Escaping Fear: Surviving the FLDS Under Warren Jeffs - Elise's Story Part 3
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- čas přidán 9. 11. 2023
- Welcome Back!
In this powerful and eye-opening interview, join us as we sit down with Elise, a courageous individual who grew up within the confines of the polygamous FLDS community under the notorious leadership of Warren Jeffs. She opens up about her harrowing experiences, sharing the gripping tale of living in constant fear of losing her husband and children.
Discover the challenges she faced and the pivotal moment that led her to make the daring decision to leave everything behind in order to protect her family. This conversation provides a rare insight into the oppressive environment of the FLDS community and the strength it takes to break free.
Prepare to be moved by her resilience and inspired by her determination to create a better life outside the confines of the past. This is a story of survival, courage, and the pursuit of freedom. Don't miss this compelling interview that sheds light on a hidden world and the indomitable human spirit.
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If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org
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What a beautiful warrior you are Elise! You've endured so much more than any person should have to bear and yet your beautiful soul has transformed all that pain into hope and resilience. You touched my heart today and I so thank you for that. My wish for you now is peace, tranquility and an amazing next chapter.
Thank you 🙏🏻 I appreciate your kind words and wishes ❤
Elise's story was so powerful. All of it was incredible, but this final part was so resonant. I grew up in fundamentalist-evangelical adjacent cult, and her experiences leaving really hit home. I left when I was young, like Sam, but I know so many now and in recent years that have left and so many still in it. It's such a scary thing, especially when eternity is on the line, and such an isolating thing. I appreciate how much you both have done to bring a light to what it means to live in these communities that rely so much on our fears to keep us in line. I have struggled with my own shame and feelings of fault in the trauma that I suffered, and your compassion is so profound. I hope you know how deeply your kindness impacts others. I don't believe anymore in a higher, but I believe you both have been given a gift.
I'm so happy for Elise that it seems she has found some peace and some knowledge that she is greater by far than the sums of her trauma. And that it sounds like her split from her husband has been amicable; the way she spoke about him made it clear she still has a lot of love and respect for him even as they have grown apart; I hope so much for her youngest daughter and all their children that they feel the love of both of their parents.
I admire you lady, your survived, and I wish you happiness, you deserve it.
Elise is a very inspiring woman. She chose love and intuition over fear and division and I love that for her!
I’m definitely here after everyone else but I wanted to say thank you to Elise for sharing your story and doing it so beautifully. Describing how you were treated by Warren Jeffs at school, you did such a good job painting a picture and it honestly made me cry, no child ever should be treated in that way and I’m so deeply sorry that there wasn’t anybody there to tell you that that wasn’t ok and to stand up for you. It’s beautiful that you’re breaking the cycle and doing such a good job with your children now. I wish all of you the best 💜 and thank you Sam & Melissa for platforming so many people who come from similar backgrounds to Sam but all have such individual stories. I’ve been watching a lot of your videos as I’ve been having a flare up of my illness and every single story has touched me. You’re doing something really beautiful for both the people who have come out of these communities and I’m sure also helping the people still there, as well as educating those of us who don’t have a clue what it’s like!💜
Thank you for your kind words and empathy 🙏🏻 ❤
I am pleased that you were able to leave with all your children and husband. Take care and thank you for sharing.
This 3 part interview was wonderful. She is such an amazing woman. Thank you Elise for sharing all of this with all of us.
oh Elise, I cried at least 5 times, when you told your story. I am so so glad for you and your family. I hope and pray all of you, especially YOU have a good life now. I was bullied by 2 teachers and at least 2 dozen schoolmates during childhood and I know, what you went through with that. And bless that husband of yours, that sort of "FORCED" you leaving your religion. I left the catholic church at least 20 years ago with all that happend to me with the priest we had in our village through my childhood, he was EVIL, like most of them 🤫😉HE also was a bully 🤭 And after suffering from schoolmobbing and abuse of a father and from my first serious relationship it took me till 3 years ago, when I turned 50 to FINALLY have a husband know that CARES. I hope you undergo therapy, cause even if we do not know, at least I didn´t for all of these years, even if I was a nurse and a medical caretaker, I did not know that I have PTSD. Now I have an other "stupid" diagnose, which will kill me one day, I am living a good life. The power above and around us means well, but sometimes the "good spirit" takes a while to show you life can be good. Your are an inspiration like so many many others that "fled" and survived. Big shout out to Melissa and Sam. I love love love your channel, I cannot type it often enough. Religion is good, but not everything and we all need to find our faith in WHATEVER. Everything that shows you, that there is some good out there and gives you strength and lifts up your spirit and strength to find whatever mountains to climb or showel yourselves outa dark deep holes, like I always say, is good. STay save ya´ll. Bless all of you. 🥰😘😘😘
Apart from Elise's amazing story and resilience in the face of what she has experienced, I also appreciate this interview for what it obviously means for Sam - getting to hear about a bunch of stuff that he had previously heard about or generally knew of from his own community, from someone who has more in-depth and personal knowledge of it. It must be so fascinating for him from a personal perspective.
What a great interview.. I'm sorry you weren't able to ride off into the Great Sunset with your Knight, 1:07:20 but I went thru the same sad ending with my 1st husband, the father of my children. We just wanted different things and became two completely different people from who we were when we met & married.
Thankfully, afterward, I met THE most amazing Sir Knight to whom I was able to share 25 years of love & laughter with.. so my life has been mightily blessed.
I hope your life brings you all the blessings you can stand.
Thanks to all 3 of you for sharing your stories. ❤
I believe that I’ll find my person 🫶🏻 I have so much to experience and discover even still ♥️
I can’t imagine losing your spouse and then being forced to remarry while you’re still grieving and this just happened and also forced out of your home.
Elise is amazing. Thanks Sam & Melissa as always for providing a place for people to tell their story
Elise, I am about two months older than you (mid-July 1982). I was imagining my life versus yours at different points of your story. I moved from my home in Southern CA in August 2002 to SLC as a transfer student to the U for a number of reasons, one of which was my fascination with early/fundamental Mormonism and the larger LDS branch’s need to hush their past. (Fascination like a biologist studying in a jungle, not like I wanted that for me.) Anyway, for me it was interesting to think on my own story while listening to yours. Thank you for sharing. What a courageous, loving person you are. I wish you a bright future.
Just saying, I love this girl's perseverance and spirit. Logic always wins!
Just watched the Cults To Consciousness interview and Chris spoke about his father passing away in a plane crash.. assuming that was the same accident? Coincidence!
His dad died in a different plane crash. So sad💔 my dad knew his dad really well and took some flights with him while he was training to be a pilot.
What an amazing story! She is so brave. That story of her ex standing with the flowers at the airport was so sweet. I think it’s incredible that they stayed married for so long considering it was an arranged marriage!
So proud of you. I also hated ND. The few good memories were staying at your house. You are an amazing, caring and wonderful person to spend time with.❤
I agree. The times that we had spent together are very special to me. Thank you for your support and friendship 🫶🏻
Hi dear Sam and Melissa thank you as always for your extremely great service to all people, for creating understanding and inclusiveness for people from all walks of life!
I wish your family a happy, lovely weekend 🙏
I’ve watched episode one and two but have forgotten to write comments and I’m sorry for that!
I wish to say thank you to all of you, and a special thank to you Elise for your incredible courage in sharing your story.
Part 1 and 2 were extremely painful to watch specifically part two, when Jeff’s made an example off you!! I’m so terrible sorry that you had to endure & go through that pain, no one deserves that h*ll!. All my best to you and your loved ones!
With kindness and respect, Grace🩰🎶
God is love, Jesus is Salvation the holy spirit is in your soul.
God is love, hugs and love sent from cali, praying for all.
Glad you got your family.
This was such an interesting story. It was over all, far more positive than most stories I've heard.
Very interesting story. Absolutely loved the courage and they way she spoke about her life. Do more series please ❤️
I'm so glad you allowed enough time for this interview! Absolutely riveting.
Such an amazing interview it was beyond a blessing to hear her story and you all asked great questions! Thank you for keeping up on your channel it’s awesome ❤️
That was so interesting and inspiring (from here in London, UK). Not only is the FLDS side interesting but just hearing from such fascinating families and about people's life and families is so good. I liked the do over baby term. We had our last (twins) after a gap and they felt a bit like that - getting a second chance. I called them my bonus babies - not that we had left a cult but just to be 10 years older than with the first children. The ability to own a home, the land rights, the security of that in the US (and indeed here in the UK) makes such a difference to family life and roots so I am glad they were able to acquire a home.
I’ve really enjoyed listening to Elise’s story. Thank you for sharing.
49:48 even though I'm very reluctant to call my former high demand/fundamentalist Catholic community a cult (like one of my therapists has) because it was relatively easy for me to walk away from I found some parallels in her story with my experience like this one, even then I wouldn't compare my experience to what most FLDS people go through so I'm grateful you shared this with us.
Eeeeeek! I was so excited to see this posted, because I feel so invested in Elise’s story 😅💜 It was wonderful hearing this episode, and Elise, congratulations on your new found freedom! I’m only saying that because I was in a marriage for 20.5 years… and I’m 9 years out of it and never been happier! 🙌 🤸♂️🧘♀️💜 It’s a slow journey, don’t get me wrong, but it’s only because it’s going to take some time for you to learn yourself. ☺️ I really hope you’re taking time for yourself, to just be alone with your thoughts…. That’s where you’ll find real growth…. Take time for yourself, even if it’s only 20 minutes a day, with no distractions, just alone, to be….. Whether to sit in meditation, or take a walk in nature. Take time for yourself 🥰 Thank you for sharing your story! I’m so fascinated by all of you that have left hard core religions. From an outsider perspective, I just see so much evil in it, and am grateful that you escaped! 🙏 My heart breaks for those that are still trapped in such fear 😞
Thank you for your kind words and reminder to take care of myself. Through all of the hard stuff that comes with a breakup of a long relationship I’ve had to make myself take the time and just breathe🙏🏻 some days that’s all I have the energy for💔 there’s so much I’ve learned about me and to ask what it is that I want/need in the moment❤️🩹 it’s still brand new and I’m still adjusting but some days feel like rapid fire and I feel like there’s no end 🔥💣 but I’m happy to be on this new found journey I’m on and embrace all of the lessons I’ve yet to learn. It’s people like you (even though I don’t know you) that make the difference with the kind words and support. So thank you 🫶🏻♥️
Thank you for sharing your story. I loved your love story and saddened that it ended, but what a blessing to be loved like that. I wish you well with your life. You are a strong beautiful soul.
Heartbreaking to be robbed of raising your children by your own instincts. Such oppression.
Thank you Elise for sharing! Every interview I watch here and other sites everyone shares something new, like pieces to the puzzle, and together these puzzle pieces tell the whole story. Each one is so important!
An inspiring story of evolving relationship in a family.❤ thanks for sharing
Thank you Elise, Sam & Melissa 🙏 from 🇨🇦
Makes more sense that Warren was able to take over so easily, if those elder men died in the aeroplane crash just before Rulen died. Such a huge hole in the leadership.
@@christmasfairy123 wow what a thorough answer ❤️💫
I realized that after those men died just how much they threatened the church, in a good way. Because they were very good men and I believe they would have stood up to the church if they’d had had a chance. Things definitely could’ve been different.
@@elisebarlow ❤️❤️❤️
Imagine if the aeroplane accident wasn’t an accident but part of Warren’s plan 😬
It’s been questioned that that scenario could be a possibility.
@@elisebarlow 😳😳😳
22:55 Damn, that's so many life stressors. You and your family went through so much.
Wow, amazing story. I'm wondering if Elise told the school districts they were coming from the FLDS. School districts around FLDS communities may better understand the delicate situation the children are in.
She probably did. But it's not uncommon for a 10 year old to not know how to read even in a public school setting
I love North Dakota, but the winters are very hard an isolating. Small towns, people are always gossiping, but very helpful. Larger towns (especially during the oil boom) were expensive and crime rates were higher. The schools during the oil boom struggled with the high influx of students and shortage of teachers. I preferred the schools in the small towns. They had smaller class sizes, so more individual attention. The larger schools had more opportunities but more competition for those resources.
Great interview!
Thank you!
So I’m on part 2 but I just had this random thought haha can we get a clock movement to send to wj?? Haha sorry
I totally understand that you all went by what you were taught. I get that. And I applaud you for getting away. But why do people still believe it. I mean yes they believe in it but surely the mothers would love their children enough to know it's wrong.
Love your videos
Thank you! 😊
Great interview. My eldest is also Elise❤
Wish I knew you when you lived in North Dakota. We are about a hour north of Williston. My husband worked at a trucking company for a Jessup. We all had some pretty heavy talks
I’m very familiar with that area. We drove all over the place from Ray to Berthold to Garrison to Newtown to Dickinson etc. We lived in Minot for the year that we were there.
@elisebarlow my husband is still driving and is out right now. I told him about it he goes yesssss I know lol. Don't get hesitant to say anything I know what it's like up here if nothing else. If you ever come back this way I can help you alot
@@elisebarlowMy family lived in Bismarck until I was in 3rd grade--I remember the advertising slogan for Minot was "Why not Minot?" You have lived through some very tough things, but from your interview it looks like you used each situation to become stronger. I'll be praying for you and your family!
I just listened to another interview on another channel (Cults to Consciousness) where they interviewed an ex-flds guy who also attended Alta Acadamy and it's crazy to hear the completely different experiences. This man had described Jeffs as being easy going and brushing off his poor behaviour as basically just being a boy. It really shows Warren Jeff's true colours when you listen to Elisa's story and what a misogynistic ass he is.
It is very hard to understand the different ways Warren treated the kids at Alta Academy. The ways the kids acted out etc, and even the ones that didn’t. It shows he was very selective with his victims.
@@elisebarlow the other interview was with Ben Barlow... perhaps you are related as you have the same last name.
Yes I know who he is. He’s my ex’s cousin. Their dads are brothers.
I need to know more about her husband and his family now.
Me too!
@elisebarlow Why isn't your story a movie yet? 😂😭
One of the men who died, ( Mike) their daughter is married to my son in laws brother. That plane crash was so hard on the families.
It was one the hardest things I’ve gone through💔
Did Melissa and Sam ever consider moving to the Short Creek area and take advantage of the new oppportunities there?
It may be too triggering for Sam. As he mentioned in this video of his feelings when visiting.
Why would they
Not to insult you or anyone else but I just had the second knock at my door in a week from the lds church I live next to missionaries and they just don’t know when to quit . I have learned lots watching you guys and others on CZcams for years , I find watching cult related videos fascinating 😂 but i think the next knock are going to be sorry because I will interrogate them 😂
Really sick. Rich abusing the poor.