The 2002 Elizabeth Smart kidnapping was a shock to many across the United States. History is violent and strange from homicidal communist dictatorships that killed men that wear glasses to the history of the tickle torture.
The context of an event and the history of the leading influences surrounding it help explain the motives behind the event’s unfolding. The 2002 Elizabeth Smart kidnapping is a national tragedy and at the same time a very unique event with large influences by the Mormon church in Salt Lake City, Utah.
There are many questions that come to mind when thinking about the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping.
- Why did her captors return to Salt Lake City and risk discovery by police?
- Did Elizabeth’s father’s Mormon beliefs influence his hiring of David Mitchell for the handyman work he did on the Smart household, a task that first introduced him to the young girl.
Early Life
Born as Elizabeth Ann Smart on November 3, 1987 in Salt Lake City, Utah Elizabeth lived a normal life. As many other young girls in the area do, she went to Brigham Young University where she was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Music.
A Mormon City
While it is true that Mormons (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) make up the largest single church in Utah there are all major denominations represented in some form across the state.
What is Mormonism?
Mormons believe in living prophets. They share the belief that God speaks through prophets today, no differently than Abraham and Moses of the Bible’s Old Testament. It is then the responsibility of the prophet to organize and deliver the message to the rest of the church.
The greatest of these prophets living and deceased is Joseph Smith who founded the church in 1830. Smith met his fate at the hands of an angry mob, assassinating him on June 27, 1844.
Critics question the authenticity of the official Mormon book, the Book of Mormon. However the most contentious subject in Mormon practices is of course the practice of polygamy. While the church officially renounced polygamy 1890 there are many who practice it secretly or at least sympathize with the idea itself.
Many criticize the LDS church for its controversial views on homosexuality. The Mormon church officially refuses to accept same-sex marriage. In 2015 the church modified its official Book of Instructions to declare same-sex marriage as apostasy. Children of same-sex marriages are not allowed to be baptized by LDS church members.
A Familiar Abduction
On the early morning of June 5, 2002 Brian David Mitchell kidnapped Elizabeth Smart from her bedroom. He threatened to go into the rooms of her siblings and parents and kill them should she resist his directions to exit the house.
The fourteen year old Elizabeth Smart
The 2003 Elizabeth Smart Story in which Elizabeth herself aired giving context to the events that led up to, during, and then after the kidnapping.
David Mitchell’s obsession with Elizabeth becoming his second wife is alarming yet not unusual in Mormon history. Having multiple wives in the LDS church is officially not allowed since 1890, however early leaders of the church had many young brides. Some had as many as ten wives at one time.
A Daily Nightmare
Mitchell’s wife Wanda Barzee and Mitchell took Elizabeth to a remote location in the woods.
Brian David Mitchell raped the young Elizabeth regularly, it was a daily occurrence according to her. Elizabeth lamented in the drama that her experience only got worse from there, the subsequent raping episodes were just as horrific and humiliating for her as the first time.
Elizabeth says this became a daily occurrence, her rape by Mitchell. A horror that would continue over nine months. His wife, Barzee did nothing to stop it making her complicit in the act and most likely helping him carry it out by restraining her, etc.
Elizabeth Rescued
Rescue came on March 12, 2003. Elizabeth was found walking with Mitchell and Barzee on a street in Sandy near Salt Lake City. Some pedestrians spotted Mitchell and recognized him from an episode of America’s Most Wanted on television.
Mitchell’s Trial
Brian David Mitchell was removed from court every single appearance as the judge ordered him to stop singing hymns or be detained in a holding cell to watch the trial proceedings from a cell. He refused.
A guilty verdict was reached by the jury and a sentence given to Mitchell. In May 2011 he received two consecutive life sentences and was remanded into federal prison.
A Legacy for Change
In 2011 Elizabeth started the Elizabeth Smart Foundation which aims to educate children on the danger of sexual crimes.
Politicians over the years have proposed the “Elizabeth Smart Law”, a law which would require all computers to have a pornography filter. Elizabeth’s lawyers sent a cease and desist order requiring them to stop using her name for the proposal.
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