Book Sheds Light on Warren Jeffs' Church
 
By Sandra Haros
KTAR News 92.3 - Phoenix
Escape

Life beyond polygamy is nothing short of a miracle.

That's the message in a new book, "Escape," by Carolyn Jessop, who fled from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered along the Arizona-Utah border. She now tries to help others get out of the church headed by Warren Jeffs. Jeffs was sentenced in Utah last week to five years to life in prison after being convicted on charges of rape by accomplice. He faces similar charges in Arizona.

Jessop, in an interview with FM News/Talk 92-3, said breaking away from the FLDS, which practices polygamy, was difficult. She had been forced to marry a man much older than herself and had eight children while living in Colorado City.

"I was living the only life I'd ever known for 35 years. It was like I was betraying everybody and everything in my life. I was giving up my heritage, I was giving up my religion, I was giving up my family."

She said, "I began to recognize that I'm involved in a dangerous and destructive cult. Even though I was born into it and never viewed it as a cult, before I left, I was seeing it for what it actually was."

Jessop said she's now learned how people view the FLDS. "We are completely ostracized and people see us as in league with the devil and we are apostates and we've turned against the work of God and we are the most evil of all people."

In her book, Jessop said she tries to share a story of hope.

"I want people to understand what's going on in this lifestyle -- why women stay in it, why they choose to live this way and that it's not really about consenting adults. We are born into this. I was six generations of polygamy and it's the only life that we are really exposed to."

She added, "I still understand that to a large extent, I am a beacon of light to these women because I'm living a good quality of life and they know it."

Although Jeffs may be headed to prison, Jessop said she fears his influence will still be felt.

"He's destroyed so many lives," she said. "It's incredibly rewarding (to have him convicted.) It was a long time to make it happen, and it was difficult getting to where it did happen, but so many people will not be injured now."

Jessop said authorities need to do more to protect women and children from the polygamist lifestyle.

Jeffs was convicted of forcing a 14-year-old girl to marry her cousin. In Kingman, he faces more charges linked to the arranged marriages of underaged girls.

Jeffs' Arizona attorney, Mike Piccarreta, said his client did not get a fair trial in St. George, Utah, and that he can get an impartial jury in Arizona only if his trial is held somewhere other than in Mohave County. But, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said Monday there's no reason Jeffs can't get a fair trial in Kingman.
 
KTAR.com
Originally published November 27, 2007
 
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