This is the shocking, timely, and inspirational memoir of Elissa Wall, the former member of the FLDS polygamist sect whose powerful courtroom testimony helped convict controversial sect leader Warren Jeffs in September 2007. Detailing how Jeffs forced her into an unwanted marriage at age 14, Elissa speaks candidly about the horrifying reality she faced as a young teenager in a devastating marriage to a man five years her senior. But what began as a tragic tale of forced marriage quickly descended into madness, as Elissa's troubled relationship spiraled out of control before her vows were even spoken.The end result of the union was a nightmare of rape and abuse that Elissa suffered at the hands of her Church-appointed husband and in the name of God. Offering an unfettered glimpse into the world of the FLDS she explains how the confines of her dangerous marriage and surroundings left her with few options. Pushed out of her home by abuse, she began living in her car to avoid the crushing realities of her situation. And yet somehow, in face of this bleak reality, she never gave up on the hope that she would some day find a way out. But though Elissa won her freedom from the FLDS, she had yet to earn her victory, and here she illustrates how she used her newfound freedom to put Warren Jeffs behind bars.I saw a review of No Doubt on one of the blogs I follow and quickly went to order that.Once I was there I also saw Stolen Innocence and Escape,both about the FLDS sect and women who escaped from this abusive sect.I ordered Stolen Innocence and ran out of money before I could order Escape.I read this book in one session,not because it is a short book but because of the easy writing and my big interest in sects and cults and how people get caught up in this form of brainwashing.
Despite the description above which details sexual abuse,there is actually very little detail of this sexual abuse.One incident which occurs often is something I consider quite normal but is condemned in the FLDS sect.The true crime in this book is the fact that a female is forced into marriage against her will.Couple that fact with the female being 14 years of age.Elissa Wall and other members of this sect lead very sheltered lives when it comes to knowledge of sexual issues and to suddenly be forced into marriage is extremely shocking and traumatic for these young women.
What amazed me the most about this sect is the amount of brainwashing that goes on.They even listen to tape recordings of the "priesthood" way (by Warren Jeffs)while they are doing housework.The constant fear of "doomsday" and whether they qualify to live with God when this happens.On the eve of the year 2000,there was one such fear and when it passed and the world was still around they get told God had given them some more time to make amends so they could be better people for when he came to get them.This kind of "doomdsay" prediction happens often and each time it passes like any other day,the same explanation is given again.AND believed!!
Elisa Wall's(the writer of this book)father had a very successful company in which he had shares.Warren Jeffs convinced him that he had to sell his shares so he would have more time with his family.And big surprise! He has to sell his shares at a quarter of the price to the sons of Warren Jeffs.This results in Elissa's family being brought to virtual poverty without that extra income.Do they see the light after that?No,everyone trudges on slowly on the brink of disaster.Such is the power of brainwashing!!
This was an excellent book written by Elissa Wall and the undercurrent theme is innocence and naivety which is almost verging on brain dysfunction.To be a normal member of society and to enter this book and experience the thoughts and actions of people who are ruled by another from the time they wake up until they fall asleep again had an enormous impact.While I find it extremely difficult to ever imagine myself in a situation like that,I am trying very hard to not judge until I have walked a mile in their shoes.Shoes that I will do my utmost to stay very far from.By the way.
I recommend reading this book for the insightful look it provides into the lives of people who belong to sects and have been brainwashed over many generations leading to parents perpetrating the abuse even further from inside the home.
For South African readers who want to find out more about this book then please access via Kalahari Books and the Amazon link below will provide more reviews on this book if you are interested.
Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs
Here are some more book details:
Country: United States of America
Format: Hardcover
Contributor: Lisa Pulitzer
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
ISBN: 9780061628016
Publication date: May 2008
Pages: 438
Illustrations: Illustrated
My Question:
I believe the mother who stood by while her daughter Elissa Wall was forced into marriage to be abused and raped daily should be charged as well.In normal society parents get charged if they stand by and do nothing while their children are abused are they not?Why should she not be charged just because she is a member of a cult? If your response is no,because she has been brainwashed then parents who abuse their children because they were abused as children should then also not be held accountable?
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Oh, I definitely agree. I couldn't imagine letting something like this happen to my daughter when she was that age. Just disgusting.
ReplyDeleteI will have to read this book. It sounds like a great way to learn about how cults work and survive in today's modern society.
Hi Yvette!
ReplyDeleteI think the mother should be held accountable! Even with brainwashing how could you allow your daughter to be abused like that! I read Escape and was amazed at what I read. (very good book btw) But I think that the isolation of the cult members is what keeps this going, and the not knowing where to turn for help. I will put this on my TBR list! Great review as always!
I thought this book was ultimately really inspiring. It was good that she was able to stand up to Warren Jeffs & it took a lot of courage. I saw her recently on Oprah with her husband & she looked really happy.
ReplyDeleteLuAnn I definitely recommend reading this book.You will be shocked at what goes on in these cults.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne,would you believe that she still loves her mother so much and hopes for a reconciliation.She would never have testified against Warren Jeffs if there was any chance her mother would be in trouble.Never,never!!
Caitlin,courageous she was in that she was able to fight the brainwashing in order to think for herself.Im sure she is happy with her husband.The two of them went on a hellish journey together and their relationship still survived.
People aren't as simple as that, and it's sad. There will be some people who have been brainwashed to such an extent that they really believe what they are being told. But then others are enligtened by the beauty of a child and come to sense. They remember how much they hated their life and don't want the same for their child. It's an awful thing when a parent allows their child to be abused. The people who are meant to protect you are allowing it. It's a sad topic and this sounds like an interesting to read to learn more about cults. I've never read a book about cults or sects.
ReplyDeleteKate this book was good and I hear great things about Escape as well also about a mother who fled this sect with her 8 children.I am appalled that law enforcement doesn't do more about restrictions on these type of cults but you're right life and people are just not that simple.My problem is in trying to see things in black and white and trying to ignore the gray.
ReplyDeletei believe the mom should have to hold her own responability n b charged. mom too was as bad as that jerk of warren . if u read the book mom only held on to the daughters no matter what they rebeled against. when the boys wer asked to leave and the others left on their own i do believe it hurt her but she did nothing to try to keep them together. every one should read the book it opens your eyes to understand a bit of what these young girls have to be forced to do. this trulley is against the law.
ReplyDeleteThe mother should be charged with CHILD ABUSE--She KNEW what was going down---She KNEW that her daughter was ONLY 14 years old and a mere child---She KNEW this stuff!--She KNEW that her child was distrought and unhappy and fearful---SHE KNEW THIS! A NORMAL MOTHER would NOT let ANYTHING BAD or ABNORMAL happen to her child---This mother was A FREAK of nature and ABNORMAL--I don't give a CRAP if she was brainwashed from the time that she was born into this bullshit religion--She STILL should have FOUGHT for her CHILD when she saw that her Child was unhasppy and did not want to marry at the age of 14 years old!~~~~BAD MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!! SHE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe mother should be charged with CHILD ABUSE--She KNEW what was going down---She KNEW that her daughter was ONLY 14 years old and a mere child---She KNEW this stuff!--She KNEW that her child was distrought and unhappy and fearful---SHE KNEW THIS! A NORMAL MOTHER would NOT let ANYTHING BAD or ABNORMAL happen to her child---This mother was A FREAK of nature and ABNORMAL--I don't give a CRAP if she was brainwashed from the time that she was born into this bullshit religion--She STILL should have FOUGHT for her CHILD when she saw that her Child was unhasppy and did not want to marry at the age of 14 years old!~~~~BAD MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!! SHE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete