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Carolyn writes her story fluidly. She tells the inner most working of the FLDS going into important details that helps people on the outside of this cult understand and enable them to believe the horrible life of the women and children in this cult. Written in clear detail and dealing with not only the gut wrenching stories of abuse and neglect, but her inner most thoughts and plans on escaping life as a slave of these people. Carolyn becomes alive in this book, her children become tangible in the minds of the reader. The horrors of this cult living in our United States under the auspices of the freedom of the Constitution is exposed. Anyone reading this will come to understand why the state of Texas would want to take the children away from those trapped within. Abuse is alive and well and well hidden in the FLDS. Carolyn details how fear, control of information, brute strength, members telling on one another, the from birth indoctrination, male dominance, scripture twisting, physical and emotional and sexual abuse create the prison in which she found herself. Her courageous journey out of the cult is a victorious testimony. She was able to leave a most powerful man, succeed and begin a new life with her children. One can only begin to understand her journey, if one has not lived it. Her well documented and well written journey is one that I will never forget. As a woman and author and as a survivor Carolyn has a lot to offer this world outside the cult. I encourage anyone that has any doubts as to if the FLDS is a religion or a cult read this book before making your final decision as to the answer of that question. Carolyn writes with frank innocence a story that every American should read. This book went to press before the Texas incident. If every American really knew the facts as presented by Carolyn, the outcome for those children might be better. As time goes on, I only hope more people read this story. I had to own it after I read the library copy. I wanted it for my private library.Read full review
At first,my attention was drawn to the intransing photograph on the cover of this book. The expression seemed to be shielding so much experience and struggle. But upon reading this true to life account of man's misinterpritation of women's role in the world, I was impacted in ways I never imagined possible. Carolyn Jessop shattered the mold she had been cast into, with little availability of "trustworthy" direction. Her story is so inspiring to everyone! Her self education, strength, sensitivity, and resourcefullness are enlightening stimulation for ANYONE who needs to make a change for the better in their lives. I cannot emphasize the thrilling emotional experience this story brings to everyone who reads it. I am not a scholar and do not have the vocabulary to express how meaningfully this writing is done. It is an uplifting, thrilling, and satisfying experience to read. I hope you will receive as much from it as I did! To me, it is the most moving book I have read in many, many years! It seems to make so many other books I have read seem so unimportant!Read full review
Very informative book on the struggle women go through in a polygomous relationship for those who defend polygamy today or in Mormonism's history. Warren Jeffs and the fundamentalist LDs are keeping with Joseph Smith's teaching. This is as real as it gets to the heart and mindset of the LDS people in the 1800's under Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Many who believe the present LDS defense in the "Mormon Essays" of Joseph Smith's polygamous and polyandrous behavior are not empathizing with those people. Now they can. It is very absorbing reading from which you cannot help but feel her suffering as if you were in her shoes. The sad thing is LDS members can't see this cult as that equal.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
the book was fascinating reading. carolyn is bright, sensitive, and was seriously screwed up from her destructive and abusive childhood, and then in a marriage to a controlling idiot. in fact, the whole town she grew up in are irreversibly brainwashed. the mormon(LDS) church, is a far cry from the FLDS. my concern with carolyns writing is that she often leaves the reader thinking that the FLDS and the LDS church are "cousins", and very much alike in doctrine and practice. perhaps in her mind this is true, because she lived in an alien world, with other brainwashed people who are NOTHING like the mainstream LDS church, which is everywhere and full of intelligent, educated people who encourage questioning and free thinking. carolyn had none of those normal customs and virtues. the tale of the abuse she suffered at the hands of a childs most trusted care givers, being her parents, teachers, clergy and so-called government officials was too heinous and inhumane to be anything but the truth. while reading it, i often had to put the book away because her intolerable suffering confusion and bewilderment made me physically ill. i was haunted that the atrocities she and others endured and are still enduring right under our noses, and society allows it in the name of "freedom of religion". how this courageous lady escaped this diseased and disgraceful lifestyle, with 8 equally damaged children in tow, is incomprehensible to anyone living in a "normal", non-patriarchal time and place. carolyn describes her very real risk and possibly even lethal consequences of leaving her virtual prison in such a way that the reader can feel her panic and terror, while risking the loss of her children to this cult that masks itself as religion. if i sound like a religious bigot, read this book and decide for yourself. i applaud carolyn and the people who help to rescue those enmeshed in this dangerous prison of the mind and soul, and expose this cult for what it is still doing. carolyn is a survivor in every sense of the word. she wrote an eloquent, matter of fact story that will leave you breathless, engaged, and relieved at the long awaited freedom that this author finally has achieved for herself and her posterity.Read full review
I got this book for my book club. It was fascinating and very insiteful about the Fundamentalist Mormon faith. It started me researching and was instrumental in my quest for more knowledge on the Book of Mormon and this sect. As far as the writing goes, I would have to say it was a bit tedious and repetitive. Do not read this book if you are looking for a flowing well written work. The facts are presented and you feel her pain and confusion and eventual victory over oppression and brainwashing. After finishing this book, I read Stolen Innocence about the FLDS woman who was married at 14 to her cousin by Warren Jeffs and how she was able to bring him down in the courts and be instrumental in his incarceration. If you read this book, research on line the video "Lifting the veil of Fundamentalist Mormonism". It really is interesting. Mormon scholars seek to verify that the Book of Mormon is accurate and are unable to do so resulting in the realization that Joseph Smith wrote it as a book of fiction in 1830.Read full review
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