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Triumph: Life After the Cult -- A Survivor's Lessons
Triumph Life After the Cult A Survivor's Lessons
Author: Carolyn Jessop, Laura Palmer
In 2003, Carolyn Jessop, 35, a lifelong member of the extremist Mormon sect the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), gathered up her eight children, including her profoundly disabled four-year-old son, and escaped in the middle of the night to freedom. Jessop detailed the story of her harrowing flight and the shocki...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780307590701
ISBN-10: 0307590704
Publication Date: 5/4/2010
Pages: 288
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 17

3.7 stars, based on 17 ratings
Publisher: Broadway
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 2
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

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casey-sue avatar reviewed Triumph: Life After the Cult -- A Survivor's Lessons on + 53 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
After reading Carolyn Jessop's first book, Escape, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second. Instead of putting it on my wish list, I went out and bought it instead. I picked it up many times but eventually it just ended up sitting on my shelf for two months. After trying to read it multiple times, I never progressed past page 50. Escape was so enthralling to read and it was an in depth account of her stories and struggles. In Triumph, I felt like it was just a book of her opinions of the raid in 2008. I felt like it was more about how she felt things were done wrong at that time and she decided to put it in a book. I just couldn't get into the book as much as I wanted to.
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Grnemae avatar reviewed Triumph: Life After the Cult -- A Survivor's Lessons on + 451 more book reviews
This is a follow-up to Carolyn Jessops 2007 memoir Escape. In April 2008 when the FLDS compound at Eldorado, TX was raided, the man in charge was Jessops former husband Merrill. Carolyn was called as an expert by the TX authorities to help them understand the mind control of the cult as well as the customs and beliefs that would allow sexual and physical abuse of women and children.

Carolyn tells the real story behind the raid - members of her family were involved. Lots of misinformation was given to the media by the FLDS and here she helps to set the story straight while also outlining the setbacks that were faced by the social workers, CASA and police as they tried to determine what was really happening at the cult ranch. She tells about the tragic decision of the Supreme Court of Texas to allow the children in state custody to return to their parents, as well as the successes (the fact that evidence seized in the raid is the basis for the string of criminal trials of FLDS leaders that began in October 2009).

Interwoven with the story of the raid in TX is Carolyns own story and her role as a social critic and a witness in front of Congressional panels attempting to strengthen the laws regarding child abuse. Carolyn also tells of her heartbreak when her eldest daughter decided to return to the cult and her joy in a new love.

Carolyn provides more in depth information regard the sources of strength that allowed her to escape the cult. It was a long and slow process but she provides many tips and suggestions that could be used by any woman in an abusive relationship.

Carolyn also outlines her triumphs escaped with all of her children, was given custody of them and was finally in 2009 was awarded back child support and most of all she is a role model for others.


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