Brent W. Jeffs

Brent Jeffs was born into the FLDS, the polygamous Mormon sect. His father had three wives and numerous children. Warren Jeffs, who later became the “prophet” after his father (and Brent's grandfather) died, is Brent's uncle. Brent and many of his older brothers left the FLDS, and their parents were also excommunicated. This is Brent's story.

I've read a few autobiographies of former FLDS members, so I suppose there wasn't too much shocking to me in this one. What was different about this one (for me), though, was that it was from a male point of view. Many of the boys who leave or are kicked out of the FLDS for some reason or other end up having a hard time outside their culture and often turn to drugs, etc. So, for me, this was a different viewpoint on a topic I've read a bit about already. Easy to read and still very interesting.… (més)

Another book written by a child growing up in the Fundamentalist Mormon church under the rule of the "Jeff's" Family.
Some of the abuse was rather vivid and made me uncomfortable to read so I passed over it. Again, as I did when reading Elissa's story, I felt the author needed to beg the reader to believe his story. Not that it is unbelieveable, considering how many people have come foreward, but because so many of the people who stay in the faith are denying any negative stories.
I felt his pain and how he had no hope or escape until he was not needed anymore. I do find it hard to believe that boys are thrown aside by the thousands so that the young girls are for the older men to marry. How can a faith keep populated when sending all the young men away? I don't think Warren Jeff's father (in his 80's) was having sex regularly with his 100 wives. But then, that is another book and another story.… (més)