Letter from Hildale and Colorado City Marshal Fred Barlow to Warren Jeffs

December 16, 2006
Edited by Rick Ross

On December 7, 2006 the Salt Lake City Tribune published a transcript of letter that Hildale and Colorado City Marshal Fred Barlow wrote to Warren Jeffs.

The same letter was seized by Federal authorities on Oct. 28, 2005, when Jeffs' brother, Seth Jeffs, was found in Colorado. Barlow told Arizona police regulators the letter was originally written in October 2005.

The Salt Lake City Tribune withheld the names of children mentioned within the letter.

Dear Uncle Warren,

I would first like to acknowledge you as the one man that was and is called of God to stand at the head of his priesthood and the Kingdom of God on the earth in this day and time. I rejoice in the peace that comes over me when I follow the directives that you have sent to me through Uncle William. I have felt a unity between the peace officers. They have all stated to me their desire to follow the directives that are placed before us. I feel that I am the weakest one among them, but I want to fill the position that you would have me fill and do the job the way that you would like it done. The two men that are in the police academy in Utah are graduating on Oct. 21, 2005. They will still have to pass the waiver in Arizona before we will be able to use them in Arizona. They last word that I had received through Sam Roundy was to use Sam Johnson fill [sic] time. We will continue with that directive unless you would like us to do something different. I have not had any official word on the investigation of our police department but my understanding is that Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has formally requested that the Department of Justice Alberto Gonzalas [sic] investigate the Colorado City/Hildale police Department for civil rights violations.

Also on the 19th of October, Arizona Police Officers Standard and Training board will meet to decide to decertify Sam and Vance. I do not know exactly what we have ahead of us but I do know that I and all of the other officers have expressed our desire to stand with you and the priesthood. I fill [sic] that without priesthood I am nothing. The community has been getting harassed by many news reporters. They are asking us why no one will talk to them. As law enforcement we get many calls and I have explained to them that the media have never told the truth about this people and that the people are not trying to justify themselves to the world. One more thing, I have received several calls from Washington County Detective Nolan Grey about the 2 [name withheld] girls, [names withheld] that have been reported missing. He stated that The Division [sic] of Missing and Exploited Children are wanting to get involved.

I need to report on the family that has been placed in my care. As I reported in my last letter we had a beautiful little son. We now have 3 girls and 3 boys, myself and Rebecca White Barlow Jeffs, making 8 total in our family. Our son Fred Jr. has started school this year at Twin City Academy. We have been reading both morning and night and have felt how much sweeter the family has been. I am praying for you to be protected and yearn to be with you again. I know that God is the helm and that his work will go forward. I rejoice in the tests and hope and pray that I will not offend God. I pray to be always filled with his spirit and to live by inspiration. I hope to hear any directives that you have for me. I know that I still have thing to purge out of my life and have bee [sic] striving to get them out. I know that Heavenly Fathers help I can succeed. I love you and acknowledge you as my priesthood head. And I know that you have the right to rule in all aspects of my life. I yearn to hear from you.

Note: This letter was first published by the Salt Lake City Tribune within an article titled "Letter from Fred Barlow Jeffs" December 7, 2006