Prophet's Prey

1. Private investigator Sam Brower uncovers FLDS abuses

I was hooked. The drive home to Cedar City in the freezing dark of that winter night was almost dreamlike and somewhere along the road I crossed the imaginary divide that separates Short Creek from the United States.

Brower's involvement begins. Sam Brower, a private investigator and Mormon, stumbles upon the secretive world of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) while working on a case in Short Creek. His initial encounter with the closed community reveals a stark contrast to the outside world, with women in prairie dresses and a pervasive atmosphere of control and secrecy.

Uncovering widespread abuse. As Brower delves deeper into the FLDS, he discovers a pattern of child abuse, forced marriages, and other criminal activities hidden behind a facade of religious piety. His investigation leads him to collaborate with law enforcement, attorneys, and former FLDS members to expose the truth about the cult and its leaders.

2. Warren Jeffs' rise to power and authoritarian control

Warren loved to travel the country under the pretext that God had commanded him to witness the gross wickedness of the world.

Jeffs' manipulative leadership. Warren Jeffs, son of former FLDS leader Rulon Jeffs, gradually assumes control of the church through manipulation and claims of divine authority. He establishes himself as the sole voice of God on earth, demanding absolute obedience from his followers.

Consolidating power through fear. Jeffs maintains his grip on the FLDS community through:

• Excommunicating dissenters and breaking up families
• Controlling all aspects of members' lives, including marriages and living arrangements
• Instilling fear of the outside world and divine punishment for disobedience
• Using his position to abuse young girls and justify it as a religious practice

3. Child brides and systematic abuse within the FLDS

There was sealed Merrianne Jessop to Warren Steed Jeffs. That's me!

Institutionalized child abuse. The FLDS, under Warren Jeffs' leadership, systematically abuses children through:

• Forced marriages of underage girls to much older men
• Sexual abuse justified as religious practice
• Denial of education and exposure to the outside world
• Indoctrination from birth to accept abuse as normal and divinely sanctioned

Victims' struggles. Many victims, like Elissa Wall and Candi Shapley, struggle to break free from the FLDS and testify against their abusers due to:

• Intense psychological conditioning
• Fear of losing family and community
• Lack of education and life skills outside the FLDS

4. The "Lost Boys" phenomenon and FLDS social structure

Girls are handled in an entirely different manner. A polygamous society needs a lot more hens than roosters.

Disposable young men. The FLDS systematically expels young men and boys, known as "Lost Boys," to maintain a favorable gender ratio for polygamous marriages. This practice involves:

• Abandoning boys as young as 13 on the streets of nearby towns
• Fabricating reasons for expulsion, such as minor infractions or perceived disobedience
• Severing all family ties and support systems

Preserving polygamy. This cruel practice serves multiple purposes within the FLDS:

• Reducing competition for young brides
• Maintaining control over the remaining male population
• Reinforcing the power of church leaders and older men

5. Legal battles and attempts to bring FLDS leaders to justice

Warren Steed Jeffs received two life sentences for his crimes in Utah, had been extradited to Arizona to face additional charges there, and had a federal fugitive charge waiting in the wings after the state charges were completed to seal his fate.

Pursuing justice. Efforts to bring Warren Jeffs and other FLDS leaders to justice involve:

• Multiple state and federal investigations
• Challenges in gathering evidence due to FLDS secrecy and non-cooperation
• Prosecutions for sexual abuse, rape as an accomplice, and other charges

Legal victories and setbacks. The fight against FLDS crimes faces numerous obstacles:

• FLDS use of expensive lawyers and public relations tactics
• Witnesses' fear of retribution and psychological manipulation
• Jurisdictional issues between states and local law enforcement reluctance

6. The YFZ Ranch raid and its controversial aftermath

Now it was time for the Child Protective Services specialists to make some crucial decisions. Having been met with such confusion and lying, the CPS workers needed to get all of the children together if there was to be any hope of sorting out who was really who.

Unprecedented intervention. The 2008 raid on the Yearning for Zion (YFZ) Ranch in Texas, triggered by a hoax call, leads to:

• Removal of 463 children from the compound
• Discovery of widespread evidence of child abuse and forced marriages
• Intense media scrutiny and public debate

Controversy and backlash. The raid's aftermath highlights the complexities of addressing FLDS abuses:

• FLDS successfully manipulates public opinion through media portrayals of "persecuted" families
• Legal challenges result in most children being returned to the compound
• Questions arise about the balance between child protection and religious freedom

7. Ongoing struggle against FLDS crimes and public perception

The entire religion loathed outside attention, but now the church instructed those mothers to go against their lifetime of training and actually be nice to the reporters and photographers of the gentile media.

Continuing challenges. Despite some legal victories, the fight against FLDS abuses faces ongoing obstacles:

• FLDS adaptation to legal pressures, including moving operations across state lines
• Public relations efforts that paint the group as a persecuted religious minority
• Difficulty in prosecuting crimes due to lack of cooperation from victims and witnesses

Need for persistence. Combating FLDS abuses requires:

• Continued collaboration between law enforcement, investigators, and former members
• Public education about the realities of FLDS practices
• Support systems for those leaving the church
• Addressing the root causes of vulnerability to cult-like religious groups

Last updated: November 19, 2024