The DCCS Governing Board has responded to a number of questions from producer Jake Otajovic of Novel Audio, a London-based podcast company. The answers provided, along with the questions are listed below:

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(Otajovic)

That Paul Elden Kingston is the group’s leader, and referred to as “The Man on the Watchtower.”

(Gov. Board)

Paul E. Kingston was sustained as Trustee-in-Trust of the Davis County Cooperative Society (DCCS) by its members, for the year of 2025.

The parable of the watchmen remains very common rhetoric among Latter-Day Saint or Mormon traditions from Doctrine & Covenants 101:43-62. Many DCCS members come from Latter-Day Saint backgrounds. The parable calls for fathers to be watchmen over their family, stewards and managers to be watchmen over their companies, etc.

(Otajovic)

That marriages in the Order are often arranged.

(Gov. Board)

We believe marriages and personal relationships should be free from coercion and entered only by the free agency of both parties involved. Although friends, family and colleagues may seek to influence one another, ultimately the choice of who to marry must remain solely within the bounds of the parties involved.

(Otajovic)  

‍That incest seems to have become common in the group.

(Gov. Board)

Utah Anti-polygamy laws introduced in the 1930s increased isolation and insulation within plural communities for decades. Adherents argued that they had the right to marry within their own religion. Smaller insular populations create situations where more closely related parties marry on occasion. Although always in the minority, this created a higher rate of related marriages within the DCCS than the surrounding populations for a time.

However, in recent decades, rates of close related marriages have declined dramatically with larger populations, more access to services and less government pressure to isolate plural communities.

(Otajovic)

That in the past it was common for girls to marry as young as 14 or 15, Often to much older men they are related to.

o   In the programme, we also include that the Order states: “Marriage is a lifelong personal decision and should not be coerced.” And that “Marriages should also be conducted within the legal age of consent”

(Gov. Board)

The DCCS reiterates that all marriages should be conducted within the legal age of consent. The average age of marriage within the DCCS has remained above 18 for women and men for nearly thirty years (as long as detailed records have been maintained).

(Otajovic)

That the Order believes they are direct descendants of Jesus Christ.

(Gov. Board)

The DCCS has not taken a stance on any claim of lineage by any individual, surname, family or historical figure and encourages members to adhere to our foundational principle that all families can work together in peace and harmony regardless of lineage or origin.

(Otajovic)

That the Order seems extremely focused on amassing wealth.

(Gov. Board)

Members are encouraged to be frugal and productive, giving to the poor and saving for the future when possible, but ultimately this is a personal choice of the individual.
We believe that each person should be provided for according to their needs. For decades, the DCCS has been actively engaged in solutions for those experiencing poverty. By our latest survey there is no homelessness among our members.

We strive to create a condition where members are self-sustaining by means of their own labor, are contributing members of their communities and to reduce dependency on government relief.

(Otajovic)

That one of our contributors claims that children are: “basically trafficked” into working for the Order businesses. Furthermore, that many of the workers working in Order-linked businesses are underage.

(Gov. Board)

The DCCS strongly encourages its members who are business owners to treat employees fairly, ethically and within the bounds of the law. This includes following all child labor laws. The DCCS supports the efforts of the U.S. Department of Labor in enforcing child labor laws and protecting minors in the workforce.

(Otajovic)

That the Order sustains itself through its business, and that working in them is how members work towards heavenly glory.

(Gov. Board)

We encourage our members to be self-sustaining by means of their own labor and to be contributing members of their communities to the best of their ability, so long as it is achieved through integrity and is used to help others.

We believe a man in poverty, who adheres to the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have others do unto you), is more pleasing to God than a man who possesses material wealth but does not adhere to the Golden Rule.

A person gains heavenly glory by being a good person.

(Otajovic)

That the money members make in their Order jobs goes back into the Order, which has its own banking system. Furthermore, that one of our contributors claims that members don’t have free access to their own money.

o   We will include that The Order states “they, quote “maintain member accounts for record keeping and as a means for internal exchange.”

(Gov. Board)

The system whereby members may extend credit to other members does not constitute a banking system. Business owners and individual members use traditional bank accounts at publicly regulated banking institutions.

Minors who setup internal credit accounts are typically required to have an adult co-signer who ultimately carries the responsibility of the account until the account holder reaches the age of majority.

We are not aware of any case where a person has not been granted access to their own money within the terms of their membership.

(Otajovic)

That a former Order member claims resources in The Order are not distributed to those in need. And that many members live in poor conditions.

o   We will include that The Order states that “Members strive to work in harmony and cooperation with one another and to extend help to all those who are in need whenever possible.”

(Gov. Board)

Members strive to work in harmony and cooperation with one another and to extend help to all those who are in need whenever possible.  However, members do not have free access to one another's finances.

For decades, the DCCS has been actively engaged in solutions for those experiencing poverty.  By our latest survey there is no homelessness among our members.

Free agency and equal opportunity do not always bring about equal results.  We believe that, if through their own fair and honorable labor, one excels above their peers, that individual should not be restrained.

(Otajovic)

That some members in the Order carry out fraud.

o   We will include that this is not mandated by The Order, that not everyone runs those kinds of schemes, and that The Order says they “absolutely do not encourage fraud.”

(Gov. Board)

The DCCS has been speaking out publicly against fraud and abuse for decades.  We re-affirm to our members that this type of behavior goes completely against our beliefs and principles, and we cannot support or do business with anyone found to be engaged in this type of behavior.

We believe crimes of this nature are no more prevalent among our members than the general population, but even a small number of cases is too much.

(Otajovic)

That there is a rule in the Order called “the law of one above another” according to which members must always follow the orders of the man above them in the hierarchy.

(Gov. Board)

As in most professional organizations, a subordinate in the DCCS operates under some degree of implied duty of obedience to their immediate superior who holds a position of managerial authority in that particular setting. Exceptions to this duty within the DCCS include illegal or unethical orders, unsafe practices that may put the individual at unreasonable risk to their health and safety or to the safety of others.

Employment and membership within the DCCS follow the common at-will arrangement as is typical in the United States.

(Otajovic)

That in the Order, members’ purpose is to build up the Kingdom of God by having kids and making money.

(Gov. Board)

We believe in God and understand that each person’s success is based on their ability to understand and apply God’s principles.

We believe that all individuals have the right to do whatever they choose as long as they do not force, suppress, restrain, deprive, jeopardize, or interfere with the rights of others.

(Otajovic)

That earning money is how one earns status in the Order.

(Gov. Board)

This claim is false. Our most revered members have gained status through a life of service to others.

(Otajovic)

That a former member claims that around the time Jacob Kingston’s company Washakie Renewable Energy was established, the Order was in need of cash, and that WRE was viewed as the next big profitable venture, following the financial troubles of the mine.

(Gov. Board)

To my knowledge, any money paid to DCCS member-owned businesses was for legitimate services rendered or to repay money already loaned to Mr. Kingston or WRE related entities.

It is clear the defendants in the WRE case broke from DCCS tradition in many ways and that DCCS members as a whole find these actions to be repugnant, immoral, and completely contrary to our values.

In the face of discrimination from law enforcement, our communities are often left more vulnerable to activists, con-men, or predators.  When these bad actors abuse plural families, law abiding people from our community are victimized twice.  First by the actual abuse, and a second time by the public as it rushes to re-enforce unfair and damaging stereotypes onto the whole community, making these practices even more frustrating and disappointing when they occur among members

(Otajovic)

That a contributor states that in the Order, there is a teaching that the burden of debt stays with a person’s soul in the afterlife.

(Gov. Board)

We believe that each person is accountable to God for their own actions.

Romans 14:12 states, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God”

Doctrine & Covenants 64:9-10 states, “9. Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. 10.  I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.”

(Otajovic)

That contributors claim that at Order-organized dances that nudge members to date and ultimately marry, older men approach much younger girls.

(Gov. Board)

The average age of marriage for women and men in the DCCS has remained above 18 for nearly thirty years (as long as detailed records have been maintained). In this same time, the average age difference between men and women has averaged between 3 to 6 years.

We believe that two individuals, both legally capable of consent, should be free to marry however they choose.

(Otajovic)

That Jacob Kingston testified to have allocated and sent over thirty million defrauded dollars to The Order.

(Gov. Board)

To my knowledge, any money paid to DCCS member-owned businesses was for legitimate services rendered or to repay money already loaned to Mr. Kingston or WRE related entities.

It is clear the defendants in the WRE case broke from DCCS tradition in many ways and that DCCS members as a whole find these actions to be repugnant, immoral, and completely contrary to our values.

(Otajovic)

That a common narrative inside the Order is that the government is persecuting the group.

(Gov. Board)

Today it’s still considered socially acceptable to demonize plural families.

We believe data will show that crime in general is no more prevalent in these communities than the general population. Crime rates in the DCCS are significantly lower than surrounding populations in the State of Utah and the United States.

In some cases, DCCS members have been audited by the government at a rate many times higher than the average population, with no pattern of fraud being found. This is blatant government discrimination against an entire community based on unfair bias. Claims describing a widespread pattern of fraud within the DCCS are demonstrably false and the data from hundreds of State and Federal audits does not support those claims.

(Otajovic)

That the Order has distanced itself from Jacob Kingston in the wake of his co-operation with federal prosecutors

(Gov. Board)

Mr. Kingston and other defendants broke from DCCS tradition in many ways and DCCS members as a whole find their actions to be repugnant, immoral, and completely contrary to our values.

(Otajovic)

That a member who alleges they were experience physical and other kinds of abuse in their marriage went to elders in The Order for support. And that they were told that what they were experiencing was a “test” and that they “needed to please the one over [them] and [they]’ll make it to Heaven.”

(Gov. Board)

The DCCS does not condone or support abuse of any kind. We encourage anyone who is experiencing abuse to seek help from the authorities immediately, knowing they do so with the full blessing of DCCS leadership.

(Otajovic)

That a former member describes attending church services at The Latter Day Church of Christ and remembers lessons on “on how to be the perfect wife.” Furthermore, that this lesson described “the true, pure polygamous wife that God wants” as “someone who is not jealous, who is a good mother, who is kind, submissive.”

(Gov. Board)

We believe that all individuals have the right to do, teach or believe whatever they choose as long as they do not force, suppress, restrain, deprive, jeopardize, or interfere with the rights of others.

We can’t comment on any particular report of what may or may not have been said by an unknown speaker, on an unknown date, at an unknown LDCC church service.  

(Otajovic)

That a former member claims that their family member had been saving up for a big purchase with their money stored in the “Order Bank”. And that once they requested to withdraw the money, they were told they couldn’t because, the worker at the “Bank” told them- “we need that money because college is starting and there’s a lot of people that need to buy their books for school.”

o   Furthermore, that the former member says that the “Order Bank’s” attitude was “you can’t have your money right now. We have other more important things to spend your money on.”

(Gov. Board)

While I can’t comment on what a particular cashier or desk clerk may have said to a member, I’m not aware of any time when an authorized adult was not able to access their funds within the time specified in their terms of membership.

(Otajovic)

We are also seeking your comment on the civil lawsuit filed on September 7, 2022 by plaintiffs Amanda Rae Grant, Jenny Kingston, Ladonna Ruth Lancaster, et al. and the allegations included within.

(Gov. Board)

The DCCS is not any more immune to preposterous claims than any other organization, especially with the promise of a big monetary pay-out.

The civil lawsuit reads more like the script to a sensationalized TV production than a lawsuit. Much of the wording addresses non-legal issues or non-defendants. Member and non-member participants have reportedly been offered or paid substantial sums of money to be featured in this lawsuit.

Most of the plaintiffs were never married while they were members or never worked or had any association or relationship with the defendants they are claiming against.

Plaintiffs have reportedly used public and non-profit funds donated to their cause for extensive personal travel to destinations like Malibu, Paris, New York, Las Vegas and elsewhere. Some often boast of their expensive clothing and an overall frivolous lifestyle, which they frequently feature on their social media accounts.

Some reports suggest former co-plaintiff Jeremy Roberts was caught on tape admitting to, “using the fact that their parents are polygamists to win their way or get what they want.” Lawyers dropped Roberts as a plaintiff after the audio was leaked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hv8GLFHyVQ

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DCCS Governing Board

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