jeffs, warren

Rachel Jeffs--daughter of Warren Jeffs, the self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints-- recounts her life inside the cult, her dangerous escape, and her life since gaining her freedom.

Elissa Wall discusses her life growing up as a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, the trials she endured after the polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs forced her to marry her cousin at the age of fourteen, events that led to her leaving the church, and her decision to testify against Jeffs when he was brought to trial on charges of arranging marriages between adult male followers and underage girls.

Rebecca Musser grew up in fear, concealing her family's polygamous lifestyle from the "dangerous" outside world. In her teens she became the nineteenth wife of her people's prophet, eighty-five-year-old Rulon Jeffs, Warren Jeffs' father. After she was widowed, Warren Jeffs threatened her with remarriage so she pulled off a daring escape and sought to build a new life and family on her own terms. But by 2007 she was no longer able to stand hearing about the abuse and underage marriages still being perpetuated, ones she believed put her own sisters at risk. So she took the witness stand against Warren Jeffs, the new, self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Her testimony revealed the horrific scenes behind the closed doors, sending the leaders to prison for years, and Warren Jeffs for life.

Elissa Wall discusses her life growing up as a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, the trials she endured after the polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs forced her to marry her cousin at the age of fourteen, events that led to her leaving the church, and her decision to testify against Jeffs when he was brought to trial on charges of arranging marriages between adult male followers and underage girls.