The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice

This book was very powerful. Kudos to Rebecca Missed for having the strength and courage to escape and fight the FLDS. I shall forever be changed. We need to be aware of the insidious crimes that are going on around our sheltered lives. We are all children of God and deserve the respect, that stems from that truth and honor.

Well written and liked knowing more about the sect that split off from the church. Strange that men had all the rights and control and the women weren't really valued at all, except for the number of children they could produce.

I purchased this book after watching the story on Dateline and being intrigued by it. The book was so much more in depth than I thought it would be. It was truly engaging and although sometimes sad and difficult to read, it was very informative and well written. A wonderfully written and captivating story.

Rebecca Musser was born Rebecca Wall in 1976. Her mother Sharon Steed was the second wife of Rebecca's father. Sharon was also a cousin to Warren Jeffs (his maternal Grandfather was the brother to Sharon's father) and Sharon's two sisters Ruth and Barbara were married to Merrill Jessop who was a high up in the FLDS (several of Merrill's daughters ended up marrying Warren)

Rebecca's home life was not easy thanks to her fathers first wife who used to beat Rebecca and her full siblings since according to their step mother their mother was a bitch and they were bastards. Things only got more difficult as Rebecca got older, and her mothers niece married her father. When Rebecca was about 18 the whole family went to the Jeffs compound so that her father could meet with Rulon Jeffs. This meeting led to Rebecca marrying him when she was still a teenager and he was in his 80's. She was not happy being married off to Rulon, but made the most of it teaching at Alta Academy and being mother and grandmother to Rulons numerous offspring. After Rulon past away in 2003 his son Warren tried to consolatate his power and married many of the women who had been his step-mothers. Warren tried to get Rebecca to marry him, but she refused. Around this time she had met Rulons grandson Ryan Musser and they became friendly. He helped her escape the compound and they made their way to Oregon to live with her brother. Things started to heat up between the two and shortly after leaving she became pregnant with their son. They got married and had a daughter together, but ended up divorcing.

The big reason that they got divorced was because of what had been going on in the FLDS. Girls were being forced to marry men 2,3,4 times their age. Shortly after Rebecca escaped her sister Elissa (who wrote her own book) escaped as well after being forced to marry their 19 year old first cousin when she was 14. Rebecca was involved in the court case that Elissa had brough against Warren Jeffs and the UEP. Her husband's family did not like that she was testifying against Warren (considering that Warren was his Uncle) and that caused a great strain on their marriage. After Elissa's court case there was a raid on an FLDS compound in Texas and because of this several men (including her Uncle Merrill and several of his sons and other Steed relatives) were tried for crimes connected to underage marriage and polygamy which was the tipping point to her marriage.

All in all an interesting look at the FLDS, though I wonder what will happen when Rebecca's children are told that she was once married to their great-grandfather. That will be an interesting conversation!

After reading Elissa Wall's (Rebecca's sister) story, this was confusing because Elissa changed the names of her family to protect them. Even more baffling after reading the commentary by their brother Cole. Question: did Rebecca sensationalize her story, or just state the facts as she remembered them?

I've read most books that have been written about
Warren Jeff. Remarkable story of redemption.
A must read for anyone who is interested in
these events. Truthfully written by a courageous
woman. Be prepared for uncomfortable facts,
that need to be made known.

I've read most books that have been written about
Warren Jeff. Remarkable story of redemption.
A must read for anyone who is interested in
these events. Truthfully written by a courageous
woman. Be prepared for uncomfortable facts,
that need to be made known.

My daughter loved it. She loved the full story, and knowing the facts. The book is interesting because her story , combined with the other books my daughter has, about the other women who lived in the same community, all had almost the same story to tell.

I couldn't put this book down - very well written and kept me captivated the whole time. It also helped me learn about where the foundation of the LDS beliefs came from, evethough FLDS is different now, there is still a similarity in the roots

This book is very well written considering the author's limited early education. She has faced many adversities, both physical and emotional, at times with no support from friends or family and all the while being persecuted by a megalomaniac. Rebecca Musser survived incredible odds and is an inspiration and a shining example of a truly good person.

I learned so much about all the charges and lives of the FLDS organization. I feel really lucky to have learned the things I did and I feel sorry for the women and children that had to go through this experience.

True story of incredible courage in the face of many difficult situations. A spotlight on what, unfortunately still seems to be going on even today despite everything this young lady has gone through. Quite an exposé on FLDS cult. Interesting read.

Gee

The witness wore red,this story brought tears to my eyes. She had so much courage to tell things how she persevered them. I have also read her brothers book. If she helped even on girl it was a blessing. Time will eventually show the real truth. Bless you for what you tried to do.

I have curiosity about other cultures and have seen a lot on TV about others who have escaped the FDLS but Rebecca Musser told her story in such a way that I felt like a fly on the wall. God bless her for all the personal sacrifices to give a better life to others.

A fascinatingly horrible expose'. Well written, showed me something of a side of life I had no idea about. Saw the book originally on the Dr Phil show recently, waiting list at the local library was months long so decided to buy the kindle edition. Glad I did.

Becky described the life of her family, the trials of being a plural wife, and I just want to say when the story was unfolding I had the utmost respect for her. Hearing the story first hand helped me understand the true bondage she survived.

first-hand reporting of what was actually occurring in the FLDS. I applaud Rebecca Musser for her courage in coming forward to testify against the abusers and writing this revealing account of the abuses she and others were forced to endure. I have also read the book written by her sister, Elissa Wall, titled Stolen Innocence. Both good reads.

This is a great book.
I am especially gratified that this author took the opportunity to focus on the plight and abuse of women and children. She also did something about the exploitation of females.

Can not imagine anyone in these United states being subjected to the life described in this book. Yet we know it to be true thanks to the media and the author of these pages. It's like seeing the veil lifted off an alternate universe.

Great read. This is another book that was hard to put down. It's unbelievable that any human beings could treat children and women with such disregard and pretend to do it in the name of God. Individuals that would treat their own children this way should be locked away for life.

I just admire Rebecca Musser, the author, for sharing her story. It is an inspiration to see how she stayed strong to her beliefs and values and was willing to tell her story. It is a page turner - couldn't put it down!

This book shared Rebeccas experiences during this period of her life. I will read it again, it was difficult to know that this horror is still practiced among polygamous cults. How very sad to me that woman are belittled, disrespected and have no rights, all in the name of religion. She wrote with her heart and I felt her pain. We all tend to live what we learn...she learned better!

This lady has an extraordinary memory and strength to always tell the whole truth, no matter the consequenses. This has given me insight into another "religion" that has piqued my curiosity for many years. There are 3 different forms of Godly worship in my own personal background. I respect each persons choice of worship and am compelled to study them, for my own curiosity. I would recommend this book to anyone who is mature and open-minded and not judgemental. I consider myself a student in all things.

This was a compelling read that changed my belief about polygamy, especially within the group that consider Rulon Jeffs to be their infallible leader who speaks for God. So very sad in the 21st Century that women really are treated as property in the name of religion!

I was by turns appalled and furious while reading this book. It's well-written, but the way that women are treated in this cult (& that's what it is, a cult. It meets the definitions, although I don't feel that Mormons in general are a cult) is disgusting. Warren Jeffs seems to have taken a page from the Jim Jones school of how to run a cult. Women are less than dirt, yet the men are required to have lots of wives, partly in order to get to heaven. I'm glad Musser was able to get free, and I only wish that the states had been able to break this group up totally and introduce them to the real world - where we're not all bad, as they're taught. I don't really care how many wives they want to have, but only if they're treated like full human beings, as these women are most definitely NOT.

An engaging story and certainly an eye opening description of life in a religious cult. It is extraordinary what abuses people will endure if they are convinced that they will 'go to hell' if they do not comply.

I enjoyed the book very much. I now understand the FLDS workings and beliefs a bit more. My only complaint was it was difficult to follow all of the names in the book, as everyone is "related" thru marriage etc.

Gives insight to the personal lives of the members of the FDLS and the workings of any cult that is able to completely control the minds and lives of their followers. Also the hardship of those who try to leave the workings of the church and the strength of these people that realize the importance of bringing these people to justice at a personal cost.

Hard to decide if this is reality or enhanced reality...also read the rebuttal (?) written by her brother?
So who knows, have heard of similar situations by other escapees , worth the read, food for thought!!

Women & children treated like chattle, cut off from the real world & basically brain washed. Sound like a cult? No, it's the FLDS. This book was fascinating & horrifying at the same time. To think that this kind of treatment of women goes on in 21 century America is mind-boggling. Rebecca Musser's story is gripping from the very first page.

Amazing. The courage of this woman and others like her gives hope that each person can make a difference if we choose to. Living in the greatest country in the world and realizing there are still people without their God given right to freedom and choice, let's me know the battle is never over and that each of us who really have freedom and choice, should never stop remembering there are those who don't right here in the USA.

Rebecca always seemed to know deep down her life was twisted and wrong the way other people were allowed to treat herself and others. Others can pound their beliefs and their truths into you but when you experience something so WRONG you just know it can't be RIGHT! And you start believing there is something somewhere out there that is!