Very good news to hear. It's nice to see her move forward. It's also good to know her father likes the boy and the idea. I would hope that if he had any doubt about it he would say something. Of course he wouldn't be expected to say anything to us.

I am glad. With help from their strong Mormon faith people like these set good examples of how to rise up over adversity and lives good lives.

Good for her. However, her dad always rubbed me the wrong way....a bit of a Media-(rhymes with oar) . Am I wrong?

Congrats, and I hope it works out. But, I would bet she's pretty messed up emotionally so I hope the husband-to-be is strong.

Wow Rockinwithdokken...good news really brings out the best in you eh??

Funny SalMonella....bet you are a 'glass is half empty kind of person' huh??

I'd hazard a guess Ms. Smart would never let the likes of either of you rain on her parade. Shame on the both of you!

Best wishes to Ms. Smart, her fiance AND her family. May they lead peaceful and joyous lives!

I remember how heart breaking this story was as I was a student at the U of U at the time. I wish her and her family the best of luck.

I also want to comment that throughout the incident the Salt Lake City Police Department demonstrated how utterly useless and incompetent they were. Never have more idiots gathered in one place at one time to completely screw something up on an epic level like our SLC PD.

I couldn't have said it better.

Her dad is hero, in my book, and so is she.

Bob-

I'm not really sick of hearing about her, but after one comment from you, I'm already sick of you.

Hey there bob-3895945: your asinine comment is ridiculous. If you're tired of hearing about her, why did you bother reading the story and making your stupidly inane comment? Some of us enjoy hearing good news. I'm betting you hate women, in general, and have a miserable life and just can't stand that there are some good things happening in the world that some of us can rejoice about. I can wish her well, knowing that because she has a supportive family who have stood by her through what must have been a hellish ordeal of healing, she will live a rich and fulfilling life.

Go on back to your hole, bob, and enjoy the darkness.

Dem in Texas, since you are from out of state, who are you to say, "Our SLC-PD!" If you come back to the Beehive State for good then you can make the SLCPD possessive. If you need to know where I'm at, it is a good ol' fashioned town named BOUNTIFUL. Ring a bell?

Salmonella .......

I don't know where your thinking is coming from. Elizabeth Smart handled her kidnapping and everything else she went through during that awful ordeal extremely well. She was smart by keeping her distance from the media and public during her healing.

I grew up in a house that was within walking distance of where she was ultimately found. I know that the story garnered a LOT of meda attenttion at every stage from her kidnapping to the trial, but I thought it was a bit overdone on a national level. I understand that here in Mayberry its big news in comparison to other "run-of-the-mill" stories on the nightly news, but Im also smart enough to figure that in bigger cities this type of crime is more prevalent, as well as more heinous crimes that we are fortunate enough here not to have to deal with on a daily basis. With that said, I am intrigued and somewhat amazed at the media attention Elizabeth continues to draw. She is really a walking "where-is-she-now". I anticipate she will continue to make headlines until the day she dies for everything that makes us human, or in her case what continues to make her "special". It seems like many people have come and gone before who went through much worse but who have shown us a lot less. It makes me wonder how this story was brought to national attention. Did Elizabeth or her parents contact the media to let us all know she is getting married, did someone with knowledge of the family "spill the beans", or was she followed by the media who put 2 and 2 together when they saw her trying on wedding dresses with a ring on her finger, TMZ style?

I, for one, am sorry to see the sour grapes posts here. I wish Elizabeth and her husband to be nothing but the best.

Baggage? HA!!!! He (her fiance) is definitely getting some fine, FINE baggage there! I mean, LOOK AT HER!!!!!!!

James Dahmer !! ... do you have a brother, by the name of J— — — — — — ? ...ask him about baggage ? Ooops, you can't , he ain't no more !

Because Ken- it's called having VALUES. Some people in the world still have them- I know that's hard to believe- but it's true. And I for one- applaud her and her fiance for having them and wish them the very best!

Really??!! you're suggesting he take her out "for a test drive" before they get married??? ughhh...

Lloyd Dahl - "Values" have absolutely nothing to do with it. I once dated a girl who was sexually abused as a child so I know exactly what kind of issues arise and how it can strain a relationship. As any intelligent rational person can see, all I was saying is that they need to find out if they will be able to handle these issues before the marriage rather than after. Sex is, among other things, a form of communication. Now would you ever consider marrying someone before being allowed to talk to her and see if things clicked? I don’t think so. And by the way, abstaining from sex before marriage does not equate to "values" its simply your opinion on how something should be done. Just because you choose to believe that a "God" would care in the least if a couple in love had some physical universe piece of paper before having sex does not make you more of a person of values than any of the rest of us. It just makes you a little less rational than the rest of us.

I'm so very happy for the beautiful Elizabeth. She has shown grace and courage, as did her family throughout their ordeal. For those who have commented about the media attention - if my child was missing you are darn right I would be a media (rymes with Oar)! I'd use every means possible to find her. I was impressed continually by this family's faith. They are very special and I'm sure that has helped Elizabeth healed. Much of America prayed for her safe return and for her healing - so it is natural for us to rejoice with her as well! May God's Great Love be present always in your marriage!

Bob,

You might want to take one more pill??

What is more troubling is that some people have the ability to put people under mind control by using love bombing and covert hypnosis, which has happened to my wife Ali. (26yr. old) by a James Edward (66yr. old) and his girl friend Jean Griffith (50yr. old) of Waynesboro Va. After which he convinced Ali that God gave him psychic powers when he was 15yr old. That he was going to help God with Armageddon. That the end was going to happen this December 21. He convinced her that he was sterile but if they kept having intercourse God would perform a miracle and give them a Christ child to bring in the new world. I think he has done this to other women before. If any one has any information about them please email my at < lue.alone@gmail.com>

Catgoddes, you really just feed folks with your retort and beg them to come back at you. Let people who want to post like that go and don't even reply becasue you feed the ego they need fed. It is obvious to most when someone is nothing more than a pest and in my opinion, it is best just to ignore them and try and have a reasonable conversation with those who are willing.

It is certainly great news, made even greater that she can have such a relationship after what happened. What will not be great news is any more about this or her private life. She does not need to be sabotaged by the press trying to make a buck at her expense. I wish her the best and hope not to hear any more about this or any news she has not willfully generated.

Ken, it is possible for people to have valid reasons for doing what they do, even if you wouldn't do it that way. My husband and I waited until after we were married. It made it all the more special to us, and we like doing it just as much as everyone else! Our having waited presented no problems in our marital relations! We wouldn't have done it any differently. Even if there were issues with that, we would work through them because we love each other. But, that's just us... my point is, everybody is entitled to do what they think is the best choice. Everybody has a reason behind what they do. You can do things your way, fine. Don't treat others' preferences as foolishness.

well i'm glad to see her story end on a good note. nice to see something good happen in the news for once.

;)

asl2005, I agree others' preferences shouldn't be treated as foolishness. The key word being preferences. So you agree it's only a matter of preferences, right? Because what is foolishness is confusing those preferences with morality. Consensual sex between adults, pre-marital or otherwise, has nothing to do with morality.

"if she was a colored gal you slobs wouldn't even know she'd been missing"

As much as bob has gotten on my nerves while reading the comments, I have to admit this one is true. The media pays so much more attention to white, female kidnapping victims. If she'd been a white boy, you probably would have never heard of this case. Guess what, media? Boys get kidnapped too. Black children get kidnapped, Asian kids get kidnapped, etc. Being of a certain race or gender does not make you immune to being kidnapped.

I agree with Rockinwithdokken. Ed Smart has milked this thing in the media for ten years now. Definitely a John Walsh wanna-be. And the mother hiring the lunatic street preacher to work on the family home's roof? Who does that? I have always suspected that the parents had someting to do with setting this whole thing up to cash in big on the media interest it would, and has generated. No proof, just a gut feeling. Too many circumstances about the whole thing just seem very odd.

@JimN-Ed Smart became a spokesperson for parents in this type of situation because unlike so many others, his child came back home safely. Why would anyone take issue with him speaking on this and encouraging other parents who are suffering through a similar situation? Why so cynical? You actually suspected that Elizabeth's parents had something to do with her abduction?? That is a bizarre gut feeling! And a John Walsh wannabe? I don't know anyone who would want to fill John Walsh's shoes.

Ken, I think she's making a BIG mistake if she waits for sex after marriage, too. What if this guy ain't got a substantial package? Personally I think she took off with these people and the return was scriped to save face.

Sorry for the typo, I meant the story was scripted.

to ken, marlane and anyone else that doesn't already know ,

HER SEX LIFE IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS OR CONCERN.

Have some respect. The girl has been threw enough.

Bob, why would you call her that? Why does she deserve that? And if you didn't want to hear about her, why did you read the story? maybe it's you that you are sick of hearing about.

I add my congratulations to Elizabeth and her fiancee. I wish them a wonderful and loving marriage. She has grown into a very beautiful young lady from the picture.

Why don't you take your trolling ass somewhere else. If you don't like hearing about here then why the hell did you bother reading this story?

So he could troll the comments. Duh.

Don't feed the trolls!

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=elizabeth_smart

LOLOLOLOL!

Too bad MSNBC, and others, have dug into the details, found out the groom's name, and now published it. A*holes in the press can't let a good thing be. Best wishes to the Bride and Groom, she certainly is strong enough to make it work

If only her father knew those definitions also...

Jim, and everyone else, I'm telling ya, she took off on her own and now her dad wants everybody to know that after all her bad behavior, Elizabeth can still get somebody

No, it isn't our business, but we still have an interest in what happens to her, and she gives hope to other women in the world.

I think it's interesting that she served as a missionary in France, which has the largest Muslim population in Europe. You are well aware of what many Muslim/Arab/Persian cultures do to rape victims, I'm sure. (I haven't read of one yet that shows any kindness or acceptance to the victims.)

In a number of countries and societies, she would have to marry the rapist, or be ostracized the rest of her life, or be killed for her family's "honor." Now it is all over the world, that there is a religion/society/country that says and shows that the punishment and stigma are upon the abuser, and not upon the victim, and Elizabeth Smart is living proof of it.

May the rest of her life be private and productive and above all, happy.

To be fair ElkMeadow, she DID marry the rapist, it just may not have been legally binding. As for the private/public eye point, I have to agree with vivian here. Had she not been a blonde white rich girl from a religious upbringing her case would have been another "dog bites man" story that would have held our attention for about 15 minutes. Instead, "her bravery and strong will captured america's hearts". What a load. Dont get me wrong, Im as happy for her as I am for any engaged woman and wish her the best but seriously, enough is enough here. ElkMeadow, I think you may have missed the forest for the tree here, this only gives hope to other girls/women in the demographic I mentioned before, and continues to "slap-in-the-face" all of the "silent sufferers" out there that have gone through similar ordeals without the publicity. Is anyone here really that naive to think that we hear about EVERY case like this one and that this sort of thing is really that "uncommon"?

It's nice to get an update that she is going to have a normal life after what she's been through. To say you don't want to know how her life turned out seems cold and uncaring. If you have a heart, you do care if she got on with her life. It would be pretty sad if she locked herself in a closet and never stepped outside again because of the trauma and fear.

There is no need to have TV camera's outside of the church when she gets married however. The media should just leave her alone at this point.

I categorically disagree with your first statement Skeptikal. She did not marry him. He performed a ceremony, but that is not marraige by any stretch of the imagination.

I wish all victoms recieved the same concern and attention as she did.

Okay kthorne, you got me, that first point was a bit far-fetched and facetious. I was simply making it to contrast that we are not in a country that as ElkMeadow suggests would force her to marry her victimizer. In regard to your point however, I have to call BS. You say you "wish all victims recieved the same concern and attention as she did". That couldnt be farther from the truth. You couldnt handle it, nobody could. There arent enough hours in the day to report it all let alone process it. Now if by some chance you are one of the sickos out there that wants to live in a world of nothing but news about heinous and horrific crimes against humanity, you may want to seek professional help. I on the otherhand prefer the saying "Ignorance is bliss" which is why I like it as much as I do here in Mayberry, and would have preferred the media coverage ending with a brief summary of the outcome of the trial and moving on to more important issues of the day.

It's probably more interesting to the public that she was taken as a victim of abuse because she was a nice girl from a nice upbringing, rather than a victim from a crime-ridden ghetto where you would expect such a thing to happen. People are naturally interested in news that is unexpected, surprising, different, etc. It doesn't mean there's nobody who cares for the victims of "predictable" crimes. I don't see her publicity as a "load."

Her Jon Walsh wanna-be father keeps fanning the flames of this story, and for whatever reason, the media keeps throwing it out there for us to keep having the same old rants and discussions we have been having about it for years.

And add in the fact she did a Mormon mission in France. The same place Romney said he found zero converts in two years. As sweet and pretty as Elizabeth is I doubt she did much better.

How could anybody wish her anything but well? Whatever media publicity her case received did not make her situation any easier when she was under the grip of her captor.

Exactly! Nine months??? NINE YEARS! Talk about bad journalism. Get it right "msnbc.com staff" (no wonder you didn't use an actual journalist name). The best to you and your future marriage Elizabeth! You indeed do deserve a world of happiness.

To her captors: F#&% YOU you sick bastards.

Sandy7 - it was 9 months.

Nonetheless...wishing her all the best. She is a remarkable young woman.

Perhaps you are thinking about Jaycee Dugard who was held prisoner for 18 years. Elizabeth Smart was abducted in June 2002 and was rescued in March 2003.

It's called Google. Use it before you malign someone's article and make a fool of yourself.

Indeed you are right and I stand corrected. I was thinking of Jaycee.

@ JHuss - while I understand your clarification.....when you really stop and think about it - is really something when we all have to remember which young women have remained kidnapped and sexually assaulted prisoners longest?

Astoundingly sad, sad statement about the world in which we live.

She was held captive for "nine months", not nine years (although I'm sure it felt like a lifetime). Brian Mitchell was finally convicted in 2010 and finally given a life sentence almost "nine years" to the day that he kidnapped her.

I wish her nothing but the best that life has to offer.

the nosey media.

The one posted is an old picture, actually she has become quite chubby. Saw a recent picture of her not long ago. I could'nt believe how different she looked. Not hard to figure though after all shes' been through.

Who gives a rip as to how good she looks after....or whether she is chubby. Lord have mercy - let's all just wish her unending happiness.

How does that sound??????

Pee Jay, just saying dude. No need to have a cow!!!

Nervous....the flip side to 'just saying' is knowing when NOT to 'just say'. Your post is a prime example.

Go 'Pee' on someone else's parade.....just saying dude.

Pee Jay, No the flip side is you saying go "P" on freedom of speech!!!

Free speech means you can say whatever you want, but it doesn't mean there aren't consequences. Now deal with the consequences. In this case, you deal with PJ. It's amusing that people always thing "Free Speech" means you can say whatever you want and everyone just shuts up and listens.

P W, guess that includes a system of rules for speaking and writing a given language. Next time you might want to use "Word Check" or do a little proof reading:)

LOL Nervous...next time, you might want to use 'Brain Check' or do a little sensitivity training:)

Wow...let me to repeat myself in this land of free speech....wow 'dude'.

Pee Jay, looks who talk'in, I learnt it from you. LoL!!!

Dave TTT--you need to get a life real bad. But if you want to stick you head up where the sun don't shine, I guess we can only hope you your mouth shut.

Bible thumping idiot. Just look at the divorce rate by age. The odds are against her, and you will get divorced in your lifetime as well. Marriage is the biggest scam since bottled water.

You didn't read the article very well, Dave. She was held captive for 9 months over 10 years ago. She's been living free for quite some time now and I think 24 is a perfect age to get married. She's a grown woman with an education.

Hey Dave - You're not too bitter, huh? Guess she (or he) dumped your ass but good!

Maybe you should thump that bible a little bit yourself, you just might learn something.

Sounds like DaveTTT had an offer of marriage refused, was dumped, or was left at the alter for a better offer.

Again, it's the guys with no woman who tend to make these kind of comments. No wonder you're single; no woman would have you with a sh*tty attitude like that.

Oh yes, definitely Julia. I agree wholeheartedly that Dave here should follow the teachings of a book that preaches hate, intolerance, self-mutilation, and murder. We definitely need more insane Christians in this world. Deny it all you want, but the proof is there if you look for it.

Genesis- 3:16 Women are to be ruled by men.

Deuteronomy- 22:5 Tom boys are an abomination.

Deuteronomy- 22:18-21 This clearly states it is okay to murder your children if they disobey you.

Leviticus- 20:13 This condones the murder of gay people.

Mathew- 5:28-30 God wants you to mutilate yourself if you so much as look at another woman besides your wife.

You are fine the way you are Dave.

Wow Cyberchrist....your "proof' is that of your choosing. The Bible is painted with many colors. Open you eyes to the possiblity of rainbows instead of just standing in the rain.

And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the church when He died for her…That is how husbands should treat their wives, loving them as parts of themselves. For since a man and his wife are now one, a man is really doing himself a favour and loving himself when he loves his wife! Ephesians 5:25-28

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13

...with countless more.

the

I think what cyberchrist is trying to say is that so many people "gloss over" the parts of the Bible that state these facts (until, of course, they are using the Bible to justify some heinous act of theirs; i.e. "it's okay to have slaves because the Bible says so", "women should have no rights because the Bible says so", or "gays are evil because the Bible says so"). If you are strictly relying on for every decision in your life a book written between 4,000-1,800 (or so) years ago and has been translated and retranslated so many times that much of its original meaning has disappeared, you need a reality check. Just because it's in the Bible, doesn't make it right.

Anna, I agree with you tho I believe it is clear cyberchrist stated only the negative. There are usually two side - always necessary when forming thought and good decisions. Thanks.

Yes, I did state what I believe to be negative about the bible. Though if anyone believes it is okay to harm another person for any reason, there is clearly something wrong with them. I mentioned those verses because Julia stated that Dave could learn something from bible, and while I'm sure he could, not all of what he can learn is very good. Actually, a lot of it is down right nasty. I hate when people tell others to read the bible like that's what it takes to make you a good person. Yes, the bible does have some positive teachings (and yes, I've read the bible all the way through multiple times). However, in my opinion, the negatives far outweigh these positives. Anything good that can me gleaned is common sense. You should treat others how you want to be treated, not because god tells you to, but because you are a good person. Being religious does not make you a good person and you do not need religion to be a good person. I have many friends whom are christian, and it confuses me that they just ignore the negative aspects of the bible like it doesn't exist. Why believe in it at all if this is the case? If you truly believe in god, you can believe without being a Christian and following the teachings of the bible.

Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that's running round
Butterflies and zebras
And moonbeams and fairy tales

... party on Elizabeth ... and all you posters do the same ... SuperBowl is coming ..... party on