Stephen Singular in his book, “When Men Become Gods”( copyright 2008) quotes Warren Jeffs from September 10, 2002. Warren Jeffs was leading the morning devotional at Jeffs Academy in Hildale just two days after his father’s passing. During this time, Warren Jeffs was making “the transition from church leader to direct conduit to God.” The words from Warren Jeffs:
“This is a wonderful occasion. … The rules of every priesthood school is the will of the Prophet, the will of God to us through him…
We were sent to this earth to learn who God is and how to become like him. Prophets have been sent who, through obedience, became like God… Let it be written in every mind and heart the call of our Prophet. Keep sweeter and sweeter. Live in the increase of the holy spirit of God and smile. This is how our Prophet knows you love him and you are with him. … You cannot be like the world and be with our Prophet. You must come out of the world and clean up your minds and your lives…. There is a pruning going on. We want to be perfected and step up, not cast off. And the Lord is about to clean house…
I say this rejoicing in God and the Godhead and our Prophet and all the Prophets, for you will learn this year about them, that you may know how to become like God. (page 69)
Singular goes on in his book and outlines the religious political posturing that Warren Jeffs performed to take over the FLDS. It is all very revealing of the calculated and planned steps needed for Warren to become the undisputed leader. He was becoming “God” to those members.
Upon the first time reading this quote, it struck me that Warren Jeffs was promising something that he could not deliver. He was promising that the members of FLDS would become “like God” if they would “come out of the world and clean up your minds and your lives”… Of course, he set the guidelines and rules for coming out of the world and cleaning up your minds and lives. He would determine what sin was in the lives of the members. He warns of a “pruning” and “the Lord is about to clean house…” In reality, he was positioning himself as “God” as he would be the conduit that members would receive the Word of the Lord! He was not trying to help others walk more holy, he was maneuvering himself to be the supreme head of FLDS. When he performed the pruning and pushed out others that may contest or contend for his coveted position, then he would say it was the Lord who was doing the pruning. He positioned himself to be the voice of God to the members of FLDS. (see link here- http://www.fldstruth.org/administration.php?index=9 His picture still portrays him as the Prophet, though he is in jail!)
Where do I start? I have heard on so many different occasions Jane Whaley say many of the exact same things! She would warn of a “pruning” when some folks would leave. “Who are the next Judases?” She would warn that “the Lord is about to clean house..” What was the purpose? I truly believe it was to further strengthen the fear of the members that any thing they did that was “not by the spirit of God” could result in them being “pruned” and pushed out of WOFF. Of course, Jane would say it was God revealing who needed to leave.
Unlike, Warren Jeffs, Jane Whaley was already the supreme head of WOFF. She had made that transition years ago. Sam Whaley is listed on the papers starting Word of Faith Fellowship, but his power is nominal at best. Jane has several times used him as an example in sermons and belittled him in front of the members. He just continues to take the public rebuke and “correction”. After all Jane said she “loves him like she loves other leaders. She just shows it differently to Sam.” (a post for another day..)
It is odd, that for a place with so many rules and “don’ts”, there was such a fear of leaving WOFF?? It followed in the conditioned thinking of WOFF members, that if you were put out or left, then you would lose the “Call of God” and that translated into missing heaven and being in hell. ( I know about this because I were one for many years…) This idea was reinforced in several ways at WOFF. From messages at memorial services where Jane would pronounce that the person did or did not “fulfill the call of God” to other threats about actions or conduct that would cause one to miss God and miss His will. Jane determined if a person had fulfilled the call of God. She determined what was sin and what was not. She was and in all estimations still is, “God” to the members at WOFF.
How did a new member learn the strength of Jane’s “God” position at WOFF? First, just being in the services and having your eyes and ears open would allow a new person to see how Jane ran everything. Many other times, it was by members asking that new person who may be talking about a decision they were making; if they had “checked it out with authority?” Or the question may be “Are you under authority in doing what you planned?” If the person still did not understand, he or she may be asked real plain- “Did you ask Jane about doing that?” Yes, it “helped” both people. If Jane found out you knew what another member was about to do that was “out from under authority” and you did not tell them to go ask her or run tell Jane or someone in leadership; then BOTH folks would be in hot water. As a good-standing WOFF member, you were required to help others stay “locked under authority“. That meant- making sure everyone asks Jane about every decision of any importance in their life. Welcome to the daily life at WOFF.
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