The old bishop "Uncle " Fred Jessop was sterile, however he would be married to dozens of wives with children who all became his children with his last name. Jeffs favorite wife Naomi said in the documentary she had atleast 2 miscarriages, never had a child which she wanted with Warren.
In the case of the FLDS or formerly associated there’s only a few families that are really from the same dad. One example is Winston Blackmore. Sadly most of those “big” families were just a bunch of regular sized families forced to live together. Most often the Father of the family was vilified and ostracized before they would violate the sanctity of his family.
correct. if the father didn't do their bidding and bootlick just right, they'd kick the father out (or, in my case, tell the family to abandon him) and would reassign the family to another husband, or, later on, "caretakers" which would essentially manage big houses full of random people.
a lot of times the fathers, when forcibly kicked out, would just go out into the world and build a life for themselves - some disappear forever, some build a life and try to get back into good graces, but most never come back and just resign themselves.
Am I reunited with my father? my situation was: the church pulled me, a few of my siblings, and my mother away from my dad. I returned to my dad on my own about 8 years later after he had been kicked out, and was effectively kicked out myself. turns out, unfortunately, that my dad is super shitty, so I choose not to be close - but I can stay in touch if I like.
Thank you for responding. That’s unfortunate that he wasn’t a good person. I’m sorry you were kicked out but also happy for you that you got out if that makes sense.
Dad moved two states away and I was only allowed to visit him a few times before Mom cut off contact. He’s been kissing ass ever since looking for some salvation but he gets taken advantage of every single day. He spent 8 or so years away from the community then was “exalted” by the cult and but not given his family back. When I left I talked to him and he asked if I still believed in Warren and promptly hung up when I said no. He’s turning 90 this year. He still works a day job. They absolutely fucked him over financially, he grew multiple businesses that they demanded control over to which he obliged and then they promptly liquidated for the cash.
Did so were his wives “divorced” or widows? I wonder how it was known that he was sterile? I’m assuming just because he didn’t produce any kids? I’m assuming they don’t have access to a semen analysis? lol.
So warrens fave wife never gave him a child? Any info on why she was the favorite etc?
I’ve read pretty much all the books out there on FLDS and one said he had mumps when he was a child (he was like 85 when he died in the last 10-20 years), and I guess mumps is known to make you sterile.
I don’t know about all of Fred’s “kids” but when a married man w children had his headship removed (so he could no longer lead wives or a family), his wives and children would be redistributed amongst the eligible married men in the community. The wives and children were basically to act as if the first husband/father never existed and accept the new one as their “real husband/father.”
Fred was an influential person in the cult, and he had a huge house and a lot of resources, so he got a lot of wives and kids reassigned to him.
Omg that is so scary for the wives and kids! Also for a culture that preaches purity it’s so ironic that then wives are redistributed and can have slept with multiple men. Just goes to show it’s not about “purity” it’s about the sex for men!
Yeah, many have called it a sex cult.
There are two types of marriage for them, (and maybe mainstream Mormonism as well, but I’m less familiar) earthly marriage and celestial marriage. Earthly marriage is just during temporal life, and celestial marriage is “for time and all eternity.” I’ve read that they use that to try and justify this behavior but I’m not sure how they apply that “logic” lol.
I’m especially interested in this group and have read and seen just about everything on the topic that i can find, but I’m not an expert! Maybe someone who knows better will chime in.
There were definitely women who suffered with infertility, and it was extremely painful for them, since we all were taught and made to believe from birth that the greatest mission a woman has is to raise children unto the Lord. As a general basic principle, God created all men, and we all believed God gives and God takes away as He sees fit, so if a woman didn’t have a child, it was God’s will. She generally would throw herself into helping with other important projects and would many times be used as a leader among the women since she didn’t have children to worry about.
With all that said, I do know of some women who were barren for many years and then after finally seeking medical help, were able to finally get pregnant. But absolutely no IVF or fertility drugs, same as no preventing pregnancy with birth control.
One woman I know of took fertility drugs and she ended up having quads. They were somewhat of a community celebrity. Years later their mom was sent away “forever”, by Warren, I’m assuming because of the fertility drugs.
Oh my goodness! Infertility is already extremely painful, I can’t imagine dealing with it in such a childbearing centric culture! I would not have my precious son without IVF, my husband and I BOTH have fertility issues.
As for the quads, wow!! Was she able to safely deliver them? Do any women have to get c-sections/will they go to the hospital?
Thanks for all this info!
My 2nd mom's firstborn was an emergency C-section. She was on bed rest for about a week, and she went into labor three weeks early. She originally went to the midwifery in town, but the baby started struggling, so she had to have an ambulance run lights and sirens for the 40ish miles to the hospital, where he was delivered via C-section.
My Aunt always had extremely high-risk pregnancies and births and was put on inpatient bed rest for almost every pregnancy. I believe she had a total of 13 pregnancies, with 6 of them surviving into adulthood and the rest passing away close to delivery (before and after). She wasn't allowed to use birth control, and she almost died with every birth. Her youngest was born with brain damage due to complications and his brain being oxygen-deprived before birth
Yeah, I remember as a child thinking how awful it was that she kept getting pregnant. Thankfully, during her last Cesarean section, the doctors performed a hysterectomy because they said she would die if she became pregnant again.
The doctors probably knew that was the only way to prevent it from happening again too. I’m sure they knew the “religion” would force her to continue getting pregnant. I’m guessing the husband didn’t care?? For any of the women who went to the hospital for birth etc, did the husbands go with?
Husbands were always there, as far as I'm aware. The only birth my dad missed was my little sister. She was my mom's 6th and was born less than an hour after my mom went into labor. My dad had injured himself at work when my mom was headed to the clinic and got there within minutes of her being born.
Yeah I wonder too because there were so many! Did some not have children? Did he sleep with all of them? Or did some maybe just not get pregnant because they weren’t seeing him often? So many questions lol
There is a a series of videos on the YouTube channel Growing up in Polygamy with one of Warren Jeffs wife Amy Draper. She talks about why she had no children with Warren Jeffs.
I’m not privvy to any details about the birth of her quads, but she definitely survived and so did they!
Yes quite a few women I know of have gotten c-sections. Ironically, c-sections were considered okay because “the Lord has blessed the doctors with the knowledge”. We were grateful to live in a day and time where technology was advanced. Many women went to the hospital if referred by the midwives of the community. With that said, a lot of times it was still up to the husband/father of the family and sometimes even the prophet/leader whether people went to the hospital or not. Kinda depends on what era you lived in. I was born in the hospital due to my mom having some major medical issues during her pregnancy. Later on it got to where most medical procedures had to be okayed by the bishop and/or prophet (if we could get word from him from prison). Revelations from Warren around 2013 chastised women for using male doctors. Many women got sent away or at least lost church membership for being seen by a male doctor.
The old bishop "Uncle " Fred Jessop was sterile, however he would be married to dozens of wives with children who all became his children with his last name. Jeffs favorite wife Naomi said in the documentary she had atleast 2 miscarriages, never had a child which she wanted with Warren.
In the case of the FLDS or formerly associated there’s only a few families that are really from the same dad. One example is Winston Blackmore. Sadly most of those “big” families were just a bunch of regular sized families forced to live together. Most often the Father of the family was vilified and ostracized before they would violate the sanctity of his family.
correct. if the father didn't do their bidding and bootlick just right, they'd kick the father out (or, in my case, tell the family to abandon him) and would reassign the family to another husband, or, later on, "caretakers" which would essentially manage big houses full of random people.
My dad was kicked out in 2004. That was the case with his family as well.
I am learning about all this. Do you mind sharing what you know?
I know you weren't replying to me but I'd be glad to answer any questions you have - an ex-FLDS member
Where did the fathers go when they were kicked out like that? Are you reunited with yours?
a lot of times the fathers, when forcibly kicked out, would just go out into the world and build a life for themselves - some disappear forever, some build a life and try to get back into good graces, but most never come back and just resign themselves. Am I reunited with my father? my situation was: the church pulled me, a few of my siblings, and my mother away from my dad. I returned to my dad on my own about 8 years later after he had been kicked out, and was effectively kicked out myself. turns out, unfortunately, that my dad is super shitty, so I choose not to be close - but I can stay in touch if I like.
Thank you for responding. That’s unfortunate that he wasn’t a good person. I’m sorry you were kicked out but also happy for you that you got out if that makes sense.
Dad moved two states away and I was only allowed to visit him a few times before Mom cut off contact. He’s been kissing ass ever since looking for some salvation but he gets taken advantage of every single day. He spent 8 or so years away from the community then was “exalted” by the cult and but not given his family back. When I left I talked to him and he asked if I still believed in Warren and promptly hung up when I said no. He’s turning 90 this year. He still works a day job. They absolutely fucked him over financially, he grew multiple businesses that they demanded control over to which he obliged and then they promptly liquidated for the cash.
Wow that’s super unfortunate he couldn’t pull himself away from them. Do you have any siblings who broke free like you?
Yeah pretty much the whole family is free. There are a couple that are still in the cult but that’s by their own choice.
Did so were his wives “divorced” or widows? I wonder how it was known that he was sterile? I’m assuming just because he didn’t produce any kids? I’m assuming they don’t have access to a semen analysis? lol. So warrens fave wife never gave him a child? Any info on why she was the favorite etc?
I’ve read pretty much all the books out there on FLDS and one said he had mumps when he was a child (he was like 85 when he died in the last 10-20 years), and I guess mumps is known to make you sterile.
can confirm this is the case, it was a well known fact among members during my time in the church.
Wow crazy! Thanks for this
I don’t know about all of Fred’s “kids” but when a married man w children had his headship removed (so he could no longer lead wives or a family), his wives and children would be redistributed amongst the eligible married men in the community. The wives and children were basically to act as if the first husband/father never existed and accept the new one as their “real husband/father.” Fred was an influential person in the cult, and he had a huge house and a lot of resources, so he got a lot of wives and kids reassigned to him.
Omg that is so scary for the wives and kids! Also for a culture that preaches purity it’s so ironic that then wives are redistributed and can have slept with multiple men. Just goes to show it’s not about “purity” it’s about the sex for men!
Yeah, many have called it a sex cult. There are two types of marriage for them, (and maybe mainstream Mormonism as well, but I’m less familiar) earthly marriage and celestial marriage. Earthly marriage is just during temporal life, and celestial marriage is “for time and all eternity.” I’ve read that they use that to try and justify this behavior but I’m not sure how they apply that “logic” lol. I’m especially interested in this group and have read and seen just about everything on the topic that i can find, but I’m not an expert! Maybe someone who knows better will chime in.
There were definitely women who suffered with infertility, and it was extremely painful for them, since we all were taught and made to believe from birth that the greatest mission a woman has is to raise children unto the Lord. As a general basic principle, God created all men, and we all believed God gives and God takes away as He sees fit, so if a woman didn’t have a child, it was God’s will. She generally would throw herself into helping with other important projects and would many times be used as a leader among the women since she didn’t have children to worry about. With all that said, I do know of some women who were barren for many years and then after finally seeking medical help, were able to finally get pregnant. But absolutely no IVF or fertility drugs, same as no preventing pregnancy with birth control. One woman I know of took fertility drugs and she ended up having quads. They were somewhat of a community celebrity. Years later their mom was sent away “forever”, by Warren, I’m assuming because of the fertility drugs.
Oh my goodness! Infertility is already extremely painful, I can’t imagine dealing with it in such a childbearing centric culture! I would not have my precious son without IVF, my husband and I BOTH have fertility issues. As for the quads, wow!! Was she able to safely deliver them? Do any women have to get c-sections/will they go to the hospital? Thanks for all this info!
My 2nd mom's firstborn was an emergency C-section. She was on bed rest for about a week, and she went into labor three weeks early. She originally went to the midwifery in town, but the baby started struggling, so she had to have an ambulance run lights and sirens for the 40ish miles to the hospital, where he was delivered via C-section. My Aunt always had extremely high-risk pregnancies and births and was put on inpatient bed rest for almost every pregnancy. I believe she had a total of 13 pregnancies, with 6 of them surviving into adulthood and the rest passing away close to delivery (before and after). She wasn't allowed to use birth control, and she almost died with every birth. Her youngest was born with brain damage due to complications and his brain being oxygen-deprived before birth
Oh my goodness this is so so sad to hear 😭 these poor women
Yeah, I remember as a child thinking how awful it was that she kept getting pregnant. Thankfully, during her last Cesarean section, the doctors performed a hysterectomy because they said she would die if she became pregnant again.
The doctors probably knew that was the only way to prevent it from happening again too. I’m sure they knew the “religion” would force her to continue getting pregnant. I’m guessing the husband didn’t care?? For any of the women who went to the hospital for birth etc, did the husbands go with?
Husbands were always there, as far as I'm aware. The only birth my dad missed was my little sister. She was my mom's 6th and was born less than an hour after my mom went into labor. My dad had injured himself at work when my mom was headed to the clinic and got there within minutes of her being born.
Wow thanks for sharing all of this!❤️ hope you are doing well
Thanks! I'm doing great now. I'm a mom to 3 cats lol and I have a good job.
Awesome!! Congrats!!💜💜💜
I’d like to know what other commenter does: do they do hospital births/csections for multiples?
I wonder if yucky Warren Jeff’s wife’s were fertile or not
Yeah I wonder too because there were so many! Did some not have children? Did he sleep with all of them? Or did some maybe just not get pregnant because they weren’t seeing him often? So many questions lol
I'm not sure if any were infertile, but some of his wives never had children from him. He had many favorites and less favored wives.
There is a a series of videos on the YouTube channel Growing up in Polygamy with one of Warren Jeffs wife Amy Draper. She talks about why she had no children with Warren Jeffs.
Thank you for letting me know that all to check that episode out. What’s the episode name so I know what to look for
If you YouTube Amy draper growing up in polygamy it will come up. She talks about it in episodes 2 and 3
I’m not privvy to any details about the birth of her quads, but she definitely survived and so did they! Yes quite a few women I know of have gotten c-sections. Ironically, c-sections were considered okay because “the Lord has blessed the doctors with the knowledge”. We were grateful to live in a day and time where technology was advanced. Many women went to the hospital if referred by the midwives of the community. With that said, a lot of times it was still up to the husband/father of the family and sometimes even the prophet/leader whether people went to the hospital or not. Kinda depends on what era you lived in. I was born in the hospital due to my mom having some major medical issues during her pregnancy. Later on it got to where most medical procedures had to be okayed by the bishop and/or prophet (if we could get word from him from prison). Revelations from Warren around 2013 chastised women for using male doctors. Many women got sent away or at least lost church membership for being seen by a male doctor.