Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs
by: Elissa Wall, Lisa Pulitzer
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In September 2007, a packed courtroom in St. George, Utah, sat hushed as Elissa Wall, the star witness against polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs, gave captivating testimony of how Jeffs forced her to marry her first cousin at age fourteen. This harrowing and vivid account proved to be the most compelling evidence against Jeffs, showing the harsh realities of this closed community and the lengths to which Jeffs went in order to control the sect's women.
Now, in this courageous memoir, Elissa Wall tells the incredible and inspirational story of how she emerged from the confines of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and helped bring one of America's most notorious criminals to justice. Offering a child's perspective on life in the FLDS, Wall discusses her tumultuous youth, explaining how her family's turbulent past intersected with her strong will and identified her as a girl who needed to be controlled through marriage. Detailing how Warren Jeffs's influence over the church twisted its already rigid beliefs in dangerous new directions, Wall portrays the inescapable mind-set and unrelenting pressure that forced her to wed despite her repeated protests that she was too young.
Once she was married, Wall's childhood shattered as she was obligated to follow Jeffs's directives and submit to her husband in "mind, body, and soul." With little money and no knowledge of the outside world, she was trapped and forced to endure the pain and abuse of her loveless relationship, which eventually pushed her to spend nights sleeping in her truck rather than face the tormentor in her bed.
Yet even in those bleak times, she retained a sliver of hope that one day she would find a way out, and one snowy night that came in the form of a rugged stranger named Lamont Barlow. Their chance encounter set in motion a friendship and eventual romance that gave her the strength she needed to break free from her past and sever the chains of the church.
But though she was out of the FLDS, Wall would still have to face Jeffs—this time in court. In Stolen Innocence, she delves into the difficult months on the outside that led her to come forward against him, working with prosecutors on one of the biggest criminal cases in Utah's history, so that other girls still inside the church might be spared her cruel fate.
More than a tale of survival and freedom, Stolen Innocence is the story of one heroic woman who stood up for what was right and reclaimed her life.
In September 2007, a packed courtroom in St. George, Utah, sat hushed as Elissa Wall, the star witness against polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs, gave captivating testimony of how Jeffs forced her to marry her first cousin at age fourteen. This harrowing and vivid account proved to be the most compelling evidence against Jeffs, showing the harsh realities of this closed community and the lengths to which Jeffs went in order to control the sect's women.
Now, in this courageous memoir, Elissa Wall tells the incredible and inspirational story of how she emerged from the confines of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and helped bring one of America's most notorious criminals to justice. Offering a child's perspective on life in the FLDS, Wall discusses her tumultuous youth, explaining how her family's turbulent past intersected with her strong will and identified her as a girl who needed to be controlled through marriage. Detailing how Warren Jeffs's influence over the church twisted its already rigid beliefs in dangerous new directions, Wall portrays the inescapable mind-set and unrelenting pressure that forced her to wed despite her repeated protests that she was too young.
Once she was married, Wall's childhood shattered as she was obligated to follow Jeffs's directives and submit to her husband in "mind, body, and soul." With little money and no knowledge of the outside world, she was trapped and forced to endure the pain and abuse of her loveless relationship, which eventually pushed her to spend nights sleeping in her truck rather than face the tormentor in her bed.
Yet even in those bleak times, she retained a sliver of hope that one day she would find a way out, and one snowy night that came in the form of a rugged stranger named Lamont Barlow. Their chance encounter set in motion a friendship and eventual romance that gave her the strength she needed to break free from her past and sever the chains of the church.
But though she was out of the FLDS, Wall would still have to face Jeffs—this time in court. In Stolen Innocence, she delves into the difficult months on the outside that led her to come forward against him, working with prosecutors on one of the biggest criminal cases in Utah's history, so that other girls still inside the church might be spared her cruel fate.
More than a tale of survival and freedom, Stolen Innocence is the story of one heroic woman who stood up for what was right and reclaimed her life.
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Rating: 
- used books
I ordered a used book as it was cheaper and I don't like to keep books after I read them. This book came in the condition that was described. The shipment came in a very timely manner, and I loved the book.
Rating: - Compelling
This book convincingly outlines the brainwashing that exists within the FLDS church and the faulty beliefs that are instilled in its followers from a young age.The story is emotionally engaging and persuasively details the subjugation of women to the false "godhood" of men under the authority of a man the author heard admit was not truly the real prophet.The author explains the inability of members to leave the cult, and the use of arranged marriage to control young women who are perceived as ... Read More
Rating: 
- Audio Version
I listened to this books on audio cd.The readers little girl whispery voice was intensely annoying.I did finish it and I would never presume to critize her choices and acts.What I find difficult to understand (spoiler ahead) are her choices outside the "church".She speaks of her mother and father as victims of a "religion" and of their inability to help or protect her as "because of their religous beliefs".The religious belief that one man and one man only talks to God and runs their life. ... Read More
Rating: - Kindle Version/Awsome Story worth reading
Stolen Innocence was a unique story written about how one woman was able to escape the clutches of the FLDS after a 4 year forced marriage at age 14 to her first cousin who had been known to be abusive towards her as children. When she would not obey him, he repeatedly raped and physically abused her.
The marriage was arranged, in part, as punishment to her and her mother because they had spoken out on several ocassions and were thought to be a "troubled" family. Despite her begging and ... Read More
Rating: - Thought-provoking
I thought this was an excellent book, very thought-provoking.It was a look into a very strange life compared to how most women live in this day and age.It seems hard to understand how these women and men go along with a "prophet" who makes every decision for them, including who they marry and at what age. Then you look back at history and there were many people who were able to control others like this, eg. Jim Jones, whose followers committed mass suicide.It is hard to believe that this kind of ... Read More
- used booksI ordered a used book as it was cheaper and I don't like to keep books after I read them. This book came in the condition that was described. The shipment came in a very timely manner, and I loved the book.
- CompellingThis book convincingly outlines the brainwashing that exists within the FLDS church and the faulty beliefs that are instilled in its followers from a young age.The story is emotionally engaging and persuasively details the subjugation of women to the false "godhood" of men under the authority of a man the author heard admit was not truly the real prophet.The author explains the inability of members to leave the cult, and the use of arranged marriage to control young women who are perceived as ... Read More
- Audio VersionI listened to this books on audio cd.The readers little girl whispery voice was intensely annoying.I did finish it and I would never presume to critize her choices and acts.What I find difficult to understand (spoiler ahead) are her choices outside the "church".She speaks of her mother and father as victims of a "religion" and of their inability to help or protect her as "because of their religous beliefs".The religious belief that one man and one man only talks to God and runs their life. ... Read More
- Kindle Version/Awsome Story worth readingStolen Innocence was a unique story written about how one woman was able to escape the clutches of the FLDS after a 4 year forced marriage at age 14 to her first cousin who had been known to be abusive towards her as children. When she would not obey him, he repeatedly raped and physically abused her.
The marriage was arranged, in part, as punishment to her and her mother because they had spoken out on several ocassions and were thought to be a "troubled" family. Despite her begging and ... Read More
- Thought-provokingI thought this was an excellent book, very thought-provoking.It was a look into a very strange life compared to how most women live in this day and age.It seems hard to understand how these women and men go along with a "prophet" who makes every decision for them, including who they marry and at what age. Then you look back at history and there were many people who were able to control others like this, eg. Jim Jones, whose followers committed mass suicide.It is hard to believe that this kind of ... Read More
