Tag Archives: Brent Jeffs

Update- Warren Jeffs Sentenced and a Poem from George S. Patton, Jr.

August 9, 2011 Admin Leave a comment

In Texas, a jury of his peers sentenced Warren Jeffs to life plus 20 years for his crimes against women under his control. The trial lifted the skirt of the secretive religious cult and allowed the world a glimpse into the ways of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). In this post, I have included a couple of quotes from the article listed below and will share some observations about why I believe the control used by Warren Jeffs is very similar or in many ways the same as what Jane Whaley used/uses at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF).

Warren Jeffs sentenced to life plus 20 years in prison as picture emerges of 50 brides, bred to worship the polygamous ‘prophet’

By Paul Bentley Last updated at 5:54 PM on 9th August 2011

Standing neatly side by side, 50 young girls pose as if for a school yearbook, their smiles every bit as uniform as their pastel outfits and tightly quiffed hairdos.

Their innocent enthusiasm is focussed on one goal alone – worshipping the man framed behind them, who has cruelly bred them for manipulation.

As a Texas jury sentenced Jeffs to life plus 20 years in prison for his crimes as their church leader, extraordinary pictures have emerged of the wives of the notorious polygamist, offering insight into the twisted world of subjugation with which he surrounded himself.

Jeffs, the 55-year-old self-proclaimed prophet and leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was last week convicted of two counts of sexually assaulting a child – one 12 and one 14-year-old.

Today, after less than half an hour of deliberations, the jury at court in Texas sentenced him to the maximum possible time behind bars for his crimes.

Jeffs’s wives were both the victims of his abuse and the accomplices, subjected to a cruel world of worship and sexual abuse, while also proving their worth to their leader by holding down their peers while they were assaulted.…

Continue reading Update- Warren Jeffs Sentenced and a Poem from George S. Patton, Jr. →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Peoples Temple vs WOFF

What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 4

July 12, 2010 Admin 7 Comments

Possible WOFF Defenses- Part 4- The Children

We continue our list of possible Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) defenses for their practices and lifestyles. One spring evening in 2008, in a parking lot of the Wal-Mart in Shelby, NC; I was talking on my cell phone to a WOFF member who was in “leadership”. She was doing her best to answer my growing list of objections by attempting to point out the good points of life at WOFF. I had not yet voiced my true concerns, just my sadness and dismay at how I was being treated in my household. The shunning was taking its toll on me.

This person said many things, one of which; what about the children. See how well behaved and mannerly they are? Everyone does so well in school. They “take hold” for the most part. Honestly, I cannot remember the exact words. But, it was one of the often repeated excuses used by Jane Whaley and WOFF members. There seemed to be some desire to overlook certain things, if only outsiders would see how the children behaved, obeyed and could carry on a good conversation. After all, remember the DSS case which was settled on appeal. WOFF “won” that case- right? So, how could there be anything wrong at WOFF? (I have already mentioned my take on the DSS case and its outcome here.. http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2267 )

First, over the years there have been several meetings and conferences showcasing the school projects of the students at WOFF. There was a routine before every such meeting. Scrubbed clean and repainted- every area that would be open to the public. From the top, cleaning the light fixtures and also return vents in the ceiling, all the way down to scrubbing the grout in the bathroom floors. (I know; I had that job at least twice.) The clothes to be worn were reviewed and everything approved before these meetings. Sometimes several folks would work late into the night, finishing projects and setting up the displays. Making sure everything was just right. Why mention this? Because what visitors saw at these meetings was a well orchestrated veneer.

Continue reading What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 4 →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, FLDS, FLDS vs WOFF, Uncategorized

FLDS vs. WOFF – The Similarities – Part 1

January 19, 2010 Admin Leave a comment

“To Follow by faith alone is to follow blindly.” Benjamin Franklin

In “Lost Boy” (copyright©2009 by Brent Jeffs and Maia Szalavitz, ISBN-978-0-7696-3177-9) , Brent Jeffs outlines the message he heard preached over and over. It was the basis used for the authority over the lives of the members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints (FLDS). From his account and others, the preaching and practice seemed to match.

“…We, your leaders, know the Word of God; you must obey us. … Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, … We know what’s good for you. We are God’s prophets, seers and revelators. Our revelations come straight from God Himself… I love you and want to save you in the Celestial Kingdom of God. So, if you will keep the grand teaching that we are trying to get over: Keep the Holy Spirit of God! Keep sweet! It is a matter of life and death.” (page 60) (emphasis added by blog author)

Later in the book when describing a survivalist training class taught at the church school: “Like everything else, it made sense only retrospectively- as yet another way the church leadership terrorized and controlled the people. By frightening us, they ensured we would obey unthinkingly, rather than considering how absurd their prophecies really were. It is amazing how well fear can work to surpress rational thought, something I unfortunately experienced over and over during my time in the church.” (page 99) (emphasis added by author)

These statements and practices were obviously used as a basis for the power and authority structure of FLDS. As with many cults, the authority over the lives of the members was far reaching and fear based. First and foremost in FLDS was dictating the family structure. Wives and children were assigned to men with no consideration for personal feelings. Other daily matters like dress, hairstyle, job selection and entertainment choices were determined by leadership in the church. (reference pages: 26- living arrangements, 56- television, 72- clothing, 90-clothes during swimming, 102 -relationships, 104- idolatry, in the pictures notice the white shirts on the men in picture of them dressed for church, page 185- job selection, http://tiny.cc/5coTU pictures of children dressed alike and the list goes on…)

What was similar to this at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF)? Are simple everyday matters of life controlled by Jane Whaley or other lieutenants? Let me begin by noting that not everybody is in the exact same situation at any one given time, in a group like WOFF. New members have been given “more grace” in times past. Also, not every veteran member is required to accept the same control measures from Jane or other lieutenants on every point. My inside knowledge of WOFF stopped July 8, 2008. It actually began to wane before that – starting June 6, 2008. All that being said, I have NO evidence of any major changes within the group from any source either inside or outside. I am told by a source closer to WOFF, that things for the children have “lightened up”. (more on that later…)

So, the degree of oversight or “control” felt by each individual member is different at different times in different situations. Like FLDS, ” This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted- by revelation adapted to the circumstance in which the children of the kingdom are placed“. (page 60)

Now that the disclaimers are finished, we will discuss one area of control exercised in both groups. FLDS: “Reporting in was one of the many ways the church leadership monitored the members. Once a month, every man would report on his life and sins to his priesthood head. Nothing was off limits. You had to tell everything…. You knew it would filter up to Warren if it was bad enough.” (page 120)

In WOFF, this was called “opening your heart“. It was not limited to once a month and not just to men. Everyone from children up was encouraged to “tell all” and keep your heart open to the person “taking hold of your life“. And yes, you knew that “it would filter up to Jane if it was bad enough”… Many times other folks would be implicated and interrogated because of a child’s confession of a matter to an adult that was not their parent. Spouses would tell on spouses and co-workers on co-workers for things done that “may not feel right”.. There was a highly developed reporting system of these “open your heart” sessions.

“This kept Warren and his henchmen on top of all the gossip and gave them material to use against you if they wanted leverage to keep you in check.” (page 121) The guise was to help, the function and purpose was to control in FLDS and WOFF. More in the posts to come….

P.S. Is there trouble brewing in Brazil?

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FLDS vs WOFF, Uncategorized

FLDS vs. WOFF – the Similarities

January 18, 2010 Admin Leave a comment

Our next series of postings will be detailing the similarities between the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) formerly run by Warren Jeffs compared to Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) run by Jane Whaley. These similarities will not be in any certain order. By no means will the subject be covered in one post. This subject looks to be an ongoing extended series. This subject matter seems profound and voluminous at this point.

Before we start, I want to extend a “Presidential type shout-out” to all the good readers at WOFF. One of them called me a couple weekends ago to confess he had been reading my work. He had some “concerns” and for some of them- I want to say “Thank you!”. His call was ended abruptly when my phone died. But, I do appreciate the “help” as the motivation to share what I have learned went through the roof! Thanks, for the encouragement. 🙂

Again, the material for this series comes from several sources. The main book source for FLDS material is “Lost Boy” by Brent Jeffs with Maia Szalavitz ( Copyright 2009). The main source for WOFF material is my own experience and remembrances of my direct involvement in WOFF. These “life events” span a period of about sixteen years from 1992 to 2008. Since taking notes during church services became prohibited at some point a few years ago; (more on that later…) I do not claim total accuracy with dates and order of events. However, the main point of the material will be as acccurate as my memory allows. Any subsequent versions of the following events may be debated and could certainly be a great subject of open and free debate. (if any members of WOFF wish to participate…)

While at WOFF, it was preached several times: “No one can take your experiences away from you…”. The concept was first introduced when we were being coached on our “personal testimony” and how to share with others. The time frame may have been when the “Faith Freedom Fund” contributor’s listing was published in the local newspaper, a few years ago. Each name and local community was read aloud and everyone was asked if they knew that person. If you knew that person; you were instructed to go “give them truth”. That meant tell them why contributing the Faith Freedom Fund was bad likewise also including some of your own “personal experience” at WOFF.

As a matter of principle, I still adhere to that statement “No one can take your experiences away from you”. Certainly, I also hope no one in their “right mind” either inside or outside of WOFF will attempt to dismiss without further inquiry, my experiences recorded in this series. The introduction is over… on to the series….

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