Members of a Utah-based polygamist sect have decided to confront negative public opinion head-on: by canvassing door to door in cities across the U.S. in an effort to help “educate” the public about the religion and possibly recruit new members. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) sect is still reeling from the public backlash it received after the prosecution of its leader, Warren Jeffs. Jeffs was convicted in 2007 of a spate of charges, including two counts of rape, and is now serving time in a Utah prison. FLDS leaders are trying to polish up the group’s image.

“It’s not like we’re out in the jungle drinking Kool-Aid or anything,” said Wendell Nielsen, heir apparent to the sect’s leadership position previously held by Jeffs. “People on the outside think we’re nutty, but we are here to explain to them that we’re just ordinary guys - ordinary guys with lots of wives less than one third our age, he he. We’re regular folk too, doing what comes natural.”

But the FLDS’ marketing strategy has raised some eyebrows - and some fears - in this middle class suburban neighborhood.

“We just chased a couple of their members off the playground at the junior high school down the street.” said local resident Kathleen Brennan. “I have a 12-year old daughter in that school, and the thought of those creepy, middle-aged men chatting her up just makes my skin crawl. I know what they’re after. Now they’re sending text messages to kids around here. Eeewwww!”

When asked why the sect chose to knock on doors and visit schools, Nielsen replied matter-of-factly: “That’s where the girls are…and some real nice ones too! We hope our message is getting through to them.”