Jeffs, like his predecessors, continued the standard flds and mormon fundamentalist tenet that faithful men must follow what is known as the doctrine of plural marriage in order to attain exaltation in the afterlife. Andelin, published in 1965, was used as a joke material by comedian roseanne during the 1980s, but is still taken seriously by the flds. Theres no polygamy rule book to refer to these are outlaw societies, after all but some of the guidelines are clear. Wildes purpose is made particularly tough because polygamy gets a consistently bad. Three of the books are by two women who grew up in the flds, brok. She went on to bear five of his children and lived in two adjoining houses with most of the other wivesand 35 childrenin kearns, utah. Before the change the rules were stringent, but afterwards they became.
The f in flds stands for fundamentalist, in that they strictly adhere to what was originally a tenant of mormon faith being polygamy, while the lds church has since disowned the practice. He is the only person able to perform marriage and can punish. The flds splintered off of the betterknown church of jesus christ of latterday saints for the explicit purpose of practicing polygamy. Decker had been forced to marry its leader, warren jeffs, aged 18. Fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Jeffs specifically taught that a devoted church member is expected to have at least three wives in order to get into heaven, and the more wives a man has, the closer he is to heaven. At the age of 14 her name was added by her father to the joy book, a list. Can she help heal the town his flds sect ruled for generations. We dont want to press our beliefs or religion on these people. To those on the outside, fundamentalist mormon polygamy may look like a freeforall, all those women and children, and children holding younger children. The woman who escaped a polygamous cult and turned its hq. Theres no polygamy rule book to refer to these are outlaw societies, after all. Mary was born into a flds family in colorado city, arizona. As an alternative, the kindle ebook is available now and can be read on any device.
Carolyn jessop was coerced into an arranged marriage with a total stranger. As to the charge of polygamy, i will quote from the book of doctrine and covenants, which is the subscribed faith of the church and is strictly enforced. Warren jeffs and life in the fundamentalist mormon church. Polygamy means plural marriage and includes polyandry, between one. This is a great book and i recommend it to anyone curious about the flds or anyone. After the formal abandonment of plural marriage by the lds church, many members around.
It could be said that the church came into being in 1890 when amidst growing pressure from the u. The fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latterday saints flds church was one of the largest of the fundamentalist mormon denominations and one of the largest organizations in the united states having members who practice polygamy. After he rose to power, jeffs made up a series of new very strict rules for the. The more power warren jeffs loses, the more desperate he becomes. The flds is different from modern day mormon church. Court documents reveal polygamist flds sex ritual women and children from the yfz ranch, the compound built by polygamist leader warren jeffs. Even though a little nip may be against the lds mormon rules, its not the same for the flds. In order to be worthy of marriage and family, a man and his wives must be in good standing with god. Court documents reveal polygamist flds sex ritual aol news.
In accordance with a revelation to joseph smith, the practice of plural marriagethe marriage of one man to two or more womenwas instituted among members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in the early 1840s. In the flds, which is the warren jeffs community, it is believed that jeffs actively arranged marriages, placing women or, as is charged, young girls with husbands according to gods determination. As jeffs former bodyguard, jessop is one of the dojs most important witnesses, a key to taking down the flds. Jessop, 38, tells her extraordinary story in a riveting new book, escape broadway. The flds church teaches the doctrine of plural marriage, which states that a man having multiple wives is ordained of and a commandment by god. This is the story of how warren jeffs got put away, told from the inside, before growing up flds, 19th wife to the prophet and during an escapee, assistant to the investigation, and witness at multiple hearings. Ed pilkington uncovers a closed world of sisterwives and underage. The biggest concern i had with it was that once youre married, your. She managed to juggle coursework requirements with motherhood and. Starting in the 1970s, the flds women discovered the book, facinating womanhood that taught that that subservience and helplessness is the real secret for a women to be attractive. The spiritual leader of the flds church is considered a prophet of god. The bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is gods standard, except at specific periods when he has declared otherwise.
Court documents reveal polygamist flds sex ritual women and children from the yfz ranch, the compound built by polygamist leader warren jeffs, are moved by bus to san angelo, texas, on sunday. At 17, she was married to a 50yearold man with five other wives. In january 2004, fearing that she could be married off with just 15. And what made all of them follow their beliefs to the point of having so many. The fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latterday saints flds church was one of the. The fundamentalist mormon movement emerged in the early 20th century when its founding members were excommunicated from the church of jesus christ of. In fact, there are rules guiding polygamy just like there are with any other type of marriage. Karen barlow taught a course in the flds school using this book as a text book. Polygamy plural marriage lds church perspective on.