Category Archives: Uncategorized

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Who is The Biggest Loser?

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    We continue with the theme of losses associated with being a part of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF).  Who has not seen the commercials advertising the show The Biggest Loser®? I have never seen the show, but, from what I understand it is about people losing weight. Here is a link to their website. http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/ . Yes, it is a simple concept.

   In the WOFF reality, who would be considered to have the most losses or the biggest loser? Let’s consider this from several angles. In the last post, we mentioned the losses of those inside the group. We will not go over them, but, a reader pointed out something very true.

   For those inside WOFF, “the biggest loss of all is losing the individual person God intended all of us to be. You cannot conform to all their rules and regulations and not lose sight of who you really are.” Thank you for pointing that out. Under the legalism, there are many losses. Who would deny that? Under that system of works and performance, there is no option but to set your true-self aside and conform or out the door you go… That new “WOFF-self” is subject to the whims, wishes and angry shouts of Jane Whaley. All of the pressures to surrender and become who Jane directs are clothed in the religious mantra of the day. That pressure could be brought with any number of phrases and clichés.  Here is a list to choose from- If you don’t submit, you will end up “losing your place in God”; by making that choice you are “denying the call of God on your life”. Then there is the one used on us all as a congregation, “When you saw that sin (put most anything here.) Why were you not convicted? I (the minister speaking) was convicted immediately when I heard about it. Where have you cut God off? What sin are you hiding?” At times, the pressure to submit to group-think was so blatant and obvious. The phrase could be something like- “Why would God lead you away from what he is showing his ministers?” Even the pressures to deny your personal time with God were/are great. Being alone with God was not promoted. Why? It was taught: because you may “give over to a religious spirit”.

  Continue reading Who is The Biggest Loser? →

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

I am sorry for your loss…

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   Over the last few weeks, I have noticed something very peculiar. It may have been going on for a long time and just recently came to my attention. During the normal course of living, I run into people I have never met before and we inevitably strike up conversations about our individual lives. Sometimes, I purposely leave out parts of my past and as far as I can tell, this is done with no set criteria. Some days, I just don’t feel like talking about being a former cult member. On days that is seems relevant and I do talk about it, I generally give the short version. Why? Well, I have learned over time that very few people outside of Rutherford County have any interest in hearing it and many cannot relate to the experience. I suspect the non-interest comes for any number of reasons. Any one of which could range from disbelief to negative experiences of their own that have never been sorted out or processed.

    After giving a very brief summary of the last few years, I have noticed that several folks have responded with, “I am sorry for your loss…” Now, when I first heard that response I didn’t think much of it. I suspected the individual was just truly searching for something compassionate to say while not openly inviting further discussion, if I was not comfortable with the subject. You know, as one may respond to the news of another person having lost a loved one or dear friend to death or divorce. Maybe that is it. See, I have lost close family members to a death of sorts and certainly to a divorce. And yes, it makes sense that a person realizing my loss, would respond, “I am sorry for your loss…”

    The results have been discussed here before. After being under the influence of the teachings and practices of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) for 16 years, I left the group in July of 2008. That was after Jane Whaley put me out of the group after she was told by Liisa Bryson about a discussion we had. So, which was it? Was I put out or did I leave? I was put out of the church and banned from church property June of 2008, and then I left the WOFF household I had lived in since October of 2002. Regardless of the technical terms of the separation from WOFF, the net effect was the same as many others who count themselves as former members. My family stayed in and the death of our relationships progressed similar to the dying or dead relationships of others who left family members behind.

  Continue reading I am sorry for your loss… →

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

“Sons of Perdition” from OWN Documentary Club (1)

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  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.”   

   Continue reading “Sons of Perdition” from OWN Documentary Club (1) →

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

The Cup Smashing Service at WOFF

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   Since my involvement with the most recent exit drama, which began last Saturday, I have been listening to this survivor tell of his “adventures” within Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). We have also discussed many of the defining moments or services at WOFF over the last few years. This young man remembers many of the same services I have written about here on this blog. We have discussed the Toilet Paper Revelation– https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=243 , The Church Service No One Was to Talk About- https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=335 , and Don’t Read That Article July 2006– https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2639 . There have many more memories which were sparked by speaking some of the unique phrases or language used at WOFF. Phrases such as – “take hold”, “correction”, “submit to authority”, “open your heart”, “You are giving over to (name you sin), and my favorite-“What are you giving to?”

   During these times reviewing some of the defining moments of WOFF history, he mentioned a recent service that from his remarks, must rank as one of the more dramatic and “powerful”. I will retell it as best as I can remember from his telling me three times. He began by saying a lady in the church had a daughter. The family also owned a cat. The mother bought a mug for the daughter which may have read –“Food Tastes Better with Cat Hair”. We have all seen these types of souvenir type mugs. The sayings can be simple and there may be pictures or drawings on them. I must admit I could only find a mug which said –“Everything tastes better with cat hair in it!” Here is the link- http://www.amazon.com/Name-Lorrie-Veasey-Hair-2-Inch/dp/B003YDG9KA

   Regardless, the exact words on the mug are not as critical as what Jane Whaley did with it. I was told she brought the mug into a service and told the congregation that buying this mug was out of sorcery and witchcraft. If she followed other pervious patterns, then it would have also been loosening witchcraft and sorcery at the daughter. She then took the mug and smashed on the floor into many pieces. The lady who purchased it and those who laughed at it were then ordered to clean up the pieces. There may have been other things said and done. The survivor who told me this watched the service from the discipleship room. Things that were done in the main sanctuary were not always seen or heard on the “monitor” in the discipleship room.

   Continue reading The Cup Smashing Service at WOFF →

Behavior Control, Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Another Exit Drama Unfolds…

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  This past Monday I was made aware of a young man that had left or was actually put out of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). My information came through anonymous sources. Before I tell of the events, let me explain why this post will be different. The events surrounding this exit from WOFF were in many ways not unique. Many others have gone through very similar drama scenes. In light of this and because the events are in many ways still unfolding, I will refrain from using the names of the family members involved. I will mention those who are in the drama-trauma that have been mentioned before on the blog. So, we begin…

   Monday, I received a notice mentioning that a young man had been dropped off at a local hotel in Forest City by his Dad.  He was asking for help and he may be open to my help. I proceeded with caution as I can never be absolutely certain until contact is made with a person who wants to leave. I called the number given and left a message. Soon, I received a call back from this young person. He explained simply that he was out and needed help. He was dropped off with the clothes on his back and had not received his personal effects. I agreed to meet him for dinner and we would talk. As I drove to the area, I had thoughts of helping him at least get his clothes and other basic items. My initial thoughts were to attempt contact with Mark Morris as he had been very helpful in the Morgan Sample exit drama.

   I picked him up from a business where he had been waiting since earlier in the day for help. I learned he had walked from the hotel to the phone service provider and actually purchased his first cell phone. We went to a local restaurant. As we both sat down with our dinner, this young person appeared very cautious and not sure where to start. I encouraged him just to relax and tell me what happened. He began by saying he would review the events over the last year. He would not be able to tell everything, but would give the main events. So, he began to tell a story very similar to ones I had heard before. This young man had been sent to the fourth building at WOFF. There he was sent to live with other men who were giving to the “unclean”. As he spoke of the rules and the punishments, my heart sank. For a brief moment, I had hopes that maybe things had changed. But, in the end, I could see that the behavior modification methods had not changed, but, in fact seemed more intense.

   Continue reading Another Exit Drama Unfolds… →

Books, Resources, Uncategorized

Two Good Questions, Two Good Answers

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   Several months ago, a fellow survivor of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) gave me an article he had cut-out of a newspaper. He did not leave me the title or date of this publication, but the author of the small piece was very well known. The article was titled, “No need to fear a loving God- In My Opinion by Billy Graham”. It included a question and answer. Here is a copy….

Fear of God and Love for God
Article answers question about fearing God

   I stuffed the small piece of paper in my calendar and left it there for weeks. It was not until a second article came to my attention that I retrieved the first one and considered them side by side. In reference to the first clipping, and in order to avoid quoting the entire piece, I will recap. The person writing the question was trying to reconcile the instructions to fear God and love Him. “How can you love someone you also fear?” It would be incorrect to assume that the entire scope of the matter could be answered in a small newspaper clipping, but, one could get some direction from this answer.

   Continue reading Two Good Questions, Two Good Answers →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Jane Whaley and Resurrected Indians?

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  In a recent post titled, “The Short Creek Effect”, we cited resource material from “Escape” written by Carolyn Jessop. (“Escape”- authors Carolyn Jessop and Laura Palmer, Copyright©2007 by Visionary Classics, LLC, published by Broadway Books, ISBN 978-0-7679-2756-7). We are continuing on with references found in the chapter titled “Child’s Play”. Jessop recounts the games and adventures of her childhood. She grew up a part of the Fundamentalist Church of the Latter Day Saints (FLDS) which practices polygamy.

   The game she explains in detail was “apocalypse”. “It was magic, our version of hide-and-seek… We grew up knowing a lot about the end of the world. It had been drilled into us in Sunday school that we were God’s chosen people. When the end times would come, we would be saved.” (page 24) As I read this I remembered how many other religious cults taught that they “were God’s chosen people”. Do I need to list them? My perspective also comes from my time in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Teachings about the end times were sporadic and at times murky in WOFF. But, no doubt we were God’s chosen people. Well, if you pressed on to know the Lord, stayed at WOFF and kept submitting to the authority of God- which was embodied in Jane Whaley. Your place in the will of God was always tied to your continued attendance at WOFF. After all, why would God tell you to leave “the will of God”? So, even if the exact words were not used consistently, it was clearly understood and said that “there may be other folks walking in the Truth, but, we had not found them yet.” Being at WOFF made you special. We move on.

    Jessop continues, “When the end times would come, we would be saved, the wicked killed, and the world destroyed. I was too young to question these ideas; they were my spiritual ABCs. Contrary to what most would think, we were not taught the end of the world was a bad thing. Not at all. It was a good thing because it would usher in a thousand years of peace… There was one caveat; before God slaughtered the wicked, he would allow them to try to kill his chosen people. (It should have made us wonder, but we didn’t.) We were taught the government (which was wicked) would move into our community and try to kill every man, woman, and child. But since we had been faithful to God and kept his word, he’d hear our prayers and protect us.” (page 24) Again, as we read this, remember that these ideas were taught over and over to the young children. It became accepted and so common place that at least from Jessop’s account there was very little doubt expressed or even the least bit of critical thinking in reference to these FLDS “truths”. Why should that shock us? Why should it shock me? As a result of the mind control methods used in this group, critical thinking was for the most part non-existent.

   Continue reading Jane Whaley and Resurrected Indians? →