From FLDS Childhood to Warren Jeffs' Bride: Her Untold Story - Ft. Amy Draper
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- In this eye-opening interview, we delve into the life of Amy, a courageous woman who grew up in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). She shares her personal story of a childhood shaped by the doctrines of the FLDS community and the journey that led to her marriage to the notorious leader, Warren Jeffs, at the tender age of 16.
Join us as Amy recounts her unique experiences, shedding light on the hidden world of FLDS, the challenges she faced, and her ultimate path to freedom. Her story is one of resilience, strength, and hope-a testament to the human spirit's capacity to overcome even the most daunting circumstances.
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more compelling interviews and stories.
#FLDS #WarrenJeffs #SurvivorStory #Documentary #Interview
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Oh I hope you read this. I’m friends with Lolene Gifford, Amy’s teacher she talks about. Lolene would love to get in touch with her❤️🥰
Hi, Amy! I loved listening to your story, and I just want to say: it’s never too late to cut bangs! I was never allowed to have them as a kid, bc I have thick, Jewish hair, and my mom had no idea how to tame it. Even as an adult, it took me years to dare to try them, but once I did, I’ve never gone back! Love, love, love my bangs - so, I say, go for it, if you still would love them - worst case scenario; if you don’t love ‘em, they’ll grow out 💜⚡️
No oooo don't do it get clip in bangs
I love this comment!!! ❤❤❤ agree 100%! Hair can always grow back! And of course you could try clip in bangs before you do the chop if you’d feel more comfortable doing that! ❤❤
💯
Between yall and Cults To consciousness, play Mormon stories we are just having so much content I don't know what to do with all of it❤ she's a strong beautiful woman and I'm so happy for her to living how SHE wants to live.
Amy, you are so articulate and organized while discussing your past. Sam and Melissa, thank you for creating a platform that holds space for nuance so the good times can still have a moment shine. ❤
Amy is such an intelligent and level headed person. I am in awe at her grasp on reality and carefulness in speaking on her perception of other people’s experiences and having really good boundaries in her storytelling. I am impressed. She seems so put together despite what she went through!
I could listen to Amy for weeks. She is so empathetic, compassionate, insightful, and well spoken.
Amy! What a story! So happy to know you are with the love of your life now and reunited with your mom(I think I’ve watched out of order) and I hope you have all the peace & joy you so deserve.
Bahhhhh! Losing the content is so frustrating! I have second hand frustration for you. I'm glad she was patient and willing to meet up again. Love yall so much. I haven't missed any of your videos. ❤
So grateful you are willing to share your story with us Amy. Looking forward to hear the second part of this interview ✨
Yes, to all of this!
Excellent interview. Great questions. I really appreciate the respect and lack of judgment shown by both Sam and Melissa.
Amy Draper is such a class act, I absolutely love her storytelling. You guys both ask such great questions as well! This was a wonderful interview full of so many emotions and educational moments, I came from Alyssa’s channel and I’ll definitely be staying! :)
Really enjoyed listening to this interview. I've never been LDS but am absolutely fascinated listening. Love from South Wales UK :)
I'm also from South Wales! Such a small world haha! Xx
This is about flds. Very different
What a fascinating interview and a thoughtful and articulate guest. I'm so much looking forward to the next part of the interview. Excellent.
Thank you!
Amy, I listened to your story on Cults to Consciousness but HAD to watch this series because of how insane yours story is. You’re fierce ❤
Great interview. Thank you for your testimony.
I’m starting this series over! I am so impressed by Amy. You are so courageous and good for sharing your story. I send much love from Colorado.
Wonderful interview, Sam & Melissa! And thank you for sharing your story with us, Amy! ❤❤❤
Thank you so much for sharing your story! Please tell me part two of her story will be the next video! I’m looking forward to hearing more!
As a never Mormon, I've been fascinated to learn so much about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. They were 2 men-on-a-mission to grow a new religion which gave them access to women and money. They married many women and girls, which troubles me when members try to deny that. They were polygamous before the FLDS.
This is the perfect example of how so many "new" religions, with questionable morality, had their start in the U.S. Even the re-born Christian movement has it's roots there. It appears that anyone can start such a cult there, get tax exemption, and enrich themselves. It's time for the U.S. to put more rigid laws in place to stop that craziness.
I’m an American and I love my country, I wholeheartedly agree! Even “mainstream” Christian churches here get away with soo much. Us regular people pay taxes but these people with hundreds of millions, private jets, designer everything, friends with celebrities stuff has got to end
I could not agree more, and I’m an Episcopalian, which is a pretty mainstream and affluent church. Tax churches!!!
Also, thanks Sam & Melissa for hosting Amy - she is a very impressive woman and you two are a great team of interviewers. ❤❤❤
YES😊
Lisa, I read on another video or on Mormonpedia the purpose is to repopulate the land with their specific genetics and beliefs of their U.S.- created religion. I have Mormon friends who confirm this.
Wow, great interview! 😊
Fantastic interview. Amy, thank you so much for sharing your story and helping us all put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Amy. You are an amazing, strong and kind woman to share your experience and I hope it will help others in their own healing and faith journeys❤
Thank you so much!
Break the silence. Break the cycle.
Perfectly put! Be the cycle breakers ❤
Thank you to Amy for such a thoughtful and interesting interview.
So happy to see Amy!!
The drama with not being accepted as a step mom by my ex husband and his baby mama I felt that but every time
My new father in law calls me he says I’m his daughter makes me cry he’s so sweet
What a lovely lady! And so courageous sharing her story.
Sam and Melissa, you two are just fantastic together. I love your channel.
Great story telling! Amazing story can’t wait for part 2!❤
Fantastic interview❤
I’m really enjoying this interview and it’s so true everyone had their own experiences that are unique with an overlay of commonality to it. With God there is no confusion about marriage- there will be no marriage in Heaven, it’s an earthly construct sanctioned by God but not carried forward.
Thank you for sharing your story, Amy!
Wow, Amy is an engaging story teller. Thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you, it's a lot to dwell on. The older you get the more you realize the outside influences that can mold your life. I was a farm girl raised strictly Catholic, now an old "worldly" woman, I still find myself wishing for the dirt poor naive little girl.
@connie2558 I was raised in Ireland in a lovely home where my siblings and I were loved by my darling mom & dad.
We were raised Catholic. I don't have any nasty memories of that. Our Priests encouraged loyalty within families and I loved singing the hymns. I go to mass fairly often and still find myself saying prayers when anything problematic arises. I had my daughter Christened and she loved going to church. She still goes from time to time and we both love going together at Christmas, even though we each live in separate countries. Having a good family works wonders.
I have a great career and my daughter is following in my footsteps. Attending an Irish Catholic school was the key to an excellent education and entry to great universities.
@@LisaFerguson-lw8il that's why I like Sam and Melissa's channel, they do show the good and happy times, along with the bad and sad. I didn't raise my two sons in any religion, they are good people but sad they don't have a God relationship. Thank you, Lisa, for reaching out!
@@connie2558 Thankyou Connie. I also love this channel. It has taught me to cherish the opportunities my parents opened up for me. I've heard so many people who suffered because they were not given such kindness.
Thank you for sharing and opening your heart to us:)
Her point about large familys, sexual abuse, and lack of sex ed is sooo important
Re-posting my question from the last sister wives video- do the men in these groups, not just flds, have any responsibilities as the patriarch to be a kind and just leader? To refrain from causing jealousy and alienation, control their temper, etc? Is it 9nly the women who must show self control?
Ooooh- now that I’m reading this, I second the question! Inquiring minds want to know 💜⚡️
Hey there, I happen to be one of Amy's sister-wives...Warren's 19th wife. In my experience, and what I witnessed being in his family, especially in the years before and immediately after he became the leader, he was very kind and gentle. It was mostly in his teachings or in private that he got stern or gave corrections.
He always preached against jealousy and claimed he had no favorites, but his actions very much proved otherwise.
However, among us sisterwives, we really had alot of fun times together, even if there was jealousy at times regarding him. I married him at 16 and it felt like i had so many sisters I finished growing up with.
It was in the years after he became the Prophet that he became more and more strict and intolerant, boldly giving out corrections and publicly shaming people who he felt weren't obeying his teachings... alienating them from their families and the cult.
Thank you for the answer. I hope you all are finding peace and happiness.
@@sharisteed7327 profit/prophet?
Super AWESOME Interview!! LOVED IT!
HA! 18min in - MACKERT Home Movie Rental (or Naylor's) - we literally had THOUSANDS of VHS movies - Grouped for age appripriate - and if the young kids wanted to watch a PG-13 or R rated movie we would have them call their parents on our phone to get permission first - we DID do our best to NOT allow movies into homes we knew their Parents would not want IN their house - That business was a DARN lot of FUN!! (we did have several of those - mostly action movies - not much sexy stuff - obvious reasons - we would even EDIT some scenes by hand! - LOL)
I believe this friend was my sister Cassie =)
THE EXPLOSIONS on 4th of July Morning!!! Buncha PYROS!! LOL!
Liked. Shared. Commented. Up the algorithm!
Me tooo!
Thank you for sharing your story!
Great video Sam & Melissa!
It is good for this interview to be produced and the other two channels she named to expose this to the non-LDS mainstream big, wide world. The shocking topic is handled with truth, discretion, respect, and shows the spiritual resilience of survivors, as told by insiders. The language is shocking to outsiders and hard to get beyond, yet commonplace to those raised in it. Other cults have the same desire to procreate to spread their specific genetic traits to repopulate the nation.
That ‘real life’ class she talked about that teaches you how to write checks and get a job etc. should be taught in all schools
I love the content of Growing up in polygamy, educational, entertaining, great guests sharing their own life stories
Stunning Story and stunning detail.
okay wait when sam said melissa was 'varsity' in seminary i thought he was kidding XD and then melissa talks about actually lettering in seminary! omg what?? as a never-mormon not in utah i had no idea. very shocking.
Nice interview.
It's really sad that she keeps talking about how she would have waited and how she wouldn't have made the decision to marry that loser...Like I'm sorry but that was IN NO WAY A decision. That was people manipulating and working out how to assault her as a child and it makes me ACHE that she feels responsible for this in any way. I'm happy she escaped. This sounds like a horrible life.
I have questions about the celestial sealing. If a woman is sealed to her husband for all eternity and supposedly their children are too, but the daughters are all given to other men, and the sons all become God's in their own right... who does that leave you with for all eternity?
Good question. Lol
from an ex mormon on quora, they said they’re all in it together, with endless generations.
“The question captures just a minuscule fraction of that “families are forever,” which is actually a monstrously huge family reunion, multi-generational, in a vertical and horizontal and forward and backwards interlocking cascade. All together, forever, in a ginormous never-ending family party - with endless grandparents and parents and children and sibs and in-laws, and in-laws of in-laws - and their in-laws - and snot-nosed kids, ad nauseam, ad infinitum.”
I'm wondering if yall could post a "recommended reading" list? I've read a number of books on the FLDS and I'm always looking for more. Thanks for all your excellent content. ❤
Oh really? They write¿?????
I'm currently reading Rachel Jeffs book and her brother Ammon Jeffs has also recently published a book about his experience in the Texas Raid. Hope this helps
@SimplyLore Yes, thank you! I've read Rachel's book, but I didn't realize Ammons had dropped. Oddly enough, I got a ways into the last book I was reading before I realized the author was one of Rachel's original sister wives. Fascinating and complicated scenarios.
Ammon jeffs book texas raid
Also give me back my children by Sarah C Allred. She was married to the same guy as Rachel Jeffs
@vjs4539 Yes I love Sarah's book. Highly recommend.
I’d love to hear about Merrill jessops family I read escape a million years ago and find that family so interesting
Same, obviously Carolyn and her kids (minus Betty) are out but I know after Warren excommunicated Merril, many of his family actually left with him. I know several of his daughters are out and I think aside from Betty, all the kids from his last three marriages (Carolyn, Cathleen and Tammy) are out too. But I would love to hear from one of his older daughters or even one of his sons--not the ones involved in child marriages though!
Very strong person.
Thank you!
Sam, do you feel comfortable sharing the first name of your sister who married Rulon Jeffs? I just finished reading "The Witness Wore Red" by Rebecca Musser. Have you read the book? It's so good. There's so much information I never knew about the church. And she talks a lot about life with her sister wives, and I kept wondering "which one is Sam's sister???" lol
If you're comfortable sharing I'd be very interested to know, but if you want to keep it private I understand.
Also if you haven't read that book already I can't recomend it enough.
It’s interesting to me, because as a Christian reading my Bible, I get the concept that there is no marriage in heaven- that we are the bride of Christ and our spouses become brothers and sister in Christ in heaven, and no longer have a marriage relationship.
Wow…. This is the first time I can recall hearing anyone call her parents daddy and momma. 😊
Have you guys read the book The Sound of Gravel? Its an amazing book by Ruth Wariner about the LaBaron colonies in Mexico.
it's so good. one of my favorite memoirs ever!
Janelle was growing things whenever she could. At her rental her backyard was a garden.
Kind of a not so serious comment, but wow, can Amy share her skin care secrets because girl you look amazing!
I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone from the FLDS call their father "Daddy".
Praying that you have the love of the Living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
So if Sam’s sister married Rulon, that makes her Warrens mother. That means that Sam is the uncle of Warrens children.
🤯
Hey Sam, Melissa and Amy. Not sure if any of this will bring you clarity or not. But in the Bible which I believe is true and above any other book on earth it says in, Matthew
“Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow. But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them. Last of all, the woman also died. So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.” Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.”
Matthew 22:25-30
This was said by the Messiah way before Joseph Smith came along. What Joseph said went against what God had already said. God does not change and does not go against himself it’s not his character. Joseph twisted Gods word and led many astray.
❤❤❤
The wave was an early 90's thing. Even we in Europe had them. I guess it stuck in the FLDS because that was the time it all got so strict.
I hear Melissa and others speak about attending "seminary" classes. I am not of the LDS or FLDS faith, what I interpret "seminary" as a "college" where someone who is called by God to be a minister attends. Can someone explain it from the Mormon perspective.
I think it's like Sunday school in other Christian denominations but Mormons have it every week day in the morning? I'm going by what I've heard other Mormons say on youtube, I'm a never-mormon.
It’s a class for older teens that usually meets every weekday morning before school. They go more in depth with the Bible, Book of Mormon and other scriptures.
Asking a sixteen year old if they are mature is laughable, as I am nearly 40 and don’t always feel mature…even at this point in my life, I’d say the same thing if asked that question, “I don’t know?!”
I like her shirt!
The LDS removed the Lectures on Faith from D&C, but the fundamentalists still consider them to be scripture.
Yas Sam and Melissa I saw u guys on chalises channel so cool
Were is part 2??
I hope you read this, Sam and Melissa: Bill Draper's two wives that left, Elaine Jeffs and Mary Mackert, did not "just leave" at all! Both wrote and spoke extensively on how crazy it all was already back then and how they had to prepare their escape at the time! Elaine, although Rulon Jeffs' oldest daughter/child within polygamy (he had older children from the first family that he decided against by choosing polygamy), staged a fake McDonald's outing with her older kids being in on the plan, to leave. Bill Draper kept harassing her and kidnapped two kids etc etc. (This was in 1984. Elaine has since passed away.) Mary Mackert's experience was also rather difficult! She wrote a book about her experience "The Sixth of Seven Wives- Escape from Modern Day Polygamy" (her chosen title) - she had been married to him when she was 17 and he was 50 in order to "disappear her" because she was in a "non-consumated relationship" if you want to call it that and in love with her stepbrother. You are projecting something that wasn't there - you're projecting "the good times before Warren Jeffs" here...
Forgot to mention: Rulon Jeffs suggested blood atonement to Bill Draper for Mary Mackert. Bill did not go through with it ultimately, but threatened it several times.
This woman is precious. Please feel free to contact me if you feel the need to.
Very sad for the kids
My Mormon parents divorced long and my dad wouldn’t let my mom be released from being sealed to him at first. It was so dramatic. 😅
Interesting
❤
What is UEP?
The UEP stands for "United Effort Plan" it is a trust that the FLDS church used to own before the government took it over.
Melissa this is irrelevant but your voice sounds almost identical to that of a friend of mine also named Melissa. I keep expecting to look at the screen and see her. Funnily enough you actually also look a lot like her younger sister (they are not LDS).
There is only one way that leads to life and His name is Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God the Father. All Jesus asks is to confess our sins and recieve Him and follow His commandments , live for Him and we will be with him for all eternity. There is no marriage in Heaven. This was all made up by Joseph Smith and his false visions and people made a religion out of his visitation from another Spirit!
She's beautiful
She would have waited to marry. That's surprising that she would say this. From everything I've read or heard concerning Warren Jeffs, people have no choice and most marry whoever they are told to marry.
It’s so bizarre how all of these FLDS folks have the same accent and voice pattern. It really goes to show that they had little meaningful exposure to the outside world.
How is her dad related to Uncle Ruelan?
As far ad lectures on faith... Joseph never wrote them nor did he teach or reference them. They were written by Sydney Rigdon while Joseph was away...
Couple years ago I saw a utube video with like a big moving truck full of flds girls get pulled over by cops they acted diff to the cops it was weird never found out why they were in this truck
You can google samuel bateman and find out all about him, he wanted to continue warrens evils with young girls, they were his wives
‘Religion’ can be a wonderful experience to awaken the spirit within or it can be a destructive force of evil. It appears this is the latter.
The reason for the confusing about the Mormons concept of being married for eternity to the first husband , is because the Bible addresses this ckearly. Jesus Himself said there would not be marriage in Heaven. Matthew 22: 25-30.
The Bible has not suggested that 2nd marriages are not acceptable. The King James Bible was "upgraded" at the command of the English King Henry V111 (eighth). The original Bible had some marked differences in many areas.
We can't move forward if we take everything in the Bible literally. All the old and knowledgeable Religions, of which there were a fairly small number, knew that we had to interpret the teachings as befits the era's in which those Religions still flourish moving forward. The LDS is a very new "religion" founded by a very questionable character named Joseph Smith. It has very few members worldwide and is haemorrhaging those who are left. It is now just a massive and wealthy conglomerate which dabbles in religion to have its tax exempt status. There is nothing of proof for it's existence. Joe Smith and Brigham Young wanted access to plenty of women and minor girls plus money.
With all the talking on this channel I haven't heard anyone talk about personality disorders (the dark triad) narcissistic/psychopath /sociopath/these kinda brains are what starts cults/thats why these extreme religious cults have so much in common /there is often a genetic component so the genes for this can be passed down/the frontal cortex (grey matter )is to thin where empathy and self reflection is in the brain/they are all about manipulation /control/abuse/they case book seek positions of authority over others and use religion to get away with all their brain washing /and living out insane fantasies !
👍👍
Algorithm
25:23 The Holy Spirit comes directly from God when we believe that Jesus died and rose again from the dead to pay for our sins.
I didn't realize you didn't celebrate xmas.
Well how many siblings did she live with in the crek? She had 32 TOTAL, but if 2 moms left, how many kids were left? 10? 15? 20? How many bedrooms. I'm glad she at least admitted how common incest was.
The reason about the last name i think for children it's a permanent way to get rid of their fathers for good.
I know this is off topic, but are the Mormon and Amish the same or similar? 😊
Not at all
I would say the similarities are the modesty things and the bring more babies, and the cooking is distinctive as well. Past that, the reasons are different for the why's of things and the book of Mormon is very different from any Bible.
Not at all
Both are cults
Yep. After realizing Amish are cults, as Mormon I thought, hmm… could I be in a cult. Soon learned by the help of Sam and Melissa and other podcasters speaking out, my answer was yes and have been out 6 months now.
The reason is was easier to leave the LDS as a Wife or Child/Young Adult before the 80s/90/s…. One word INTERNET!
There was less fear much less Repercussions was that the Law or State cared , mostly cause it didnt effect them directly.
Once the ExCommunicated were able to interact with each other and those abused were exposed to the Outside world it was THEN in the Public so the State/Federal Government couldn’t ignore it
It would be interesting if a bride gave birth to a a black baby.
Hi Amy, I think you are a very lovely person and there is no doubt about that but I thought that one of these days you may be able to make a public apology for swiftly kicking a child in his pants?
So confusing
This woman needs to co tact me.
What does she keep looking at
Notes. Bulletin points, etc.
Notes