Destroying Their God: How I Fought My Evil Half-Brother to Save My Children

by Wallace Jeffs, Shauna Packer, Sherry Taylor

In 1991, Wallace Jeffs was coerced to become an FLDS polygamist.

In 2011, Wallace rebelled against the sect, and the FBI helped him reclaim his kidnapped children.

Then an "accident" put Wallace into a forty-five-day coma.

Growing up as half-brother to future Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saint prophet Warren Jeffs, Wallace tried to follow FLDS teachings. After he built a successful business, the church required him to marry a second wife. Wallace fathered twenty children, but he never felt comfortable with polygamy or many other FLDS beliefs.

As his prophet-brother increasingly manipulated him, Wallace started hearing about FLDS atrocities. On the day the FBI arrested Warren Jeffs for child rape, the prophet was en route to reclaim Wallace's second wife for himself. Wallace defied the prophet and soon ended up in a coma. Though Wallace feared FLDS sabotage caused his car crash, he kept fighting the sect.

With today's movement against male abusers, Wallace's story reminds us that power and position don't corrupt all men. In 2018, Wallace found resolution by marrying an LDS woman in the Salt Lake Temple. At the same time, he renews our concern for the thousands who still live under FLDS control, including some of Wallace's own children.

Genres: Cults, Nonfiction, Religion, Biography Memoir, Memoir

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2018

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raised in the polygamist FLDS sect, the author Wallace Jeffs and half-brother of the disgraced incarcerated prophet of the sect Warren Jeffs tells his incredible shocking story in “Destroying Their God: How I Fought My Evil Half Brother To Save My Children”. Most of these true stories are told by women from a maternal perspective. Jeffs account offers a rare fascinating insider look of the church leadership and hierarchy from a male perspective, and how Jeffs contacted the FBI and began his battle against his brother and the FLDS church in 2012.

Wallace’s own mother (Sharon) was a registered nurse; her income was greatly needed to support her husband’s Rulon Jeffs increasing number of polygamist wives and children. Wallace was raised by his aunt “Mother Marilyn” (who was his mother’s sister). Marilyn, it seemed was an obnoxious self-important narcissist who believed only her children were of the “chosen seed”. Warren was raised in spoiled entitlement fostered by both parents. Warren was a liar and bully who constantly tattled on his younger siblings and put them in danger with his cowardice, poor example and terrible leadership. Warren’s youthful hero was Adolf Hitler; he learned German and spoke the language when possible. All of Warren’s misdeeds, glaring problems and fondness for groping young girls was never addressed, and he could do no wrong according to both parents. It’s not surprising Warren seemed to turn into a human monster, his behavior worsened over time as be became ego driven, irrational and fanatical. These traits were particularly noticeable after he assumed the role of the prophet in the FLDS sect.
It was difficult to understand why the author remained in this bizarre FLDS cult. He acknowledged from childhood on, his upbringing had been miserable and chaotic. The relationship with his parents and siblings had been detached, unmemorable and poor. As a teen, Wallace determined early he did not want to raise his future family in the FLDS faith. As a successful adult businessman, he had numerous opportunities and resources to leave and establish himself and his large family in the secular community, yet he chose not to do so. The author seemed to deflect and blame his poor decisions and misfortune on other people. Against his own rationale, he married his half niece and had many children with her. He also turned his back on his half-sister when she begged him for help related to her alcohol/substance abuse issues. According to the author, he was a multi-millionaire at the time, and could have easily afforded treatment for her in a rehab facility. Instead, he dropped her off at a homeless shelter.

By the time of Wallace’s terrible car accident in George Utah on October 23, 2011, that left him hospitalized for two months-- the doctors in the emergency room gave him a 5% chance of survival. There was no investigative police report or proof that Wallace's car had been criminally tampered with before the accident. Even with notes, it was challenging to follow the ever changing events, situations and people involved in the storyline, or fully understand the decisions and choices of the author. In addition, this book might be helpful in future study and research of cult influence and activity. 3* GOOD. **With many thanks to Zarahemla Books via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.

[Erik McManus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was WILD. The FLDS definitely feels like a cult to me with everything that goes on within that sect and it was very interesting to get the perspective of a former FLDS member. I can only imagine what it would be like to grow up this way thinking that all of the stuff happening here is normal to then find out that it is really not okay.

The book deals with a lot of triggering content and I honestly couldn’t believe that all of this could happen but it did and its awful. Some of that content includes:

Grooming
Rape
Gaslighting
Pedophelia
Child Abuse
Incest

It is really amazing to see the lengths that someone will go to hide the truth of a situation. I couldn’t believe that this actually happened until I looked it up.

The amount of blind faith people have in a single person is kind of scary. I feel like I would know that something was off about this “prophet” that was leading the group if I was in the situation but I’m not taking into account the fact that I grew up with outside influences and wasn’t contained to this one way of living.

If you want to learn more about the FLDS from an insider’s perspective then this would be a good book to read. Just remember that there is a lot of content that could be triggering.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Will need more time to digest what I've just read ... but ... wow! I have previously read Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer so I have some knowledge of the FLDS but this inside, very subjective view was brutal and shocking.
The book is written from the point of view of Wallace Jeffs, half brother to the current FLDS prophet (and convicted child sex offender) Warren Jeffs, son of the previous FLDS prophet Rulon Jeffs, and tells his story from childhood and teenage years, growing up in a household of numerous 'mothers' and siblings, through to adulthood, his plural marriages, and his final banishment from the 'Church'. It is a deeply personal account of life within the confines of the FLDS theocracy and the constant conflict individuals experience as they grapple with a leader whose lust for power and control seemingly knows no bounds.
At times I couldn't believe what I was reading, and it begged me to wonder if some things had been 'sensationalised' for publicity purposes, but whilst there are no sources cited in the book to verify what was written, a simple Google search was all that was required to gather relevant evidence.
It is clear that Warren Jeffs is evil beyond measure and is more than deserving of his life in prison sentence but what I simply don't understand, even more so after reading this book, is the level of blind obedience given to him by his followers. How is one man able to dominate such a large group of people and basically bend their lives to his will? What is it about him that makes fathers hand over their pre-teen daughters to much older men in marriage? And how is he still able to exert this power and control from behind bars?
This book certainly raised more questions for me than it answered but I commend the bravery and courage displayed by Wallace in never giving up on his children whilst seeking to expose the FLDS for what it truly is, a despotic, autocratic regime hiding in plain sight in modern day America.
This book will stay with me for a long time and I am thankful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

[Read-n-Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destroying Their God is a very informative book by the author Wallace Jeffs, brother of so called FLDS prophet. In his book you will find out much of what goes on in this religion, by his experience. I have heard and read some of the religion, but I still hadn’t learned it all. By itself alone, it is a religion I wouldn’t trust as far as I could throw it, but then, you learn about Warren Jeffs, the authors brother . I haven’t read anything this horrible in a while that is real and true. And I remember when all this went down. I didn’t know or learn about it all, though. In this book the brother tells it all. All about his brother and all the terrible things he did. And that’s all I’ll say because I want , if you read the book itself, to learn on your own what was actually done by this so called prophet. Don’t be lead astray people. Would I recommend this book? Yes, to adults, because they need to know what’s going on in this religion, so they will not be lead astray by those who obviously doesn’t know the voice of God and especially, by a man, only a man, who was sick and insane by power that he gave to himself and that others gave him, when it was clear that they probably shouldn’t have. It’s a really great book for those who are interested in learning about different religions and especially, how many of them are false.
A copy of this book was given to me through Net Galley and publishers Zarahemla Books (IBPA), for my honest review. Thank you to them both for the opportunity. #DestroyingTheirGod #NetGalley

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Wallace Jeffs is the half-brother of convicted pedophile and leader of the FLDS church Warren Jeffs. Mr. Jeffs shares his story of what it was like growing up with Warren, his father Rulon who served as “the prophet” of the church, a houseful of siblings and sister wives.


Jeffs offers an insider perspective from the male point of view. I have read a number of books on the FLDS community from women who have managed to escape. I was intrigued to read what a man had to say about polygamy, the various practices of the church and their leaders.



This book was well written and very enlightening. I learned a great deal about the FLDS church, their community of believers and the mind control that contributes to almost total obedience to their prophet. A truly frightening look at the horror of mind control experienced within a cult.


I feel like there could have been easily another 100 pages or more added to the book to offer more details. Much of the book is spent in the early years of the author’s life and his eventual struggle with polygamy. I wish more details were included about his leaving the church and struggle to rescue his wives and children. Many details were left out about Jeffs children and their current status.

I am giving this book a 3-star rating due to the many missing pieces of the story.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Kathryn at Book Ink Reivews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A copy of this review can be found at Book Ink Reviews.

Thank you, publicist Christopher Bigelow, for the request to read and review a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Reading more like an exclusive sit down interview over dinner, Destroying Their God is a look into the cult life of the Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints Church (FLDS)--not to be confused with the recognized religion LDS Church.

Wallace Jeffs is a half-brother to the infamous Warren Jeffs--the man imprisoned for life because of his pedophilia leanings in both deed and photography. In the FLDS church, polygamy is encouraged and as you find out details of everyday living and rules passed on by the false prophet, you find your eyebrows raised at how anyone could fall victim to this scheme. But so many did, and unfortunately, so many still do. It is the modern-day cult mindset and they have branches in Canada, Utah, Colorado, Texas, and South Dakota.

Warren Jeffs is an evil man, publically found guilty of raping his 12-year-old child bride. Destroying Their God  is the intimate look into the life Warren lead as a child and how he rose to power in a remote city in Utah. At its core, it is the story of one man's survival and his fight to regain his 20 children from the clutches of evil.

[Sam Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary:

This is the true-life story of Wallace Jeffs, growing up in a FLDS [Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints] environment in Utah. His father became the Prophet of this sect and then, upon his death, his half-brother Warren, later convicted of paedophilia.

Read More Book Reviews on my blog It's Good To Read

Main Characters:
Wallace Jeffs: The narrator of the book. A self-confessed loner, he is the 30th child of polygamist Rulon Jeffs, who would go on to become the prophet or leader of the FLDS.

Rulon Jeffs: Initially portrayed as a man of immense power (he was 6’4” and 280 pounds at one stage), a man whose word was law amongst his 60+ wives and numerous children, and more widely in the sect that he ruled.

Warren Jeffs: The “golden child”, the author writes that it was expected he would achieve great things in the Church, and was groomed for leadership, and combined with his mother Marilyn’s Machiavellian plotting obtained the leadership role after Rulon’s death.

Minor Characters:
Sarah (author’s biological mother): She had two children by Rulon, one of whom was to die a drug-raddled “coke whore”. “Mother” tried her best, but was subsumed and overwhelmed by the other powerful personalities, the politics and petty jealousies arising from the Law of Sarah, where wives share the husband, and all are forced to live under the same roof.

Valerie: The author’s full sister, who suffered both physically and mentally as a child and young teen, which consequences played out in her later life.

Plot:
The aim of the author is a tell-all of the polygamist FLDS society, from his brainwashed youth to his fear as a grown man of being cast out of his church.

The author tells of his growing up in a crowded house with his mother and clearly-deranged aunt Marilyn, and absent father, of always being  teased as “plyg kid” when at school, and the fights and scrapes he had to defend himself. For example, he was completely humiliated in a class show-and-tell, when he couldn’t tell his classmates anything about his father.

He and his sister were always outsiders. They were poor (buying hand-me-downs from their community thrift store), and where split-pea soup was a luxury meal.

In 1969, Rulon moved all his wives and their families (8 women and 50 children) into a massive house, and then the real battles began.

As the novel progresses, we as outsiders see the brainwashing of the congregation, and ridiculous pronouncements that were taken by them as articles of faith. We also track the author as he grows from a scrawny child to a man, getting married, and becoming extremely wealthy through shrewd business investments and sheer hard work.

Doubts & Conflicts:
We also see him having internal doubts and conflicts about the FLDS and its teachings, especially when they seem to be tailored to suit the older males, and those already in positions of power and influence.

The congregation at large just seemed to accept and comply with these “revelations”, whereas as an outsider looking in (if they allowed one – they didn’t!) it is a farcical series of events, almost risible if the consequences weren’t so horrific.

It must be remembered that many of these men were seriously successful business people, presumably hard-nosed and pragmatic, but lost all rational thought and perspective and acted like sheep in matters of faith. Even after 2004 passed, and the Earth did not explode as was prophesised, they believed.

Crucially, the author does nothing about this for years, and even betrays some he would have considered friends (e.g. the bishop Winston Blackmore). This shows the level of fear the man was operating under. Indeed, he had been obliged to take a second wife against his wishes, who was the daughter of his half-sister.

While he claims to have noticed Warren’s predilection for young girls at an early stage, he again did nothing about it. Horrendous working conditions cause serious injuries and death on the YFZ (Yearning For Zion) ranch in Texas, but people believe it is their own fault.

He has multiple stories about wives and children being “gathered up” and “re-assigned” to another man (e.g. to become his eleventh wife), but again stands idly by and lets it happen. Such an event also happens to the author.

Warren Takes Power:
When Rulon dies, Warren moves and eventually gains control of the Church. There are defections and castings-out etc., and the Church goes into siege mentality mode. Guards are posted on the doors and around the various properties, and legal shenanigans occur to make what was public community property, private.

The author then details the sexual extremes that Warren took his wives to, which eventually led to his arrest and imprisonment for paedophilia. He asserts he is not writing this book to “get back” at Warren for kicking him out of the FLDS, but in response to and in anger about the scandals and his bizarre behaviour.

The book goes on then to detail more acceptances and rejections into and out of the Church. From 2006 to 2012, in spite of all the stories and Warren being imprisoned, etc., he still believed in the FLDS and in Warren himself, only realising the truth when he saw the taped confession. He details months and years of surveillance and counter-surveillance, and court cases to get his children back.

Accident:
The novel ends nearly where it started, by discussing the authors lucky escape from a 2011 car crash, one he believes was orchestrated by his half-brother Warren, who wants him silenced. He was months getting back to full health. Over the succeeding years some of his children left FLDS, and he now enjoys some semblance of a life with them. He also re-married in 2018.

What I Liked:
- The author was honest in his writing
- I learnt about a sect I had had no previous knowledge of (It is a fundamentalist branch of the Mormons)
- It gave the male version of what it’s like to leave a controlling sect – normally it is just the female stories we hear

What I Didn’t Like:
- Some things didn’t quite make sense to me – e.g. how they were always hungry, but were willing to throw away overripe food which they collected weekly. The Irish ate grass in the 1845 famine, Ukrainians ate tree bark in their famine of 1933.
- Parts of the story were too detailed to really allow a flowing narrative. I would suggest that the author tighten up on some of the anecdotes. He clearly shows how minds were manipulated, through control of access to media, strict rules etc., but sometimes it reaches overkill.

Overall:
This is an interesting book. I think it is a little self-serving, because no matter how much he berates the FLDS he is willing to go back to it, support it financially, long after he must realise any hope of getting his children back is gone.

He does portray himself as the victim, as indeed he was and is, however he is somewhat complicit in his own victimhood.

From being a loner early on, he later enjoyed the fruits of his early labours, a particular highlight is being called “uncle”, a title of respect in the FLDS. However, this soured when the tide and Warren turned against him.

While I do feel sympathy for him and what he went through (and is still living with), by saying nothing he allowed others to suffer the same or similar fates. “For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing”. Also, karma is a bitch.

That said, I think it is an important read, and an important book to have in the efforts to expose these shameful practices. The FLDS and sects like it are still flourishing, and very popular, so it is important to have a strong spotlight put on them and their practices. In this era of fake news, eye-witness accounts become ever more valuable.

Acknowledgements:

I received a free copy of this book from the author, in return for an honest review.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

One man’s journey to escape a dangerous religious group he was born and raised in and the harrowing experience of trying to save his own children in the process comes to life in former FLDS member Wallace Jeff’s novel, Destroying Their God. The book, (written also by Shauna Packer and Sherry Taylor), shows the terrifying process of being indoctrinated into a harmful doomsday religion and how despite a lifetime of indoctrination he managed to escape the group, but not without both physical and emotional scars. Here’s the official synopsis:

In 1991, Wallace Jeffs was coerced to become an FLDS polygamist. 

In 2011, Wallace rebelled against the sect, and the FBI helped him reclaim his kidnapped children.

Then an "accident" put Wallace into a forty-five-day coma. 

Growing up as half-brother to future Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saint prophet Warren Jeffs, Wallace tried to follow FLDS teachings. After he built a successful business, the church required him to marry a second wife. Wallace fathered twenty children, but he never felt comfortable with polygamy or many other FLDS beliefs.

As his prophet-brother increasingly manipulated him, Wallace started hearing about FLDS atrocities. On the day the FBI arrested Warren Jeffs for child rape, the prophet was en route to reclaim Wallace's second wife for himself. Wallace defied the prophet and soon ended up in a coma. Though Wallace feared FLDS sabotage caused his car crash, he kept fighting the sect.

With today's movement against male abusers, Wallace's story reminds us that power and position don't corrupt all men. In 2018, Wallace found resolution by marrying an LDS woman in the Salt Lake Temple. At the same time, he renews our concern for the thousands who still live under FLDS control, including some of Wallace's own children. 

This is one of the most tragic, heartbreaking yet important reads of 2018. This is the kind of story people can connect with on multiple levels. For me, I’ve always been angry about all of the innocent people who’s lives are destroyed by religious cults and curious how the indoctrination process claims so many lives. As a non-religious person, I was always curious how people could get so ingrained into a religion’s policies no matter how strange or ridiculous they seemed to the rest of the world. Thanks to the incredible bravery of Wallace Jeffs defying his brother and the church he spent a lifetime serving, the world at large can garner a far better understanding of indoctrination as a whole.

The book goes into incredible and tragic detail on the religion and it’s actions. From the strange laws that dictated their appearance and interactions with the rest of the world, to the inner workings of polygamy and the apocalyptic beliefs that drove people to do or allow unspeakable things to occur. The book also allows readers to get better insight into the behavior and mindset of the sick religious leader who is deemed “prophet” in this religion, and that’s Warren Jeffs. Wallace and this incredible writing team showcase the rise of this criminal, whom his brother describes as “the most evil person to walk the earth”. From his early years being groomed to be the religion’s poster boy, to his sick pleasures and the mind games he played with the followers, including his own brother.

Overall this was an amazing book to read. Definitely one of the best books of 2018, Wallace Jeffs, Shauna Packer and Sherry Taylor have brought to life an emotional, heartbreaking and yet vital tale of escaping a toxic environment. You also get to see how he learns how to integrate himself into society years later than most and the physical and emotional struggle of one father who’s love for his children gave him the strength to fight the only group he’d called family to save his kids. This is a must read book, so be sure to grab your copy in eBook, audiobook or paperback formats on June 6th, 2018!

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wallace Jeffs, half brother of Warren Jeffs, tells his story of growing up in the FLDS church. His time in the church corresponds with Warren's rise within, and eventual taking over, all of which leads to the church becoming more extreme and criminal. Even though Warren Jeffs is in prison for life, he still has control over the FLDS people.

I think Wallace's story is important for people to know in that he has witnessed and experienced so many of the atrocities of the FLDS church first hand. His position as a former member can help the general public as well as current FLDS members have enough insight into what happens there to hopefully, one day, dismantle the church altogether, at least in its current state.

That being said, I don't think the general public, or people like me at least, are the intended audience of this book in its current iteration. A lot of background knowledge is needed for this book to be contextualized, and the only reason I have that background knowledge is because I've lived in Utah for over a decade. The average American doesn't know that much about Utah or the religions here, and I think because of that, this book would be difficult to follow and not as interesting.

My takeaway from this book is also probably different than what the authors and publisher intended. Of course I am beyond angry at what happened and continues to happen to people with the FLDS church, particularly women and children, but more than anything, I am left frustrated at the nature of organized religion. This isn't new for me, but watching this story unfold wherein one man after another claims to be the one and only true prophet of god is outrageous, particularly since their rules and interpretations of religious texts change on such whims that their only real purpose is to further control people.

For example, Wallace's dad, the prophet before Warren, decided that the FLDS could not wear red or have anything red, because Jesus would be wearing red when he came back to earth and to have red on earth would be seen as mocking him upon his arrival. This came from a sudden new interpretation of a line of scripture. Of course this isn't a harmful rule, but it sets the precedent for more extreme rules down the road like group sex with the prophet, Warren Jeffs, because that's what god "told" him.

This comes back to my takeaway of the book, which I know may not sit well with some people, so I have decided I won't discuss it here. Instead, I will end on the reiteration that I think the knowledge Wallace has of the FLDS church is very important for people to know, and I sincerely hope, that at a minimum the abuse and manipulation that happens within that church will end as will Warren's control over it.

[Helynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “god” in the title is not a deity, but rather the author’s half-brother Warren Jeffs, the disgraced and now imprisoned former leader of the polygamous FLDS sect that existed in several enclaves in several Rocky Mountain states in recent decades. Wallace’s convoluted and grueling trek out of this milieu is riveting and disturbing, told in a manner straightforward and poignant with the help of authors Shauna Packer and Sherry Taylor. (Wallace was a bright guy and a savvy businessman through much of his life, but he never had more than an elementary school level education). The most troubling question in his story is: Why did it take him so long to decide to get out of this lifestyle for good? Even before Warren Jeffs’s arrest, erstwhile members of this and similar groups were coming forward with horrific tales of oppression and abuse of power—girls as young as 12 forced against their will to marry much-older men, adolescent males (later called “lost boys” in the outside world) expelled from the communities because they were competition for the older men who wanted all the girls, weird sexual rituals, etc.,—all in the name of “religion.” Wallace, who grew up in this community, married two wives, and fathered 20 children, relates his nightmarish experiences in living under the hypocritical and venal leadership of Warren, who virtually set himself up as a god, demanding huge amounts of money from his faithful followers and keeping them subservient while indulging himself in pornography, deviant sexuality, and a lavish lifestyle. It is incredible and chilling how this evil man mesmerized so many people for so long (and even tried to control his followers from prison, with limited success). Wallace describes other kinds of challenges of being a child in an FLDS community: jealousy, hatred, and manipulation among plural wives, the fact that girls are married off at such a young age that they never are trained in basic domestic skills such as nutrition and cooking (the descriptions of the awful food the kids had to eat is really disgusting), and woefully inadequate schooling for the many, many children. Never has the adage “power corrupts” been more true, and never has an inside story about this debauched society been more expedient.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was first approached to review this novel, I wasn't certain about how I would get on but it has completely captured my attention, and I raced through it in less than a day!

Not only a true story, this a humbling tale of a truly decent man indoctrinated from birth to believe in the right of one human to create the rules he must live by. It is a rare insight into the lives of those in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and a riveting read. Wallace Jeffs tried so hard to follow the teachings of the church he loved, even though he didn't always agree with all the instructions handed down. He didn't walk away lightly - in fact, he almost didn't walk at all ever again.

I believe in having a strong respect for other faiths and religions; ever since watching the TV series 'Big Love', the lives of polygamists has fascinated me (not that I would ever want to be one!). This is not a light-hearted novel; rather, it is a serious read full of distasteful events - but not on the part of the author. Once I began reading, this book just swallowed me up, heart and soul. It is thought-provoking in the extreme, and it's certainly not a story I'll forget in a hurry. It would seem the situation is ongoing and that, for the families involved, is a real tragedy. If you have any interest whatsoever in justice being served, this is a novel I fully recommend.

My thanks to Zarahemia Books for providing my copy. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

[Read-n-Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destroying Their God is a very informative book by the author Wallace Jeffs, brother of so called FLDS prophet. In his book you will find out much of what goes on in this religion, by his experience. I have heard and read some of the religion, but I still hadn’t learned it all. By itself alone, it is a religion I wouldn’t trust as far as I could throw it, but then, you learn about Warren Jeffs, the authors brother . I haven’t read anything this horrible in a while that is real and true. And I remember when all this went down. I didn’t know or learn about it all, though. In this book the brother tells it all. All about his brother and all the terrible things he did. And that’s all I’ll say because I want , if you read the book itself, to learn on your own what was actually done by this so called prophet. Don’t be lead astray people. Would I recommend this book? Yes, to adults, because they need to know what’s going on in this religion, so they will not be lead astray by those who obviously doesn’t know the voice of God and especially, by a man, only a man, who was sick and insane by power that he gave to himself and that others gave him, when it was clear that they probably shouldn’t have. It’s a really great book for those who are interested in learning about different religions and especially, how many of them are false.

[Claire Self · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I have given Destroying Their God: How I Fought My Evil Half-Brother to Save My Children by Wallace Jeffs (with Shauna Parker and Sherry Taylor) four out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I hadn’t got round to reading a book about religion before, so when I received this book I was quite skeptical about reading it to see if I would enjoy it. As you can tell by my star rating I really did enjoy it!
This book was told by Wallace Jeffs, the half-brother of Warren Jeffs who is the “prophet” of the FLDS church. I had never heard of FLDS before so I went into this book completely blind and couldn’t believe my eyes as to what I was reading and that this had all happened in real life. It was very interesting to read Wallace Jeff’s story about this religious group and his experience he had for most of his life with them.
Wallace Jeffs is a brave man in my eyes to have written and told his story about the FLDS church and for never giving up on his children. A very informative book, with brutally, raw and true events that take place which can be somewhat disturbing to the reader.
I would recommend this book to everyone to give a go, especially to whom are interested in reading about different religions.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting account of the FLDS and Warren Jeffs' rise to power by his half-brother. It is basically a memoir of the life of Wallace Jeffs, and the experiences he had growing up in a polygamist family, and then becoming a polygamist himself as an adult, before finally losing faith and facing the consequences of leaving the FLDS. Not much is explained about the theology, so it may be more understandable if you have an LDS background, as I do, although most of what is covered in the book has nothing to do with the LDS church or how polygamy was once practiced in the LDS church. However, LDS listeners may be put off by the harsh language and explicit sexual content. The book could have used some more editing - it is confusing in places due to skipping around, but it is an interesting and even entertaining listen. I listened to the Audible version of the book, and the narrator reminds me of a cross between Wil Wheaton and Stephen King (in a good way).

[Monica Bonner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving story

I believe this book took so much courage to write. With all that you hear about the FLDS now, it gave me an understanding as to why people 'just don't leave'. The way a person's faith in God and love for their family is used against them, to totally destroy them, is heartbreaking. Wallace Jeffs allows his emotional and mental torture to be witnessed by everyone that reads this book and that takes more courage than most people have. He does it because he loves his children, he loves the Lord and he loves people, not just the people of his 'faith'. Through all of it, he has found a calling that has allowed him to rise above the evil that he and his family were subjected to...he is not broken... he has not turned his back on those that need help... he is a survivor that creates more survivors!

[Maggi Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, captivating read that offers a unique perspective on a difficult topic. The only other books on the FLDS I've read either are from former female members, or male investigators from outside the sect. This book delves into the experience of a man who was ingrained in church business, lived as a polygamist, and tried to stay on his evil brother's good side, until he inevitably couldn't. The end was a little abrupt, and presented like a story unfinished; I'll be interested to hear more from Wallace Jeffs in the future, regarding his crusade to end the sexual slavery of young girls within his former religion.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow! This book was very interesting and gave a perspective that isn't known to too many people. I feel for Wallace and everything that he had to go through. I can't imagine the pain of not having a close relationship with his family as a little child and then losing on and off his wives and children. I don't know much about this religion and what happened with Warren Jeffs but I do remember hearing bits and pieces. I am glad that Wallace was able to write his story and tell his side of what he believes was right and what was wrong. Props to you Mr. Jeffs.

Received this book as an ARC for my honest review.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't put the book down

I've read several books about the FLDS. This is one of few I have read that was from a man's point of view. At the end of this book I find myself amazed that it took Mr Jeffs so long to see the light. I really appreciated his raw honesty. Brainwashing from birth makes a person's whole life a tangled web of strange truths. He was so enmeshed in the FLDS doctrine. What outsiders see as brainwashing is actually truth to members. It took a lot of courage to go against a lifetime of teaching. Thanks for telling the story

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been interested in polygamy and the mormon religion's history in this respect. I've also heard and read about Warren Jeffs, but this book, written by Warren's brother really gives detail on how a polygamist family works and how controlling the head of the family can be. How can his followers continue to believe what he says and how can they blindly follow every command? This doesn't provide answers, just more questions. But it fascinates me anyway.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way different

I have read numerous accounts about escaping this cult. Unlike the others, this book is from a mans perspective, which offeres an enory different view point of the nastiness that is Warren Jeffs. Like all the others my heart aches for these people. I am not a religious or spiritual person, however, I do pray that soon a kind hearted man shows these people what life is really about.

[Kathy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story of amazing courage and love.

Wallace must be an incredibly strong man to have lost everything he cared about and keep fighting to do the right thing. I read the book in two days. I hated putting it down. It is a gripping story.

[Leslie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Three words.....read this book! I found myself reading it in just two days. Couldn’t put it down, though I tried.

[Jill Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting because it’s one of the only “Inside the FLDS” books written by a man who not only held the priesthood, but is the half-brother of convicted pedophile and empty prophet Warren Jeffs.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tough book to get through , heartbreaking. Warren Jeffs is pure evil.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love FLDS memoirs, but this one was difficult to get through, and for awhile I couldn't pinpoint why, but as I got further into the narrative, I realized it was because the author still wrote as an FLDS man- whenever he mentioned women and children, he seemed to write about them as possessions, pets, not whole ass people. I get that people raised in this cult are expected to adhere to strict gender roles, but this man got out, and it seems important to him that his audience see him as a good and moral person, but I didn't necessarily feel that way as I read this book. I found the writer arrogant about his faith, about his own involvement in the "church" even as he felt uneasy, saw the sexual violence in his own family, and embraced the expected ignorance even when he had full access to media, as a pretty wealthy business man. He says repeatedly how much he lives his kids, but also seems to barely KNOW them outside of their religious beliefs. I don't know...I just found this book kind of like a "Warren Jeffs is horrible"(yes, he's scum), but with a caveat that it's not anyone in the FLDS fault because they don't know better? Especially the author. And that doesn't sit right with me. Writing this book doesn't absolve this man from the years he spent doing that man and that cult's bidding, giving them probably millions of dollars over the decades, and allowing that group continued access to children ripe for brainwashing and abuse, the only genuinely consistent things that always happened in Short Creek. This book mad eme angry versus invoking sympathy, I suspect because this writer still wants to find solace in a twisted faith, still thinks he acted honorably under his privileged circumstances whereas I disagree. Just 2 stars. Reed the memoirs written by former women members instead. They were the true victims, not these men who allowed that whole misogynistic culture to flourish for generations.

[Helena Gravåhs · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was truly bizarre, probably one of the worst FLDS memoirs I’ve read, but well formatted and spelling error free. Wallace Jeff’s has clearly not deconstructed as much from the misogynistic views of the cult as he thinks he has. What kind of person calls his own sister, who he know had been victimized through incest and csa by multiple abusers a ”coke whore”? (P. 107) what kind of person calls a woman who was forced to marry Warren Jeff’s against her will, and who ends up dying from cancer because Warren refused to let her seek medical care ”bitchy” for not keeping sweet enough? (P.175)

And for a book titled Destroying their God: how I fought my evil half-brother to save my children, you would think that more than around 20 pages (8%) would be dedicated to saving his kids from the cult. And you would DEFINITELY think the author wouldn’t sign away his rights to at least 3 of his minor children in exchange for a divorce (that conveniently would allow him to marry his new girlfriend (p.246)).

[Stephanie Stander · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Engrossing Story

Once I started reading this book I just couldn’t put it down. Wallace’s story immediately drew me in and was completely fascinating to read. My heart broke for him again and again as I was reading his story and I was so immersed in his account that I was reluctant to stop reading even for short periods of time. His perspective on the atrocities committed by Warren Jeffs is invaluable and added so much to my understanding of the background of this widely publicized case. The tragic events in this book are gripping, but the strength Wallace shows in going public is enough to restore my faith in humanity.

[Jo Besser · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read this book, since I had read books about Warren Jeff's wives, but not his brother.

I honestly felt sorry for Wallace Jeffs, because he was so brainwashed by the FLDS. I was just so glad when he was starting to realize that there were things that were wrong. I'm glad that he found the LDS and is comfortable there. I'm also so glad that Wallace Jeffs never gave up on getting his family back and protecting the women.

I also thought it was interesting how Wallace Jeffs went into detail about Warren Jeffs being in prison. A lot of the other books about the FLDS never cover that, so I appreciate that Wallace Jeffs did.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Dates Read: 5/21/24-5/23/24

TW: Child abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, grooming, physical abuse, sexual abuse, gaslighting, incest, occult, pedophilia, rape/statutory rape

Another culty book. This book dealt with being in strict polygamist cult from a man’s perspective and shows how life for men can be difficult too. After reading this book. I am so surprised that this cult has not been disbanded and the tactics used by the leaders are perfect examples of brainwashing.

[Edith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

The bravery and determination of Wallace Jeff’s is commendable. I have read several books about the FLDS people. I am grateful that Warren made it out and is helping others escape the persecution of this religion. This book is one of few written about a man’s experience within this cult. The stories by both women and men remain consistent. Bless you Warren for your courage.