MT. PLEASANT, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Polygamists from Cedar City and around the state are making plans to move to a site near Mount Pleasant, Utah.
In fact, construction on new homes is about to begin.
They are members of a fundamentalist group called "A.U.B." which stands for "Apostolic United Brethren." Several years ago, they were well known as the "Allred" Group.
John Llewellyn was a member of the A.U.B. for nearly 20 years.
He told ABC 4 first hand what he saw inside the community, making some pretty strong allegations.
Llewelyn said, “It’s just heartbreaking the horror stories and the pedophilia that goes on in this subculture.”
Llewellyn had three wives.
In hindsight, he says "It was a challenge I couldn't resist and in reflecting back, the "Y" chromosome plays a vital role in this lifestyle."
He says he understands very well how the "Apostolic Brethren" operate.
He says, “Lying and deception is just part of the lifestyle and so you can expect just about anything."
The former lieutenant with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, and investigator on sex crimes, Llewelyn now writes books to expose what he considers a dangerous culture.
And as the the Apostolic United Brethren prepare to converge on Sanpete County, he says the community had better be on their guard.
Llewellyn says, "I would be nervous in this respect. They'll be some of those fundamentalists that will try to convert them over to their ways."
And his advice, specifically to men who will soon become their neighbors, “Hold onto your pocketbook. Keep an eye on your wife and daughters."
The project manager over the new subdivision is a member of the A.U.B. and he responded to this allegation.
David Asay says, "A.U.B. does not proselyte, they don't go out and recruit women or children or anything else... ever...anytime."
While Llewellyn is disturbed about this "sub-culture," he says the Apostolic United Brethren are nothing like the FLDS. They are far more "modernized" and there are many good people.
But Llewelyn says their doctine is one of priesthood domination.; a priesthood which is held by men.
Llewellyn says, "This stuff about a righteous seed and about God wanting you to become a polygamist is really hocum. Its mostly about sex."
Llewellyn says the fundamentalists groups base their practices on a reference in the Doctrine and Covenants which they interpret as saying they will be bound by God's laws, not by man's.
