#Rulon Jeffs

[xtruss]

The Twisted World of Warren Jeffs: Former FLDS Members Speak Out

Exclusive Interviews With Ex-FLDS Members Offer New Picture of Covert Community.

— By Grace Handy | February 27, 2024

When polygamy was outlawed by the Mormon Church in 1890, splinter groups formed, including the Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints, or FLDS, in which members could practice polygamy – or "plural marriage" – discreetly, without persecution.

The FLDS was able to flourish in a remote enclave nestled along the border of Utah and Arizona near Zion National Park in a community called Short Creek.

In the FLDS community, the most important person is the prophet, and members believe that God communicates directly through him. Among the core beliefs of the community is that the more wives a man has, the closer he gets to salvation.

Warren Jeffs watches his attorneys during a motion hearing before his trial, Sept. 13, 2007, in St. George, Utah. Douglas C. Pizac/AFP via Getty Images

From 1986 to 2002, Rulon Jeffs Served as FLDS Prophet and President.

As Rulon Jeffs' health declined, his son Warren Jeffs slowly took control of the FLDS community. Rulon Jeffs died in 2002, and Warren Jeffs succeeded him as prophet.

FLDS members were used to taking direction from Warren Jeffs but, over time, his orders became more restrictive – and, to some, alarming.

Jeffs banned television, movies, popular music, and fictional books. He also executed strict mandates on behavior, dress, and language. Women were told to "keep sweet," suppress emotions and feelings, obey their husbands, and above all, obey Jeffs — the all-knowing prophet.

Briell Decker, Jeffs' 65th wife, told ABC, "'Keep Sweet' meant you could have no emotions except for sweetness. That was the only emotion allowed."

Former FLDS prophet Rulon Jeffs pictured with many young FLDS members. Courtesy of Charlene Jeffs

ABC's new special, "Truth and Lies: The Doomsday Prophet," streaming now on Hulu, features exclusive, never-before-seen interviews with FLDS members filmed inside the community.

Beneath what appeared to be an attempt to present an ideal community of content and obedient followers, Jeffs allegedly used his power to pursue twisted exploits.

ABC sat down with Jeffs' daughter, Rachel Blackmore, who alleged her father sexually abused her for years during childhood. "When your parent does something like that, it feels shameful on you, too. And then it kept happening," Blackmore told ABC.

While Jeffs accumulated brides, some of them young teens, underage marriages were common in the broader community.

At the age of 14, Elissa Wall was married off to her 19-year-old first cousin. Wall said she had no choice but to go through with the marriage, which was officiated by Jeffs.

Short Creek today – a small community on the Utah-Arizona border near Zion National Park. ABC News

Ruth Stubbs, another member of the FLDS community, was married off when she was 16. Her husband, Rodney Holm, was 32. He was a police officer in Short Creek and was already married to two other women. Holm was arrested for bigamy and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and spent a year in prison.

Warren Jeffs with seventeen of his wives. Courtesy of Rachel Blackmore

Warren Jeffs' alleged involvement in facilitating marriages between underage girls and adult men led to him being placed on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list in May 2006. Criminal charges had been brought against him in Utah and Arizona.

Jeffs eventually fled Short Creek and went on the lam, hiding out in various cities around the United States per his journals – or "priesthood records" – that were later presented at his trial. While on the run, Jeffs had a compound built in Eldorado, Texas – where he would send hand-picked followers, telling them they were being called to Zion, or "heaven on earth." Jeffs named the compound the YFZ Ranch (or "Yearning for Zion" Ranch).

"People were slowly disappearing [from Short Creek] at that time," said Charlene Jeffs, a former FLDS member who was then married to Warren Jeffs' brother, Lyle. Several of Charlene's children, Ammon, Susie, and Thomas, were called to Zion, she said.

"It was supposed to be an honor to have them called forth. But all it was, was heartache," said Charlene Jeffs, who was exiled from the FLDS community in 2012.

Rachel Blackmore with her father, Warren Jeffs. Blackmore alleges Jeffs sexually abused her during childhood, starting when she was eight years old. Courtesy of Rachel Blackmore with permission

In August 2006, Jeffs' journey on the run came to a halt when his car was pulled over for a routine traffic violation outside of Las Vegas. Then, court proceedings began.

Wall testified against Jeffs in 2007. Wall told ABC it was an empowering experience: "I was forced to face him. I was forced to get on the stand, face him, and say 'you did this' ... I was no longer just an innocent little girl who just did everything out of fear. I had a voice and it was starting to become heard."

Jeffs was found guilty of accomplice to rape for facilitating Wall's underage marriage. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The charges would be overturned on appeal in 2010, and Jeffs was never retried. However, by that point, other evidence against Jeffs was found at the YFZ Ranch after law enforcement raided the ranch, leading to new charges.

The temple entrance at the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas. FLDS members worked day and night for months building the structure. Courtesy of Angela Goodwin

"[Officers] saw scrapbooks and letters supporting the fact that these girls were being married off at a very young age and were having babies," said Angela Goodwin, a district attorney in Texas.

During the raid, officers found horrific evidence incriminating Jeffs – including an audio recording of him having sexual relations with a 12-year-old. Officials also discovered a pregnant 15-year-old at the ranch who was carrying Jeffs' child.

Former FLDS members allege Jeffs still runs the church from behind bars in Palestine, Texas, and releases revelations that his devout followers adhere to. One revelation from the summer of 2022 has been particularly concerning to former members, especially those with family members still in the religion.

"The revelations say that within five years, the children will be translated to heaven. But the problem is … you have to die first," Roger Hoole, a private attorney involved in many FLDS cases, told ABC.

Amid current concerns about Jeffs' revelations, Short Creek is moving on – and perhaps nothing is more indicative of the vast progress in the community than the election of Donia Jessop as mayor of Hildale, on the Utah border of Short Creek.

Jessop is the first female mayor and first former FLDS member elected to office. Jessop has implemented modernization in the community – for example, she is working with the United Effort Plan to completely transform the former FLDS meetinghouse.

"We want to recreate a place, a community building, where we can come together and celebrate in the things that we've always loved, the programs, the dance, the arts. We want to create a safe haven for the people," Mayor Jessop told ABC.

Former FLDS member and current mayor of Hildale, Donia Jessop. Jessop’s election as mayor in 2018 signified a major shift in the community. ABC News

Another major development in the community was the creation of the Short Creek Dream Center, a place of refuge for people transitioning out of the FLDS – and anyone fleeing oppressive or abusive environments.

The Dream Center, symbolically, was the former home of Warren Jeffs. Briell Decker, one of Jeffs' former wives, was granted the 28,000-square-foot home after escaping the FLDS – and she helped create the Dream Center.

The exterior of the Short Creek Dream Center, former home of Warren Jeffs. The Dream Center is now a safe haven for local people in need. ABC News

Decker, who experienced so much pain and trauma in her early life, says she is proud to now help others at the center.

"I feel like I'm safe. I feel like more lives are being touched than I could have ever possibly imagined," Decker told ABC.

Wall, now an activist and author, moved back to Short Creek several years ago and noticed an emotional shift in the community.

"The most important change that I think Short Creek has undergone in the last decade is healing. As people returned and came back, bringing all of their experiences, for them they were coming home," Wall said.

As veteran journalist Mike Watkiss tells ABC, "This is a story about a culture, a community, that has chronically oppressed women. The women are the victims, and the women have been the forces and instruments of change."

[alliluyevas]

one of the absolute premier mormon trainwreck names (flds edition) I've discovered was Rulon Jeffs having a daughter (with one of his wives named Kathleen) and naming her Ruleen which is truly a darksided combination of some of my least favorite naming trends (unnecessary feminizations and mashups of both parents' names). according to her findagrave she went by her middle name which I can't say I blame her for.

[letsdocuboutit]

- Let's Docu 'Bout It -

Episode 11 - Keep Sweet Pray and Obey (Part One)

This week I recap and talk about the Netflix docuseries, Keep Sweet Pray and Obey, which is about the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism, and its current leader Warren Jeffs. Survivors of this cult were interviewed extensively in this four part docuseries. This episode talks about parts 1 and 2 of the docuseries.

Listen here or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Spotify - Apple - Amazon - Castbox - iHeartRadio - RadioPublic - Google

Photos - (Row 2: Rulon Jeffs and some of his wives // Rebecca Wall now vs when married to Rulon at age 19) (Row 3: Alicia Rohbock when she married Rulon at age 20 // Alicia now) (Row 4: Short Creek, Utah // Warren Jeffs home in Short Creek)

Safe Passage

[spurgie-cousin]

What happened to christine's grandpa?? Why was he murdered? I had no idea there was so much drama, reality is better than fiction sometimes

It's a long story but here's the jist:

The Mormon church officially denounced the practice of polygamy right before the turn of the 20th century due to polygamy getting them into all kinds of shit, legal and otherwise.

Mormons who believed that plural marriage was an important part of getting into heaven went against the LDS church and formed their own fundamentalist offshoots. Prominent men often disagreed in these offshoots, leading to more offshoots, etc etc. Christine's grandpa Rulon Allred formed one called the United Apostolic Brethren in the 1950s/60s (the church she, Kody, and the wives all belonged to at one point).

Rulon had major disagreements with leaders of other fundamentalist groups, including the leaders of some of the biggest communities at the time, the Jeffs (as in Warren and his dad, also named Rulon) and Ervil LeBaron. This was mostly because Rulon A. was a moderate, comparatively sane kind of guy whereas Jeffs and LeBaron had gone full Jim Jones, power-hungry cult leader. This eventually led to LeBaron ordering the murder of Rulon A. which was carried out by some of LeBaron's wives I believe, Rulon A. owned a homeopath business and I'm pretty sure they shot him there in broad daylight.

So Rulon Allred's oldest son is Christine Brown's father, and because of his prominence and Christine being his eldest sons daughter, she had big status in their church and community.

I just saw another ask in my inbox that provides more background on their family so go check that out too if you're interested!

[allwaswell16]

Omg your impression of rulon jeffs nearly made me spit my tea it was so funny and accurate!! Great episode!

😅😅😅 haha thank you!

Listen, I'd already seen that documentary before watching it this second time for the podcast but I was STILL so shocked to hear his crusty old man voice tell girls to keep sweet no matter what. I just lost it lmaoo and then when I was talking about it I was like it is just not effective to say the words you gotta hear it in his crusty voice.

Not that Warren's voice is any better...Warren gives me so much second hand embarrassment when he speaks.

(So I guess if anyone wants to hear my impression of FLDS former "prophet" Rulon Jeffs go check out my podcast @letsdocuboutit )

[cyarskj1899]

He & these women are a menace. They are short-changing themselves & their kids. Could've just watched Warren Jeffs, his daddy Rulon, and how the FLDS have all these "wives". Their kids have no kinda religious w/their father.

[keep-sweet]

Warren Jeffs, Rulon Jeffs, and Fred Jessop with assorted young ladies and gentlemen

[sarcasticbabywhispererjess]

Watching the Netflix series ‘Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey’ about the FLDS…

I’m less than 20mins in and the number of times I’ve said, “Gross.” out loud is easily a couple dozen. 🤢🤮

[middleofnowhere92]

I haven’t seen anyone write Ozai in a modern AU as a cult leader. I’ve seen him portrayed many times as a ruthless business CEO, but let me present my headcannon for Ozai as a cult leader. 

Now, most cult leaders are charismatic, which isn’t a trait I would really give Ozai, but what if he wasn’t the one to start the cult? In canon he wasn’t the one to start waging war on the other nations either, he just carried on the reign of terror. 

Let’s look at a real life cult example. I present to you Rulon and Warren Jeffs, scums of the earth, but also leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). 

Rulon presided over the FLDS from 1986-2002. His son, Warren, used Rulon as a puppet in his later years until Warren was able to fully assume power over the church/cult. 

Does that sound like anyone else we know? *cough cough Azulon and Ozai*

Warren Jeffs assumed rule over the cult from 2002- present. He was convicted in 2006 of many gross crimes you can read about on his Wiki. He continues to rule over the cult from jail, which is something I could see Ozai doing as well. 

The FLDS is also notorious for abandoning teenaged boys, which could be seen as a “banishment”. Warren Jeffs sees younger men in his cult as competition preventing him from marrying the young women of the group (Did I not mention they are polygamists? And not the good kind either...) Warren would create impossible rules for these young men to follow and then send them away from their family and everything they knew...

Kinda sounds like Zuko, no?

So if anyone needs a headcannon for a modern AU, here you go. Or if you just need a wiki/youtube rabbit hole to go down, you’re welcome. 

[hungryfictions]

if i was 19 and got married off to a decrepit pervert like rulon jeffs i would’ve fucking suffocated him in his sleep. i hope hell exists so he and his son can rot there for eternity

[alliluyevas]

to be quite honest rulon allred's historical reputation and that of the aub in general has been majorly skewed by comparison to pretty much every other mormon fundamentalist group because they are like objectively the least extreme mormon fundamentalist group but their reputation for being the "normal" or even "liberal" mormon fundie group does not hold up if you compare them to like. society as a whole, or even mainstream lds people, instead of to several other cults run by murderous whackadoos

[letsdocuboutit]

- Let's Docu 'Bout It -

Episode 12 - Keep Sweet Pray and Obey (Part Two)

This week I recap and talk about the Netflix docuseries, Keep Sweet Pray and Obey, which is about the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism, and its current leader Warren Jeffs. Survivors of this cult were interviewed extensively in this four part docuseries. This episode talks about parts 3 & 4 of the docuseries.

Listen here or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Spotify - Apple - Amazon - Castbox - iHeartRadio - RadioPublic - Google - Podcast Addict

Photos - (Row 2: some of Warren's wives with his photo // the YFZ, Yearning For Zion, ranch) (Row 3: Elissa Wall age 14 on her wedding day // Elissa outside the courthouse after Warren's sentencing) (Row 4: Warren Jeffs being led into the courtroom // Rulon Jeff's family tree)

Safe Passage

[spurgie-cousin]

So I started as a FLDS follower and crossed over to Duggar land a few. In Duggar snark world, people talk about how the girls have to "keep sweet" and it genuinely surprised me because I thought Rulon Jeffs popularized that phrase in the 90's! I didn't think the Duggars would use that exact wording since it had FLDS origins. I couldn't find any clips of the Duggars using it (and borrowed their books from the library to see if it's in there but have only gotten through 1). Do the Duggars actually say "keep sweet" or is that just a general term that snarkers use to refer to that mentality of always being happy? Thanks!

So the Duggars have talked about the concept of staying ‘sweet’ before, and I can think of a few instances where Michelle has used it when communicating with her kids, usually the girls but the boys too (in one of the 18kac episodes I watched yesterday she tells a grumpy Josie that something she did ‘was not very sweet’). I want to say they’ve used that exact phrasing before but I can’t remember exactly where.

The phrase “keep sweet” was definitely coined by Rulon Jeffs, but I can’t confirm if there’s any link to that and the fundamentalist Christian use or if both religions just place a similar emphasis on women/children being docile and compliant. It also could’ve been an idea the Duggars heard about and starting using without knowing the origins.

[countingandsnarkingon]

I just finished reading "The Witness Wore "Red which is Rebecca Musser's memoir about what it was like to grow up in the FLDS and be married to the former prophet Rulon Jeffs. It goes further chronicling her escape and the role she played in bringing down Warren Jeffs. It is one of the most heartbreaking and intriguing things I have ever read.

[stephspencer10]

Pt 21-29: More Memories of My Parents Esther LeBaron and Floyd Spencer

Pt 21-29: More Memories of My Parents Esther LeBaron and Floyd Spencer

~ Pt 21: Ma, Pa, Me, and Polygamy on Parade Rulon Jeffs, his miscreant son Warren Jeffs, and a few of their “shared” wives “Civilization is social ordersupporting cultural creativity.”Will Durant Taking up from “Pt 20-A-J: Ma, Pa, Me, and Polygamy on Parade,” it bears restating that one of my Mormon fundamentalist sisters who married so many Misters never ever caught on … never bothered to…

[keep-sweet]

Rulon Timpson Jeffs(seated on chair) with his first 8 “wives”. Who’s who~no clue.