St. George, USA - Followers of imprisoned polygamist Warren Jeffs flooded into St. George this morning. They're were trying to block a controversial land sale that went before a judge today for a hearing.
Ironically, the court hearing today was canceled. The judge said the parties involved were making a good-faith effort to resolve the trust issues.
Thousands of FLDS people made a show of force over an issue that, until now, they've kept out of and allowed the courts to work its will.
They mobbed the courthouse in St. George. They lined the streets surrounding the courts. A heavy police presence was on hand to make sure things didn't get out of control.
The issue is a previously obscure battle over something called the United Effort Plan trust. It owns most of the property in the FLDS home-base of Colorado City and Hildale. The UEP land-trust is worth more than $100 million.
It used to be controlled by the FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. But three years ago the courts took control because of allegations of mismanagement and Jeffs' failure to defend the trust's assets in court battles over people suing him.
In all those years, the FLDS people never spoke up or went to court. Now trust managers appointed by the court are trying to sell UEP land to raise money for legal fees.
The FLDS faithful say the land is sacred and was prophesied to be a temple site.