Inside The Mysterious Polygamous Sect

It's A Secretive World Of Strict Rules, Improper Relations And Restricted Dress

(CBS)  Until the raid, of the polygamous sect, most Americans had never heard of FLDS, the mysterious sect at the center of this case. There are so many questions about how this society operates, and CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace went in search of some answers.

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It's a secretive world of harsh rules, unsettling relationships and allegations of abuse.

How do women get involved in the sect?

"Most of them are born into it," said Flora Jessup, who escaped from the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints. "[They] don't just join, get born into it. I was born into it."

Jessup escaped 22 years ago. She says outsiders aren't recruited due to fears they aren't pure.

What's the typical marrying age?

"The majority of marriages that we're aware of happen between 14 and 16," Jessup said. "However, we do know of marriages that have occurred to as young as two 8-year-old or 9-year-old children."

The men don't select their wives. Marriages are arranged by their leader, whom they call a prophet.

"All the girls' names are added into this book called The Joy Book and the prophet goes through and gets revelation from God," Jessop said.

Why do women go along with these teachings?

"Men teach us to follow their direction, best way of life, they are clean and pure," said an FLDS member named Janet.

Women like Janet are taught to submit fully or risk damnation.

"You can, as a female, can live your life and be one of most amazing paragons of virtue, but you still don't get into heaven unless husband invites you in," Jessop said.

And what about those clothes and that hair?

"The women are taught they are jewels in husband's crown, that their husband will be a king and a god in heaven, and they are jewels in his crown so they're all dressed in jewel colors,"

And women aren't allowed to cut their hair.

"They believe that in order to get into heaven, you must wash your husband's feet with your hair," Jessop said.

Their essential mantra comes down to two words: Keep Sweet.

"It means submit in all things, including being punished, you must smile and accept your punishment cause that's how God accepts you," Jessop said.

But crying and laughing are forbidden.

"They actually teach that God finds crying babies offensive and loud laughter offensive too," Jessop said.

Now this secretive group awaits judgment from the outside worls it tried so hard to shut out.

[moonshadow22]

I find child abuse disgusting. I do not accept the teachings of FLDS, but that is my choice. We are members of a nation founded on the number one concept that we accept...no welcome those of other faiths. The fact that we don''t agree with another faith does not in any circumstance give us the right to persecute or prosecute them for practicing that faith.

[suzieh2308]

Wow - that is some sick *** - so by their way of thinking i should just submit to a man twice my age and endure beatings and raping with a smile - then wait for that ba$**** to "invite" me to heaven? Well the god i came to know and love would not let those ba$tards into heaven, and probably wouldn''t let me in either for being such an idiot and following these obviously retarded teachings but then again they are all inbreed so they very well may be retarded because all the interviews i have heard so far, it sounds like these women are quite a few cards short of a deck, and they deserve to have their children taken from them so they can grow up in a normal environment instead of little girls being taught that they should serve men - ha ha that''s not what america is about - men serve us - remember we have the power!!

[observer2020]

I tell you what...there''s no way that I''m going to wash ANYONE''S feet with my hair...and it is long, but that''s by MY choice not someone telling me that I cannot cut it. I absolutely cannot believe these women! Standing by and watching their children being mentally brain-drained and physically abused by these geezers that just want to get their rocks off by physical relations with a CHILD! And they''re getting rid of their competition--abandoning young boys outside their compound and told not to return. These poor, young boys don''t even have a place to sleep or eat, nor do they have the proper education to find their place in the world...not to mention their FAMILIES, Moms too, are the ones that dis-owned them. I guess these young ladies don''t know that they can tell these slimos to take a serious hike. So glad that I would definitely NOT "fit" into any cult like this, or any other.

[observer2020]

Their last names are Jeffs.

[acolton1]

Just checking for an answer to my question. Why will these ladies not give us their last names.

[acolton1]

Can somebody please tell me why the women will not tell us their last names ?

[acolton1]

I am glad they took the children away from these very sick adults. Also: The lady with the Unibrow that has been on TV is the best I hope South Park on Comedy Central gives her the treatment in the next few weeks. This cult is going down on Welfare violations and the IRS is going to take these dishonest money spounges down. I am so happy. Question just why will the women not give their last names, somebody please tell me.

[cattlekate]

"If this sect believes that crying babies and loud laughter offends God, what do they do when this happens?"

They waterboard the babies to "break" them of their crying.

I want to know what''s in their graveyard.

[cpaide]

"by the way there is no s on women it is plural
woman is singular"
Posted by twomtns

oh yes, you are so smarter of this american grammar, but you know NOTHING of this american constitution and freedoms like the due process and the protections against this unreasonable search and seizure. you have this anal proclivities and arrested development that make you miss the forest for this trees.

but you know that this KLK (krazy lesbians kult) have been stalking this clean humble mormans for years now:

look at this http://web.sccn2.net/flds/More-Pics.htm and see that i have good and honest proof of this KLK activities with this mormans.

[twomtns]

Posted by galaxiana
and you, my ignorant friend, are even less qualified to say as "fact" what is happening. you know NOTHING! but that does not stop you or this crazy lesbian social worker from making the lies and pointing the finger at this humble clean morman womens
hey galaxiana
how far up your a$$ do you have your head?
OH well ignorance is bliss
by the way there is no s on women it is plural
woman is singular

[tazmjam]

The state in this unusual situation probably made the best decision by removing the children until this is all sorted out. If this sect believes that crying babies and loud laughter offends God, what do they do when this happens? Most babies communicate by crying, toddlers while playing sometimes squeal with laughter. Are they punished when they laugh or cry for offending God? Are the Mothers punished for allowing their babies or children to offend God? Would the children even be free to admit this if their Mothers were there to coach them not to answer any questions? The women appear unable to think for themselves. They seem to be brainwashed into believing whatever their husbands and church leaders say is law. Would that include punishing crying babies and laughing children?

[fuzzybear9]

Hello Concerned Citizens

what is really sad is the same domination and mind control of women is exercized by the New York City escort services, where Govenors and Senators have free reign and the State does nothing.

so Goverment appears to only enforce Law at times when it seems convienient or suits some purpose.

Fuzzy are you saying that the State should not have investigated this religion.

why no quite the opposite

but how is it the State tolerates the Red Light District religion and never brings justice against the Senators and Gouvenors that promote it ?

anyway should we be probing into the private lives of elected officials ?

I only bring the subject up to show the inconsistancies of the Judicial System.

sincerely Fuzzy Bear

[cpaide]

There''s going to be a lot more sickening things about this cult revealed as the days pass.
Posted by cattlekate

of course, of course. everything that does not agree with your way of thinking is "sickening". any of course, my stupid friend, you have no good and honest proof of ANYTHING. just crazy lesbians accusations that you cannot prove.

[gce65]

CBS Evening News:

What was with that story on CBS Evening News Saturday about the Duke Univ lacrosse player who became an Army Ranger and was blown up in Iraq?

You have no place to comment on the story, so I''ll comment here...and wherever else there''s room.

You pimped that piece before and during the segment as a story of heroism. But I kept asking myself, "WHERE WAS THE HEROISM?" Just more war hype and false patriotism is all you showed. Getting blown up is not heroic, it''s just unlucky and tragic.

You said after he graduated from Duke and after 9/11 he could have worked on Wall St or gone to law school. But he didn''t, he got sucked up in the war hype and decided to become a Ranger. That decision and profession comes with a certain amount of danger, don''t you think?

He did two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, but you didn''t mention anything heroic that he did. Did he pull a group of fellow soldiers out of a burning vehicle? Did he storm an enemy position and save his squad? No. Or if he did, you didn''''t mention it. I''m not demeaning him or his service. He''''s a lot like many other soldiers who joined up for a variety of reasons, but getting blown up does not make a person a hero. Quit overusing and overhyping the term.

[cattlekate]

cspaide - It is MormOn, not Morman.

And this FLDS pedophilic cult is not LDS Mormon.

rushlimpdrug - go here for more about the story:

http://www.helpthechildbrides.com/

One of the weirder things Flora & Carolyn Jessop pointed out last night on Larry King was that the compound''s razor wire faces INWARD, and not outward!

And the pastel colors of the dresses are because each wife represents a jewel in the husband''s celestial crown, when he beomes a god.

There''s going to be a lot more sickening things about this cult revealed as the days pass.

I want to see what is in their graveyard. I wonder how many child brides died in childbirth. And how many babies were born with Fumarase Deficiency.

http://www.heraldextra.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,3/id,361280/catid,2/func,fb_pdf/

[cpaide]

i understand your ignorance and fear and bigotry, that

is for certain. may you can go to my country where

your high attitude is more suitable.


you love to talk of this tolerance but you have none

for anyone who does not think as you. you love to

talk of this freedoms but you have lost them because of your ignorance.

your are led around by the nose like animals by this

filthy pope and filthy president bush and you will

not admit it to yourself that you have no moral value

or standards, so you are pointing at this nice clean

mormans when you should be pointing at your own nasty

little childrens who are having $ex and getting

pregnant, taking this drugs, laughing at your face and

you can do nothing for fear of this social workers

charging you with "abuse."


and so you are jealous of this mormans and want them

to be miserable as you are.


i pity you.

[cpaide]

Posted by galaxiana

and you, my ignorant friend, are even less qualified to say as "fact" what is happening. you know NOTHING! but that does not stop you or this crazy lesbian social worker from making the lies and pointing the finger at this humble clean morman womens.

[rushlimpdrug]

I have not kept up with this story.
Yet the way I see this is once again journalist have
let the American people down.
The fact as I remember is that a young girl was forced
into a marriage with an old man.
All the time and energy is being spent on
a totally different tangent from the original focus.
Where is the original victim?
Were they not keeping in close contact with her?
Yes, the sect is crazy but this sooo big brother
it should outrage everyone.
Of course enquiring minds want to know:
1. How old was the youngest girl having ssex in the camp?
2. Who was the oldest man having ssex with an underage?
3. Why do they dress funny?
4. What are their crazy beliefs? (do they believe
the world was created in a few days?)
5. What kind of ssex did they have?
6. Who had the most wives?

Yet nothing on the original "victim".
Somehow she got lost.
Wow.

[lucy-in-tx]

Yanno.. this is just getting weirder and weirder.

[singingrick]

This country is so full of Religious fanatics. They make logic and truth the enemy and they elect morons like Bush.