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Texas Raid: My Experience of the Texas Raid on the YFZ Ranch
This is the story of the 2008 raid on the Yearning For Zion ranch by Texas and Federal Authorities told from the perspective of the most marginalized group of people caught up in the raid. This is the story of the boys.
The world looked on with unease and morbid interest, hoping the children would be “saved” from this fundamental religious sect they’d been born into. But even though the boys were children, they were treated as “perpetrators in training” and were forcibly detained at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch by CPS. This is their story of fear, hope, resilience, and faith.
A harrowing narrative delivered in the first person by Ammon Jeffs, the third-born son of Warren Jeffs, this story will make you question what lessons the US Government has learned about intervening to save innocent people caught up in the world of cults.
Ammon’s world shattered when he discovered the truth about his father's crimes. His life trajectory has changed in ways his 18-year-old self in 2008 couldn't have possibly imagined. However, discovering the truth cannot change the raid's trauma and its negative fallout that he and the 72 boys at Boy’s Ranch experienced while in state custody. Ammon’s attention to detail, his honesty in perspective, and the journey the raid set him on for the next 16 years will make you laugh, cry, and want to stand up and shout in happiness about his ability to overcome and set his own course in life.
The world looked on with unease and morbid interest, hoping the children would be “saved” from this fundamental religious sect they’d been born into. But even though the boys were children, they were treated as “perpetrators in training” and were forcibly detained at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch by CPS. This is their story of fear, hope, resilience, and faith.
A harrowing narrative delivered in the first person by Ammon Jeffs, the third-born son of Warren Jeffs, this story will make you question what lessons the US Government has learned about intervening to save innocent people caught up in the world of cults.
Ammon’s world shattered when he discovered the truth about his father's crimes. His life trajectory has changed in ways his 18-year-old self in 2008 couldn't have possibly imagined. However, discovering the truth cannot change the raid's trauma and its negative fallout that he and the 72 boys at Boy’s Ranch experienced while in state custody. Ammon’s attention to detail, his honesty in perspective, and the journey the raid set him on for the next 16 years will make you laugh, cry, and want to stand up and shout in happiness about his ability to overcome and set his own course in life.
- GenresNonfiction
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2024
16 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 21, 2025
Wow!! I've always been so curious about the raid, and the children who experienced it, because all the memoirs I've read so far were by people who weren't at the ranch.
It's also interesting to read a book from a male perspective, I hope Texas Raid will encourage more boys/men to share their stories.
The book is divided into three parts, covering everything from Ammon's childhood, to the raid and his, as well as his siblings', separation from their parents, to finally being reunited, and what happened in the aftermath, eventually causing him to leave the FLDS.
I found each section to be equally compelling, but I have to say that the ending was my absolute favourite part of the book.
Ammon mentioned several times how he really wanted to get married, and then it finally happened, and you can hell how happy both he and his wife are, I really hope they'll live their happily every after.
I'm also very proud of Ammon, for stepping up to be both the father and mother of all those boys in state custody, how he managed to keep it together is simply amazing.
I could feel his and the other boys' frustration at being away from their parents, they really made the most of their situation, and I'm glad the staff was at least kind to them.
We got to see yet another side of Warren Jeffs, I'm sure we all heard how he moved people around constantly, but I had no idea it was this crazy. And even during construction, how little sleep everyone got, especially the growing kids who needed it so much more.
Ammon left in 2023, so we benefit from seeing what life was like all the way up until that point, which I immensely appreciate.
I read the ebook, but I'll have to get a physical copy for sure to support this author, I hope he'll write another book in the future.
It's also interesting to read a book from a male perspective, I hope Texas Raid will encourage more boys/men to share their stories.
The book is divided into three parts, covering everything from Ammon's childhood, to the raid and his, as well as his siblings', separation from their parents, to finally being reunited, and what happened in the aftermath, eventually causing him to leave the FLDS.
I found each section to be equally compelling, but I have to say that the ending was my absolute favourite part of the book.
Ammon mentioned several times how he really wanted to get married, and then it finally happened, and you can hell how happy both he and his wife are, I really hope they'll live their happily every after.
I'm also very proud of Ammon, for stepping up to be both the father and mother of all those boys in state custody, how he managed to keep it together is simply amazing.
I could feel his and the other boys' frustration at being away from their parents, they really made the most of their situation, and I'm glad the staff was at least kind to them.
We got to see yet another side of Warren Jeffs, I'm sure we all heard how he moved people around constantly, but I had no idea it was this crazy. And even during construction, how little sleep everyone got, especially the growing kids who needed it so much more.
Ammon left in 2023, so we benefit from seeing what life was like all the way up until that point, which I immensely appreciate.
I read the ebook, but I'll have to get a physical copy for sure to support this author, I hope he'll write another book in the future.
April 28, 2024
I am a survivor of a different cult. I gravitate toward autobiographies and memoirs of fellow survivors although their cult was not my own. In some ways I feel kinship with them, even though many beliefs were not shared.
As Ammon left the church in 2023, we got more info on the later years than we have previously. The book was well written. I highly suggest to anyone wanting to know more about the FLDS.
As Ammon left the church in 2023, we got more info on the later years than we have previously. The book was well written. I highly suggest to anyone wanting to know more about the FLDS.
May 7, 2024
A must-read
I have read every book I am aware of written by ex-FLDS member and this is the best.
Ammon is a highly intelligent man blessed with excellent writing skills and his story is one of extreme psychological and physical (by over-work) torture perpetrated by his own Father.
It is also a story of triumph with Ammon breaking free of his Fathers control.
I am so glad he was able to find his soul mate and marry, something previously forbidden by his Father who seems to want to make his followers, including his own children be as miserable and mentally broken as possible.
I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they have an existing interest in the FLDS or not; and I hope Ammon writes more.
I fervently hope some of Warrens current followers are able to read this. I think often of Ammons brother-in-law Rich Allred who by all accounts I've read, including by 2 of his ex-wives, is a fundamentally good, decent and loving man who has had everything taken from him by Warren Jeffs but remains loyal as he believes heavenly Father is testing him. I hope he and anyone else who has had their lives destroyed by Warren is able to somehow access this and see his destructive and cruel behaviour for what it is and break free and reunite with their children and other family members.
A life lived following Warren Jeffs is no life at all.
Congratulations Ammon on your new life and your wonderful book!
I have read every book I am aware of written by ex-FLDS member and this is the best.
Ammon is a highly intelligent man blessed with excellent writing skills and his story is one of extreme psychological and physical (by over-work) torture perpetrated by his own Father.
It is also a story of triumph with Ammon breaking free of his Fathers control.
I am so glad he was able to find his soul mate and marry, something previously forbidden by his Father who seems to want to make his followers, including his own children be as miserable and mentally broken as possible.
I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they have an existing interest in the FLDS or not; and I hope Ammon writes more.
I fervently hope some of Warrens current followers are able to read this. I think often of Ammons brother-in-law Rich Allred who by all accounts I've read, including by 2 of his ex-wives, is a fundamentally good, decent and loving man who has had everything taken from him by Warren Jeffs but remains loyal as he believes heavenly Father is testing him. I hope he and anyone else who has had their lives destroyed by Warren is able to somehow access this and see his destructive and cruel behaviour for what it is and break free and reunite with their children and other family members.
A life lived following Warren Jeffs is no life at all.
Congratulations Ammon on your new life and your wonderful book!
May 5, 2024
Such a heartening true story.
This is such a well written and heartfelt book. It took such courage for Ammon to write. This truth needed to be told.
This is such a well written and heartfelt book. It took such courage for Ammon to write. This truth needed to be told.
April 18, 2025
4.5 Stars, which I will round down to 4 stars overall.
I have read a few books about the FLDS community, but more books about cults in general. This story from Ammon did not surprise me in the ways he was treated by his father and community members. I have read similar experiences from other male identifying people in cults. I think it is very important that Ammon shared their story because, many of the stories centered on the girls in this community and their experience with child marriage and sexual abuse. Having the boys side of things was very informative.
What I liked about this book was that Ammon was very honest. He did trust and look up to his father through his childhood, teenage, and early adult years. You can see that he hung on his father (Warren's) every word. He did whatever he was told. Then you see his progression through the realization that his father was not who he thought he was, especially when it came to his interest in young girls (including his own daughters). I think it was important for Ammon to show his loyalty and then his progression towards the truth as he had to get there himself, not through anyone else.
What I did not like is I felt that there were pieces missing from this story. In some areas, I was looking for more fromm Ammon while also recognizing that he was sharing what he could, or what he was comfortable with when it came to his experience. Also, the writing was not the best here. That could be expected.
For those reasons, I am giving this a 4 stars (well 4.5 really). I liked this book, I learned a lot, I will be holding on it.
I have read a few books about the FLDS community, but more books about cults in general. This story from Ammon did not surprise me in the ways he was treated by his father and community members. I have read similar experiences from other male identifying people in cults. I think it is very important that Ammon shared their story because, many of the stories centered on the girls in this community and their experience with child marriage and sexual abuse. Having the boys side of things was very informative.
What I liked about this book was that Ammon was very honest. He did trust and look up to his father through his childhood, teenage, and early adult years. You can see that he hung on his father (Warren's) every word. He did whatever he was told. Then you see his progression through the realization that his father was not who he thought he was, especially when it came to his interest in young girls (including his own daughters). I think it was important for Ammon to show his loyalty and then his progression towards the truth as he had to get there himself, not through anyone else.
What I did not like is I felt that there were pieces missing from this story. In some areas, I was looking for more fromm Ammon while also recognizing that he was sharing what he could, or what he was comfortable with when it came to his experience. Also, the writing was not the best here. That could be expected.
For those reasons, I am giving this a 4 stars (well 4.5 really). I liked this book, I learned a lot, I will be holding on it.
June 21, 2025
I’m on a roll with these FLDS escape memoirs these days! I picked this up after finishing his sister Rachel’s book Breaking Free. This isn’t as well-written from a literary perspective. But it didn’t really matter, and as the book went on, the narrative style and voice grew on me.
I’ve read a few of these memoirs, but this is the first one written by a man. The author is the son of Warren Jeffs, who is currently serving life in prison for a variety of sexual assault crimes, but who still wields enormous influence over his cult. It was fascinating to hear the perspective of a young man growing up in that environment, including his experience of the way CPS treated all the children of the community during the federal raid on their compound in Texas.
This book made for an interesting pair with Breaking Free. I found it valuable to read them together.
I’ve read a few of these memoirs, but this is the first one written by a man. The author is the son of Warren Jeffs, who is currently serving life in prison for a variety of sexual assault crimes, but who still wields enormous influence over his cult. It was fascinating to hear the perspective of a young man growing up in that environment, including his experience of the way CPS treated all the children of the community during the federal raid on their compound in Texas.
This book made for an interesting pair with Breaking Free. I found it valuable to read them together.
June 6, 2024
Good Book. Too Short.
I came away after reading this book feeling good things are coming this writer’s way. He is gifted with the grace of knowing his own soul and his mind. This mind was nearly corrupted forever. You go, Ammon. Never stop educating yourself. Learn as much as you can. Knowledge cannot be taken away from you. Thank you for sharing your story.
I came away after reading this book feeling good things are coming this writer’s way. He is gifted with the grace of knowing his own soul and his mind. This mind was nearly corrupted forever. You go, Ammon. Never stop educating yourself. Learn as much as you can. Knowledge cannot be taken away from you. Thank you for sharing your story.
November 19, 2024
Amazing insight into a Mormon group!
Shows the serious error of following a false prophet.
Shows the serious error of following a false prophet.
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January 12, 2025Inspiring
Read this cover to cover in less than a week. I felt like I was living the events right next to him. An inspiration to overcome obstacles and make more of your life.
Read this cover to cover in less than a week. I felt like I was living the events right next to him. An inspiration to overcome obstacles and make more of your life.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews