Merrianne Jessop: Growing Up in the FLDS Community, Forced Marriage to Warren Jeffs, and Conviction of Warren Jeffs
Merrianne Jessop’s life story is one of resilience, survival, and reclaiming identity after unimaginable hardships. Raised in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), Merrianne was among many young girls caught in the web of the sect’s disturbing practices. Her traumatized journey to freedom reveals much about life in the FLDS under the control of its notorious leader, Warren Jeffs.
Early Life in the FLDS Community
Growing up in the FLDS, Merrianne Jessop lived under Warren Jeffs teachings. It was a religious sect that broke off from mainstream Mormonism, adhering to extreme views on polygamy, strict gender roles, and isolation from the outside world. Like other FLDS children, from a young age, Merrianne was taught to follow the teachings of the leadership without question and to fulfill her “divine” role as a future wife and mother in a polygamous family.
Merrianne led a rather sheltered, strict upbringing. Her education was in accordance with FLDS-approved teachings and her social circles were isolated. Growing up like this meant Merrianne was not exposed to outside life and did not understand individual autonomy.
Forced Marriage to Warren Jeffs
At the age of 12, Merrianne was forced into a spiritual union with Warren Jeffs, the FLDS leader, who was several decades her senior. Jeffs, who had several underage wives, controlled every facet of the sect’s life, including the marriages of young girls. Merrianne’s marriage to Jeffs was part of a larger pattern of abuse within the FLDS, where girls were manipulated into relationships they could not comprehend, let alone consent to.
She and other underage girls’ cases came to light during the 2008 raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas, where FLDS members lived in relative secrecy. This raid prompted by reports of child abuse led to the removal of more than 400 children from the compound, drawing national attention. But Merrianne’s story got the spotlight because authorities learned about the abuse young girls faced in the sect.
Conviction of Warren Jeffs and Merrianne’s Role
The raid and ensuing legal battles convicted Warren Jeffs on several charges, including sexual assault of minors. And Merrianne Jessop’s testimony and evidence of her marriage to Jeffs helped bring him to justice. Her bravery as a young girl exposed the extent of the FLDS leader’s crimes and brought some level of justice for the victims.
But the legal victory was just the beginning of Merrianne’s own healing process. Her removal from the FLDS meant adjusting to a new world. The move from the secluded, controlled FLDS environment to mainstream society required great courage and resilience.
Rebuilding Her Life
Life outside the FLDS meant starting over for Merrianne. Her new reality involved personal freedom, education, and relationships, which were unlike anything she had ever known. Social services, therapists, and support networks began to help Merrianne process the trauma of her upbringing slowly.
It took time for her to learn to trust others and to feel like herself. Like many survivors of high-control religious groups, Merrianne needed to reclaim her identity beyond the oppressive doctrines she had been raised under. But despite the setbacks, she has rebuilt her life with hope and determination to reclaim her future.