"The energy here was so heavy and disruptive.... But it's changing."
January 18, 2018 10:49 AM Subscribe
How Do You Rebuild Your Life After Leaving a Polygamous Sect? Buzzfeed writer Anne Helen Petersen reports on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) community of Short Creek, and how it is changing now that its former leader Warren Jeffs is in prison for life, there are a growing number of ex-FLDS members in town, and formerly powerless female ex-members have formed the Girlfriend Club to support each other as they recreate themselves and their lives. (TW: Some mentions of sexual and physical assault, forced marriage.)
WAIT YOU CAN RENT WARREN JEFFS' BEDROOM ON AIRBNB?
I can't even finish the rest of the article until I take a few dozen moments to get over that.
posted by elsietheeel at 11:30 AM on January 18, 2018 [23 favorites]
I can't even finish the rest of the article until I take a few dozen moments to get over that.
posted by elsietheeel at 11:30 AM on January 18, 2018 [23 favorites]
Indeed. "Today, it’s known as America’s Most Wanted Bed and Breakfast — a deliberate mockery of Warren Jeffs’s time on the FBI’s Most Wanted list."
Humans are amazing, aren't they.
posted by Melismata at 11:41 AM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Humans are amazing, aren't they.
posted by Melismata at 11:41 AM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Okay, I'm super impressed that Elissa Wall went back to Short Creek and is working to improve things and that Hilldale elected a woman to be mayor. Maybe in 20 years they'll have polyandry as well.
posted by elsietheeel at 11:43 AM on January 18, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by elsietheeel at 11:43 AM on January 18, 2018 [7 favorites]
Link to the airbnb listing, for those who are curious but not curious enough to actually search it out. Come for the pictures, stay for the reviews.
I liked that this piece was both up front about and successful at painting a FLDS narrative that seems hopeful/forward looking. I will admit to having been pretty fascinated by their existence since I read Under the Banner of Heaven many years ago - and as someone who comes from a faith-group prone to focusing on our historic persecution (Passover seder, anyone?).
Did anyone else not fully grok why Wall was so hated? The article says she was the first/most public figure to leave and tell the horrifying stories, but then also implied that she is still strongly disliked by folks today, some of whom have also left the church and after many of them seem to have acknowledged that there was some validity to her actions. I would have also appreciated a picture of her tattoo.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:18 PM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
I liked that this piece was both up front about and successful at painting a FLDS narrative that seems hopeful/forward looking. I will admit to having been pretty fascinated by their existence since I read Under the Banner of Heaven many years ago - and as someone who comes from a faith-group prone to focusing on our historic persecution (Passover seder, anyone?).
Did anyone else not fully grok why Wall was so hated? The article says she was the first/most public figure to leave and tell the horrifying stories, but then also implied that she is still strongly disliked by folks today, some of whom have also left the church and after many of them seem to have acknowledged that there was some validity to her actions. I would have also appreciated a picture of her tattoo.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:18 PM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Did anyone else not fully grok why Wall was so hated?
She "destroyed their world", to put it simply. She was key in the initial conviction of Jeffs, which was the beginning of the collapse of the FLDS. Even if that world was filled with horror, it was what they knew, and having that taken from you is a powerful source of hate.
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:29 PM on January 18, 2018 [11 favorites]
She "destroyed their world", to put it simply. She was key in the initial conviction of Jeffs, which was the beginning of the collapse of the FLDS. Even if that world was filled with horror, it was what they knew, and having that taken from you is a powerful source of hate.
posted by NoxAeternum at 12:29 PM on January 18, 2018 [11 favorites]
Like y'all, I can't get over the fact that people stay in that awful place through airbnb. I'd rather spend a night in the mansion from Get Out.
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 12:44 PM on January 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 12:44 PM on January 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
I dunno. There aren't a ton of places to stay that close to both Zion/GSENM and the Grand Canyon.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 12:53 PM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 12:53 PM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Not LDS, but have had several friends who are/were. Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to state fully "Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) community of Short Creek". Cheers!
posted by Samizdata at 1:17 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Samizdata at 1:17 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
The end of the article about one of the women's tattoo is wonderful.
posted by knownassociate at 1:48 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by knownassociate at 1:48 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
*searches “Unbreakable Kimmy”*
“0 results found”
*impressed at avoidance of low hanging fruit*
posted by vorpal bunny at 1:54 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
“0 results found”
*impressed at avoidance of low hanging fruit*
posted by vorpal bunny at 1:54 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Okay so does that $95 a night include hanging out with George Jessop and/or any of the women in the Girlfriend Club? Because that would totally be worth it*. Also close proximity to Zion National Park.
Elissa Wall was first domino that led to toppling Warren Jeffs and the entire FLDS. She's the reason he ended up on the FBI Most Wanted List.
*Uh, to me anyway. Anything having to do with the LDS church is an odd interest of mine, and fundamental Mormonism is a special curiosity - not just the FLDS, but the AUB, the Centennial Park group, the Kingston Clan, the LeBarons...
posted by elsietheeel at 2:16 PM on January 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
Elissa Wall was first domino that led to toppling Warren Jeffs and the entire FLDS. She's the reason he ended up on the FBI Most Wanted List.
*Uh, to me anyway. Anything having to do with the LDS church is an odd interest of mine, and fundamental Mormonism is a special curiosity - not just the FLDS, but the AUB, the Centennial Park group, the Kingston Clan, the LeBarons...
posted by elsietheeel at 2:16 PM on January 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
A possible favorite from the air bnb reviews:
I came to the B&B for a wedding. While there, we were constantly trying to figure out how to navigate the locked hallways built for Warren Jeffs and his wives. There are amenities in some rooms, but not in mine. They served breakfast only to whom they want. We had no way to eat unless we joined someone else to use a kitchen as there is only a subway in town. There was merely a bed and a bathroom. The place is surrounded by a 12 ft concrete wall. Inside is fairly clean but has no decorations or any furniture besides the bed and a cheap recliner. I was bored to death in my down time with no tv and internet that is too slow to view/listen to even youtube. I would stay in the nearby town of Hurricane if you want something nice for the same price.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:18 PM on January 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
I came to the B&B for a wedding. While there, we were constantly trying to figure out how to navigate the locked hallways built for Warren Jeffs and his wives. There are amenities in some rooms, but not in mine. They served breakfast only to whom they want. We had no way to eat unless we joined someone else to use a kitchen as there is only a subway in town. There was merely a bed and a bathroom. The place is surrounded by a 12 ft concrete wall. Inside is fairly clean but has no decorations or any furniture besides the bed and a cheap recliner. I was bored to death in my down time with no tv and internet that is too slow to view/listen to even youtube. I would stay in the nearby town of Hurricane if you want something nice for the same price.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:18 PM on January 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
*impressed at avoidance of low hanging fruit*
females are strong as hell.
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:38 PM on January 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
females are strong as hell.
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:38 PM on January 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
elsietheeel, I am with you on the fascination, I have both a Elissa Wall and a Ervil LeBaron google alert.
posted by Duffington at 4:51 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Duffington at 4:51 PM on January 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
I just watched that whole video and I am not sure why.
I also got an email from AirBnB today recommending other places to stay in Hildale.
posted by Duffington at 12:17 PM on January 19, 2018
I also got an email from AirBnB today recommending other places to stay in Hildale.
posted by Duffington at 12:17 PM on January 19, 2018
I had never heard of Ervil LeBaron and now I boggle. Followers were still killing people for him 8 years after he *died*?!
posted by tavella at 1:41 PM on January 19, 2018
posted by tavella at 1:41 PM on January 19, 2018
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posted by Artw at 11:23 AM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]