Carolyn Jessop

Carolyn Jessop is an American author and former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Born in 1968 in Hildale, Utah, she gained prominence after becoming the first woman to be granted full custody of her children in a contested suit involving the FLDS church. In 2003, at age 35, Jessop fled the polygamous FLDS community with her eight children, seeking refuge in Salt Lake City. Her escape and subsequent custody battle marked a significant legal precedent in cases involving the FLDS church and its members. Her 2007 memoir "Escape," co-authored with Laura Palmer and published by Broadway Books, details her experiences within the FLDS organization, including her arranged marriage at age eighteen and her eventual break from the church. The book provides a firsthand account of life within the controversial religious sect and became a significant document in understanding FLDS practices.

Readers praise Jessop's raw honesty and courage in documenting her experiences in the FLDS church. Many cite the detailed accounts of daily life within the religious community as eye-opening. The straightforward writing style makes complex religious dynamics accessible to general readers. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of FLDS beliefs and practices - Detailed documentation of abuse and control mechanisms - Educational value for understanding closed religious communities - Personal growth narrative What readers disliked: - Some repetition in storytelling - Occasional timeline confusion - Limited exploration of certain family relationships - Writing style described as "plain" or "basic" by some Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (50,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (2,000+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.5/5 (300+ reviews) One reader noted: "The strength of this book lies in its details about daily FLDS life rather than literary merit." Another commented: "Essential reading for understanding religious control, though the writing could be more polished."

Escape (2007) A memoir detailing Jessop's life within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, her arranged marriage at age 18 to a 50-year-old man, and her eventual escape with her eight children from the polygamous community.

Flora Jessop - A former FLDS member who wrote "Church of Lies" documenting her escape from the fundamentalist Mormon sect and subsequent activism. Her work as an advocate helping other women escape polygamous communities parallels Carolyn Jessop's experiences.

Rebecca Musser - As a former FLDS member who escaped and wrote "The Witness Wore Red," she provides testimony about life within the sect and her role in legal cases against Warren Jeffs. Her memoir covers similar themes of survival and transformation after leaving a controlled religious environment.

Elissa Wall - Her book "Stolen Innocence" details her forced marriage within the FLDS at age 14 and her later testimony against Warren Jeffs. Her story contains direct parallels to the institutional abuse and legal battles documented by Carolyn Jessop.

Ruth Wariner - In "The Sound of Gravel," she recounts growing up in a polygamous Mormon colony in Mexico and her eventual escape. Her personal narrative of leaving a fundamentalist community and protecting younger siblings mirrors key elements of Jessop's experience.

Susan Ray Schmidt - Author of "His Favorite Wife," she provides a first-person account of life as a plural wife in a fundamentalist Mormon group and her decision to leave. Her memoir covers the psychological and practical challenges of breaking free from polygamous marriage.