The Mormon Temple, which is one of the most mysterious buildings in the United States, is all set to open to the public after almost 50 years.

However, they will need to dress in white, from head to toe, and discard their street clothes before doing so.

Currently, only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are allowed to visit it.

According to a senior official in the church, Kevin Duncan, "People feel like what we do inside is a secret, but as you saw today, it's just sacred. It's very sacred for us."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-war-on-cartels-as-mormons-murdered-in-mexico-260206">Also read |&nbsp;Trump calls for 'war' on cartels as Mormons murdered in Mexico</a>

The intriguing temple, with six golden spires and pristine white walls rising above the surrounding trees, is located in Kensington, Maryland.

US media was allowed to visit the temple on an open day during which it captured the luxurious interior of the place that can has a massive crowd capacity of 750,000 people.&nbsp;

Before this, the last time somebody visited the temple was in 1974 by then-First Lady, Betty Ford.&nbsp;

One of the 12 apostles of the church, David Bednar told the news agency AFP, "It's a reset. A symbol of equality, purity."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-probes-narco-group-la-linea-in-mormon-murders-260430">Also read |&nbsp;Mexico probes narco group 'La Linea' in Mormon murders</a>

Private tours for invited guests will continue from April 19 to April 27.&nbsp;The 160,000-square-foot structure had been closed in 2018 for renovation due to a plumbing issue but its reopening got delayed due to the lockdown in the coronavirus pandemic.

On the premises, there are 12 life-size bulls behind a pool that represent the 12 tribes of Israel. The temple has a ''sealing room'' for marriages&nbsp;and baptism by immersion for the dead.

“Brighter light we have and the knowledge we receive from the gospel as we learn and grow and ascend to be more like our Heavenly Father,” said Dan Holt, project manager for the Washington DC&nbsp;Temple renovation project.

“It was intended to be that way, with the idea that the Salt Lake Temple represented the foundation of the Church, and the Washington, DC Temple represented the international future of the Church,” he added.

Meanwhile, a local church leader in Washington, David Oryan said, “From the outside, everyone sees [the temple] on the [Capital] Beltway, and it’s bright at night and it’s beautiful. But it’s even more beautiful on the inside.”

“We invite everyone to come to the open house and feel the Spirit here,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The Mormon Temple, which is one of the most mysterious buildings in the United States, is all set to open to the public after almost 50 years. However, they will need to dress in white, from head to toe, and discard their street clothes before doing so.

The Mormon Temple, which is one of the most mysterious buildings in the United States, is all set to open to the public after almost 50 years. However, they will need to dress in white, from head to toe, and discard their street clothes before doing so. Currently, only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are allowed to visit it. According to a senior official in the church, Kevin Duncan, "People feel like what we do inside is a secret, but as you saw today, it's just sacred. It's very sacred for us." Also read | Trump calls for 'war' on cartels as Mormons murdered in Mexico The intriguing temple, with six golden spires and pristine white walls rising above the surrounding trees, is located in Kensington, Maryland. US media was allowed to visit the temple on an open day during which it captured the luxurious interior of the place that can has a massive crowd capacity of 750,000 people. Before this, the last time somebody visited the temple was in 1974 by then-First Lady, Betty Ford. One of the 12 apostles of the church, David Bednar told the news agency AFP, "It's a reset. A symbol of equality, purity." Also read | Mexico probes narco group 'La Linea' in Mormon murders Private tours for invited guests will continue from April 19 to April 27. The 160,000-square-foot structure had been closed in 2018 for renovation due to a plumbing issue but its reopening got delayed due to the lockdown in the coronavirus pandemic. On the premises, there are 12 life-size bulls behind a pool that represent the 12 tribes of Israel. The temple has a ''sealing room'' for marriages and baptism by immersion for the dead. “Brighter light we have and the knowledge we receive from the gospel as we learn and grow and ascend to be more like our Heavenly Father,” said Dan Holt, project manager for the Washington DC Temple renovation project. “It was intended to be that way, with the idea that the Salt Lake Temple represented the foundation of the Church, and the Washington, DC Temple represented the international future of the Church,” he added. Meanwhile, a local church leader in Washington, David Oryan said, “From the outside, everyone sees [the temple] on the [Capital] Beltway, and it’s bright at night and it’s beautiful. But it’s even more beautiful on the inside.” “We invite everyone to come to the open house and feel the Spirit here,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

One of the most mysterious buildings in US to open for public after almost half a century

The Utah state Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday to effectively decriminalize polygamy among consenting adults, reducing penalties for practice with deep religious roots in the predominantly Mormon state.

The Utah state Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday to effectively decriminalize polygamy among consenting adults, reducing penalties for practice with deep religious roots in the predominantly Mormon state. The bill however, is expected to face greater resistance when it moves to the Utah House of Representatives. Also Read: Two Canadian men convicted of polygamy in landmark ruling Currently, the law states that polygamy is classified a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. Utah Republicans reportedly spent little time discussing the bill and swiftly cleared it on a vote of 29-0. Under the bill, punishments for plural marriage would be limited to fines of up to $750 and community service. Fraudulent bigamy, however, remains a felony. Senator Deirdre Henderson, the chief sponsor of this bill, reportedly said that the intent was to lower the penalties so those from polygamous communities who are victims of crimes can come forward without fear of being prosecuted themselves. Also Read: Former US presidential candidate Romney announces Utah Senate bid It also facilitates otherwise law-abiding polygamists in obtaining access to medical or mental healthcare, education or even employment without fear. Those opposing the bill state that current law should not be changed because polygamy is inherently dangerous and harmful to women and children, particularly young girls, some of whom have been forced into marriages with older men. Senator Henderson reportedly said that though Utah has a history of felony punishment for polygamy, it has not successfully halted the practice. Also Read: One dead at University of Utah shooting, police search for suspect “The solution to the problem is increased societal integration, which can only come through decriminalizing otherwise law-abiding polygamists,” she stated during a preliminary debate on the bill last week. Critics of the bill have stated that the measure wrongly frames polygamy as a human rights issue. “Proponents of this bill attempt to piggyback on the success of the gay rights movement by promoting the narrative that this initiative is about consenting adults doing what they will,” the anti-polygamy group Sound Choices Coalition issued a statement. The anti-polygamy law was struck down by a federal judge for being unconstitutional, but a federal appeals court reversed the ruling. The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the case.

Utah Senate votes to decriminalize polygamy

In the weeks before <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-do-it-trump-warns-russia-syria-iran-against-killing-civilians-in-idlib-270437">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a>’s declaration last month that he would forge ahead with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pulls-back-on-designating-mexico-cartels-as-terror-groups-266750">designating Mexican drug cartels</a> as foreign terrorist organisations, Cabinet members and top aides from across the government recommended against it, five people knowledgeable about the matter told Reuters.

The recommendations, which some of the sources described as unanimous, have not been reported previously. They were driven in part by concerns that such designations could harm US-Mexico ties, potentially jeopardizing Mexico’s cooperation with Trump’s efforts to halt illegal immigration and drug trafficking across the border, said two sources, including a senior administration official.

Another key concern was that the designations could make it easier for migrants to win asylum in the United States by claiming they were fleeing terrorism, the senior administration official and two other sources said.

Stephen Miller, one of the most influential White House advisers and the architect of Trump's policies to stem immigration, was among the officials who voiced concerns during deliberations that preceded two high-level meetings resulting in recommendations to shelve the designation plan, according to two of the sources.

The White House and Miller declined to comment on the record. All of the sources who spoke to Reuters requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly.

Reuters could not determine whether the president had been briefed on the recommendations before announcing, during a November&nbsp;26 interview with conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly, that he was going forward with the plan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Less than two weeks a later, on December&nbsp;9, the president tweeted that he was temporarily delaying the plan at Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s request.

The senior administration official portrayed the president’s announcement not as a reversal but as a strategic move.

“Even the threat of designation was extremely useful leverage in terms of obtaining further cooperation” from Mexico, the official said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The official said that reviving the plan remains “a live possibility” depending on Mexico’s cooperation on such issues as sealing the border to narcotics trafficking and controlling immigration.

The <a href="wionews.com/world/mexico-accuses-bolivia-of-intimidating-its-diplomats-in-la-paz-269871">Mexican government</a> has argued that equating drug cartels with Islamic State and al Qaeda could open the door to US&nbsp;military intervention.

In a meeting with Attorney General William Barr on December&nbsp;5, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-killed-2-injured-in-shooting-near-mexicos-presidential-residence-266902">President Lopez Obrador</a> expressed opposition to the designation plan, saying the Mexican constitution would not permit such foreign interference, a presidential spokesman told Reuters Tuesday. After the plan was delayed, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted his appreciation of Trump's decision, saying "there will be good results."

Crackdown hinged on cooperation

Trump has made halting illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking across the US-Mexican border a signature issue of his first term and his 2020 re-election campaign.

Designating a group as a foreign terrorist organization, or FTO, is aimed at disrupting its finances through sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on their members and associates. The State Department oversees the process.

The success of Trump’s immigration crackdown hinges, however, on Mexico’s cooperation. Earlier this year, Mexico agreed to deploy thousands of national guard troops to intercept migrants moving north toward the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-the-us-mexican-border-migrants-give-up-hope-of-crossing-269434">US&nbsp;border</a> after the American president threatened to impose escalating tariffs on Mexican goods.

In addition, Mexico has taken in tens of thousands of migrants sent back from the United States to await decisions on their US&nbsp;asylum requests.

The senior administration official said Trump and many top aides have wanted to crack down on cartel trafficking in narcotics and illegal immigration for some time and were looking at novel approaches, including the FTO designation plan.

The president and senior officials believed that they needed “to have an extremely aggressive posture toward the cartels and to look at using tools that had not been used before,” he said.

Two Republican members of the US&nbsp;House of Representatives introduced legislation in March that also would have established an FTO designation for cartels.

The Trump administration began working on its plan in late August, Trump told O’Reilly in the November&nbsp;26 interview, before declaring that&nbsp;the cartels “will be designated” as FTOs.

Unanimous opposition

A few weeks earlier, according to two former officials and another knowledgeable person, deputies to Cabinet members recommended in a meeting that the administration’s plan be shelved. The November&nbsp;8 meeting was held four days after nine American women and children died in an ambush linked to what Mexican officials asserted was a territorial dispute between rival gangs in northern Mexico.

Miller attended the meeting and the decision was unanimous, according to one source.

Participants at a November&nbsp;20 Cabinet-level meeting also advised against the proposal, according to four sources. That decision, too, was unanimous and Miller was there, two of the sources said.

The agencies represented at the meetings included the departments of State, Justice, Homeland Security, Defense, Treasury and Commerce, one administration official said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Numerous current and former US&nbsp;officials and other experts say that designating Mexican cartels as FTOs would be counter-productive.

Several pointed out that a 1999 law allowing US&nbsp;officials to designate foreign drug traffickers as narcotics kingpins already allow the imposition of sanctions similar to those authorized by an FTO designation.

The senior administration official said that US&nbsp;officials’ ability to use the 1999 law contributed to the decision to delay the FTO designation plan.

A December&nbsp;19 report published by the conservative Heritage Foundation warned that designating cartels as FTOs would weaken Trump’s immigration policies.

“A terrorist designation could allow unintended numbers to apply for political asylum in the US,” said the report. “The pool of applicants could logically extend beyond Mexico. While Mexican cartels’ territorial stronghold is within their own country, they have representatives on every continent except Antarctica.”

Jason Blazakis, who oversaw the designation process at the State Department’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau from 2008-2018, said that in addition to damaging <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-deports-mexicans-far-from-border-may-send-others-to-guatemala-269267">US-Mexican relations</a>, the FTO designation could hurt Mexico’s economy by prompting foreign businesses to leave the country or reconsider investing there.

Asset freezes and bans on travel to the US&nbsp;could affect Mexican officials, military commanders, and businessmen in league with the cartels.

“You are blurring the lines between criminality and terrorism and that is extremely problematic,” said Blazakis, now a professor of international relations at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California.

He added: "There are hundreds of Brazilian gangs eligible for the list. There are numerous Chinese and Russian criminal gangs eligible for the list. Where would you stop?”&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the weeks before US President Donald Trump’s declaration last month that he would forge ahead with designating Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations, Cabinet members and top aides from across the government recommended against it, five people knowledgeable about the matter told Reuters.

In the weeks before US President Donald Trump’s declaration last month that he would forge ahead with designating Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations, Cabinet members and top aides from across the government recommended against it, five people knowledgeable about the matter told Reuters. The recommendations, which some of the sources described as unanimous, have not been reported previously. They were driven in part by concerns that such designations could harm US-Mexico ties, potentially jeopardizing Mexico’s cooperation with Trump’s efforts to halt illegal immigration and drug trafficking across the border, said two sources, including a senior administration official. Another key concern was that the designations could make it easier for migrants to win asylum in the United States by claiming they were fleeing terrorism, the senior administration official and two other sources said. Stephen Miller, one of the most influential White House advisers and the architect of Trump's policies to stem immigration, was among the officials who voiced concerns during deliberations that preceded two high-level meetings resulting in recommendations to shelve the designation plan, according to two of the sources. The White House and Miller declined to comment on the record. All of the sources who spoke to Reuters requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly. Reuters could not determine whether the president had been briefed on the recommendations before announcing, during a November 26 interview with conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly, that he was going forward with the plan. Less than two weeks a later, on December 9, the president tweeted that he was temporarily delaying the plan at Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s request. The senior administration official portrayed the president’s announcement not as a reversal but as a strategic move. “Even the threat of designation was extremely useful leverage in terms of obtaining further cooperation” from Mexico, the official said. The official said that reviving the plan remains “a live possibility” depending on Mexico’s cooperation on such issues as sealing the border to narcotics trafficking and controlling immigration. The Mexican government has argued that equating drug cartels with Islamic State and al Qaeda could open the door to US military intervention. In a meeting with Attorney General William Barr on December 5, President Lopez Obrador expressed opposition to the designation plan, saying the Mexican constitution would not permit such foreign interference, a presidential spokesman told Reuters Tuesday. After the plan was delayed, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted his appreciation of Trump's decision, saying "there will be good results." Crackdown hinged on cooperation Trump has made halting illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking across the US-Mexican border a signature issue of his first term and his 2020 re-election campaign. Designating a group as a foreign terrorist organization, or FTO, is aimed at disrupting its finances through sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on their members and associates. The State Department oversees the process. The success of Trump’s immigration crackdown hinges, however, on Mexico’s cooperation. Earlier this year, Mexico agreed to deploy thousands of national guard troops to intercept migrants moving north toward the US border after the American president threatened to impose escalating tariffs on Mexican goods. In addition, Mexico has taken in tens of thousands of migrants sent back from the United States to await decisions on their US asylum requests. The senior administration official said Trump and many top aides have wanted to crack down on cartel trafficking in narcotics and illegal immigration for some time and were looking at novel approaches, including the FTO designation plan. The president and senior officials believed that they needed “to have an extremely aggressive posture toward the cartels and to look at using tools that had not been used before,” he said. Two Republican members of the US House of Representatives introduced legislation in March that also would have established an FTO designation for cartels. The Trump administration began working on its plan in late August, Trump told O’Reilly in the November 26 interview, before declaring that the cartels “will be designated” as FTOs. Unanimous opposition A few weeks earlier, according to two former officials and another knowledgeable person, deputies to Cabinet members recommended in a meeting that the administration’s plan be shelved. The November 8 meeting was held four days after nine American women and children died in an ambush linked to what Mexican officials asserted was a territorial dispute between rival gangs in northern Mexico. Miller attended the meeting and the decision was unanimous, according to one source. Participants at a November 20 Cabinet-level meeting also advised against the proposal, according to four sources. That decision, too, was unanimous and Miller was there, two of the sources said. The agencies represented at the meetings included the departments of State, Justice, Homeland Security, Defense, Treasury and Commerce, one administration official said. Numerous current and former US officials and other experts say that designating Mexican cartels as FTOs would be counter-productive. Several pointed out that a 1999 law allowing US officials to designate foreign drug traffickers as narcotics kingpins already allow the imposition of sanctions similar to those authorized by an FTO designation. The senior administration official said that US officials’ ability to use the 1999 law contributed to the decision to delay the FTO designation plan. A December 19 report published by the conservative Heritage Foundation warned that designating cartels as FTOs would weaken Trump’s immigration policies. “A terrorist designation could allow unintended numbers to apply for political asylum in the US,” said the report. “The pool of applicants could logically extend beyond Mexico. While Mexican cartels’ territorial stronghold is within their own country, they have representatives on every continent except Antarctica.” Jason Blazakis, who oversaw the designation process at the State Department’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau from 2008-2018, said that in addition to damaging US-Mexican relations, the FTO designation could hurt Mexico’s economy by prompting foreign businesses to leave the country or reconsider investing there. Asset freezes and bans on travel to the US could affect Mexican officials, military commanders, and businessmen in league with the cartels. “You are blurring the lines between criminality and terrorism and that is extremely problematic,” said Blazakis, now a professor of international relations at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. He added: "There are hundreds of Brazilian gangs eligible for the list. There are numerous Chinese and Russian criminal gangs eligible for the list. Where would you stop?”

After Cabinet opposed Mexican cartel policy, Trump forged ahead

More than 100 members of a US-Mexican community of Mormon origin have left their homes in northern Mexico after an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-probes-narco-group-la-linea-in-mormon-murders-260430">ambush killed nine</a> of their number, relatives said on Tuesday.

Since the massacre last week of three mothers and six children by suspected cartel gunmen, families have been streaming out of La Mora, a remote farming village in the state of Sonora, said Taylor Langford, a relative of the victims. He estimated that around 150 people had left the village, representing about 60 per cent&nbsp;of the local residents.

Some of the members were leaving temporarily, others permanently, but almost all would return if security were better, said Langford, 27, who grew up in La Mora and now lives in Utah.

"It's devastating, it's a horrible feeling that our life's work, our life's savings can be taken from us like that," said Langford, who was raised in the community, which was built from the ground-up over three generations. "A lot of us are at the point where we'll leave it, we'll abandon it all for the safety of our families."

The women and children were killed after coming under fire on a remote dirt road east of La Mora, which lies 80 miles (130 km) south of the US-Mexico border, as they drove in three vehicles toward the neighbouring state of Chihuahua.

Three Mexicans who work with families in La Mora said only four of the community's 34 homes remain occupied.

Those who left are staying in the United States with family and friends or in a few cases, second homes.

Howard Miller, husband of Rhonita Miller LeBaron, one of the mothers killed in the attack, headed to North Dakota to be with family there, according to Rhonita's father, Adrian LeBaron.

Langford said his family has a strong presence in both the Phoenix area of Arizona and around Salt Lake City, Utah.

Some leaving La Mora are going to Colonia LeBaron, a larger community with more resources and security in neighbouring Chihuahua state, said Julian LeBaron, a relative of the victims.

After the massacre, US&nbsp;President Donald<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-war-on-cartels-as-mormons-murdered-in-mexico-260206"> Trump offered Mexico help</a> in wiping out drug gangs. Mexico accepted, asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assist with the probe.

When asked about reports that a convoy of several dozen FBI vehicles had entered Mexico, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told a news conference that some experts were working in ballistics, and others were likely at work on other aspects of the case.

Ebrard said Mexico turned to the FBI due the victims' dual citizenship. The cooperation is also an opportunity for Mexico to check the origin of the guns used in the attack, he said.

The US&nbsp;agents must work in tandem with their Mexican counterparts and will not be armed.

&nbsp;

More than 100 members of a US-Mexican community of Mormon origin have left their homes in northern Mexico after an ambush killed nine of their number, relatives said on Tuesday.

More than 100 members of a US-Mexican community of Mormon origin have left their homes in northern Mexico after an ambush killed nine of their number, relatives said on Tuesday. Since the massacre last week of three mothers and six children by suspected cartel gunmen, families have been streaming out of La Mora, a remote farming village in the state of Sonora, said Taylor Langford, a relative of the victims. He estimated that around 150 people had left the village, representing about 60 per cent of the local residents. Some of the members were leaving temporarily, others permanently, but almost all would return if security were better, said Langford, 27, who grew up in La Mora and now lives in Utah. "It's devastating, it's a horrible feeling that our life's work, our life's savings can be taken from us like that," said Langford, who was raised in the community, which was built from the ground-up over three generations. "A lot of us are at the point where we'll leave it, we'll abandon it all for the safety of our families." The women and children were killed after coming under fire on a remote dirt road east of La Mora, which lies 80 miles (130 km) south of the US-Mexico border, as they drove in three vehicles toward the neighbouring state of Chihuahua. Three Mexicans who work with families in La Mora said only four of the community's 34 homes remain occupied. Those who left are staying in the United States with family and friends or in a few cases, second homes. Howard Miller, husband of Rhonita Miller LeBaron, one of the mothers killed in the attack, headed to North Dakota to be with family there, according to Rhonita's father, Adrian LeBaron. Langford said his family has a strong presence in both the Phoenix area of Arizona and around Salt Lake City, Utah. Some leaving La Mora are going to Colonia LeBaron, a larger community with more resources and security in neighbouring Chihuahua state, said Julian LeBaron, a relative of the victims. After the massacre, US President Donald Trump offered Mexico help in wiping out drug gangs. Mexico accepted, asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assist with the probe. When asked about reports that a convoy of several dozen FBI vehicles had entered Mexico, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told a news conference that some experts were working in ballistics, and others were likely at work on other aspects of the case. Ebrard said Mexico turned to the FBI due the victims' dual citizenship. The cooperation is also an opportunity for Mexico to check the origin of the guns used in the attack, he said. The US agents must work in tandem with their Mexican counterparts and will not be armed.

Over 100 people leave Mexican Mormon village after massacre

Mexican-American Mormons bad blood with drug cartels

Mexico&nbsp;alleged Wednesday that a drug cartel called "La&nbsp;Linea"<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-war-on-cartels-as-mormons-murdered-in-mexico-260206"> massacred nine&nbsp;Mormon</a>&nbsp;women and children in a case of mistaken identity, but devastated relatives insisted their loved ones were deliberately targeted.

The three women and six children, who had dual US-Mexican citizenship, were killed in a hail of bullets Monday as they drove on a rural road between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States.

Eight other children managed to escape, six of them wounded. The case has caused a shock on both sides of the border and prompted US President Donald Trump to call for a "war" on Mexican cartels.

The head of the Mexican military's joint chiefs of staff, Homero Mendoza, said authorities now believe the massacre was perpetrated by&nbsp;La&nbsp;Linea&nbsp;(The Line), a drug cartel based in Chihuahua.

He said investigations indicated the&nbsp;group&nbsp;had sent a squadron to the lawless mountain region where the attack occurred to fend off potential incursions by a rival gang, Los Salazar, which is based in Sonora, after recent clashes between the two.

But relatives rejected a case of mistaken identity, saying they believe their family was deliberately targeted.

"I have to emphasize there was no duelling cartels and there was no crossfire that our family were caught up in. They were murdered -- massacred -- solely by one acting cartel from Chihuahua," family member Lafe Langford Jr. told AFP.

Adran LeBaron, the father and grandfather of some of the victims, said that according to two of the surviving children, their aunt exited her SUV, arms raised in surrender, only to be mowed down with gunfire.

"So where is the mistaken identity? There was no mistake here," he told Mexican TV network Televisa.

The two families involved, the LeBarons and Langfords, have been targeted by criminal groups in the past.

Benjamin LeBaron, the founder of a crime-fighting&nbsp;group&nbsp;called SOS Chihuahua, was assassinated in 2009 after he led protests over the kidnapping of his 16-year-old brother, who was released after the family refused to pay a ransom.

The families are part of a large&nbsp;group&nbsp;of US Mormons who emigrated to&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;in the late 19th century, fleeing persecution for their traditions, including polygamy.

As they prepared to hold a funeral Thursday for their slain loved ones, details continued to pour in on the eight surviving children's harrowing ordeal.

Lafe Langford told CNN that after riddling the cars with bullets and setting one of them alight, the gunmen pulled survivors from one of the cars and told them to flee.

Realizing their shot and bleeding siblings would not make it far, two adolescent children helped others to hide in the brush. One then went for help, he said.

"The details that are coming from them are just -- they're just hard to hear, the heroic actions, the loneliness they felt in those mountains for hours and hours all shot up and wounded, carrying each other in their arms. And just the effort by these six children to survive and come home to their father," he said.

"I mean, what they went through, what they experienced, I don't -- we don't have the capacity just to imagine what these children went through."

The victims ranged in age from eight months to 12 years.

Another child, a three-month-old baby, was found wounded but alive on the floor of one of the cars, where her mother had put her when the shooting began.

An eight-year-old girl was also missing for more than 10 hours, before being found unharmed several kilometres&nbsp;away.

Information on the case remains murky.

Authorities had initially blamed a different criminal&nbsp;group&nbsp;active in the region, Los Jaguares, but had moved beyond that theory by Wednesday.

Mexican Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said investigators found more than 200 .223 calibre bullet casings manufactured by American gunmaker Remington at the scene.

That type of round is commonly used in military-style assault rifles.

He said&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;and the United States would soon launch a bilateral program "to control arms trafficking from the US to&nbsp;Mexico."

He added that 70 per cent of the guns linked to crimes in&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;come from the United States.

The attack has highlighted the lawlessness in much of the border region, the scene of frequent turf wars between cartels fighting over lucrative drug trafficking routes into the United States.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;"will share information" with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the ongoing probe.

Mexico alleged Wednesday that a drug cartel called "La Linea" massacred nine Mormon women and children in a case of mistaken identity, but devastated relatives insisted their loved ones were deliberately targeted.

Mexico alleged Wednesday that a drug cartel called "La Linea" massacred nine Mormon women and children in a case of mistaken identity, but devastated relatives insisted their loved ones were deliberately targeted. The three women and six children, who had dual US-Mexican citizenship, were killed in a hail of bullets Monday as they drove on a rural road between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States. Eight other children managed to escape, six of them wounded. The case has caused a shock on both sides of the border and prompted US President Donald Trump to call for a "war" on Mexican cartels. The head of the Mexican military's joint chiefs of staff, Homero Mendoza, said authorities now believe the massacre was perpetrated by La Linea (The Line), a drug cartel based in Chihuahua. He said investigations indicated the group had sent a squadron to the lawless mountain region where the attack occurred to fend off potential incursions by a rival gang, Los Salazar, which is based in Sonora, after recent clashes between the two. But relatives rejected a case of mistaken identity, saying they believe their family was deliberately targeted. "I have to emphasize there was no duelling cartels and there was no crossfire that our family were caught up in. They were murdered -- massacred -- solely by one acting cartel from Chihuahua," family member Lafe Langford Jr. told AFP. Adran LeBaron, the father and grandfather of some of the victims, said that according to two of the surviving children, their aunt exited her SUV, arms raised in surrender, only to be mowed down with gunfire. "So where is the mistaken identity? There was no mistake here," he told Mexican TV network Televisa. The two families involved, the LeBarons and Langfords, have been targeted by criminal groups in the past. Benjamin LeBaron, the founder of a crime-fighting group called SOS Chihuahua, was assassinated in 2009 after he led protests over the kidnapping of his 16-year-old brother, who was released after the family refused to pay a ransom. The families are part of a large group of US Mormons who emigrated to Mexico in the late 19th century, fleeing persecution for their traditions, including polygamy. As they prepared to hold a funeral Thursday for their slain loved ones, details continued to pour in on the eight surviving children's harrowing ordeal. Lafe Langford told CNN that after riddling the cars with bullets and setting one of them alight, the gunmen pulled survivors from one of the cars and told them to flee. Realizing their shot and bleeding siblings would not make it far, two adolescent children helped others to hide in the brush. One then went for help, he said. "The details that are coming from them are just -- they're just hard to hear, the heroic actions, the loneliness they felt in those mountains for hours and hours all shot up and wounded, carrying each other in their arms. And just the effort by these six children to survive and come home to their father," he said. "I mean, what they went through, what they experienced, I don't -- we don't have the capacity just to imagine what these children went through." The victims ranged in age from eight months to 12 years. Another child, a three-month-old baby, was found wounded but alive on the floor of one of the cars, where her mother had put her when the shooting began. An eight-year-old girl was also missing for more than 10 hours, before being found unharmed several kilometres away. Information on the case remains murky. Authorities had initially blamed a different criminal group active in the region, Los Jaguares, but had moved beyond that theory by Wednesday. Mexican Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said investigators found more than 200 .223 calibre bullet casings manufactured by American gunmaker Remington at the scene. That type of round is commonly used in military-style assault rifles. He said Mexico and the United States would soon launch a bilateral program "to control arms trafficking from the US to Mexico." He added that 70 per cent of the guns linked to crimes in Mexico come from the United States. The attack has highlighted the lawlessness in much of the border region, the scene of frequent turf wars between cartels fighting over lucrative drug trafficking routes into the United States. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico "will share information" with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the ongoing probe.

Mexico probes narco group 'La Linea' in Mormon murders

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-begins-formal-exit-from-paris-climate-pact-259963">Donald&nbsp;Trump</a>&nbsp;offered Tuesday to help&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area&nbsp;and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbor in a "war"&nbsp;on&nbsp;the drug&nbsp;cartels.

Gunmen ambushed the members of the LeBaron family,&nbsp;a large clan of&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;who emigrated to&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;in the late 19th century,&nbsp;on&nbsp;a rural road Monday between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States.

Three women and six children were killed, including two twin babies, said relatives and Mexican officials. Six children were also wounded in the attack, which left the family's three cars riddled with bullets and badly charred.

"If&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;needs or requests help in cleaning out these monsters, the United States stands ready, willing &amp; able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;wrote in a tweet.

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A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing. If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1191708046126399488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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He praised Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for prioritizing the fight against drug trafficking, but said "the&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army!

"This is the time for&nbsp;Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage&nbsp;WAR&nbsp;on&nbsp;the drug&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;and wipe them off the face of the earth."

Lopez Obrador&nbsp;said he would accept "all necessary cooperation" to get justice for the victims, all of whom lived&nbsp;on&nbsp;the Mexican side but had dual nationality.

But the left-wing populist, who has declared an end to&nbsp;Mexico's "drug wars," said he was not looking for a new one.

"We don't agree (with&nbsp;Trump)&nbsp;on&nbsp;that," he told a news conference. "War&nbsp;is synonymous with irrationality."

He later tweeted that he had thanked&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;for his support in a phone call.

The White House said the presidents had spoken about the "growing violent behavior" of drugs&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;and other criminal gangs.

"President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;made clear that the United States condemns these senseless acts of violence that took the lives of nine American citizens and offered&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;assistance to ensure the perpetrators face justice," said spokesman&nbsp;Hogan Gidley.&nbsp;

Devastated members of the LeBaron family took to social media to call for people's prayers and condemn the lawless violence gripping much of the border region.

"It was a massacre," Julian LeBaron, an activist who has denounced criminal groups in the area, told Mexican radio network Formula.

He said the women were&nbsp;on&nbsp;their way to the airport with their children when their SUVs were attacked.

Several children managed to escape and return home&nbsp;on&nbsp;foot, he added.

Another, a three-month-old baby, was found wounded but alive beneath her mother's body.

An eight-year-old girl was also left missing for about 24 hours, before being found several kilometers away, unharmed.

Relatives said the children were all deeply traumatized. Five wounded children were airlifted for medical treatment in Phoenix, Arizona.

Mexican Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said the family may have been mistakenly targeted or caught in the crossfire in turf wars between rival drug&nbsp;cartels. LeBaron, however, said the family believes they were deliberately attacked.

The LeBaron community are descendants of&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;who fled the United States in the late 1800s after being persecuted for their traditions, including polygamy. Many are dual US-Mexican citizens.

One former member is George Romney, father of 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who was born in 1907 in Colonia Dublan in Chihuahua state, according to the US network NBC.

Mitt Romney said&nbsp;on&nbsp;Twitter he was "heartbroken for the victims of the horrific attacks."

It is not the first time the LeBaron family has been targeted. Julian LeBaron's brother Benjamin, founder of a crime-fighting group called SOS Chihuahua, was assassinated in 2009 after he led protests over the kidnapping of their 16-year-old brother.

The murder came after the&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;refused to pay the ransom. The young LeBaron was eventually released.

The region around the 3,145-kilometer&nbsp;US-Mexican border is plagued by violent crime.

Trump, who is battling to build the border wall that was his signature campaign pledge, regularly tells&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;to do more to fight drug trafficking and illegal migration across the frontier.

Lopez Obrador typically responds that the United States needs to crack down&nbsp;on&nbsp;illegal firearms trafficking, which generates an estimated $127 million in profits a year for the American gun industry.

Mexico&nbsp;has registered more than 250,000 murders since the government controversially deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006.

Many experts blame the "drug wars" for spiraling violence, as fragmented&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;battle each other and the army.

Lopez Obrador has struggled to rein in the violence since taking office in December 2018. This year appears&nbsp;on&nbsp;track to set a new murder record in&nbsp;Mexico, with 25,890 so far.

President Donald Trump offered Tuesday to help Mexico hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbor in a "war" on the drug cartels.

President Donald Trump offered Tuesday to help Mexico hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbor in a "war" on the drug cartels. Gunmen ambushed the members of the LeBaron family, a large clan of Mormons who emigrated to Mexico in the late 19th century, on a rural road Monday between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States. Three women and six children were killed, including two twin babies, said relatives and Mexican officials. Six children were also wounded in the attack, which left the family's three cars riddled with bullets and badly charred. "If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these monsters, the United States stands ready, willing & able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively," Trump wrote in a tweet. A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing. If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019 × He praised Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for prioritizing the fight against drug trafficking, but said "the cartels have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army! "This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth." Lopez Obrador said he would accept "all necessary cooperation" to get justice for the victims, all of whom lived on the Mexican side but had dual nationality. But the left-wing populist, who has declared an end to Mexico's "drug wars," said he was not looking for a new one. "We don't agree (with Trump) on that," he told a news conference. "War is synonymous with irrationality." He later tweeted that he had thanked Trump for his support in a phone call. The White House said the presidents had spoken about the "growing violent behavior" of drugs cartels and other criminal gangs. "President Trump made clear that the United States condemns these senseless acts of violence that took the lives of nine American citizens and offered Mexico assistance to ensure the perpetrators face justice," said spokesman Hogan Gidley. Devastated members of the LeBaron family took to social media to call for people's prayers and condemn the lawless violence gripping much of the border region. "It was a massacre," Julian LeBaron, an activist who has denounced criminal groups in the area, told Mexican radio network Formula. He said the women were on their way to the airport with their children when their SUVs were attacked. Several children managed to escape and return home on foot, he added. Another, a three-month-old baby, was found wounded but alive beneath her mother's body. An eight-year-old girl was also left missing for about 24 hours, before being found several kilometers away, unharmed. Relatives said the children were all deeply traumatized. Five wounded children were airlifted for medical treatment in Phoenix, Arizona. Mexican Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said the family may have been mistakenly targeted or caught in the crossfire in turf wars between rival drug cartels. LeBaron, however, said the family believes they were deliberately attacked. The LeBaron community are descendants of Mormons who fled the United States in the late 1800s after being persecuted for their traditions, including polygamy. Many are dual US-Mexican citizens. One former member is George Romney, father of 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who was born in 1907 in Colonia Dublan in Chihuahua state, according to the US network NBC. Mitt Romney said on Twitter he was "heartbroken for the victims of the horrific attacks." It is not the first time the LeBaron family has been targeted. Julian LeBaron's brother Benjamin, founder of a crime-fighting group called SOS Chihuahua, was assassinated in 2009 after he led protests over the kidnapping of their 16-year-old brother. The murder came after the Mormons refused to pay the ransom. The young LeBaron was eventually released. The region around the 3,145-kilometer US-Mexican border is plagued by violent crime. Trump, who is battling to build the border wall that was his signature campaign pledge, regularly tells Mexico to do more to fight drug trafficking and illegal migration across the frontier. Lopez Obrador typically responds that the United States needs to crack down on illegal firearms trafficking, which generates an estimated $127 million in profits a year for the American gun industry. Mexico has registered more than 250,000 murders since the government controversially deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006. Many experts blame the "drug wars" for spiraling violence, as fragmented cartels battle each other and the army. Lopez Obrador has struggled to rein in the violence since taking office in December 2018. This year appears on track to set a new murder record in Mexico, with 25,890 so far.

Trump calls for 'war' on cartels as Mormons murdered in Mexico

Two men, including one who has 25 wives and 146 children, were convicted of polygamy Monday in a landmark ruling that upheld Canada&#39;s longstanding ban on the practice.

Winston Blackmore and James Marion Oler, who has five wives, face up to five years in prison after being found guilty in the first real test of the country&#39;s polygamy law, enacted 127 years ago.

The two men are senior figures in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamist religious sect that broke away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church.

Three special prosecutors had been appointed over the past two decades to consider bringing charges against the pair, but they backed down over concerns that the law prohibiting polygamy violated Canadians&#39; constitutional right to religious freedom.

Those fears were assuaged in 2011 when British Columbia province&#39;s Supreme Court ruled in a reference case that the inherent harms of polygamy justified putting limits on religious freedoms, clearing the way for charges to be filed against Blackmore and Oler three years later.

Judge Sheri Ann Donegan of the British Columbia Supreme Court noted in her ruling that the main defendant, Blackmore, did not deny his polygamy. &quot;His adherence to the practices and beliefs of the FLDS is not in dispute,&quot; she said.

The sect has been based for nearly 60 years in the remote, mountainous region of British Columbia near the US border where the community grows, raises or hunts its own food and runs a barter economy.

Both men are senior figures in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a polygamist religious sect

Two men, including one who has 25 wives and 146 children, were convicted of polygamy Monday in a landmark ruling that upheld Canada's longstanding ban on the practice. Winston Blackmore and James Marion Oler, who has five wives, face up to five years in prison after being found guilty in the first real test of the country's polygamy law, enacted 127 years ago. The two men are senior figures in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamist religious sect that broke away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church. Three special prosecutors had been appointed over the past two decades to consider bringing charges against the pair, but they backed down over concerns that the law prohibiting polygamy violated Canadians' constitutional right to religious freedom. Those fears were assuaged in 2011 when British Columbia province's Supreme Court ruled in a reference case that the inherent harms of polygamy justified putting limits on religious freedoms, clearing the way for charges to be filed against Blackmore and Oler three years later. Judge Sheri Ann Donegan of the British Columbia Supreme Court noted in her ruling that the main defendant, Blackmore, did not deny his polygamy. "His adherence to the practices and beliefs of the FLDS is not in dispute," she said. The sect has been based for nearly 60 years in the remote, mountainous region of British Columbia near the US border where the community grows, raises or hunts its own food and runs a barter economy.

Two Canadian men convicted of polygamy in landmark ruling

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