Utah
Location:
Category:
Anti - Liberties
Status:
Active
Background
Defending Utah was founded in 2013 by Enoch Moore; a Utah resident, programmer, and software architect; to inform citizens about “principles of liberty” and address perceived threats to individual freedoms. The organization promotes a perspective that views opposing voices and opinions as part of a larger conspiracy against personal rights. It is funded primarily through small donations that support its activities and training programs, as well as right-wing sponsors of its podcast episodes. Through its podcast and other online activities, the group aims to educate, advocate, and mobilize support for its viewpoints in Utah.
Ideology
Although nominally nondenominational, Defending Utah is largely influenced by Latter-Day Saint backgrounds and history, though from an admittedly conservative political perspective. The “Core Values” and “guiding principles” of Defending Utah include:
Globalist Conspiracy: Followers have a duty to combat perceived conspiracies and “secret combinations” that are “the greatest threat to the liberty of mankind.” This “worldwide conspiracy” aims to overthrow the freedom of every nation and, among other things, destroy all religions, including Christianity, institute Marxism, abolish private property, and abolish marriage and “natural” families.
Moral Absolutism: There exists a strict dichotomy between "good" and "evil," instead of what is viewed as “right” versus “left,” viewing anything that threatens personal liberty as inherently evil. The basic principles of “morality” are viewed as coming from the Founders and protected by the United States Constitution.
Drawing from sources such as the John Birch Society, Latter-Day Saint leader Ezra Taft Benson, and Cleon Skousen, among others, further beliefs of the organization include, but are not limited to, the following:
Strict Conservative Constitutionalism: An originalist understanding of the United States Constitution based on “the Founding Fathers’ original success formula” is not being followed because the government has exceeded its limits as outlined by the Constitution, necessitating a reduction in its powers.
Christian Nationalism: Based on Latter-Day Saint historical sources, the principles of the United States Constitution establish the basis of the “Kingdom of God,” but are being undermined by a worldwide conspiracy, as noted above. The group does recognize religious freedom as being protected by this Christianity-based government.
Nullification: Individual states, so-called “committees of safety,” and citizens have the authority to reject federal laws or judicial rulings they consider unconstitutional.
Constitutional Sheriffs: The sheriff is the closest elected executive office to the people and their enforcement authority supersedes all other executive offices, including the president of the United States.
Defending Utah
Tactics
Defending Utah primarily serves an educational role for its members, followers, and Utahns in general. It creates educational resources and courses outlining its basic beliefs, produces videos, podcasts, and blog posts on current events, and hosts events to educate individuals and, at times, advocate for its views. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group organized rallies and events to push back against public health orders.
Though the exact connection between the two is unclear, the group heavily promotes the theories of the American Committees Association and the creation of local “organizing committees.” These committees are based on a fringe theory of so-called “committees of safety” that existed before and during the American revolution to protect natural rights and nullify laws and regulations that are perceived to violate those rights.
Utah Connections
Notable figures from Defending Utah include:
Enoch Moore - Founder of Defending Utah
Ben McClintock - Co-Founder of Defending Utah, Membership Coordinator, and “investigative reporter”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Defending Utah was active in defying public health orders, including by organizing “flash mobs” at Salt Lake County grocery stores, during which members would shop without face coverings or social distancing. (Fox 13) In response to a statewide school mask mandate, Defending Utah organized a rally in August 2020 with Ammon Bundy to “resist” mask mandates. (KUTV)