One man's fight for justice

BY TIFFANY DE MASTERS tdemasters@thespectrum.com The Spectrum

ST. GEORGE - People gathered at the Book Cellar Friday evening to listen to Jason Williams and his story about leaving the Fundamentalist Latter-day Saints and his fight to keep his children. "To me I feel like I've lived a blessed life, but have had crazy experiences that have made me the person I am today," Williams said. Born and raised in polygamy Williams said he had a happy childhood. When he got married he loved his wife and had two sons. In 1998 his life was turned upside down when he said his wife left him because the prophet, Warren Jeffs, told her to (leave) if she wanted to have salvation. About a year ago Williams was encouraged to write down his experiences. A year later he has self-published his experiences in the FLDS church. The book, "Zero Chance, Power of Love - Love of Power," talks about how his family was taken away from him and how he got his sons back. "We (Williams and his wife) were so much in love - we were kiss, kiss and hug, hug then two days later she wouldn't even talk to me one-on-one," he said. Williams said Jeffs told him he could have salvation if he signed over the custody of his children and was rebaptized. He wouldn't do it. Williams decision to fight for the custody of his two children turned into a two-year custody battle in court which he won. He also filed a $10 million lawsuit against the FLDS church for alienation of affection. Amid all the questions from the audience about polygamy and the rumors of polygamy, Luana Lewis from LaVerkin asked Williams how he had the strength to fight. "It just seems like you were alone in your den, I'm amazed you're still alive," she said. Williams said his strength came from his two boys. "I wanted something better for my children, just for them to have the opportunities to do more," he said. Lewis said the reason she came to the book signing was because she's been interested in the polygamy lifestyle. "They are a fascinating people to me," she said. "I want to know their goals and how work toward salvation with those goals being under command of another man." Lewis added she thinks it's amazing, for Williams to be, in all that opposition, turmoil and abuse, and to have the strength to fight for his children. "I think he's a man of strength to write a book and I believe his heart is with his children," she said. Elaine Tyler is president of the Hope Organization, a non-profit organization that assists those leaving polygamy. She said Williams' book is great. "Throughout this tragic story he keeps a sense of humor," she said. "I think he's an incredible speaker and a very amazing kid." Williams now lives in Hurricane with his two sons, one in eighth-grade the other is in sixth-grade. He said the boys visit their mother, who still lives in Hildale, every other weekend. Williams' book can be found at the Book Cellar, 37 E. St. George Blvd. and online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. A hardback copy costs $25 and a paperback copy costs $18.

TheSpectrum.com Originally published July 18, 2009

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