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Church of Lies
by
Flora Jessop
From the Preface: "My name is Flora Jessop. I've been called apostate, vigilante, and crazy bitch, and maybe I am. But some people call me a hero, and I'd like to think they're right too. If I am a hero, maybe it's because every time I can play a part in saving a child or a woman from a life of servitude and degradation, I'm saving a little piece of me, too.
I was one of tw...more
I was one of tw...more
Paperback, 296 pages
Published
March 1st 2010
by Jossey-Bass
(first published December 1st 2008)
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The only thing that brought the rating down on this book was the total lack of grammar. I'm sorry, but I'm one of those who believes that if you're going to do any kind of formal writing, grammar and proper editing have to be present. And I know that's kind of a contradiction, because my writing mechanics are weak, but I'M NOT WRITING ANY BOOKS. Just the occassional review and a ton of emails and text mesages. LOL.
All that being said, this book does give you a look into what life is like inside...more
All that being said, this book does give you a look into what life is like inside...more
While reading this book, I felt all kinds of emotions come out. From sheer rage because of the way that the women and children were treated as property, sadness because they felt they had no way out...and anger again at the FLDS leaders who kept their women and children ignorant so that they could never really ever leave the sect.
Most children stopped formal education at 8th grade, if not before. Young girls were married off at the age of 12 or younger if they were perceived to be a "problem" ch...more
Most children stopped formal education at 8th grade, if not before. Young girls were married off at the age of 12 or younger if they were perceived to be a "problem" ch...more
By the end of this book, the flaws I found had become endearing and I was completely charmed by the charm, bluster, honesty and courage that Flora Jessop possesses. I understood why so many people in her life helped her with her causes, because she is a big person with a bright brain and heart to match. The difficulty of thinking independently after having been brainwashed since birth cannot be underestimated...her ability to flout all that was safe and secure to carve out a place for herself in...more
No matter how much I learn about the FLDS, every book brings new surprises. This one in particular, because it's not just one survivor's story, it's also the story of her tireless work to help other women and children escape lives of polygamous and abuse. One of the girls Flora Jessop rescued, first from the FLDS and then from the government agencies who insisted on returning her to her parents, was Fawn Broadbent. Fawn and her friend, Fawn Holm, ran away at the age of 15 to escape being married...more
Given the experiences of abuse she describes, I can understand (on a cognitive level) why the author feels so angry and bitter. She seems to believe that her anger is a good thing because it has motivated her to help others. However, this was just the thing that I didn't like about this book. Her bitterness permeates the book to the point that she loses all objectivity. I don't doubt much of what she describes is real, but I do doubt that the universe is one conspiracy orchestrated against Flora...more
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It's no secret that I've read many a book about the FLDS. While I think they all have their separate insights and such, the bottom line is usually the same: Warren Jeffs and the FLDS victimize people, mainly women and girls, and it shouldn't be taken any more. I was under the impression that Flora Jessop's book would be very similar to that of Carolyn Jessop's, and Elisa Wall's. Not that they are any less interesting, don't get me wrong, but similar in their tones and stories. But boy was I wron...more
I was horrified reading this book and felt worse still that this continues to exist. Or allowed to exist.
Words cannot describe the many kinds of punishments I would like inflicted on the perpetrators. To take advantage and abuse women and children? I cannot fathom such cruel sick behaviour.
I can only hope that many more will escape the clutches of these evil-doers. No one should be forced into a religion or a way of life against their own will. Everyone should be allowed to have choices and the...more
Words cannot describe the many kinds of punishments I would like inflicted on the perpetrators. To take advantage and abuse women and children? I cannot fathom such cruel sick behaviour.
I can only hope that many more will escape the clutches of these evil-doers. No one should be forced into a religion or a way of life against their own will. Everyone should be allowed to have choices and the...more
Excellent book. Interesting, sometimes riveting, memoir of Flora Jessop's life in and out of the FLDS. A bit disjointed at times, but still a great read. It's frightening to think that groups like this are allowed to function with impunity. Yes, Jeffs is in prison, but Texas, sadly, returned all of those children without any apparent consequence to the abusive situations that they live in. It is a very eye-opening account of the abusive practice of polygamy in the FLDS. I am not opposed to polyg...more
This book is hard to tell what is real and what is fictitious. If Flora wants people to believe her story she's going to have to write it completely from the view point of a child. It's hard to believe a young and sheltered girl was actually thinking the things she says she was thinking. Give me a break. Not very well written and although I'm not a supporter of the FLDS lifestyle, I couldn't tell what was real and what was stylized for the book. The descriptions of the sexual abuse were very gra...more
This one was another one about the FLDS. This one is told by Flora Jessop and goes into a lot more detail about the abuse that she suffered by member of the FLDS including her own father who raped and molested her repeatedly. After she finally escaped from the FLDS she spent many years not living her life any better. She was into drugs, had no stable home life and moved around alot. At one time she even danced in a topless bar. She eventually got her life together and she started helping out tho...more
I've read a couple of books on this topic recently. As expected, the author revealed the abuses and difficulties in the polygamous community through her personal experiences. A lot of it is difficult to read, and readers should probably be aware that there is some graphic descriptions of abuse (both sexual and other). The author is admirable in her efforts to assist women and children who want to leave the FLDS do so. It was horrifying to read how government agencies actually assist the FLDS in...more
After reading the Church of Lies I am amazed at our government for allowing the abuse and torture to continue in the communities of the FLDS. Flora Jessup is a hero. It took a lot of courage for her to leave her home and to make it own her own in the real world. I am wondering why this life style is permitted to continue. Flora should be proud of everything that she has accomplished for the victims of FLDS. It is eye opening to read what goes on in that cult. It is sad that parents marry their y...more
After reading other books on polygamy, I wanted to read another one on the topic but I wanted to read a book that was not so "nice" and it looked like Church of Lies was the one to read. Well let me tell you, I was not disappointed! Flora Jessop is a very strong woman, that I feel did "what she had to do" to survive! She is not one to make things sound "nice" she just says it like it is and that's what I was looking for in this type of book! This is one of the best Biographies that I've read and...more
I've been interested in reading a lot of these FLDS books. They provide a funhouse mirror look at the LDS church and help me see and understand the hard choices and decisions that went into making the human/cultural side of our own church. That said, one of the things that really stood out in this tale was her saying that she was never told about Jesus Christ in the studying of the book of Mormon. Makes you really wonder how much they were encouraged to read the BOM vs. listen to the interpretat...more
Oh my. Flora Jessop is a real hero. I cant imagine how she even survived her life at all but she went on to help dozens(at least) of people escape from Warren Jeffs and his sick psyco freaks. I remember seeing her on tv back when she helped the two Fawns escape but i had no idea what she had to do afterwards to keep them from being sent back to their parents and certain doom. I dont know if i could ever be so brave. I love her for her strength. I have to warn you though it is dificult to read. S...more
I've now read Carolyn Jessop's and Elissa Wall's memoirs along with this one. All three gave me a better understanding of why people in cults stay in them-either too long or forever. The brainwashing that is done on them from birth and up is horrible, and keeps the women beat down. I applaud Flora Jessop for telling her story. Her story was more graphic than the others, and she had a lot of problems with bitterness and anger. I can definitely see why, although I hope she has found true peace now...more
Originally posted at Nose in a Book
This book is probably the last thing Tina and Lauren ever saw being featured on our little blog, yet here I am!
Here’s an un-known tidbit about me: I enjoy books about the Mormon church and the FLDS. Yes, I understand the FLDS has nothing to do with the Mormon church (anymore), but I enjoy reading about both of them. In my undergrad schooling, I even took a class about Mormonism! The joys of having to fill up credit hours my last semester. Back to the topic at h...more
This book is probably the last thing Tina and Lauren ever saw being featured on our little blog, yet here I am!
Here’s an un-known tidbit about me: I enjoy books about the Mormon church and the FLDS. Yes, I understand the FLDS has nothing to do with the Mormon church (anymore), but I enjoy reading about both of them. In my undergrad schooling, I even took a class about Mormonism! The joys of having to fill up credit hours my last semester. Back to the topic at h...more
This is one of several books I've read about the FLDS (a fundamentalist Mormon sect) but it's by far the most horrifying. Not only are most of these women married off at a very young age to be one of multiple wives, but apparently abuse runs rampant in these communities. Flora Jessop tells her story about how she was raped and abused as a child before she had enough and ran away as a teen.
The abuse in this book is so horrific, you almost feel like you're reading fiction. Flora was strong enough...more
The abuse in this book is so horrific, you almost feel like you're reading fiction. Flora was strong enough...more
A friend of mine once reviewed a book that was an auto-biography and said that it was hard to give it a star rating because it was the person who wrote the book's personal story. I agree, and didn't quite know how to rate this book. It held me and kept me reading all day (also I was on a layover in Montreal on a rainy cold day, so staying in the hotel room seemed really nice! :) ).
I believe fully what Flora writes about the FLDS and how they brainwash their followers into believing what they do....more
I believe fully what Flora writes about the FLDS and how they brainwash their followers into believing what they do....more
Mar 19, 2012
Camille
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
memoir,
polygamy,
religion,
nonfiction,
cults,
3-and-a-half-stars,
rated-r,
18-and-older,
adult,
christian
Church of Lies by Flora Jessop
Polygamist memoirs are something of a hobby of mine. I find them fascinating and heartbreaking and compelling.
So, I checked out Church of Lies by Flora Jessop from my local public library.
Flora Jessop was born into the polygamy and raised in the twin polygamist cities of Colorado City and Hilldale, one on each side of the Utah/Arizona border.
Before I continue on, I want to give my readers the disclaimer that adult themes were present in this book as some pretty vile...more
Polygamist memoirs are something of a hobby of mine. I find them fascinating and heartbreaking and compelling.
So, I checked out Church of Lies by Flora Jessop from my local public library.
Flora Jessop was born into the polygamy and raised in the twin polygamist cities of Colorado City and Hilldale, one on each side of the Utah/Arizona border.
Before I continue on, I want to give my readers the disclaimer that adult themes were present in this book as some pretty vile...more
Sep 12, 2010
Dannielle Buckley
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Sarah Hyatt
Shelves:
books-that-shaped-who-i-am
Best line ever from the book:
(The police are at Flora's house, trying to get the two runaway girls and Flora is telling them off.)
"Dude, I don't know where the hell these kids are, and if I did I would not tell you so you can betray them like the dozens of other children betrayed from Colorado City." Finally, they got tired of playing nice and started threatening me.
"You tell us where these kids are at or we're going to handcuff you and take you to jail."
"Fine handcuff me. Don't threaten me, cu...more
(The police are at Flora's house, trying to get the two runaway girls and Flora is telling them off.)
"Dude, I don't know where the hell these kids are, and if I did I would not tell you so you can betray them like the dozens of other children betrayed from Colorado City." Finally, they got tired of playing nice and started threatening me.
"You tell us where these kids are at or we're going to handcuff you and take you to jail."
"Fine handcuff me. Don't threaten me, cu...more
Church of Lies / 978-0470565469
I'm coming late to "Church of Lies", having already read "Escape" and "Stolen Innocence", as well as "Answer Them Nothing", but I'm glad that I kept reading on this subject because "Church of Lies" is an incredible and moving read.
This book probably isn't going to be a bestseller or made into a movie; I can't even find an audiobook version to sit alongside my audiobook versions of "Escape" and "Stolen Innocence". It's not surprising that this book won't appeal to...more
I'm coming late to "Church of Lies", having already read "Escape" and "Stolen Innocence", as well as "Answer Them Nothing", but I'm glad that I kept reading on this subject because "Church of Lies" is an incredible and moving read.
This book probably isn't going to be a bestseller or made into a movie; I can't even find an audiobook version to sit alongside my audiobook versions of "Escape" and "Stolen Innocence". It's not surprising that this book won't appeal to...more
This book adds another dimension to the stories of the FLDS told by others (Brent Jeffs, Elissa Wall, Carolyn Jessop), that being the complicity of local and state governments and law enforcement in widespread FLDS crimes and abuses, particularly those perpetrated against children. Whether through fear, ignorance, legal constraints, laziness or outright corruption, state authorities in Utah and Arizona, particularly CPS and juvenile courts, continually turned a blind eye to the physical and emot...more
It seems like a teenager wrote this. And really, in many ways, the author probably is like a teenager because of her lack of quality education (the education she did receive equates to brainwashing - I am surprised that it is allowed to go on). She frequently says, "Dude" and tosses out swear words like B**ch and Damn trying to sound tough but to the point of detracting from her message. The sexual abuse in this book is disturbing and way too graphic. It was not necessary to go into every single...more
Just another book I've read on this topic. I am constantly surprised and sickened by the idea of adults allowing their underage girls to get married to men old enough to be their father or in some cases grandfather. In some cases its with their 1st cousin!! What 13 yr old girl needs to be married? They justify this abuse by saying it's their religion!!! What a crock. No religion should not only condone but encourage child abuse plain and simple. I'm glad there are people like Flora that escaped...more
A very heart wreching account of what it was like to grow up this way.
It is amazing that Flora was able to escape! I admire her for going on to help others who want to escape this life. The story is in parts graphic and riddled with anger, but that is to be expected. Why should she sugarcoat what happened to her? I am always glad to hear the truth, for it will set you free! Flora is an inspiration and I hope she will continue on with the work that she has started. Bravo!!
It is amazing that Flora was able to escape! I admire her for going on to help others who want to escape this life. The story is in parts graphic and riddled with anger, but that is to be expected. Why should she sugarcoat what happened to her? I am always glad to hear the truth, for it will set you free! Flora is an inspiration and I hope she will continue on with the work that she has started. Bravo!!
In Church of Lies, Flora Jessop tells the story of her upbringing in the fundamentalist polygamist sect, the FLDS, and how she escaped from it, and wenbt on to help other woman also escape. The book doesn't pull any punches, and tells the unvarnished truth. That makes it a bit difficult to read, as Jessop's upbringing was truly horrific. The strength of her character is inspiring, and her story is well worth reading. It offers encouragement to anyone in difficult circumstances.
This harrowing tale from the heart of the FLDS narrates one girl's escape and efforts to help others do the same. Unlike the other books I've read on this topic, this non fiction account relates much more of the journey after leaving the cult, including the basic skills she had to learn to survive on her own. It also gives vivid descriptions of her abuse before she found a way out but the majority of the book deals with the after effects rather than describing the cult.
A sad and interesting story. It is horrible the way that Flora was abused and so many other women and children are abused within the FLDS system. This book brings to light not only the abuse that she suffered, but the rampant abuses in that community and the failure of our government to protect the women and children within those communities. I do not think that women and children should be allowed to be abused under the guise of "freedom of religion". It sounds like Flora is doing the best that...more
This book was a HUGE eye opener...i remember waco and warren jeffs but never really understood most of it..why would i being from a rural country town. Flora went throught many obstacles in her life and helped a lot of girls. She is a hero and should be recognized as such. So sad that this is a "norm" for many women out there and that little boys are taught that way..simply appals me. Thank you flora for sharing your story with me.
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“To those who abuse: the sin is yours, the crime is yours, and the shame is yours. To those who protect the perpertrators: blaming the victims only masks the evil within, making you as guilty as those who abuse. Stand up for the innocent or go down with the rest.”
—
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