Elissa Wall can still vividly remember when she was forced to marry her 19-year-old first cousin Allen Steed at the age of 14 by a false religious prophet.
The former child bride has come forward with her story as part of A&E's documentary
The special explores how the now-imprisoned cult leader ruled over an estimated 15,000 followers of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS).
The 62-year-old is said to have had 78 wives, more than 50 children and controlled millions of dollars of the church before he was sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for sexually assaulting his 12-year-old and 15-year-old child brides.
Wall later became the lead witness in the trial that ultimately put Jeffs in prison. A 2014 Lifetime movie titled "Outlaw Prophet" starring Tony Goldwyn attempted to shed light on a community ruled by a man who was determined to quell his demands and desires.
Wall, now 31, says she is determined to pull back the curtain on the secretive community.
Just realized it was over on A&E an hour ago - It is on you tube and other channels - may be re-run on A&E - I'll check
Quote from: "cc"
I saw a documentary about him and his cult. Pure evil I tell you.
Aw you saw it - Was it tonight or another doc on it?
Was it well done?
It just finished? .. but ... It's on again 1 am Eastern (10 pst) on A & E - I got it set to record
" Pure evil " for sure - and many say he STILL runs the group from jail
Polygamist sex offender Warren Jeffs still trying to lead from jail
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/warren-jeffs-trying-to-lead-polygamist-sect-behind-bars-officials/
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Earlier this year, a wife of former polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs tried to visit him at a Texas state prison with a tiny microphone implanted in her hollowed-out watch. Another time recently, a woman planning to visit the convicted sex offender was denied entry after a metal detector found something buried in her hair and she refused to show it to a corrections officer.
Such is the hide-and-seek game authorities play with the self-styled prophet of the breakaway Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting his 12- and 15-year-old child brides at a church compound in West Texas.
Prison officials said it was the second time recently that Jeffs' wives were caught trying microphone-in-the-watch that ploy. Those and other details emerged in Phoenix earlier this month at a trial involving Arizona and Utah church followers that offered a rare glimpse into how Jeffs still tries to exert control from behind bars.
Among other breaches of prison rules, Jeffs' phone privileges were temporarily suspended in 2012 when it was determined the caller at the other end was broadcasting the conversation on a speakerphone. And a Texas prisons official testified at the Phoenix trial that some mail sent by Jeffs was blocked when it appeared to be written in code.
From his arrival in 2011 at an East Texas prison, the 60-year-old Jeffs presented special challenges.
Quote from: "cc"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/warren-jeffs-trying-to-lead-polygamist-sect-behind-bars-officials/
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Earlier this year, a wife of former polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs tried to visit him at a Texas state prison with a tiny microphone implanted in her hollowed-out watch. Another time recently, a woman planning to visit the convicted sex offender was denied entry after a metal detector found something buried in her hair and she refused to show it to a corrections officer.
Such is the hide-and-seek game authorities play with the self-styled prophet of the breakaway Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who is serving a life sentence for
Prison officials said it was the second time recently that Jeffs' wives were caught trying microphone-in-the-watch that ploy. Those and other details emerged in Phoenix earlier this month at a trial involving Arizona and Utah church followers that offered a rare glimpse into how Jeffs still tries to exert control from behind bars.
Among other breaches of prison rules, Jeffs' phone privileges were temporarily suspended in 2012 when it was determined the caller at the other end was broadcasting the conversation on a speakerphone. And a Texas prisons official testified at the Phoenix trial that some mail sent by Jeffs was blocked when it appeared to be written in code.
From his arrival in 2011 at an East Texas prison, the 60-year-old Jeffs presented special challenges.
:swoon:
All "prophets" are evil, and interested only in "profit".
It defies belief how these charlatans can entrap so many people with their lies and theatrics in a nation that is supposedly advanced and educated.
Even those exposed as frauds have returned and are raking in the dollars AGAIN. Jimmy Swaggart for example. What is it about American culture than makes them susceptible to confidence artists like these?
You'd think at this day and age people would know better than to fall for prophet crap or cult stuff....but these evil people always target those who are lonely and desperate. What a world.
But not all are lonely and desperate. Those big bucks must come from some deep pockets. When you watch their "sermons" there are people in the crowd that look like they're doing just fine. They are usually the ones holding their hand in the air in some form of supplication.
True Berry, but these people did not "join"
These people they were born into it, forced to stay within it and have never seen the outside world
Brick - This and our very own "Bountiful" in BC Canada are NOT in any way like the cornball TV evangelist "voluntary" groups
Quote from: "Bricktop"
It defies belief how these charlatans can entrap so many people with their lies and theatrics in a nation that is supposedly advanced and educated.
Even those exposed as frauds have returned and are raking in the dollars AGAIN. Jimmy Swaggart for example. What is it about American culture than makes them susceptible to confidence artists like these?
How can anyone fall for a Charles Manson, Jim Jones or a Warren Jeffs?
That's not a good analogy because children had no choice in the case of Warren Jeffs.
BC and the Feds have tried to break Bountiful - but cannot get witnesses and failed to prosecute successfully
The people are prisoners from birth till death.
Seems crazy that in today's world we cannot break them open ... in a way like how after dozens of events they could not stop the Parkland shooter ... To prosecute or even to hold anyone for a length of time , you must have solid proof even though "everyone knows"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Oh your talking about the big time stuff....with thousands in the audience...yeah that stuff is bullshit and I don't support it.
I was appalled when there was flooding in the south, was it last year? And one of these mega churches refused to open their doors to help people....bunch of losers.
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
It defies belief how these charlatans can entrap so many people with their lies and theatrics in a nation that is supposedly advanced and educated.
Even those exposed as frauds have returned and are raking in the dollars AGAIN. Jimmy Swaggart for example. What is it about American culture than makes them susceptible to confidence artists like these?
How can anyone fall for a Charles Manson, Jim Jones or a Warren Jeffs?
That's not a good analogy because children had no choice in the case of Warren Jeffs.
You are talking about mind control. I don't understand it either.
Quote from: "cc"
Brick - This and our very own "Bountiful" in BC Canada are NOT in any way like the cornball TV evangelist "voluntary" groups
That is true. Those ones don't know better, they think it's normal. Like the documentary "Jesus Camp"....The brain washing of those poor kids.
I use to go to a church when I was in elementary school....my friend went and she invited me to go....I ended going for a few years....it was very religious and lots of praying....but the people were what sucked me in...they were so friendly and they always did stuff, which was exciting....but then I started to get older and think for myself....I didn't agree with their ways and the way they ran their church...deep down I felt it was really manipulative and there was lots wrong....I stopped going.
I'm still friends on fb with some of the people I went to that church with....most moved south into the state's...they are still nice people but, they are all now adults and full on deluded into these beliefs....some of them even willingingly give 40% of their monthly income to the church << that's just wrong.
Some of them even travel back up north here to Vancouver for a visit, but they never contact me to visit me while they are here....reason being is, they believe anyone who has left the church is a sinner and a back slider and not to be communicated with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_1800584903&feature=iv&src_vid=dGMQdbTeBBQ&v=Mgmg-NMTJ9E
I haven't heard about the sexual abuse of children on Hutterite colonies.
Brick. We all have little sympathy for "voluntarily" giving up one's soul. You are not alone on that.
This and Bountiful are not comparable, and not fair pool to use as an excuse to dun the dunnable
They are horrible situations as I described above - prisoners .. "physical" prisoners who have never known the outside world vs. prisoners of the mind and snake oil salesmen
None have any idea of the outside world. Those who want out fear for their lives .. and for good reason Quote
Er...right...
I am fully sympathetic to those trapped in these vile cults. If it were my child, or family member, I would not hesitate to do what's necessary to pull them out and de-program them.
The head of the snake, on the other hand...that's a different ball game.
In the 2 examples I cited (Jeffs and Bountiful BC), they are born and die there .. having no one on the outside or inside to save them
They have no one to "do what's necessary to pull them out"
And law enforcement has no proof to take the leaders to court with ... until this gal (OP) escaped and gave them enough to take one of them down
That's bollocks. The government knows exactly what this crooks do, and they turn a blind eye. Look at Scientology for example...what a bunch of criminals.
And the worst part is we ALL pay for their lunacy. They don't pay tax. We subsidise them.
I use to live down the valley from this 'cult I guess you would call it....I never paid much attention to them and what they were about as I was in my early 20's and was busy working and partying with my friends. But I'd see them around in the town's.
I'd hit the local hippy beach at the river and hang out....a few times, I would see these people come in the hot summers evening to take a dip in the river....there was at least 2 dozen of them....all young girls with little kids both boys and girls....they all had a dress code, their clothes looked home made and the older girls all had long hair with ankle length skirts....they would go in the water with these skirts on and the boys in their pants....it was fuckin weird. And here I am standing next to them in a bikini...
They seemed like nice people but I never thought about why they were like that at the time? Thinking back, I head they all lived on a farm not far from me and they had this big family thing going on....I'm pretty sure they were one of those religious groups with multiple wives and brain washed kids everywhere.
Brick - You keep citing "voluntary" examples .... out in the public situations ...
But, OK
People want a feeling of 'belonging,' and if they're lonely, they may fall trap to cults. Cults are no different than gangs... Give you something in return for something.
People can be very stupid in general, so I can see how this could happen.
I have no problem with Christianity, or some other religions also, but I know they are all bullshit also.
Especially if you were raised with this shit as a kid, it gets ingrained.
I am different. They can't cult me, and they cannot break me. I would rather die!
Quote from: "cc"
They have no one to "do what's necessary to pull them out"
And law enforcement has no proof to take the leaders to court with ... until this gal (OP) escaped and gave them enough to take one of them down
They know no other life and would resist if civil servants tried to remove them.
Quote from: "cc"
These people they were born into it, forced to stay within it and have never seen the outside world
Brick - This and our very own "Bountiful" in BC Canada are NOT in any way like the cornball TV evangelist "voluntary" groups
They are prisoners.
They are. Just watched the documentary tonight.
No happy ending, no justice. Perp jailed for life, but wins on his terms.
Quote from: "Thiel"
Quote from: "cc"
These people they were born into it, forced to stay within it and have never seen the outside world
Brick - This and our very own "Bountiful" in BC Canada are NOT in any way like the cornball TV evangelist "voluntary" groups
They are prisoners.
Their lives are stolen from them.
Well, they actually do 'get out!'
The wives often work in town, and then hand the pay over to the man... The way it should be! :001_tongue:
In all seriousness, these kids know nothing better. They'd be fucking lost in the 'real world.'
And Canada allows 'religious freedoms' to at times trump Canadian Criminal Code violations... That happened when the 'Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms' was brought in... Not to 'over-write' the law, but to essentially make 'exceptions' for certain people, and groups.
Blackmore knew this, and this has costed us millions of dollars.
Then again, Blackmore is utilizing the same law, the Charter, that every other fucking minority group here uses, so none of this is news to me.
Quote from: "cc"
Absolutely cc.