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Show The Daily Herald I Monday, September 5, 1994 Galdikas . ' - - i - - - v . Otaeh foirmedl . studies apes from the swamp i ' The great apes come in three major groups: chimps, gorillas and or- all angutans. And canny old Louis it . i- am - i. afteir dispute v itLLii"i..' over polygamy ' Jane Goodall came first, of course, studying the very communal and social chimpanzees. It took only a few months to get them habituated to her presence so that they accepted her as an object of neither novelty nor fear, and went on with their everyday business. Dian Fossey came next, to study the mountain gorillas. They were a bit more difficult than the chimps. social They have a more tight-kn-it structure and it was several months before they were really habituated to The Daily Herald Constructed of FAIRVIEW wood and concrete, the modest building reposes near U.S. 89, ordinary and plain. Passers-b- y may not give it a & h ' s a- " - Sunstone paper that recent increases in area population are largely due to the influx of fundamentalists. "If you listen to their stories, they'll tell you that they were called to that area," Johns said in a recent interview with The Daily Though the house is small, it is part of the gospel as restored by Joseph Smith, he em- ' Herald. "They felt called to go there. The Lord wants them to be phasizes. "You can't have the fullness without those ordinances." Society - ' - Herald PhotosJason Olson group of fundamentalists has constructed an endowment house, top, in Fairview to pursue its temple ordinance work. Only Mormons in good standing in the LDS Church may frequent the Manti Temple, above, which was completed in 1888. A new Chimps and gorillas have the good sense to live in places with trees growing on solid ground. But ; the orang forests are usually in t swamps, and a human wallowing in ,'chest-dee- p mud and water trying to g foflow a orang seems al-- ) most laughable. Throw in some poi-- I sonous swamp snakes, wild pigs and malarial mosquitoes, viral g leeches diseases, 'crawling out of one's underwear, j bears, blood-suckin- I and the project edges toward genu- ine insanity. Chimps live in relatively large social groups, 30-5- 0 individuals. Gorillas range in groups of 20-2The African apes at least have sociality. But the orangs are solitary animals. The adults deliberately avoid each other for anything but mating. And they get mean to protect that solitude. They did not take kindly to Birute's tagging behind them as they moved through the forest in search of food. ; They threatened their unwanted 5. companion, blustered and threw branches at her, and even defecated and urinated on her from above. Not exactly gestures of welcome, at least revealed these brush-off- s that the apes had a considerable degree of perverse intelligence. But being dumped on did not deter Her husband Rod, a young Canadian with nerves of steel, was clearly critical to her success. He went with her in the field, cut and maintained trails through the vegetation, built small buildings for additional researchers and support personnel, and suffered sicknesses and ulcerated legs right along with Birute. But the orangs were not as compelling for him as they were to his wife, and after 7Vi years he went home to pursue a career of his own. By mutual consent, their son went with him. The early research data came excruciatingly slowly and at incredible personal expense. "It takes Birute," said Jane Goodall, "over a year to gjel the same amount of data that I can collect in one lucky day." But unerdata did come, and by the time thafRod caiied it quits and returned to anada, the camp had become a tlnjt community of additional researchers and support personnel. ; Funding was adequate to hire native Dayak tribesmen; they quickly learned the necessary research tech niques. And their magnificent skills 2'i-year-o- ld ih'Jocating and tracking orangs boost to the Birute's work is located in Indonesia's Tanjung Puting National Pirk. Though deeply isolated, it is, ; as the African study sites, being jutt . i i s. pnpaaea uy numan pupumuun pies-iifreand And like Jane Dian, finds herself increasingly driv-by the critical need for political activity and conservation of her beloved animals. 1 Bi-K- te H MANTI When the Black Hawk War broke out in Sanpete Valley, early Mormon settlers gathered to Manti for protection. Now, Mormon fundamentalist groups, fearing the evil influences of decadent, modern society, are repeating history by gathering to Manti for protection and isolation. Martha Sonntag Bradley, a professional historian who has written extensively about Utah communities, says Sanpete Valley is ideal for such gathering because of its surrounding, fortresslike mountains and fertile farmlands. The agriculturally based economy has allowed the valley to maintain its rural charm. And the population has remained essentially the same for 100 years. LDS prophet Brigham Young called the first pioneers to settle the valley under the leadership of Isaac Morley. While early settlers differed on whether the alluvial valley would sustain a crop, Young prophesied that the area eventually would be hailed as the granary of Utah. The valley floor soon proved fertile, and small towns like Man- ti, Ephraim and Spring City grew. Black Hawk The four-yein 1865, was ended which War, only a temporary threat to the settlers. Other hardships proved more more difficult haul. Spring runoff waters caused flooding. Capturing the water for irrigation during dry summer months proved difficult. Harsh extremes in temperatures chilled the settlers' positive attitude in winter and sent tempers boiling in ar summer. With mountain plateaus on either side, the valley has been bypassed by freeways and major highways. It is not a major center of trade and commerce but is better off than many other areas of the state and has managed to do respectably well in the turkey, sheep, cattle and farming industries. "Manti is important because it's the center of government and the center of religious life for the county," Bradley says. The city's most prominent featwin-spiture is the of Jesus Church The of temple Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, dedicated in 1888. The temple attracts worshippers from afar and is a major tourist attraction. Its grounds are the site of the annual Manti Pageant. "Manti was a logical place for a temple because it was halfway pale-whit- e, re between Salt Lake and St. George," Bradley says. "The location of the Manti Temple is breathtaking, and it gives an important sense of identity to the area." It also is one of the reasons fundamentalists gather to the valley. Becky Johns, a researcher who has conducted extensive interviews with with the Mormon fundamentalists in Manti, says. "I think (fundamentalist see Manti) as a sacred place, a place that is separate from society. It is situated around the Manti Temple. " When the early pioneers settled the area, the LDS Church's ecclesiastical leaders in many instances were the community lead ers as well, conducting both the spiritual and civic affairs of the residents. Early Sanpete Valley historians record that "sometimes difficulties arose between men about irrigation water or property lines. Every problem in the village was settled in the bishop's court. If either party was dissatisfied with that decision, an appeal could be made to the higher court, the stake presidency." Johns says in this small, isolated town, it still is "difficult to separate church from state from neighbor because the same people fill all three positions." But as fundamentalists gather and some are excommunicated from the LDS Church, as they 'J3W" talists)." Johns is quick to assert that while the Mormon fundamentalists are conservative and believe in separating themselves from society and the LDS Church, they are not violent and do not pose a threat to the community. to move there. Within three weeks, he moved to Manti," Johns says. Having conducted lengthy in- -; terviews with newcomers and old; timers, Johns says the influx of people to the valley has caused' concerns among local leaders of) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, civic leaders! (See CHURCH, Page D2) Lake I t-- Spanish Fork j Springvilje, r-- .. 'K y -- "v '; v. v . L Endowment House I (9) Constructed Last Year! "t ' V J .Fairview 1 . i$v cv vS Nephi ) J'm- i,'; V i t I V Manti " ' ,' Jim Harmston organized new Last Days Church vis) y ' rea- sons why the Mormon fundamentalism activity has flourished because the area is kind of outside the loop," Bradley says. "The people of Sanpete County have been rather independent and autonomous, and theconditions appear to have been ripe for this kind of clustering (of fundamen- "They tell about a man who went to the Manti Temple for a wedding and felt very compelled utah J i 'K dents will obviously change. Bradley points out that the valley's isolation and secluded setting points that are so appealmay not ing to fundamentalists last if newcomers continue to mi- "Perhaps that's one of the v "'"- have been, traditional social church relations among area resi- grate in. there." she says. Harmston and those who sustain him as president of their church are at the center of the most recent religious controversy to emerge in the Sanpete County. The valley's magnetism has attracted a number of different fundamentalist groups wishing to get away from mainstream society. Sanpete Valley, with its small, bucolic agricultural communities, enjoys relative peace and serenity away from the frantic traffic of Interstate 15 just across the Seclusion of Sanpete Valley may be attracting Mormon fundamentalists - tree-goin- J in the a necessary Fossey 's presence. Z Then came Birute Galdikas, for Twhom the two African ape groups 2held no particular appeal. She want-e- d to study Southeast Asia's orangutans. And compared to Birute's challenges, Jane and Dian had had a ! picnic in the park. brought a much-neede- d fork's efficiency. fundamentalists Mormon area, it holds the keys to heaven. This is their endowment house. "Of course, we have our own endowment house," says John Harmston, president of The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days. Duane ;Science masse. Becky Johns, who claims to be neither defender nor critic of reported in her second glance, but to certain is x7l colorful plateaus and verdant farm and range lands provide respite for all. That seclusion was diminished recently by a scholarly paper presented at a recent Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City, suggesting that Mormon fundamentalists are gathering to Manti and adjoining communities en By ROBB HICKEN I ? Icftciyf San Pitch Mountains to the west and isolated from the congestion of the populous Wasatch Front to the northwest. Scenic mountains, Editor's note: The recent establishment of a Mormon fundamentalist church in Sanpete County has focused public attention on the area. This is the second in a series of stories on the topic. reLeakey, the "human-origins- " searchers, wanted to recruit some women to study them all. - y 1 2v 1 I Herald GmphioBob Price, She says recent reports and rumors likening the Manti fundamentalists to cult groups such as at Waco are groundless. "I do not see these people as violent and saw no evidence of violent tendencies or intentions (during the interviews)," she says. The fundamentalists believe that Manti is a sacred place, a gathering place to await the Scc- - ond Coming of Christ. And they believe the Manti Temple will re- main standing following Arma-- ; geddon. ; Johns says there may be as; many as 200 fundamentalists liv- ing in Sanpete Valley, but not all; have moved there to associate; with a church or religious organi-- ; zation. ; Robb Hicken' Mayors asked to endorse graffiti cleanup program By JOSEPHINE ZIMMERMAN The Daily Herald Wanda Santiago, representative of the 4th District Juvenile Court's "Teens Against Graffiti," asked county mayors last week to particigraffiti pate in a county-wid- e cleanup program. "We have three teams, three vans and 50,000 service hours available to eliminate graffiti throughout the county," she said. Santiago told the mayors that the program is working, offering an method of efficient, graffiti cleanup. She asked the ci cost-effecti- i ties to endorse the program and to contribute a total of $25,000 to the program for expansion. She said Provo city had already contributed $5,500 in materials, specifically a sprayer, soda blaster and trailer. Other cities wishing tow participate would be asked to contribute on a per capita basis. The need, she said, is for a county-wid- e organized response to 24- - to graffiti cleanup time. response The "Teens Against Graffiti (TAG)" program teaches disadvantaged and "at risk" teens who have been adjudicated, a work eth 48-ho- ic, responsibility, and pride in the community. "This program has also proven effective in reducing repeat offenses by juveniles. "the idea behind graffiti is to have it seen. If it is removed promptly, then it can't be seen," she pointed out, noting that often cleaned surfaces are never repainted. Any surface can be cleaned by the teams wood, masonry, metal, signs and concrete. Only those requiring a crane cannot be handled. Santiago said three crews are available Monday trough Thurs day, and Saturday. She said TAG will not be able to provide services wihtin cities that TAG is elect also prohibited from competing with private enterprise and therefore cannot charge to recover costs. She pointed out that Provo, Orem and northern Utah County cities have recently been hit hard by graffiti. "It is a growing problem as gangs move into the area. We've had a drive-b- y beating and knifing, but violence is just around the corner," she said. She emphasized that too much violence is behind the graffiti, since it is a gang's way of marking a territory and warning others to keep out. Vineyard Mayor Rulon Gam- mon said there is a need to get at the root of the problem, "or we'll be cleaning walls for the rst of our lives." He asked why good kids could not also be involved as vol- unteers. County Commisssioner Gary Herbert suggested that mayors endorse participation in the program, then ask their city councils for authorization. Mayors in attendance agreed. |