Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs

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Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 · rating details · 10,223 ratings · 1,345 reviews

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...more

Kindle Edition, 692 pages

Published (first published January 1st 2008)

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Jul 02, 2008 Petra X rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography-true-story, philosophy-religion

I read this to gain balance after reading Caroline Jessop's Escape. I found this book too full of self-pity and self-glory but with a paucity of background information on the FLDS. That isn't to say it isn't a good book - it is a chilling story well told and the book presents a much more rounded picture of life with its happy times as well as sad than Escape did.

Stolen Innocence reads quite strangely, but you can't put your finger on what is strange and why it is until you reach the last few cha...more I read this to gain balance after reading Caroline Jessop's Escape. I found this book too full of self-pity and self-glory but with a paucity of background information on the FLDS. That isn't to say it isn't a good book - it is a chilling story well told and the book presents a much more rounded picture of life with its happy times as well as sad than Escape did.

Stolen Innocence reads quite strangely, but you can't put your finger on what is strange and why it is until you reach the last few chapters which are about Warren Jeffs trial as late as February 2008 (I am writing this June 2008) when you realise that the co-writer, Lisa Pulitzer, has used all the trial material for the book.

The central mystery of why the women stay when they are treated like property (and told so) is that from birth they are told that the wicked will be destroyed soon i.e. in the next few years and that only those who are observant members of the FLDS will be saved. Further, should they die before this final apocalypse, then they can only get into heaven and eternal life at the invitation of their husband who must have at least three wives. Now this may sound ridiculous to you and me, but if you think of your own beliefs of whatever religion you are or were brought up, they probably sound equally ridiculous to a non-adherent.

This brainwashing and control by fear is exploited by one further factor, that the FLDS has a prophet with a direct line to heaven, much as the Catholics have a Pope who is equally infallible. It is the prophet who controls where someone will life, who and when they will marry, and has the power to confiscate property, remove spouses and children and have the person literally, physically thrown out of religion and the place they live in.

Hard to stand up against all that? Elissa's brothers merely questioned it and were thrown out. She was strong and won through, gaining a conviction of accessory to rape against Jeffs, but her mother - her mother with all her love let her children be used because her faith said it was the right thing.

Through reading these two books, I have come to understand that it was a good thing to remove the children from the FLDS compound in Texas. Its a shame that the centre couldn't hold - a generation raised without brainwashing, without hating people of a different colour and fearing the evilness of us, the people of the world, would have had a chance of self-determination and freedom. But maybe the prophet that has taken over from Jeffs will be a benevolent one. I hope so.

All in all a story like a fantasy, an alternative world, but chillingly true and a good read.(less)

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Jan 02, 2009 Needleroozer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: life-stories

I am easily obsessed with these stories of women oppressed by and then escaping from the FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, an offshoot of the Mormon Church).

This is heavy shit!

The author was forced to get married to her first cousin when she was 14. (I think the husband was 19.) She was then forced to "perform her wifely" duty with him. Yikes! Bad news. Bad, bad news. The happy news it that she finally found true love and escaped from the oppressive religion.

I am for religious fr...more

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Jun 04, 2008 CJ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've read everything I could get my hands on about the FLDS in the last couple of years. This is another book about a woman who left the religion after years of abuse - she was married at 14 to her first cousin. This cousin then spent years mentally and physically abusing her before she broke away.

Great insight into the FLDS group and why it's so hard for women to leave it.

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Feb 07, 2009 Carmaletta Hilton rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I didn't care for this one nearly as much as those by Carolyn Jessop and Flora Mae Jessop. When I first started this book, I had high expectations. Learning that Elissa's father was not born and raised in the FLDS was intriguing and drew me in. How do two intelligent people (Mr. Wall and his first wife) find themselves conned by this cult of fundamentalism? I would have preferred to hear his story, if anyone could ever get him or his wife, Audrey, to talk. After all he'd been through, why didn't...more I didn't care for this one nearly as much as those by Carolyn Jessop and Flora Mae Jessop. When I first started this book, I had high expectations. Learning that Elissa's father was not born and raised in the FLDS was intriguing and drew me in. How do two intelligent people (Mr. Wall and his first wife) find themselves conned by this cult of fundamentalism? I would have preferred to hear his story, if anyone could ever get him or his wife, Audrey, to talk. After all he'd been through, why didn't he leave?

Unfortunately, the story I was given was a lot less interesting, and by the end, I was forcing myself to finish the book. The hardest part was reminding myself that she was a child at the time, and that at heart, despite her relationship with Lamont and her children, Elissa Wall is still a child who does not take responsibility for her actions.

Now, I fully admit that everything that happened to her was wrong. There is no question of that, and I am very glad that a jury found Warren Jeffs guilty. I wish the community itself had been deemed just as guilty, but how can one convict an entire community? Everyone there knew that it was wrong, including members of Elissa's family, but no one did anything. They were many against one man, and while I understand that they were brainwashed, there were many who even Elissa admits knew that this was wrong. Hardly any of them, however, are condemned by her.

I didn't like the way that she kept saying how she had "tried" with Allen in her marriage. Perhaps as a child she thought she was trying, but now, as an adult, she should be able to admit that she didn't try. It was wrong and dirty, and so no, she did not make an attempt to make that horrible marriage work. I would respect her more, now, if she'd just said, "Look, I hated it, and I didn't try." Because let's face it, never being home is not trying. I also dislike the way she kept saying how she didn't want to abandon her mom and her sisters, how they "needed" her and she couldn't just leave them. I didn't see very many instances where she talked about doing that much for them, other than giving them money every now and again. Mostly, they were just there for her to use when she didn't want to be home with Allen. And, in the end, she didn't even "leave" the FLDS. She just kept becoming more and more "rebellious" until they finally just kicked her out.

I am not condemning any of Elissa Wall's actions during these years in the FLDS and in this arranged marriage. I just don't agree with the way she talks about them now, years later, as an adult. I expected a lot more than a child's repetitive story peppered with words that she would have never known. The co-author on this did not do a very good job at making me care about Elissa Wall's story. Perhaps if I heard this directly from Elissa, I would feel differently. With the telling of it in this book, however, I just didn't care. This was nowhere near as engaging at the other polygamy books that I had read, and as I said in the beginning of this, I would have preferred to hear the story of her father and his first wife.(less)

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Jun 17, 2008 Lara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-harper-collins

I was predisposed to enjoy the book, considering that I’m pretty fascinated by fundamentalist Mormons. I can’t remember if this fascination started with Big Love or if it started with Under the Banner of Heaven. In fact, it might be more appropriate to say I’m pretty fascinated with extremists of any kind, really. (Which brings me to a tangent: did y’all ever see that BBC show where the host basically visited extremists and tried to understand why they believed the things that they believed? He...more

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Sep 02, 2008 Cam added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008

I wanted to read this book after reading Carolyn Jessop's book on the same topic- living in polygamy. I think this adds more credit to Carolyn's account. I was wrapped up in this story and found myself crying when the verdict was read against Warren Jeffs. This girl has overcome a lot of challenges, and once again I've realized how blessed I am to enjoy so many freedoms.

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Dec 30, 2008 Eva Leger rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone interested in polygamy, anyone interested in non-fiction in general

Recommended to Eva by: found at Wal-Mart

Shelves: b-non-fiction, cults-polygamy-religon, autos-bios-memoirs

Astonishing. I think, for me, this was even more astonishing than Carolyn Jessups book Escape which was my entrance into the polygamy. I knew only the definition of the word before reading Escape and have since been gathering almost everything I can find on the subject.
This was a real quick book- mainly because you really can't put it down. The emotion is so raw it's scary. I found myself feeling so many different things at so many different points in her life story. One thing I liked a lot is...more Astonishing. I think, for me, this was even more astonishing than Carolyn Jessups book Escape which was my entrance into the polygamy. I knew only the definition of the word before reading Escape and have since been gathering almost everything I can find on the subject.
This was a real quick book- mainly because you really can't put it down. The emotion is so raw it's scary. I found myself feeling so many different things at so many different points in her life story. One thing I liked a lot is that the reader gets two points of view from Mrs. Wall, one from her childhood and one from her "adult" life. I use that term sparingly since she was technically a grown-up in the FLDS at age 14. She didn't leave the group until years later so we do see a much desired difference in her ways. Adding what happened with the court case, as of the time of writing was nice also for anyone who didn't follow the court proceedings like myself.
This is definitely in the top five books I've read this year- I was engaged the whole time and didn't find one page that I wasn't thinking, thinking, thinking.
It scares me to no end to think this is still happening and that there are still women and young children trapped in this type of situation.
Eliss Wall did an excellent job of sharing with her readers why us "normal" people have such a hard time understanding FLDS people. Before reading this and Escape I probably would have been one of the ones saying, "Just walk away. Leave. Get out." Now I realize it's not that easy. These people are taught that "normal" people are evil and will go to hell. They're taught that we will hurt them and take away from them when nothing is further than the truth.
I truly hope the rest of Mrs. Walls life is exactly the opposite of the beginning of her life in terms of pain and happiness. I also hope she can continue to help the young girls and women who are still stuck in the mentality that Warren Jeffs continued long after Joseph Smith and his father, Rulon Jeffs died.

(less)

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Nov 08, 2008 Cody rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion

At first I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book. It is the story of a young girl growing up in the polygamous FLDS faith. Married at age 14 under duress she suffered much as a very young and naive bride. She eventually left the marriage and was instrumental in getting Warren Jeffs, the then prophet, sent to prison.

I have to admit that the more I read the more I enjoyed learning about her perspectives concerning the FLDS. I was appalled at the control that Warren Jeffs asserted over the...more

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Aug 06, 2008 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A quick read, frustrating on many levels. Ms. Wall does a good job of illustrating the apparently poisonous influence of Warren Jeffs on her entire community. Whether one approves of this social/religous structure or not, it seems clear that all it takes is one bad leader to bring it all down. One of the more pragmatic reasons not to get involved in something like this. In terms of her own family and her own choices, I got the sense there was more nuance to it than made the book.

Some may be sho...more

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Jul 06, 2008 Beth Young rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wanted to read this so I could find out for myself what the FLDS church believed. I thought that they would have some similar beliefs with the LDS church of which I belong. There are really none except that they belive in The Book of Mormon. But, their interpretation of The Book of Mormon is so different than that of the LDS religion. The biggest difference is that the LDS religion is very pro-family and we are to supposed to support and love our families through all trials that we go through....more

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Nov 20, 2008 Monlka808 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is fascinating to me that Warren actually got away with everything this book talks about. It scares me and makes me realize how there really are 'cult like' religions. Very glad I wasn't born into a family like this one! It's sickening what these young girls had to experience, and by someone they are supposed to trust.

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Feb 26, 2009 Indra rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An extremely gripping read...more for the story than the writing. I could not help but like the narrator, who risked a great deal to come forward to try to help others as well as herself. She does a good job explaining the beliefs she was raised with and her story illustrates just what a hold the FLDS church has on many of its believers. Elissa Wall has a lot of strength, grace, and dignity...when she says she still cares about her loved ones and understands their internal struggles--even though...more

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Feb 27, 2009 Christina Stind rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, biography, non-fiction, library

The power of this book is in the story. And the story is so powerful that even though the various spelling mistakes throughout this book bothers me - they don't really matter.
The story is so powerful, so almost unbelievable. Throughout the book I was in shock that this can actually take place in the States, in a civilised society. I'm amazed that men can still dominate women and children in this way today.
The book follows Elissa Wall's life from childhood untill she breaks out of the sect in her...more The power of this book is in the story. And the story is so powerful that even though the various spelling mistakes throughout this book bothers me - they don't really matter.
The story is so powerful, so almost unbelievable. Throughout the book I was in shock that this can actually take place in the States, in a civilised society. I'm amazed that men can still dominate women and children in this way today.
The book follows Elissa Wall's life from childhood untill she breaks out of the sect in her late teens and finds love - and it follows the trial against Warren Jeffs.
It details how life was (is?) in this sect - how women could only get into heaven if their husbands were satisfied with them and how women were basically just a property, waiting to be told where to be placed by the prophet who controlled who married who and also had the power to separate husband and wife and children if he chose so.
Girls are expected to just 'keep sweet' - learn to be obedient and how to be a good wife. The biggest thing in their lives is when they are told who they are to marry and then get married and have children. For Elissa, this happened at the tender age of 14 - even though she fought her hardest to avoid being married in the first place, and being married to the man the prophet has chosen for her secondly.
She got married, she got abused and raped - and nobody cared, even when she begged for help.
One of the thing that really got to me was how her mother time and time again chose her religion and the prophet's words over her children. Her (underage) sons are shipped away and not welcome, her daughters are married away without a say - and she does nothing but keeps sweet like a good wife should. She wants to secure her place in heaven - but she does so at the cost of her children, and as a new mother I have a hard time understanding that.
The book is so very interesting - and sadly, very relevant. I was blown away almost all the way throughout the book and I still wonder how it's possible to keep people away from other people, media, internet etc and use their salvation as a way to control them and keep them quiet.(less)

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Sep 12, 2008 BookActivist rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Recommended to BookActivist by: Jeannie Howard

This was an amazing book. It was very well written and I began to care deeply for this poor girl. It striked my interest in this subject and upset me deeply that our government and law enforcement is allowing this to happen.

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Jan 06, 2009 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction-not-politcs

Just another example of brainwashing in the name of God.

Ever since we visited Salt Lake City and saw the Mormon temple, I wanted to know about the people who still practiced polygamy. They don't in the conventional Mormon religion, however, the author of this book was born into an extremist sect that not only practices polygamy, but marries children off to 80 year old men.

The author was forced to get married to a "Forrest Gump" type without the sincerity and sweetness. He bullied her as a child...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Jennifer Peas rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Actually a great, quick read. I'm always fascinated by fundamentalist experiences...narrated from the point of who have escape the clutches of it. Really interesting background information both of the author's familial history and of the FLDS'. Clearly she speaks with great compassion (for those who deserved it) as well as grace and love. What a struggle she overcame.

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May 10, 2010 Nona rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

Evil results when the Word of God is warped to fit ones perverted beliefs.
This is the life story of a young woman growing up in a FLDS community, her forced marriage to a cousin at the age of 14 and her journey to break free of Warren Jeffs.

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Mar 30, 2012 Alli Howard rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this was an encouraging book of one girls survival. I was in shock that this was happening within the past 10 years..I admire Elissa's courage and hope

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Jan 02, 2009 Ingrid Lola rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I greatly admire and respect Elissa Wall, but not her book... obviously written with the help of an amateur journalist. Yes, the story SEEMED interesting enough for me to pay $25, but wasn't worth it in the least. I guess it could be a good beach read... but check it out of the library, or at least wait for the paperback. This book is no work of art, and certainly wasn't life changing. The writing was laugh out loud terrible. I guess I have to give it to Elissa, though--she certainly had a tough...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir-biography, nonfiction, religion

My Review: As a firm believer in non-belief, I feel somewhat obligated to begin my review with a brief disclaimer. Although Catholicism runs in my family, I have spent many years diligently and purposefully distancing myself from fundamental religion. That said, neutrality is not something that comes easily to me in relation to these issues and I must admit that my mind was far from open when I picked this book off the shelf. Unsurprisingly, this terrifying story has not eased my anti-organized-...more

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Sep 23, 2011 Mel B. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a gripping and disturbing account of a girl who was forced into marriage in the FLDS, a splinter of the Mormon church not acknowledged by them. While the protagonist, Elissa, was not forced into a polygamist marriage as many of her relatives were, it was still disturbing to read, because of her age, and the abuse presented to her by her husband. [return][return]Quite interesting if you'd like to read a first-hand account of someone who lived as a polygamist Mormon and managed to get out...more

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Feb 09, 2009 jenna nims rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-for-me

i don't really know what i thought of this book - i listened to the whole thing and i do know that the whininess of the narrators voice irritated me and i had to keep telling myself that it is a sad story but found that i kept wanting her to shut up and stop whining! i would have liked more background into the FLDS since I know nothing, I would have liked the author to show more spine - though she was in a way - since she left her marriage eventually, did things behind the groups back etc but th...more

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Mar 27, 2013 laurenpie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fascinating, shocking, sad and enraging!

Like many other reviewers here, I was on a roll after reading a few autobiographies from earlier in this same cult's history, Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife (poor writing but fascinating subject; author born around 1937) and Favorite Wife: Escape from Polygamy (quite good; author born around 1954 but simultaneously married to the older, first author's husband).

Now, of course I had previously heard of Jeffs and this cult. Like many others,...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Josi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a fascinating book to read and I really appreciated the depth she used to tell not only her story of being raised in a Polygamous Sect, but also being a key in bringing to light the things that were happening there. I was surprised to learn that she grew up, in �Salt Lake, just a few blocks from me--she described places that I knew and I'm surprised I never knew that she and her family was there. I liked that the story remained chronological, without too much jumping back and forth, and...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Wanda rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the story of Elissa Wall who was born into the FLDS - a radically fundamental offshoot of Mormonism, more akin to a cult than anything else. She describes the tensions of living with multiple "mothers" and siblings. At age 14 Elissa finds herself in an abusive arranged marriage and she eventually makes her way out of this sect. She is the primary witness against the "prophet" - a nut case by the name of Warren Jeff, who is sentenced to prison by the state of Utah. His followers still thi...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Karen Simental rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Stolen Innocence is the autobiography of Elissa Wall, a former FLDS member who managed to break free from the religion. Elissa was born into the FLDS. Her mother – who birthed 18 children - was the second of three wives. All three were “assigned” to Mr. Wall, and it led to a strained home life. After much shuffling, Sharon Wall and all her birth children were removed from the Wall residence. After staying with relatives, the prophet “assigned” them to a new man, Fred Jessop. He was an elder in t...more Stolen Innocence is the autobiography of Elissa Wall, a former FLDS member who managed to break free from the religion. Elissa was born into the FLDS. Her mother – who birthed 18 children - was the second of three wives. All three were “assigned” to Mr. Wall, and it led to a strained home life. After much shuffling, Sharon Wall and all her birth children were removed from the Wall residence. After staying with relatives, the prophet “assigned” them to a new man, Fred Jessop. He was an elder in the FLDS community, and was to be Elissa’s new father. She was not allowed any contact with her biological father.

The FLDS operated much like a cult. Television and pop music were banned. Clothing was restricted to heavy prairie-style dresses that covered clavicle to ankle, even in the summer. For a brief time, children were allowed to attend public school. But when prophet Rulon Jeffs fell ill, and his son Warren took over, things became even stricter. Children were forbidden to attend public school. Their education came from church elders, was completely based in religious teachings, and often children were pulled from school by the time they reached their teen years.

Throughout her childhood, many of Elissa’s siblings were either “married” off, shipped off to “behavioral camps,” or simply excommunicated. But the trauma doesn’t end there for Elissa. At age 14, she is assigned to “marry” Allen, her first cousin, a man of 18 who was quite a bully to Elissa in their childhood. Despite constant pleas for help – from church elders, from her new father Fred, from her mother, from her older siblings – no one would allow her to postpone her “marriage.” The marriage is not a legal one; the FLDS members marry in secret across the Nevada border to avoid the attention of the authorities.

Elissa, too young and unworldly to understand her situation, is miserable. Allen rapes her nightly, insisting that it is her duty as a good FLDS wife to submit to his every desire. Having had no education on the subject, Elissa doesn’t have words to describe what is happening to her. That doesn’t stop her from reaching out for help – but none was forthcoming.(less)

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Jan 04, 2012 Wendy Lynn Brion rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this in a matter of days and couldn't put it down. The reason I gave it only four stars though, is, I really want to know what else has happened since...has Elissa seen her mother and sisters since the book was published? Also, some information I thought would be helpful...did she complete her education after leaving FLDS? She dreamed of becoming a nurse, did she do that?

Otherwise, the book was very good. For the most part it is a straight narrative and she points out the places where she...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Jeana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I bought this book in 2009 and it has sat on my shelf ever since. I'm not sure if I just wasn't ready to read it or if I wasn't interested at the time. I should have read it sooner. I remember hearing about Warren Jeffs and all that was happening in the FLDS church however it was not something I followed. In my own selfish world, I didn't have time to worry about what was happening in fundamentalist groups.

Elissa Wall tells her story with clarity and innocence. She describes a relatively happy...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Alvi Harahap rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ellissa Wall was brought up in the bosom of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints and at fourteen was forced to marry her older first cousin, and repeatedly raped throughout her 3 year marriage. This is Elissa's story. But it's also a glimpse into the workings of a way of life that many of us would find chilling, yet was perfectly normal for Elissa and her many siblings. We learn how plural marriages work (and at times may even work well for the people who have learned nothing else but this way o...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Marlene Rohr rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

The true story account of a former member of the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints) has left me in shock and bewilderment. I was shocked to discover that the practice of polygamy in the name of “freedom of religion” is really a disguise for child molestation. I was bewildered to discover that although there are laws against these acts in the USA and in Canada; that somehow the authorities are either looking the other way or condoning these atrocities by their inaction. The women and childre...more

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“We were taught to always put on a good face, even when things are going poorly. We were told to “keep sweet,” an admonition to be compliant and pleasant no matter the circumstance. Since we couldn’t reveal our angry words and feelings, they got bottled up inside, and often there was no communication at all.” — 2 people liked it

“The fear of displeasing God and failing our religious responsibilities is so great that it pushes most members to do anything for the priesthood. For many women, this means they must sacrifice their own desires, needs, and feelings to conform to those of their husband and their religious beliefs.” — 2 people liked it

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