Towns Once Run by Warren Jeffs' Polygamous Sect Emerge Transformed

Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah have undergone major changes after court supervision ended.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:55am

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The towns of Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah, once controlled by the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) and its leader Warren Jeffs, have undergone a dramatic transformation. After the courts wrested control from the FLDS, the towns have embraced new freedoms, with youth sports, bars, and even a winery now present. However, the legacy of the FLDS still lingers, and the towns are dealing with new challenges like drug use.

Why it matters

The transition of these towns from FLDS control to more open, representative governance represents a significant shift away from the theocratic rule of Warren Jeffs and the polygamous sect. It highlights the resilience of the community in overcoming the abuses of the past and rebuilding a sense of normalcy, even as some remnants of the FLDS influence remain.

The details

For decades, Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah were controlled by the FLDS and its leader Warren Jeffs. Under Jeffs' rule, common activities like youth sports and drinking were forbidden, and the towns functioned as a theocracy. After Jeffs was imprisoned for sexually assaulting underage girls, the courts placed the towns under supervision to remove the FLDS's influence from the local governments. This allowed the towns to transition to more representative governance, with residents now able to own private property and make decisions based on community needs rather than religious affiliation.

  • In 2005, Jeffs was charged with arranging the marriage of a teenage girl to a 28-year-old follower.
  • In 2006, Jeffs was arrested after being 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 court placed the towns under supervision to remove the FLDS's influence from the local governments.
  • In July 2025, the court lifted the oversight on the towns, almost two years earlier than expected.

The players

Warren Jeffs

The former leader and prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), who was imprisoned for sexually assaulting underage girls.

Willie Jessop

A former spokesman for the FLDS who later broke with the sect.

Shem Fischer

A former resident of the towns who left the FLDS in 2000 and later returned to open a lodge in Hildale.

Donia Jessop

The mayor of Hildale, who was once distantly related to Willie Jessop through marriage.

Isaac Wyler

A longtime resident of the towns who was expelled from the FLDS in 2004 and faced ostracization, but now sees positive changes.

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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

Residents say the new openness has brought common societal woes such as drug use to Hildale and Colorado City, and some people are still practicing polygamy, with a Colorado City sect member recently sentenced to 50 years in prison for coercing underage girls into sexual acts.

The takeaway

The transformation of these towns from FLDS control to more open, representative governance represents a significant shift, but the legacy of the sect's abuses under Warren Jeffs still lingers. While the towns have made great strides, it will likely take several generations to fully recover from the FLDS's dark influence.