FLDS teen disputes mom's book

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | January 27, 2009 | Brooke Adams

[Saundra Duffy]

Yearning For Zion Ranch, Texas » Betty Jane Jessop's favorite phrase: "Good grief!"

That's what Betty utters as she reads the new epilogue in her mother's best-selling book, Escape . In those pages, Carolyn Jessop describes her daughter's return to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, calling her brainwashed.

"It just makes me want to laugh," said Betty, 19, shaking her head.

Besides Carolyn herself, the character in Escape that most intrigues readers is Betty -- the second of Carolyn's eight children with FLDS bishop Merril Jessop.

Why, they ask, did Betty return to the sect after four years in mainstream society? And: Is she OK?

Soon they may be able to read Betty's answer to those questions. Since April, the teenager has been working on a book about her experiences, aided by older sister Maggie Jessop.

[ejonesie22]

I understand. Some months ago I put forth a simple question to them, is there more than one God. To you and me that is a simple query, like asking is there more than one car in your garage at home, should be a yes or no answer.

I never saw such avoidence and obfusactaion in my entire life...

[AppyPappy]

That’s because the answer changes from time to time. That’s why they call themselves “Latter Day Prophets”. They believe these revelations can change. Therefore, they must rely on prophets to discern these matters.

[count-your-change]

While I haven't followed the events of the FLDS group I have been reading the defenses and attacks so I feel as an disinterested observer I can make a few comments without joining either camp.

Hypocrisy on someone’s part does not make their charges false, it just makes the hypocritical person distasteful.

The polygamy involved seems more objectionable because it involves men much older than their teenage “wives”.
We expect older adults to treat teenagers in a protective parental way not them exploit for sex. Had the 15 or 16 girl been “married” to a boy closer to her own age the disgust factor would have been considerably less.

For others the fact that a group dresses funny and has a compound makes allegations of dark deeds all the more believable and if the allegations have a basis the acts are worse for having taken place behind closed doors.

But in the U.S. there is said to be as many 300,000 teenage prostitutes (mostly female it seems) with an average age of 14. 14 years old as an average!
Who are their clients? Teenage boys? I can guess mostly men several years older than the teenagers.

But does this brutal sexual exploitation of children stir the same debates and heated emotions as the stories about the FLDS?

If it doesn't I suspect that the idea of child abuse (or a defense of the alleged abusers) under the guise of religion seems even more sinful somehow.

My observation being that we have a sense of proportion here: A couple of hundred thousand teenagers being abused vs. the possible abuse of how many?

[ejonesie22]

Yeah, that's it...

LOL...

What's the old line about if you can't dazzle them with brilliance baffle them with BS...

I think that is an LDS training point...

[SENTINEL]

Stockholm Syndrome.

...Or maybe she just got sick of mainstream mormons covering up and changing the teachings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. It's almost understandable, if you believe in a thing, and in a man, to choose the original version.

[GladesGuru]

My point was that the three practices I detailed were part of public school education in America’s public schools.

What Mormon’s teach is not known to me, but I suspect they are not, repeat Not, teaching their children how to put the condom on the cucumber.

Nor are they teaching the wonders of teh male/male or female/female home.

Just a guess, you know.

;-)

[Elsie]

When they split from the LDS church, the LDS protected them for a while. When they became a liability due to the actions of the leaders (who condemned the LDS church), the LDS church dropped them.

Seems to be endemic; condemning churches; foundational...

[Elsie]

They are not Mormons and you know it.

They trust the BOOK of Mormon and even follow D&C 132 - which the SLC branch of Mormons don't; even though it is Scripture to them.

[Elsie]

In fact the whole mess started because of a lie told by a whacked out liar.

Considering the roots of their religion; what would you expect?

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http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/17#17

  17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
  18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
  19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
  20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”

[Elsie]

You guys know of any significant differences between the FLDS group and the LDS group, other than the geographical/ spacial polygamy issue?

Uh.... "Yo momma dresses you funny!"?

[Elsie]

You guys know of any significant differences between the FLDS group and the LDS group, other than the geographical/ spacial polygamy issue?

Uh.... They ain't afriad of the Gummint takin' away their stuff?

[Elsie]

That is not true - for one thing.

You are right.

The SLC bunch has no use for the Standard Works D&C 132.

[Elsie]

David Steed Allred came to Eldorado to buy 1691 acres of ranchland & told neighbors that he was going to transform the land into a corporate hunting retreat.

Since we are talking about LAW in this thread; unless there are RESTRICTIVE Convenants on the land deed or ZONING limitations, the OWNER of any property can DO whatever they like with it - 'neighbors' stories or not.

If the 'neighbors' were the ones that OWNED the property before YFZ got it; THEN there might be some kind of squawk to be heard.

If not; it's just sour grapes.

[Elsie]

Nobody can stop someone from writing a book and lying in it.

HEY!!!

Where you going with THIS line of thought??

--MormonDude(I smell a RAT!)

[Elsie]

BTW, Have you noticed that tuna cans contain less and less tuna every year?

Maybe it just SEEMS that way because your CAT is getting bigger and bigger!

[Elsie]

 

I think that is an LDS training point...

 

 

Did SOMEone say TRAINING???

 

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Professor Robert Millet        teaching at the Mission Prep Club in 2004  http://newsnet.byu.edu/video/18773/  <-- Complete and uneditted

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Timeline...    Subject...

 

0:59            "Anti-Mormons..."

1:16            "ATTACK the faith you have..."

2:02           "We really aren't obligated to answer everyone's questions..."

3:57           "You already know MORE about God and Christ and the plan of salvation than any who would ATTACK you."

[AppyPappy]

The LDS church “put away” the polygamists and told them to end the practice with the next generation. The polygamists decided to ignore them. Later they attacked the LDS church for compromising.

Oddly, the polygamists don’t believe in the same Latter Day Prophets as the LDS church. They are mutually exclusive entities.

[Tennessee Nana]

They are not Mormons and you know it.
__________________________________________

Mormons are not Christians and you know it.

[pandoraou812]

That seems reasonable to me. As long as the proper building codes etc are met. In my state if you are planning to build you go before a board & have to show them your plans. If I want to add on a room to my house & there is a space problem or something I need to get a building variance. Since my neighbors behind me don’t like us they wouldn’t agree & there would be sour grapes . I know if I thought there was going to be a hunting retreat & then there was a huge temple & the FLDS took over then I doubt I would be too happy. My taxes would most likely go up etc. Why wouldn’t the YFZ ranch & the FLDS just be honest from the start?

[metmom]

Pandy: “You know my biggest problem with the FLDS was the minor sex & babies.”

SD: Isn’t it funny that the authorities have not proven any such thing and yet folks all over the world apparently believe FLDS old geezers are banging a bunch of little girls night and day.

Those authorities who you despise so much?

Those same authorities who all the FLDS defenders accuse of lying about the FLDS?

Those same authorities who you don't trust to properly conduct an investigation?

Now you won't believe anything about the FLDS unless the authorities confirm it?