Breaking Free

How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs

By: Rachel Jeffs

Narrated by: Rachel Jeffs

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

In this searing memoir of survival in the spirit of Stolen Innocence, the daughter of Warren Jeffs, the self-proclaimed Prophet of the FLDS Church, takes you deep inside the secretive polygamist Mormon fundamentalist cult run by her family and how she escaped it.

Born into the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Rachel Jeffs was raised in a strict patriarchal culture defined by subordinate sister wives and men they must obey. No one in this radical splinter sect of the Mormon Church was more powerful or terrifying than its leader, Warren Jeffs - Rachel's father.

Living outside mainstream Mormonism and federal law, Jeffs arranged marriages between underage girls and middle-aged and elderly members of his congregation. In 2006 he gained international notoriety when the FBI placed him on its 10 Most Wanted List. Though he is serving a life sentence for child sexual assault, Jeffs' iron grip on the church remains firm and his edicts to his followers increasingly restrictive and bizarre.

In Breaking Free, Rachel blows the lid off this taciturn community made famous by John Krakauer's best-selling Under the Banner of Heaven to offer a harrowing look at her life with Warren Jeffs and the years of physical and emotional abuse she suffered. Sexually assaulted, compelled into an arranged polygamous marriage, locked away in "houses of hiding" as punishment for perceived transgressions, and physically separated from her children, Rachel, Jeffs' first plural daughter by his second of more than 50 wives, eventually found the courage to leave the church in 2015. But Breaking Free is not only her story - Rachel's experiences illuminate those of her family and the countless others who remain trapped in the strange world she left behind.

A shocking and mesmerizing memoir of faith, abuse, courage, and freedom, Breaking Free is an exposé of religious extremism and a beacon of hope for anyone trying to overcome personal obstacles.

Rachel Jeffs grew up in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the polygamous Mormon sect, which she escaped in 2015. Rachel lives in Idaho with her five children and two dogs.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 Rachel Jeffs (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Sad, happy, awe inspiring, story of an amazing woman

This is such a great read, but even better to hear it from Rachel herself! Amazing story from an amazing woman!

compelling

My heart goes out to this woman, but the story makes me marvel at her bravery.

Simply an amazing story

Rachel wrote an outstanding account of her life. Having done a lot of research and talking to other people who have left the FLDS, hearing her read her own story is simply heartbreaking and eye opening to a whole new level.

Interesting, sad, wanted to keep listening.

Crazy to hear these people were so brainwashed. Warren Jeff's still maintained control from prison. Sad it took Rachel so long to leave, but she explains her inner conflict very well.

honest and disturbing

it is so hard to understand the mindset. but the story has a happy ending at least for this young woman.

Gripping, Honest, and Inspirational.

Rachel's narrative is everything. Her story will captivate, horrify, and humor you all at the same time. She gives hope to anyone held captive that there is freedom and joy to be found on the other side of a courageous escape.

Absolutely could NOT turn it off

An absolutely heart wrenching, yet triumphant story. Rachel is so easy to listen to, and the book is wonderfully written. Listened to the whole thing in one day, I couldn’t turn it off. So proud of Rachel for getting away from that group!

finished in a day.

Rachel you are so strong and so brave. So happy you have found true happiness.

A powerful story

Rachel Jeff's memoir of her experience in the FLDS church as the daughter of the infamous Warren Jeffs pulls no punches. She is honest about the abuse (both emotional and physical) that was part of her life in this church. The details are crystal clear, and you can feel her pain. However, at times, her voice just strikes my ear the wrong way. I was able to power past it, but I think a more skilled narrator might have brought me more into the story.

Good book.

Such a sad story. God bless her and her family. It’s so hard to understand how people can manipulate others like that.