trouble getting x11 xdm to work

[Fbsd1]

My /etc/ttys looks like this

  ttyv6   "/usr/libexec/getty Pc"         cons25  on  secure
  ttyv7   "/usr/libexec/getty Pc"         cons25  on  secure
  #ttyv8  "/usr/local/bin/xdm -nodaemon"  xterm   off secure
  #ttyv8   "/usr/local/bin/xdm -nodaemon"  xterm   on  secure

The "init: getty repeating too quickly on port /dev/ttyv8" msg has stopped.

When I start xdm from root command line nothing happens. NO error log 
msgs, nothing. F1 thru F12 just issue the freebsd console logon prompt.


My understanding is when /etc/ttys contains this statement

ttyv8   "/usr/local/bin/xdm -nodaemon"  xterm   on  secure

followed by a kill -HUP 1 command to reread tyys file the following 
should happen.

F1 thru F8 virtual consoles work as normal (ie: freebsd console logon 
prompt). F9 thru F12 virtual consoles will show the xdm logon screen.

To make xdm the system default logon method have to add xdm_enable="YES" 
to /etc/rc.conf and reboot. Then only the xdm logon screen will be seen 
on all virtual consoles F1 thru F12. A ctrl+alt+backspace key sequence 
is the only way to force a return to the freebsd console logon prompt 
for the Fx virtual console being used.

Is this the correct interpretation of how xdm is designed to function??

I can not find in man xdm or xorg website or handbook an explanation of 
how it's suppose work.