Polygamy

I just finished reading the book, "Escape," by Carolyn Jessop. Very insightful reading. Jessop was a woman born into a polygamous family, forced to marry a man she didn't know at the age of 18, and then finally fled in the night for a new life after 15 years of marriage and eight children.

It was interesting to me because I live relatively near Colorado City, Arizona and its sister city, Hildale, Utah, home of the FLDS and its fallen "prophet" Warren Jeffs. Jessop recounts countless stories about emotional abuse from her husband and her sister-wives. Definitely a cult.

Sam had a pest control business for a few years, and we were working up quite the clientel in Colorado City. Most of our customers were actually Jessops and a few Steeds. From what I gather, most families operate with wives having different responsibilities. So, I would speak to the same girl on the phone to schedule the appointments. She was always very respectful, but not one who gave a "warm" feeling over the phone. She belonged to family of four or five wives. Since Sam went there, I think he's one of the few outsiders who has actually been allowed inside a home. He said this woman had two kids and lived by herself above the garage. Some of the other wives made comments to Sam about how she had no social skills. When I talked to her, I would always feel for her, and since Sam no longer does PC, I don't even get to talk to her on the phone now. I could just feel she was depressed and incredibly lonely.

Anyway, for anyone who has ever been to Wal-Mart in St. George, or played "Count the Polygamists" in the store (which is actually a very difficult game because it's confusing to distinguish between them), you should consider reading this book. Warren Jeffs is an evil man and I'm glad he's behind bars, but so many of these people remain brainwashed in Colorado City and in their new compound at the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas. It's a very sad situation that these women believe they have to endure abuse just so their husbands can say "yea" or "nay" when their time comes to enter heaven.

Thanks, Mom, for getting me addicted to these books. The next one I'm reading is about Elise Wall, the girl who testified against Jeffs for arranging her marriage to a 19-year-old cousin when she was only 14.