This past Friday, I received the “Sons of Perdition- The Story of Polygamy’s Exiled Youth” documentary in the mail. This film is from the OWN Network. We have previously mentioned this film on this blog. The credits are many, so here is the list from the back cover- IMPACT PARTNERS and BBC STORYVILLE present a LEFT RUN FILMS production in association with MOTTO PICTURES and CACTUS THREE. Editor – Jenny Golden, executive producers- Diana Barrett, Abigail Disney, Caroline Stevens, Krysanne Katsoolis. Copyright©2010 Virgil Films and Entertainment, LLC.  There is a website for the film- “sonsofperditionthemovie.com”. The film is rated “R”. The film contains “street talk” as well as some scenes of alcohol and drug use. It is all a part of the true story. On the DVD there is also an option for a  “family friendly language track”.

   Honestly, I put off watching this film after I came home from work for several hours. I knew it would be remind me of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). However, this is so timely considering the exit drama which has unfolded over the last two weeks concerning a young man who has come out of WOFF. As I review this film, I will compare and contrast to my experience at WOFF and my understanding since I left in July 2008. We have compared the practices of the Fundamental Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) to WOFF in pervious posts. There are many of the same practices in both groups and there are also several practices which are not shared.

   The film starts with scenes from “The Crick”- a settlement also called Colorado City, located on the Utah and Arizona border. As scenes are shown of FLDS members tending their garden and riding horses, the voice of Warren Jeffs is heard saying, “Oh, young people, eternity was (is) within your reach, if you will just live faithful so the Prophet can place you properly in marriage. I want you to believe these stories. There are no monogamous in heaven. The men have many wives and that is the way men become gods and wives become heavenly mothers. I want to tell you young people, it is a sin to even talk about boy-friends and girl-friends, because you know the right way. But, what happens to people that turn away from this? The Revelation says they will be destroyed.”   

  Let me point out here that both FLDS and WOFF make great effort to rule and regulate the marriages of their members.  Each group has great influence and power over marriage relationships- even in the bedrooms. The emphasis may ebb and flow – more or less at certain times within WOFF. But, concerning WOFF members and who they have “friendships” with or who they marry, do not be mistaken, for WOFF members- it is a sin to even talk about boy-friends and girl-friends,(the world’s way) because you know the right way. The reason is obvious; Jane has a vested interest in keeping her young people married only to WOFF members. That means less chance of them leaving the fold. For what it is worth, WOFF does not practice polygamy.

    As a general outline, the documentary will show the lives of several youth at different time intervals since they left FLDS. There are scenes of those escaping FLDS and some going back to the group. The first young man to speak is Sam; he is 17 and was born in the group but, it out now. He speaks of his Dad as being abusive and attempting to choke him at own point. He says … “I don’t know.., I think it was his way of showing he loved me so much. He wanted me to live forever in heaven… (I) Can’t speak to my Mom or any of my brothers and sisters. To them it would have been better for me to die than to leave…”

   I listened to this young man and remembered Jim Jones, Jr. saying in another documentary about Jonestown; if you are in a dysfunctional family that is all you know; to you, it is normal. This young man is saying that his Dad showed him love by choking him. FLDS was all he knew until he got out. He believed what he was saying because to him that was “normal”. Once he came out, he had to learn a “new normal”. This film depicts several young men and women finding their “new normal” outside of FLDS.  

   As a comparison, during these last few days, I have been watching a young man that came out of WOFF. He has been searching for his “new normal”. His struggles have been difficult to watch at times but, very rewarding at others. He process has been one of asking questions and learning that many of the fears put upon him at WOFF were baseless and meant to stifle and prohibit unhindered decision making. He is beginning to see the fears put on him were meant to bind him to the group and to the leaders.

   Back to the film; Sam goes on to say he left “the Crick” because he wanted to be something. He wanted to think for himself and be somebody instead of living by a code his whole life. He laments, “It was a tough decision because of all you had to leave behind. They make it that way, too. (You) choose between family and what somebody else wants you to be. That is pretty messed up.” That is exactly what I have seen this recent WOFF survivor go through these last few days. He is realizing the cost of his decision as his parents refused to surrender his birth certificate and social security card. He has been adjusting to not being with his immediate family. That has been the cost of his freedom. Just as in this documentary. “That is pretty messed up.”

    The next youth to be featured that left FLDS was Bruce Barlow. He is 15 and Sam’s cousin. His dad had three wives and 22 people in his family. That was a small household in FLDS according to Bruce. He says, “Family is everything. Your best friends were in your family…” But, yet he chose to leave. After Bruce, there is a young man talking named Joe (Joseph) Broadbent. He was 17 and talked about the drawing he did while in FLDS. A lady is heard asking him if he ever read any comic books. He answers, “What is that?” He had two moms and 21 siblings. He ran away from Colorado City.

   During the next segment, one youth is heard speaking, “Your whole life you are taught if you leave, you know, you are going to hell, you are going to burn in hell for all eternity. That is why all of us get into drugs real hard. We don’t really care anymore. My family is out there and I am out here and I am going to hell. So, what am I supposed to do?”  

   Is there any doubt that in this regard FLDS and WOFF are exactly alike? Inside of WOFF, I was taught those who left were Judases, God-haters and going to hell. Leaving WOFF was equal to leaving God and denying the call of God on your life”. In FLDS they were apparently taught the same thing, maybe just in a few different terms. The purpose of the fear was the same. Keep members from considering that they could be happy OUTSIDE the group. Deny it all you want- WOFF and FLDS are THE SAME on this point. Well, so are other religious cults and/or mind control groups.

  We will close this post here. There is so much more and as I am able, I will keep reviewing this film and drawing the comparisons between FLDS and WOFF. Here is a trailer for the documentary.

 Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

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       Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.  Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 364.