COLORADO CITY, Ariz. -- Leaders of Utah's largest polygamist sect are staying on the sidelines as Utah moves to criminalize their marriage ceremonies.
The apparent unconcern of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is in sharp contrast to the show of force made by Salt Lake County followers of Owen Allred's Apostolic United Brethen at legislative meeting halls last week.
Allred's followers on Friday persuaded a legislator to soften the penalties for arranging polygamous marriages. Sen. Ron Allen, D-Stansbury Park, agreed to make it a misdemeanor instead of a felony to officiate over an adult polygamous marriage.
It still would be a felony under Allen's bill to arrange a marriage of a child younger than 16.
Allen came under pressure as 100 supporters of plural marriage descended on the Utah Capitol Wednesday and Friday.
But Dan Barlow, mayor of Colorado City and a high-ranking official of his polygamist church, says the Allen bill will not affect his community.
Barlow insisted his church allows no underage marriages and that brides always get their parents' consent.
Still, Barlow complained Allen's bill could be "the beginning of religious persecution. Since when did we start persecuting religious leaders?"