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An Edition of the
Thursday, January 18, 2018 • Vol. 126, No. 3 • 75 cents
Prosecutors: Men sexually abused girls they called brides LINDSAY WHITEHEARST
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)— Two Utah men who believe in polygamy and doomsday had sexually abused young girls after conducting secret marriages they thought were ordained by God, prosecutors said Friday. Each man believed they were married to two girls, ages 4 through 8, one of whom was related to them, prosecutor Kevin Daniels said. The pair formed a group called Knights of the Crystal Blade and created a remote, makeshift compound from shipping containers in the southern Utah desert. John Coltharp, 33, was charged this week with child sodomy, about a month after police found four girls hidden in 50-gallon plastic water barrels and an abandoned trailer during a raid on the compound. Similar charges are coming against Samuel Shaffer, 34, Daniels said. Authorities say they are still investigating the case and the full extent of the abuse. Attorneys for the two men didn’t
John Coltharp immediately return calls seeking comment. Both were charged last month with child kidnapping and other counts following the December raid about 275 miles (440 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City. Sheriff’s deputies descended on the area with helicopters and dogs after the mother of two of the girls reported them missing, along with
two of her sons. The boys were found in the makeshift compound, but it took police another day to find the girls because Shaffer had hidden them in the barrels and trailer, authorities said. The girls were found after he was arrested and revealed their locations, police said. The children were treated for the effects of cold
and symptoms of dehydration and are said to be recovering. Shaffer and Coltharp were friends who bonded over a shared interest in arcane Mormon ideas long abandoned by the mainstream church, police have said. The child marriages took place in summer 2017, before they decamped to the desert in mid-September in preparation for an apocalypse or in hopes of gaining followers, said Daniels, deputy attorney in Sanpete County. “They were actively recruiting; they wanted to build this group up,” the prosecutor said. A man in California found their writings online and traveled to Utah to join them and was promised a child bride, according to search warrants made public this week. Police also found weapons in their compound, Daniels said. “These are extreme individuals with extreme beliefs that believe the end of the world is coming,” he said. Police “prevented those little girls from dying … or repeating a Waco-style shootout.”
to revise community wildfire protection plan KATHI WALTERS
North Sanpete Community Wildfire Council
FAIRVIEW — North Sanpete Wildfire Council will meet at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 23, at the Indianola Valley Fire Department station to update the 2015 Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The meeting is intended for all residents, property owners and visitors in the North Sanpete County communities located north of Milburn, on both the east and west sides of Highway 89. For additional information, contact Kathi Walters at (435) 427-3238. The meeting is a forum for attendees to share ideas, desires and opinions on how to make communities safer with regard to wildfire. Such contributions become projects that should be considered prior to a wildfire incident. Many of them might be carried out as community service projects, while some might require help from outside resources. Please see PLAN, Page A6
Mormon church appoints 93-year-old ex-surgeon as president BY BRADY MCCOMBS
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church appointed a 93-year-old former heart surgeon Tuesday as its new president, following a longstanding succession plan that aims to keep the faith on course with a minimum of upheaval. The selection of Russell M. Nelson was announced during an address broadcast from Salt Lake City to Mormons around the world. Nelson called on Mormons to stay true to their faith and “keep the covenant path.” “If you have stepped off the path, may I advise you with all the hope in my heart to please come back,” Nelson said. “Whatever your concerns, whatever your challenges, there’s a place for you in this, the Lord’s church.” The announcement came after Nelson was chosen as
the religion’s 17th president during a private meeting of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles leadership body in a temple, per church tradition that makes the longest-tenured member of the Quorum the new president. Nelson is now considered a “prophet, seer and revelator” by Mormons. Nelson succeeds Thomas S. Monson, who died Jan. 2 at age 90. Nelson announced that his two counselors will be Dallin H. Oaks, 85, and Henry B. Eyring, 84, both members of the Quorum. Eyring was also a counselor for Monson, while this marks the first time Oaks will serve as a counselor to a church president. Oaks is the next-longest tenured member of the Quorum, making him next-in-line to become the next president. Nelson is the second-oldest man to assume leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ
RICK BOWMER
In this Sept. 30, 2017, file photo, Dallin H. Oaks, left, and Russell M. Nelson, talk during the two-day Mormon church conference in Salt Lake City. Nelson has been officially named the faith’s president on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) of Latter-day Saints, which is based in Utah and counts nearly 16 million members worldwide. He will oversee the religious and business in-
terests of the faith in collaboration with two top counselors and members of the Quorum, one of the faith’s top governing bodies.
Nelson’s record during his three decades in church leadership suggests he will make few changes as he upholds church teaching and seeks to draw new members. Among the challenges he faces is adapting to the increasingly global nature of the church, which was founded in 1830 in the United States and now has nearly six in 10 members living in other countries. Still, the rate of growth overall in membership has slowed in the past few decades, despite efforts to spread the faith including the lowering of the minimum age for those serving as missionaries. Nelson takes the top position amid increased scrutiny of church teaching in the internet age, which has made more information on doctrine available. Under Monson, leaders released a series of essays explaining some controversial
areas of Mormon history, including early polygamous practices and a past ban on black men in the lay clergy. The church also faces some pressure to allow greater leadership roles for women, including those who want to be admitted to the priesthood. Nelson also will have to navigate the issues raised by the LGBT rights movement. The church, at times, has expressed empathy and told members to be welcoming to LGBT people while also strictly defending opposition to same-sex marriage and all homosexual relationships. Last year, Mormon leaders partially cut ties with the Boy Scouts of America, which in 2015 ended its blanket ban on participation by openly gay adults. The LDS church, which has been the biggest sponsor of troops, said the move wasn’t Please see NELSON, Page A6
MP council passes resolution to address complaints CHERYL K. BREWER
The Pyramid
MT. PLEASANT—In an otherwise light agenda, city council members passed a resolution Jan. 9, to address complaints at the Cleone Peterson Eccles Equestrian Center that also houses the ConToy Arena. A number of letters had been sent to the city addressing a problem that recently happened at the arena. The police were
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called but no arrests were made in connection with the incident. City council members agreed that there should be a policy in place to resolve issues for all cityrun venues. A Review Committee was formed that included Sandra Bigler, Heidi McKay Kelso, Jane Banks, Paul Applegarth, Main Street Committee member and Steve Clark, Main Street Committee chairman. New council, appointments Newly-elected council members were sworn into office. Justin Atkinson and Kevin Stallings, both incumbent council members, and Sandra Bigler, mayor, were administered the
oath of office by Jane Banks, recorder. Appointed officials were administered oath of office by Mayor Sandra Bigler. Appointments included Jim Wilberg, chief of police; Natalie Burnside, treasurer; and Jane Banks, recorder. Other business The proposed cell tower had to be shortened, but hopefully will be installed soon. The tower will be located near the city hall. New pagers for the fire department were authorized by the council since the old ones are out of date, will not hold charges and unable to buy new batteries. The cost will be $4,316.
Newly-elected Mt. Pleasant officials Justin Atkinson and Kevin Stallings, city council; and Mayor Sandra Bigler, took their oath of office administered by Jane Banks, city recorder, during a council meeting held Jan. 9.