Towns Once Run by Warren Jeffs' Polygamous Sect Emerge from Court Supervision Transformed

Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah have undergone major changes after being released from court oversight.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 7:15am

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Two neighboring towns on the Arizona-Utah border that once served as a haven for a polygamous religious sect have entered a new era. Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah, which were previously controlled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) and its imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs, have been released from court-ordered supervision and transformed into more typical communities with sports, bars, and even a winery. The towns had to learn how to operate as representative governments after functioning as theocracies for decades under FLDS control.

Why it matters

The transition of these towns from FLDS control to more open, diverse communities represents a significant shift away from the oppressive practices of the polygamous sect. It highlights the resilience of the residents in reclaiming their towns and rebuilding a sense of normalcy after years of being subjected to the dictates of Jeffs and the FLDS leadership.

The details

For decades, Colorado City and Hildale were dominated by the FLDS and its leader Warren Jeffs, who imposed strict rules and practices on residents. This included banning youth sports, cocktail hours, and other common activities. After Jeffs was convicted of sexually assaulting underage girls, the towns were placed under court supervision to remove the FLDS's influence from the local governments. This allowed the towns to transition to more representative governance and private property ownership, rather than being controlled by the FLDS trust. While some FLDS members remain, the towns' populations and activities have diversified, with new places of worship, businesses, and residents unaffiliated with the sect.

  • In 2002, Warren Jeffs took over leadership of the FLDS after his father's death.
  • In 2005, Jeffs was charged with arranging the marriage of a teenage girl to a 28-year-old follower.
  • In 2006, Jeffs was arrested and placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
  • In 2011, Jeffs was convicted in Texas of sexually assaulting two girls ages 12 and 15 and sentenced to life in prison.
  • In 2017, the courts placed Colorado City and Hildale under supervision to remove the FLDS's control over the local governments.

The players

Warren Jeffs

The former leader and prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), who was convicted of sexually assaulting underage girls and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.

Willie Jessop

A former spokesman for the FLDS who later broke with the sect, describing the transition of the towns as "life after Jeffs" and a "great life."

Shem Fischer

A former resident of the towns who left in 2000 after the FLDS split up his father's family, and later returned to open a lodge in Hildale.

Donia Jessop

The current mayor of Hildale, who was once distantly related to Willie Jessop through marriage and has reconnected with family members who were divided by the FLDS church.

Isaac Wyler

A longtime resident of the towns who was ostracized by the FLDS after being expelled in 2004, but now says he is treated the same as everyone else regardless of religious affiliation.

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What they’re saying

“What you see is the outcome of a massive amount of internal turmoil and change within people to reset themselves. We call it 'life after Jeffs' — and, frankly, it's a great life.”

— Willie Jessop, Former FLDS spokesman

“It started to go into a very sinister, dark, cult direction.”

— Shem Fischer, Former resident

“We started to realize that the love was still there — that my sister that I hadn't been able to speak to for in so many years was still my sister, and she missed me as bad as I missed her. And it just started to open doors that weren't open before.”

— Donia Jessop, Mayor of Hildale

“Like a normal town.”

— Isaac Wyler, Longtime resident

What’s next

While the towns have made significant progress, some challenges remain. Residents say the new openness has brought issues like drug use, and a Colorado City sect member was recently sentenced to 50 years in prison for crimes related to coercing underage girls. It will likely take several generations for the towns to fully recover from the FLDS's abuses under Jeffs.

The takeaway

The transformation of Colorado City and Hildale from FLDS-controlled theocracies to more typical, diverse communities represents an important step in the healing process for residents who endured years of oppression under Warren Jeffs' leadership. The towns' journey shows the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community to overcome even the most entrenched systems of control.