Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs
Type
Book
Authors
ISBN 10
0739496344
ISBN 13
9780061628016
Category
900-929 Geography, History & Biographies
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Publication Year
2008
Publisher
Pages
448
Subject
Wall, Elissa. Jeffs, Warren, -- 1955- Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Tags
Abstract
Publisher Comments
In September 2007, a packed courtroom in St. George, Utah, sat hushed as Elissa Wall, the star witness against polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs, gave captivating testimony of how Jeffs forced her to marry her first cousin at age fourteen. This harrowing and vivid account proved to be the most compelling evidence against Jeffs, showing the harsh realities of this closed community and the lengths to which Jeffs went in order to control the sect's women.
Now, in this courageous memoir, Elissa Wall tells the incredible and inspirational story of how she emerged from the confines of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and helped bring one of America's most notorious criminals to justice. Offering a child's perspective on life in the FLDS, Wall discusses her tumultuous youth, explaining how her family's turbulent past intersected with her strong will and identified her as a girl who needed to be controlled through marriage. Detailing how Warren Jeffs's influence over the church twisted its already rigid beliefs in dangerous new directions, Wall portrays the inescapable mind-set and unrelenting pressure that forced her to wed despite her repeated protests that she was too young.
Once she was married, Wall's childhood shattered as she was obligated to follow Jeffs's directives and submit to her husband in "mind, body, and soul." With little money and no knowledge of the outside world, she was trapped and forced to endure the pain and abuse of her loveless relationship, which eventually pushed her to spend nights sleeping in her truck rather than face the tormentor in her bed.
Yet even in those bleak times, she retained a sliver of hope that one day she would find a way out, and one snowy night that came in the form of a rugged stranger named Lamont Barlow. Their chance encounter set in motion a friendship and eventual romance that gave her the strength she needed to break free from her past and sever the chains of the church.
But though she was out of the FLDS, Wall would still have to face Jeffs—this time in court. In Stolen Innocence, she delves into the difficult months on the outside that led her to come forward against him, working with prosecutors on one of the biggest criminal cases in Utah's history, so that other girls still inside the church might be spared her cruel fate.
More than a tale of survival and freedom, Stolen Innocence is the story of one heroic woman who stood up for what was right and reclaimed her life.
In September 2007, a packed courtroom in St. George, Utah, sat hushed as Elissa Wall, the star witness against polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs, gave captivating testimony of how Jeffs forced her to marry her first cousin at age fourteen. This harrowing and vivid account proved to be the most compelling evidence against Jeffs, showing the harsh realities of this closed community and the lengths to which Jeffs went in order to control the sect's women.
Now, in this courageous memoir, Elissa Wall tells the incredible and inspirational story of how she emerged from the confines of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and helped bring one of America's most notorious criminals to justice. Offering a child's perspective on life in the FLDS, Wall discusses her tumultuous youth, explaining how her family's turbulent past intersected with her strong will and identified her as a girl who needed to be controlled through marriage. Detailing how Warren Jeffs's influence over the church twisted its already rigid beliefs in dangerous new directions, Wall portrays the inescapable mind-set and unrelenting pressure that forced her to wed despite her repeated protests that she was too young.
Once she was married, Wall's childhood shattered as she was obligated to follow Jeffs's directives and submit to her husband in "mind, body, and soul." With little money and no knowledge of the outside world, she was trapped and forced to endure the pain and abuse of her loveless relationship, which eventually pushed her to spend nights sleeping in her truck rather than face the tormentor in her bed.
Yet even in those bleak times, she retained a sliver of hope that one day she would find a way out, and one snowy night that came in the form of a rugged stranger named Lamont Barlow. Their chance encounter set in motion a friendship and eventual romance that gave her the strength she needed to break free from her past and sever the chains of the church.
But though she was out of the FLDS, Wall would still have to face Jeffs—this time in court. In Stolen Innocence, she delves into the difficult months on the outside that led her to come forward against him, working with prosecutors on one of the biggest criminal cases in Utah's history, so that other girls still inside the church might be spared her cruel fate.
More than a tale of survival and freedom, Stolen Innocence is the story of one heroic woman who stood up for what was right and reclaimed her life.
Description
Review
“Walls story couldnt be more timely. Her descriptions of the polygamous sects rigidity are shocking, but whats most fascinating is the immensely likeable authors struggle to reconcile her longing for happiness with her terror of its consequences.” People
Synopsis
In this shocking, timely, and inspirational memoir, Elissa Wall details her life growing up in the polygamous Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints religious sect, being forced into an unwanted marriage at the age of 14, and her courage to testify against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
Synopsis
"Both creepy...and quite moving."
--New York Times Book Review
"Wall's story couldn't be more timely."
--People
Stolen Innocence is the gripping New York Times bestselling memoir of Elissa Wall, the courageous former member of Utah's infamous FLDS polygamist sect whose powerful courtroom testimony helped convict controversial sect leader Warren Jeffs in September 2007. At once shocking, heartbreaking, and inspiring, Wall's story of subjugation and survival exposes the darkness at the root of this rebel offshoot of the Mormon faith.
Synopsis
“Both creepy…and quite moving.”
—New York Times Book Review
“Walls story couldnt be more timely.”
—People
Stolen Innocence is the gripping New York Times bestselling memoir of Elissa Wall, the courageous former member of Utahs infamous FLDS polygamist sect whose powerful courtroom testimony helped convict controversial sect leader Warren Jeffs in September 2007. At once shocking, heartbreaking, and inspiring, Walls story of subjugation and survival exposes the darkness at the root of this rebel offshoot of the Mormon faith.
About the Author
Elissa Wall is a former member of the FLDS church who was forced into marriage at age fourteen. She left the FLDS at age eighteen and she currently resides with her two children and her husband, Lamont.
“Walls story couldnt be more timely. Her descriptions of the polygamous sects rigidity are shocking, but whats most fascinating is the immensely likeable authors struggle to reconcile her longing for happiness with her terror of its consequences.” People
Synopsis
In this shocking, timely, and inspirational memoir, Elissa Wall details her life growing up in the polygamous Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints religious sect, being forced into an unwanted marriage at the age of 14, and her courage to testify against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
Synopsis
"Both creepy...and quite moving."
--New York Times Book Review
"Wall's story couldn't be more timely."
--People
Stolen Innocence is the gripping New York Times bestselling memoir of Elissa Wall, the courageous former member of Utah's infamous FLDS polygamist sect whose powerful courtroom testimony helped convict controversial sect leader Warren Jeffs in September 2007. At once shocking, heartbreaking, and inspiring, Wall's story of subjugation and survival exposes the darkness at the root of this rebel offshoot of the Mormon faith.
Synopsis
“Both creepy…and quite moving.”
—New York Times Book Review
“Walls story couldnt be more timely.”
—People
Stolen Innocence is the gripping New York Times bestselling memoir of Elissa Wall, the courageous former member of Utahs infamous FLDS polygamist sect whose powerful courtroom testimony helped convict controversial sect leader Warren Jeffs in September 2007. At once shocking, heartbreaking, and inspiring, Walls story of subjugation and survival exposes the darkness at the root of this rebel offshoot of the Mormon faith.
About the Author
Elissa Wall is a former member of the FLDS church who was forced into marriage at age fourteen. She left the FLDS at age eighteen and she currently resides with her two children and her husband, Lamont.
Biblio Notes
Named Person: Elissa Wall; Warren Jeffs; Warren Jeffs; Elissa Wall
Document Type: Book
All Authors / Contributors: Elissa Wall
ISBN: 0061628018 9780061628016
OCLC Number: 1005012195
Description: x, 438 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : color illustrations, portraits (chiefly color) ; 24 cm
Responsibility: Elissa Wall ; with Lisa Pulitzer.
Document Type: Book
All Authors / Contributors: Elissa Wall
ISBN: 0061628018 9780061628016
OCLC Number: 1005012195
Description: x, 438 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : color illustrations, portraits (chiefly color) ; 24 cm
Responsibility: Elissa Wall ; with Lisa Pulitzer.
Number of Copies
1
