at the Rosewood Nazarene Church on Sunday afternoons around 2 PM.

The address will be:

455 Rosewood Lane
Layton, Utah 84041

Feel free to e-mail me with questions about the gathering if you are interested in attending at:

sean.kingston65@yahoo.com

Hope to see some of you there. Maybe together, we answer these questions and begin to help our families and friends adjust. Here's to hoping, anyway...

Fresno, California Colony Apostatizes

2008-07-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

I just heard that the Fresno colony headed by Steven H. Tucker's great-uncle, Nephi L. Kingston, has split from the main United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ in defiance of orders to excommunicate other members of the church. I guess they all got fed up. Not sure if the Herreras are still loyal or not. Those in Santa Barbara are still loyal to Steven last I heard.

John T. Bostick (1st Counselor) Has Gone Missing

2008-07-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

I just heard that Uncle John up and vanished in the middle of the night by some members who are still in the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ. I'm not sure if authorities have been alerted. I was taught, as well as many members, that police wish ill on us. It's likely they have not been notified.

John T. Bostick is considered the second in command of the church. Was the law finally going to try and prosecute him for polygamy or is there another power struggle between Tucker/Kingston families and the Bosticks?

Rumors Surfacing

2008-03-12T22:15:00.001-07:00

I just heard from a friend of mine that John Wayman has moved from Arizona into Riverton, Utah. John Wayman was placed as High Priest over Arizona in February 2008 following the excommunication of over 25 members and their families. This will be the first time that I can remember where someone did not live in the state that they were supposed to lead. I know that there were a couple Mussers and Smiths that lived there. Both were excommunicated. Does this mean that there are no more members in Arizona now?

Another Blog

2008-02-20T16:02:00.000-08:00

There appears to be more than just blog_haven.

http://shameonprestucker.blogspot.com/

This one showed up on another search I did. The author is "Miss Hinck." Thought that might be interesting to any "apostates" or interested individuals.

Prophet = God Incarnate?

2008-02-20T08:07:00.000-08:00

According to the teachings of Heber G. Smith and Steven H. Tucker, the Holy Spirit is with the prophet and no one else. This was a drastically new teaching because members were asked to pray about the Book of Mormon to know that it was true. According to Steven H. Tucker in a distributed pamphlet,

"When we learn that Joseph Smith Jr., the prophet, possessed and was overcome with the Holy Spirit, Joseph was elevated to the status of godhood and he would be justified in all that he did (132:59). Verse 59 is referring specifically to Joseph Smith and to no one else."

He continues,

"And we learn in church history that false visions and all things most unholy began to mislead the people when they would enter into prayer. It was this attitude of pride that led many astray. We can find that this was the very purpose of the prayer to discover that the Book of Mormon was true. It is a great test. One may either follow that false spirit or follow the godliness found in the only true church on the Earth."

Then he lays the bomb,

"The prophet is the only mouth piece on the Earth. In order to receive revelation, he must have the gift of the Holy Spirit and no one else can receive it except the prophet."

In a sermon, Steven H. Tucker claimed, "God has chosen his prophet for the sole purpose of dictating revelation to him so as to lead his chosen people. If we begin to think we too are partaking in the gift of the Holy Spirit then we are liars and speak all forms of blasphemy which is punishable by death in God's Word."

As you can see, there is no way to challenge what the prophet now was to tell you. You could say that it did not seem right, otherwise you would be in danger of blood atonement. You could not challenge it out of your own volition for fear of being labeled an apostate. And if you were ordered to do something you knew was wrong but attempted to follow it because it was given by "revelation" through the "profit" it would kill your soul; especially if it was something like disowning your family or your closest friends. Everything is free game, it seems.

With Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit being taught as all being the same (a trinity doctrine that is usually not accepted by most Mormon Fundamentalist groups), the prophet not only plays the role of the Holy Spirit to the people, but Jesus Christ and God the Father as well.

Older Blog Found on Google

2008-02-17T18:13:00.000-08:00

Just found this blog after googling a few things about the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ.

http://blog-haven.livejournal.com/

This will be available on the right side of the screen from now on.

They Would Not Even Be Able To Find Your Bodies...

2008-02-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

As we sat in the house-church meetings at the home of Jason Kingston in Layton, Utah, we sang a couple of hymns from an LDS Hymn book.

We Are Marching On To Glory (Hymn #225)

We are marching on to glory;
We are working for our crown.
We will make our armor brighter
And never lay it down
We are marching marching homeward
To that bright land afar.
We work for life eternal;
It is our guiding star.

Then day by day we are marching;
To heaven we are bound.
Each good act brings us nearer
That home where we'll be crowned.
We are marching marching homeward
To that bright land afar.
We work for life eternal;
It is our guiding star.

Then, with the ransomed children
That throng the starry throne,
We will praise our Lord and Savior,
His pow'r and mercy own.
We are marching marching homeward
To that bright land afar.
We work for life eternal;
It is our guiding star.

As we finished the hymn, we sat down together in "fellowship" to listen to our prophet speak. Our prophet, as we believed, was literally God incarnate; an incarnation of the third individual of the godhead. That doctrine was laid out by Heber G. Smith, the prophet before Steven H. Tucker. I will expand on this at a later date.

In the teaching, we were told that we are here for the sole purpose to build up the work of Zion here on Earth and that the Uniformed Priesthood Purpose (the ULDC's United Order) was for that very reason. This was anything but new. I had heard this my entire life.

But then things took a quick turn. This is loosely quoted, but Steven said something like this:

"And so we find our enemies struck down, both inside and outside the church, and if you stand with them I assure you wouldn't last long. For if God wills it I will defend his work so that the very government which seeks unlawful dominion over us WOULD NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO FIND YOUR BODIES!"

Those words stood out in my mind in the January 2007 teaching. The thing that freaked me out even more was that arrogant smile he had on his face as he looked straight at my family. Later that day, my father offered my sister to him to marry; probably out of fear. Steven agreed and my brother-in-law, Charles Bingham, was excommunicated and Carmela was re-sealed again as a plural wife followed by a family sealing which included her three young children.

Letter of Excommunication

2008-02-17T17:35:00.000-08:00

This letter was sent out to several members of the United Latter-day Church as well as those named in this letter.

(start letter)

NOTICE:
THE UNIFORMED PRIESTHOOD PURPOSE (UPP),
FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE UNIFORMED LATTER-DAY COMMISSION (ULC)
IN SERVICE OF THE
UNITED LATTER-DAY CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST (ULDC) INTERNATIONAL,
A CHARISMATIC MORMON FUNDAMENTALIST DENOMINATION

February 06, 2008

Brother(s)/Sister(s):

Due to hypocrisy and attacks from within the church, more members have been excommunicated these past few months than any time throughout our church's history. This is a NECESSARY action. Excommunicated members receive any property that they have donated to the church, provided that they provide necessary receipts and that property will be returned to them within 48 hours of the request. Excommunicated members may also leave this church with their wives and children. Arrangements will be made for those who wish to remain as members of the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ (ULDC) International.

The following have been cut-off by will of the Lord, as given through direction to his one true living prophet on the Earth, Steven H. Tucker:

John W. Freidman (also dismissed from the Priesthood Council in 2006 and all priesthood duties)
Nathaniel M. Kingston (also dismissed from the Priesthood Council and all priesthood duties)
Seth Hinck
Phillip W. Musser (also dismissed from the Priesthood Coucil and all priesthood duties)
Nephi E. Musser (also dismissed from the Bishopric and all priesthood duties)
George Musser
George Smith
Heber G. Smith Jr. (also dismissed from the Priesthood Council and all priesthood duties)
Heber G. Smith III
Heber M. Smith
Heber K. Smith
Hyrum R. Smith (also dismissed from the Priesthood Council and all priesthood duties)
Joseph H. Smith
John G. Smith
Jason Smith
Moroni Smith
Nephi J. Smith
Nephi Y. Smith
Urval Smith
Heber Tucker
James Tucker

"These men and the families they lead have been damned to the very depths of hell," sayest the Lord. "Unless ye truly repent in your heart, forgiveness will not be given unto you. And ye who do repent with a sincere heart; yea, with an everlasting love in your heart, thou shalt be allowed to join my one true church but behold; thou whom I have mentioned unto my prophet, Steven H. Tucker, if ye do join again, thy kingdom in heaven shall be stagnate." Thus saith the Lord, "Unless ye ask forgiveness of your hearts, ye are damned to hell, but if ye truly ask forgiveness in your heart, I will give you the privilege to join again, but your kingdom shall have an end for the iniquities you have caused my work."

All those attempting to conspire with these individuals will be worthy of blood atonement.

Signed,

Steven H. Tucker

sht:jb

(end letter)

Steven H. Tucker/Kingston Part 2

2008-02-16T15:07:00.000-08:00

So I've covered a bit of what I know about Steven H. Tucker, or now known as Steven H. Kingston... the alleged "profit" of the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ Intl.

I will say that a couple of splinter group have separated amongst excommunicated members of the ULDC. These include those under the leadership of Hyrum R. Smith & Heber G. Smith Jr. Both of these men served in the high priesthood. Both of these brothers are leading a group of Saints and is the largest sect of those that were excommunicated or split from the main ULDC church. They call themselves the "Reorganized Smith clan" or just the "Smithites" as they were called under George Smith's leadership.

The other group is led by my grandfather Nathaniel M. Kingston, which is much more moderate in doctrine. My grandfather, oddly enough has taken many of the Tuckers under his wing, including Steven's father, William Tucker. They have founded a church they call, "The Conservative United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ" and do not require plural marriage to be lived to attain the highest level of heaven unlike the ULDC and Reorganized Smith clan.

In order to see the picture in full, right click on the image and choose "View Image."

Both groups reject the doctrine that the prophet is the third person in the trinity or godhead as taught by President Tucker/Kingston.

Those that didn't join any of the splitting sects joined with the surrounding groups such as the Apostolic United Brethren, the Latter Day Church of Christ, or they have gone completely independent.

What I've seen occur in the past few months with this group has been the most activity I have EVER seen at any time in the ULDC's history. Steven took a moderate Mormon Fundamentalist group and turned it into an extreme one within a matter of months. He became the first prophet to not be married when he took control of the sect to now having around 20 wives. All of his wives do NOT live with him and half of them are under the age of 18. I was in several of those marriage ceremonies because some where presided over by my grandfather. I was there for the first ceremony where Steven took three different wives all at the same time in marriage vows. That was back in October 2007. All three were 1st or 3rd cousins.

Then on December 29, 2007, he was to marry one woman and decided to take two more at the very last minute threatening them with condemnation and blood atonement if they refused to follow into the principle. All the girls were also under the age of 18. One for sure, was 15 at the time of the ceremony. She was also a 2nd cousin to Steven.

And like the Kingstons when they marry, the women do not change their last names to the same as their husbands. In this case, these women kept their maiden names.

The men of the church have also been taught that the more daughters they have and give to the prophet in marriage, the more that their kingdom in heaven will be increased. In addition, men are taught that they must have at least three wives as taught by Lorin C. Woolley. This includes cousins, nieces, anybody. It doesn't matter to Steven. As long as they are women and look "presentable" (or young... like around 18) then they will be accepted. This is exactly what happened with Benjamin Vreleese, Wesley Smith, the Friedmans, and the Waymans. They have given several of their daughters (some of them being nieces) to their prophet for the hope that they will have their name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. The younger the girl, the better chance she will be accepted and the men will receive blessings, leadership, and power in the church.

Members are taught (like I was) that they must have AT LEAST one daughter married to the prophet in order for any kingdom in heaven to be present when they die. If they ignore the order, then blood atonement will be bought upon them (at least that's what we were taught) and they will be cast out. Parents (women in particular) are also taught that they must have at least 3 children to have any chance at worthiness, and that one of them must be a girl which they will entrust to the prophet at birth to be married when they reach "of age." Under Heber's leadership this was as young as 8 to as old as 20. However, the latter was very rare. I have not heard of any instances where Steven has married 8 year olds either. The youngest I've heard was 14, but you never know. However, with only 11 surnames (or at least that I can remember right now), that really can lead to incest. Especially when Heber would marry a woman and then marry at least one daughter from that original spouse (which happened on several occasions).

I wouldn't feel comfortable mentioning any names, but this stuff happens. One of my sisters was married to Steven shortly before my father and grandfather were excommunicated. She had 3 children; one boy and two girls. One of the girls (who is 9 right now) has been promised to be married to Steven when she reaches a "presentable" age. That's about the same time I walked out.

Another memory comes to mind. There were a few Naylors that followed the Tuckers when they joined with the ULDC. Oddly enough, the Naylor family left the FLDS Church for fear of having their girls become child brides. So, they joined the ULDC only to have one of their daughters (who was 16) and another one (who was 15) to be given to Steven and his brother Nephi. The Naylors finally gave in, but not before their daughters tried to run away with one of their moms. With all the drama, the family finally left, but the 15 year old and her mother didn't escape. The family disowned the 16 year old and so she went back to the church to be married to the prophet. She later found out that her mother (who was supposed to escape with them) was re-sealed to the prophet as well. I can imagine that that must have been a surprise to find out. The 16 year old ran away again, but was shipped to a "re-education" camp somewhere in Garfield County, Utah. Haven't heard anymore on the Naylors since.

I could go on and on...

In any case, though, I hope this maybe helps you to better understand what the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ is all about now and some of its odd teachings. Maybe now you know that this is a REAL guilty church when it comes to incest and child brides; not the innocent little polygamous group it's painted about by its members.

Steven H. Tucker/Kingston Part 1

2008-02-16T00:31:00.000-08:00

To truly understand who the man who claims to be the prophet of the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ (ULDC) Intl. is, we must first understand his family.

I am a former member of the ULDC until I was excommunicated with my family in February of 2008 for "blasphemy." Such evidence has yet to be produced. I'm writing this because people need to know who this man is and what he has done to this group that I used to call my church.

Steven H. Tucker was born June 19, 1988, in Colorado City, Arizona, to his father William Tucker and mother, also third wife, Ava Kingston. Steven took his father's last name, something that I don't think most Kingston members do. In the 2nd edition of the book, Lessons For the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ, Steven mentions that his grandfather was John Ortell Kingston supposedly putting him in the lineage of Jesus Christ which he has preached about VERY openly in priesthood meetings.

William Tucker was excommunicated from the Latter Day Church of Christ (aka Kingston clan) for holding dual membership with John W. Bryant's Oregon group. William later left Bryant's group and went to Colorado City with his only wife left (Ava Kingston who was ostracized by the Kingston group for obeying her husband and disobeying her older brothers; Paul E. Kingston in particular). The family stayed in Colorado City for a number of years and totaled around 50 children and 5-7 wives for William Tucker.

Steven Tucker was introduced to the United Latter-day Church of Jesus Christ when his mother urged him to find a more moderate group. Several brothers and sisters of Steven joined with him and his mother under Heber G. Smith. Steven now claims that Heber sexually molested one of his plural wives when she was 8 and had lost the priesthood, but Steven re-received it in a vision at Heber's death in August 2007.

After being proclaimed Heber G. Smith's successor in June 2007, he received the apostleship... something that had never been done in ULDC history. According to the D&C, there is only one on the Earth who has that authority. Apparently at that time, Heber and Steven both held it. A few days after the pronouncement, Heber disappeared and would not be seen ever again.

Heber died in August of that year, and his body was immediately cremated or he was placed at an unmarked grave. These are both rumors. I'm not even aware of a death certificate being filled out and on record in the state of Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, or any other surrounding states. What happened to Uncle Heber is ANYONE'S guess. He could very well still be alive.

After Steven H. Tucker "received" his vision, he came down heavily on Heber G. Smith. This caused quite a bit of contention between Kingston/Tucker families and Smith families. Heber had excommunicated Scott W. Kingston (a beloved Council of New Friends member) along with many in the Kingston family. Steven reluctantly sided with Heber for the purpose of getting the ordination he received in June of 2007. Scott was later received back into the church, but the families remained cautious.

Under Steven's leadership, tension between Smith and Tucker/Kingston families finally came to a huge explosion. Over 25 families were excommunicated in February 2008, and many more left because of the excommunication. Included in the excommunications were younger members of the community including some of Steven's brothers, mostly Smith families, and all Musser families. Among those who left the ULDC (but were not excommunicated), were Steven's father, William Tucker, and several of Steven's brothers and sisters with their families. Membership fell from over 1000 members to around 200-300. He claimed in a sermon after the excommunications took place that his father had "fallen into apostasy" and that he had received revelation to change his last name to "Kingston." He also mentioned disowning his brothers and parents which really saddened his mother, but she is still in from what I hear. I've heard that she was assigned to one of her step-sons, Jacob Tucker.

I remember in one of his sermons way back in 2005 or 2006 where he spoke about drowning one of his brothers as an example of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Steven is very scary and power hungry when it comes to leadership and wives. He is, of course, the youngest of his 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

Steven H. Tucker has also been emphasizing the teachings of blood atonement to the church as doctrinal and scriptural. Don't be surprised if, within the next couple of years, excommunicated members who speak out suddenly disappear. Myself included, Sean Kingston. My father, Gerald Kingston, was among those mentioned in the excommunication letter and my grandfather Nathaniel Kingston. Steven even married one of my sisters, Carmela Bingham Kingston, after excommunicating her husband and taking on her and her children. I haven't heard or seen Carmela's ex-husband since.

After the excommunications occured, Benjamin G. Vreleese passed away. He was a huge proponent of Steven H. Tucker's leadership. Maybe it's because he had 16+ wives and at least 3 of them were under 18 and over half were 30 years younger than him? Ben had served as the bishop of Fresno, California, and Steven's brother, Nephi, took his place. I assume Nephi received all of Ben's wives too. Also, last I heard Steven had somewhere around 20 wives.

After so many individuals were excommunicated, several positions had to be filled once again.

Surprisingly, a Smith made it to the High Priest position of Utah. I assume it had something to do with receiving two more wives who are daughters of Wesley Smith. This placed Wesley as High Priest over Utah and part of the Council of New Friends, as it was referred to under Heber's leadership.