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Triumph: Life After the Cult--A Survivor's Lessons
A moving and inspirational true story of one woman’s life after fleeing the ultra-fundamentalist American religious sect featured in Keep Pray and Obey —from the New York Times bestselling author of Escape
“ Triumph is thoughtful, intelligent, and engaging.”—Meg Wolitzer, bestselling author of The Interestings
In 2003, Carolyn Jessop, 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. After detailing the shocking conditions of FLDS and her harrowing flight in her memoir, Escape , Carolyn reveled in her newfound identity as a bestselling author, a devoted mom, and a loving companion to the wonderful man in her life. She thought she had put her past firmly behind her.
Then, on April 3, 2008, it came roaring back when the state of Texas, acting on a tip from a young girl who’d called a hotline alleging abuse, staged a surprise raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch, a sprawling, 1700-acre compound near Eldorado, Texas, where the jailed FLDS “prophet” Warren Jeffs had relocated his sect’s most “worthy” members three years earlier. The ranch was being run by Merril Jessop, Carolyn’s ex-husband and one of the cult’s most powerful leaders. As a mesmerized nation watched the crisis unfold, Carolyn was called upon as an expert to help authorities understand the customs and beliefs of the extremist religious sect.
In Triumph , Carolyn tells the real, harrowing story behind the raid and sets the record straight on much of the damaging misinformation that flooded the media in its aftermath. She recounts the setbacks and the successes, all while weaving in details of her own life in the years since her escape—including her budding role as a social critic and her struggle to make peace with her eldest daughter’s heartbreaking decision to return to the cult.
An extraordinary woman who has overcome countless challenges and tragedies in her life, Carolyn shows us in this book how she has triumphed in spite of everything—and how you can, too, no matter what adversity you face.
“ Triumph is thoughtful, intelligent, and engaging.”—Meg Wolitzer, bestselling author of The Interestings
In 2003, Carolyn Jessop, 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. After detailing the shocking conditions of FLDS and her harrowing flight in her memoir, Escape , Carolyn reveled in her newfound identity as a bestselling author, a devoted mom, and a loving companion to the wonderful man in her life. She thought she had put her past firmly behind her.
Then, on April 3, 2008, it came roaring back when the state of Texas, acting on a tip from a young girl who’d called a hotline alleging abuse, staged a surprise raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch, a sprawling, 1700-acre compound near Eldorado, Texas, where the jailed FLDS “prophet” Warren Jeffs had relocated his sect’s most “worthy” members three years earlier. The ranch was being run by Merril Jessop, Carolyn’s ex-husband and one of the cult’s most powerful leaders. As a mesmerized nation watched the crisis unfold, Carolyn was called upon as an expert to help authorities understand the customs and beliefs of the extremist religious sect.
In Triumph , Carolyn tells the real, harrowing story behind the raid and sets the record straight on much of the damaging misinformation that flooded the media in its aftermath. She recounts the setbacks and the successes, all while weaving in details of her own life in the years since her escape—including her budding role as a social critic and her struggle to make peace with her eldest daughter’s heartbreaking decision to return to the cult.
An extraordinary woman who has overcome countless challenges and tragedies in her life, Carolyn shows us in this book how she has triumphed in spite of everything—and how you can, too, no matter what adversity you face.
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2010
225 people are currently reading
4264 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Jessop
3 books259 followersCarolyn Jessop is a former Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints member who wrote Escape, an autobiographical account of her upbringing in the polygamist sect and later flight from that community.
She is the cousin, by marriage, of Flora Jessop, another former FLDS member and advocate for abused children.
Carolyn Jessop now lives in the Salt Lake City area with her children.
As of July 2010, Carolyn is engaged to Brian Moroney, who asked her to be his wife in front of her children who are very excited.
After accepting Brian's proposal Carolyn quoted on her Facebook page "Choice is a beautiful thing!"
She is the cousin, by marriage, of Flora Jessop, another former FLDS member and advocate for abused children.
Carolyn Jessop now lives in the Salt Lake City area with her children.
As of July 2010, Carolyn is engaged to Brian Moroney, who asked her to be his wife in front of her children who are very excited.
After accepting Brian's proposal Carolyn quoted on her Facebook page "Choice is a beautiful thing!"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews
October 13, 2021
Carolyn Jessop's second book after Escape which was a raging success. This is a good, but sad, read of life for Carolyn in the years after her escape from FLDS, an extremist Mormon sect where she was married off to Merril Jessop, one of the cults leading authoritarian figues. Carolyn fled with her 8 children to avoid who two eldest daughters (aged 14 & 12) being married off to men, some more than 50 years their senior.
Escape, the previous book, is more about what happened within the sect, whereas this one is about the first years after she got out. All of her anger and frustration came to a head when the FBI finally stormed the Texan compound of the group and rescued the 300+ children. Ultimately this was not a successful act but personally it started the ball rolling for Carolyn.
In Triumph Carolyn talks of her fears, her love for her family and the difficulties she faces through poverty, homelessness and the fight to break all strings attached to FLDS, including being properly compensated and dealing with a daughter who returns to the cult.
As with so many of these reads, it is frustrating and harrowing to read of the impotence of legal systems, the red tape and the ultimate letdowns people like Carolyn have to face. But she is one strong cookie.
Escape, the previous book, is more about what happened within the sect, whereas this one is about the first years after she got out. All of her anger and frustration came to a head when the FBI finally stormed the Texan compound of the group and rescued the 300+ children. Ultimately this was not a successful act but personally it started the ball rolling for Carolyn.
In Triumph Carolyn talks of her fears, her love for her family and the difficulties she faces through poverty, homelessness and the fight to break all strings attached to FLDS, including being properly compensated and dealing with a daughter who returns to the cult.
As with so many of these reads, it is frustrating and harrowing to read of the impotence of legal systems, the red tape and the ultimate letdowns people like Carolyn have to face. But she is one strong cookie.
September 27, 2018
Carolyn's first book, Escape, was about her life in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), and her eventual escape from its brutality. This book is a follow-up.
The first half of the book is about the raid, by Texas law enforcement, on the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch near Eldorado, Texas USA. I didn't find this to be very riveting. Obviously, she was concerned, she received phone calls, she was interviewed, etc. but I felt it lacked depth. In Escape it is all immediate, first-hand, and compelling stories of her tortured life, and scary escape. To spend half the book watching-her-watching-the-raid was dreary. I am not making light of the fact that she knew many of the folks at the Ranch, and was emotionally involved, but it didn't make for a page-turning experience.
The second half of the book was more interesting. She relates stories of events that helped her begin to break the FLDS mindset, and prepare for escape. A black man stood up to her husband, regarding abuse directed at Carolyn, that he had just witnessed in a restaurant. She suddenly realised that men on the 'outside' might actually treat women with respect. She listened to Dr Laura's radio show, secretly behind a locked door, each night. This, too, really opened her eyes to how life should be, and that women weren't just possessions, or baby-factories.
She's goes on to make a list of pointers to use, if you're trying to survive/escape a traumatic life. She talks about role models in her life, her grandmothers, who were strong women and managed to keep a sense of self despite the FLDS.
She talks about how life was after they escaped. The places they lived in. How her children reacted. How she felt she was on an alien planet.
All in all, I'd have to say this book wasn't as good as her first one. But I am all for anyone putting more info into print about cults, and how to get out of them. So, based on my feeling that any book that covers this topic is an important book, I am giving it 4 stars, despite its shortcomings.
4 Stars = It gave me much food for thought.
The first half of the book is about the raid, by Texas law enforcement, on the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch near Eldorado, Texas USA. I didn't find this to be very riveting. Obviously, she was concerned, she received phone calls, she was interviewed, etc. but I felt it lacked depth. In Escape it is all immediate, first-hand, and compelling stories of her tortured life, and scary escape. To spend half the book watching-her-watching-the-raid was dreary. I am not making light of the fact that she knew many of the folks at the Ranch, and was emotionally involved, but it didn't make for a page-turning experience.
The second half of the book was more interesting. She relates stories of events that helped her begin to break the FLDS mindset, and prepare for escape. A black man stood up to her husband, regarding abuse directed at Carolyn, that he had just witnessed in a restaurant. She suddenly realised that men on the 'outside' might actually treat women with respect. She listened to Dr Laura's radio show, secretly behind a locked door, each night. This, too, really opened her eyes to how life should be, and that women weren't just possessions, or baby-factories.
She's goes on to make a list of pointers to use, if you're trying to survive/escape a traumatic life. She talks about role models in her life, her grandmothers, who were strong women and managed to keep a sense of self despite the FLDS.
She talks about how life was after they escaped. The places they lived in. How her children reacted. How she felt she was on an alien planet.
All in all, I'd have to say this book wasn't as good as her first one. But I am all for anyone putting more info into print about cults, and how to get out of them. So, based on my feeling that any book that covers this topic is an important book, I am giving it 4 stars, despite its shortcomings.
4 Stars = It gave me much food for thought.
August 21, 2017
This is Carolyn Jessop second book. However, I have never read her first book Escape, but after this fantastic read I plan on it. Carolyn was raised in the extremist Mormon sect the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This book details her escape along with her eight children from the cult she had been raised in. The beginning of this book talks about the 2008 raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch, which she was heavily involved in. Her ex-husband was one of the top men in LDS and helped run the sprawling 1,700-acre ranch near Eldorado, Texas.
August 26, 2010
3 1/2 stars
The first half of the book is a really interesting account of the Yearning For Zion raid fiasco in Texas. Jessop has a unique perspective as a former FLDS woman who was married to one of the most powerful men in the cult. She was asked for assistance with the YFZ situation, especially with regard to working with the children who had been removed from the compound.
The second half of the book rehashes quite a bit of what was in Escape, Jessop's first book. She does add new perspectives and stories, though, and gives updates on how things have played out since Escape was written. I was glad to learn the rest of the story.
The book was repetitive at times, but on the whole I enjoyed it. I admire her courage and dogged determination. I really do. I just wish she could dial down the "I'm so fantastic" tone in her style of relating.
The first half of the book is a really interesting account of the Yearning For Zion raid fiasco in Texas. Jessop has a unique perspective as a former FLDS woman who was married to one of the most powerful men in the cult. She was asked for assistance with the YFZ situation, especially with regard to working with the children who had been removed from the compound.
The second half of the book rehashes quite a bit of what was in Escape, Jessop's first book. She does add new perspectives and stories, though, and gives updates on how things have played out since Escape was written. I was glad to learn the rest of the story.
The book was repetitive at times, but on the whole I enjoyed it. I admire her courage and dogged determination. I really do. I just wish she could dial down the "I'm so fantastic" tone in her style of relating.
June 27, 2010
I am fascinated by Warren Jeffs' polygamist cult FLDS, and I am in awe of Carolyn Jessop and her strength. I was thrilled to see she'd written a follow-up to "Escape" because when the YFZ Ranch was raided, I kept wondering what an insider like Carolyn thought. This book answered my questions. The first half of the book discusses the mess of the raid and the second half of the book goes into more depth about how Carolyn found the resources to slowly draw herself out of the cult that she was raised in. (She was a sixth generation polygamist.)
Her ex-husband Merril Jessop is going on trial in November of this year for his various crimes, although, alas none against Carolyn and her children. I hope to follow that closely and in the end, I hope Jessop gets some serious jail time.
I was amazed at the compassion and patience with which Carolyn lives her life. Never does she let bitterness or cattiness overwhelm her narrative.
Highly recommend for anyone who has read "Escape" or who is interested in understanding the mindset that traps a woman in polygamy.
Her ex-husband Merril Jessop is going on trial in November of this year for his various crimes, although, alas none against Carolyn and her children. I hope to follow that closely and in the end, I hope Jessop gets some serious jail time.
I was amazed at the compassion and patience with which Carolyn lives her life. Never does she let bitterness or cattiness overwhelm her narrative.
Highly recommend for anyone who has read "Escape" or who is interested in understanding the mindset that traps a woman in polygamy.
May 22, 2024
I feel like reading this right after Escape was both good and not so good, because everything is still fresh in my mind, but Carolyn does rehash parts of book one, so maybe I didn't need to jump into it immediately. Either way, I had a good time.
You don't need to read her first book to read this, and some of the lessons she gives might really be helpful if you want to leave an abusive situation/relationship. There's also updates about Betty and her other kids, Carolyn giving her opinions on things and helping out during the YFZ raid, and some interesting stories I haven't heard or thought about before (like the gym one).
Hopefully we'll get another book in the future when Carolyn has some more stories to tell, and I'm constantly praying that the FLDS doesn't end up like Jonestown, because that really seems to be the direction they're going in.
3.5ish
You don't need to read her first book to read this, and some of the lessons she gives might really be helpful if you want to leave an abusive situation/relationship. There's also updates about Betty and her other kids, Carolyn giving her opinions on things and helping out during the YFZ raid, and some interesting stories I haven't heard or thought about before (like the gym one).
Hopefully we'll get another book in the future when Carolyn has some more stories to tell, and I'm constantly praying that the FLDS doesn't end up like Jonestown, because that really seems to be the direction they're going in.
3.5ish
January 3, 2017
Her Escape book was much better. This was highly redundant, and more the court cases against her FLDS extended group/cult in their Texas (not that far from Midland) location. Over 400 children were taken from that vast compound area. This is the fallouts/ results for most of the abuse cases investigated. And also her child support issues with her ex Merrill. Lots of he said, she said. Tons of government bureaucracy. Sad tale of half-siblings and vastly inter-related trials. Much abuse, much neglect, much of brutal bullying. The difficulty of transition to the "other" outside world for people as her daughter, Betty, who have known no other style of life or belief? Not very well answered, IMHO. Just tons of sorrow and ignorance coming from different AND surrounding directions.
Carolyn doesn't have a lot of answers. But at least she has started to ask or connote the more normal questions.
It bothers me somewhat they the "saved" who live "normal"- all seem to have to have somewhat substituted some other "know better" hierarchy in view of depending "upon". Like the wisdom of the social services people or people with a lot of alphabets after their names.
This book is not put together well. It could have been covered better in detail with half the print.
Carolyn doesn't have a lot of answers. But at least she has started to ask or connote the more normal questions.
It bothers me somewhat they the "saved" who live "normal"- all seem to have to have somewhat substituted some other "know better" hierarchy in view of depending "upon". Like the wisdom of the social services people or people with a lot of alphabets after their names.
This book is not put together well. It could have been covered better in detail with half the print.
May 30, 2018
I finished reading this one last night, and I really found it to be a good read. Personally, I really enjoy memoirs about hard-hitting topics, and this book focuses on the abuses and sadness that Carolyn Jessop experienced (she's an escapee from the FLDS) when there was a rad on the FLDS compound. She had many of the memories of her own past brought back to light, and she thought back on the changes she had made and the sadness she had for those still stuck without help in the cult.
I have previously read 'Escape' by Carolyn Jessop and I would recommend that you have read that first because that is just Carolyn's story and it tells about her life as she was in FLDS, setting the scene for this story, and giving you a lot of background into what it was like to grow up in this environment. Carolyn had a lot of struggles both personally and legally when she tried to run away with her kids, and the FLDS had a lot of control and power, so it wasn't easy. 'Escape' was brilliant.
As I say this is set a couple of years later, and it's great as a reader to be able to find out what has changed and how the first book she published changed their lives. Jessop's escape was a turning point for her kids, and her story is emotional and brutal, but ultimately one you sympathise with and one you want to learn about. I really enjoyed this slightly smaller book, and I would recommend it highly to anyone who has an interest in this sort of non-fic. 4.5*s from me.
I have previously read 'Escape' by Carolyn Jessop and I would recommend that you have read that first because that is just Carolyn's story and it tells about her life as she was in FLDS, setting the scene for this story, and giving you a lot of background into what it was like to grow up in this environment. Carolyn had a lot of struggles both personally and legally when she tried to run away with her kids, and the FLDS had a lot of control and power, so it wasn't easy. 'Escape' was brilliant.
As I say this is set a couple of years later, and it's great as a reader to be able to find out what has changed and how the first book she published changed their lives. Jessop's escape was a turning point for her kids, and her story is emotional and brutal, but ultimately one you sympathise with and one you want to learn about. I really enjoyed this slightly smaller book, and I would recommend it highly to anyone who has an interest in this sort of non-fic. 4.5*s from me.
July 22, 2012
I really like this woman and admire her for her courage but this book was not very good. After reading Escape (which I LOVED), I was dying to find out what happened to her and the kids after 2007 so I raced to the library to get Triumph. Most of the book focuses on general information about the raid on the YFZ Ranch (ran by Warren Jeffs) and things that took place in court. The other half of the book is filled with regurgitated stories from the first book with some political propaganda thrown in. Something else I cannot overlook, is her failure to properly caption the pictures that are included of all of the wives. I am DYING to know who's who! Which one is Barbara?! Ruth?! Faunita?! Throw us a bone Ms. Jessop!
May 18, 2023
Carolyn’s bravery is uncanny! I felt the heartache and courage flow through this book. I can’t wait to read her other work on the FDLS topic.
June 23, 2010
Low stars for not being very well written, and of course my tirade which will follow . . .
The first half of this book aggravated me so badly I wanted to throw it across the room. I was hoping this book would enlighten me on the YFZ ranch situation - instead it made me more entrenched in what I believed in the first place. Polygamy? Bad. Abuse? Bad. Taking children away from mothers? What? She even states herself that those mothers loved their children as much or more than any mother. Yet, she talks of the tragedy of sending the kids back to their mothers. I'm sorry, I'm a mom. From the beginning it was OBVIOUS that that is NO WAY to handle a cult. HELLO! HOW do you propose to gain the TRUST of these people from whom you just ripped their children? Brainwashing is serious. I have no qualms with saying that. But, CPS seems to think emotionally charged decisions are the right ones with little to no thought of - "what about AFTER we have the 400 and some odd kids in custody?". They are attacking FAMILIES. That is what these people see. Does she honestly think they will bow down and say "yes, take my children, this is all we know, but you are so benevolent and good to take them away". They lost before they even began. Finally, it looks like things are happening the RIGHT way - albeit the SLOW way. With individual cases starting at the top. Get those nasty men on tax evasion if you have to - but go after THEM. NOT their families.
Brainwashing is never something that can be cured overnight, Texas.
You also have to read between the lines quite a bit. This is painfully obvious in the way she refers to "the FLDS". Obviously, the religion isn't exactly a walk in the park - but she even admits that some women ARE happy in their marriages. To condemn EVERYTHING about them is just a little TOO much for me. I am willing to believe that not ALL FLDS men are as terrible as Warren and Merril. She admits this, in the way SHE was raised and the relationship of her friend Lucy - but then contradicts herself on the same page. She seems emotionally blinded. (and why not, right?) Maybe a biographer would have smoothed this wrinkle a little.
It IS a travesty what is occurring in many FLDS homes. I am ecstatic that she has found her way out - and I hope for many more women to do the same. Thank you for my soap box.
The first half of this book aggravated me so badly I wanted to throw it across the room. I was hoping this book would enlighten me on the YFZ ranch situation - instead it made me more entrenched in what I believed in the first place. Polygamy? Bad. Abuse? Bad. Taking children away from mothers? What? She even states herself that those mothers loved their children as much or more than any mother. Yet, she talks of the tragedy of sending the kids back to their mothers. I'm sorry, I'm a mom. From the beginning it was OBVIOUS that that is NO WAY to handle a cult. HELLO! HOW do you propose to gain the TRUST of these people from whom you just ripped their children? Brainwashing is serious. I have no qualms with saying that. But, CPS seems to think emotionally charged decisions are the right ones with little to no thought of - "what about AFTER we have the 400 and some odd kids in custody?". They are attacking FAMILIES. That is what these people see. Does she honestly think they will bow down and say "yes, take my children, this is all we know, but you are so benevolent and good to take them away". They lost before they even began. Finally, it looks like things are happening the RIGHT way - albeit the SLOW way. With individual cases starting at the top. Get those nasty men on tax evasion if you have to - but go after THEM. NOT their families.
Brainwashing is never something that can be cured overnight, Texas.
You also have to read between the lines quite a bit. This is painfully obvious in the way she refers to "the FLDS". Obviously, the religion isn't exactly a walk in the park - but she even admits that some women ARE happy in their marriages. To condemn EVERYTHING about them is just a little TOO much for me. I am willing to believe that not ALL FLDS men are as terrible as Warren and Merril. She admits this, in the way SHE was raised and the relationship of her friend Lucy - but then contradicts herself on the same page. She seems emotionally blinded. (and why not, right?) Maybe a biographer would have smoothed this wrinkle a little.
It IS a travesty what is occurring in many FLDS homes. I am ecstatic that she has found her way out - and I hope for many more women to do the same. Thank you for my soap box.
December 16, 2010
I picked up the book reading Escape. While Escape is a memoir of Carolyn, Triumph is her story after escaping from FLDS sect. The book overlaps with Escape with respect to giving evidences of abuses which happen in FLDS. Triumph is divided into two parts, life after escaping+raid on YFZ ranch and her background and source of strength. With respect to the first part, a lot of it was fresh in my memory since I had just finished reading Escape. However, the interesting aspect is the description of the circumstances surrounding the raid on YFZ Ranch in Texas and the events which unfolded after that. The judgement of the court and the action by the state makes a lot more sense after getting the inside story. Anyone who would read Escape and is familiar with the raid on YFZ Ranch, would have a lingering question,"Why would the state let the kids and women go back in those circumstances". But Triumph explains the logistical nightmare it was for Texas to handle around 400 children and the PR propaganda launched by FLDS after the raid which lead to the judgement. The second part explains how she was able to become emotionally strong even though she faced abuse since she was a child. A lot of it seems abstract in certain ways and gives sense of a few things being unrealistic. I am not doubting her strength and the events. However, some of the description seems superfluous like story of her grandma appearing in her dreams, her description of going through emotional changes and such.
Overall its a good book for anyone wanting to know situations around YFZ Ranch raid, her life after Escape and how she managed to make it so far.
Overall its a good book for anyone wanting to know situations around YFZ Ranch raid, her life after Escape and how she managed to make it so far.
August 30, 2018
It was quite a few years ago when I read Jessop's first book, Escape. It is very hard to fathom how the women in the FLDS can belive what they are told and endure the abuse that they do. A very sick cult that hides behind their religion. The abuse committed to women and children is unimaginable. I'm glad Warren Jeffs is in prison, but there are many others yet who need to be charged. Carolyn Jessop is a very brave woman.
June 28, 2012
I was looking forward to this book after devouring Escape, but it was a little bit of a letdown. It seems to me that she wanted to make a statement about what she thought about the raid in Texas, but that wasn't enough to fill a book. So she talks about it for the first half of the book, and the second half is a LOT of rehashing from the first book. There were several chapters I thought "Wow, deja vu…" it seemed word-for-word to be stories from Escape. There were some new details sprinkled throughout, but all in all it just wasn't a captivating read like the first book was.
Two trivial things bothered me. One, was that I was pretty sure Merril's first wife in book one was spelled Faunita, and here it was Fonita. A small matter, yes, but it threw me everytime I read it. Second, she finally included a picture of Merril and the sister wives, but she didn't label which one was which! I am dying to know what Barbara looked like, especially.
I'm not sorry I read it, but I was definitely hoping for more. I still think she's an amazing woman, though.
Two trivial things bothered me. One, was that I was pretty sure Merril's first wife in book one was spelled Faunita, and here it was Fonita. A small matter, yes, but it threw me everytime I read it. Second, she finally included a picture of Merril and the sister wives, but she didn't label which one was which! I am dying to know what Barbara looked like, especially.
I'm not sorry I read it, but I was definitely hoping for more. I still think she's an amazing woman, though.
October 18, 2010
Another must-read. This woman is no less amazing in this second book. Again her writing style is light and funny despite the subject which is neither light nor funny. I am sad that she points out and somehow blames "mainstream Mormons' deafening silence about polygamous cults." We think they are on the path to destruction, but that they chose that path themselves. We don't identify with them like they obviously do with us, and I would wager to bet that few, if any Mormons had any idea what was going on "inside." Also, it is ironic to me that she will never know that the few good things she felt in her life, were part of the true gospel, for example, her grandparents were close enough to the true church that they had its teachings and instilled them in her.
August 4, 2016
4.5 stars. Carolyn Jessop is just extraordinary. This is a wonderful follow-up to Escape as well as an interesting look at how people can endure and survive captivity and create new life's.
April 2, 2016
What a crazy Freakin' world we live in that allows insanity like this. Oh well!
Where to start? Ummmh? Don't be born into lying cults (or ANY cults) and be forced to marry creepy abusive old men and have numerous children and sister wives. Sounds simple enough. Carolyn Jessop would give you the same advice. But I'm not totally convinced she has turned to anything infinitely better (there's some hints that maybe she has - God Bless her soul, and family) but she's definitely looking for truth and meaning with Hope.
Isn't it fun watching them polygamous lunatics get wrapped up in the news? Well, the problem is all of Mormonism is just a day or two (or a U.S. President?) away from fully embracing endless wife gathering and family abuse - all in the name of Religious Revelation. But really we know it's just a bunch of old men getting their 'Freak on' with young, stubborn, and gullible women. The horrifying part is that women then offer their young daughters to the next hierarchy of Holy men in the system... how the hell does that happen? Share the abuse I guess. Thankfully there are a few Great women like Caroyln and Flora Jessop.
Of course: if there's no God or meaning in the universe - then do whatever you want. I'm sure many men would love to have a collection of wives (and Gov't checks for all those children) and their own personal work force. One persons opinion is as good as the next. And lately I've come across many women who see nothing wrong with this choice. Thankfully the God of the Bible says "NO, cut that crap out..." or sin. Yes, read the whole Bible, this point comes across clearly - love your one wife and children properly.
Many people probably read this book for the wonderful insights (and horrors) into a woman's life, and a cults dirty laundry... I am mostly interested in it from a theological and religious angle. What would it take for the REST OF the Mormon cult (and I do mean your basic Latter Day Saints community of millions) to back up a century and fully embrace Joseph Smith's and Brigham Young's original teachings. So how many wives did the founders of Mormonism have???
Brigham Young: Fun comment - "sixteen wives bore him 57 children"
Joseph Smith: Insane comment - " Mormon historian Todd Compton estimates that Smith married at least 33 women and that one-third of them were simultaneously married to other men."
I chatted with a teenage girl who said she would be honored to be one of Joseph Smith's wives. These people aren't fooling around...or are they?
Let the games begin. Anyone else want to be a Mormon? Even though Carolyn is very careful to label this abuse Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS) that isn't really accurate now is it. What would it take to get this Mormon boat back on it's original course? Just ONE word from their latest Prophet. Be very afraid. Unless of course you laugh at the stupidity of all this. (I bet a few Mormons laughed at first too!)
It's fascinating that the FLDS really don't seem to have much in the way of scholarly Biblical theology. The men seem more like abusive Hillbilly's than Greek studying Bible college historians or philosophers. Are they just making this crap up as the go along (very much like Joseph Smith did!) and seldom are they to be questioned by anyone.
The God of the Bible is never afraid of being questioned. It's a relief to know that God did not make Adam & Eve, and Eve 2, and Eve 3, and Eve 4 etc.
From what i've seen of polygamy in its current state: this is just the beginning. With or without Mormonism (or religion).
At the end of the day Carolyn's X-husband is just another DEADBEAT Dad who doesn't even know how to love. What a relief that Carolyn woke up and did what her children needed. God Bless You girl. You ROCK!
Where to start? Ummmh? Don't be born into lying cults (or ANY cults) and be forced to marry creepy abusive old men and have numerous children and sister wives. Sounds simple enough. Carolyn Jessop would give you the same advice. But I'm not totally convinced she has turned to anything infinitely better (there's some hints that maybe she has - God Bless her soul, and family) but she's definitely looking for truth and meaning with Hope.
Isn't it fun watching them polygamous lunatics get wrapped up in the news? Well, the problem is all of Mormonism is just a day or two (or a U.S. President?) away from fully embracing endless wife gathering and family abuse - all in the name of Religious Revelation. But really we know it's just a bunch of old men getting their 'Freak on' with young, stubborn, and gullible women. The horrifying part is that women then offer their young daughters to the next hierarchy of Holy men in the system... how the hell does that happen? Share the abuse I guess. Thankfully there are a few Great women like Caroyln and Flora Jessop.
Of course: if there's no God or meaning in the universe - then do whatever you want. I'm sure many men would love to have a collection of wives (and Gov't checks for all those children) and their own personal work force. One persons opinion is as good as the next. And lately I've come across many women who see nothing wrong with this choice. Thankfully the God of the Bible says "NO, cut that crap out..." or sin. Yes, read the whole Bible, this point comes across clearly - love your one wife and children properly.
Many people probably read this book for the wonderful insights (and horrors) into a woman's life, and a cults dirty laundry... I am mostly interested in it from a theological and religious angle. What would it take for the REST OF the Mormon cult (and I do mean your basic Latter Day Saints community of millions) to back up a century and fully embrace Joseph Smith's and Brigham Young's original teachings. So how many wives did the founders of Mormonism have???
Brigham Young: Fun comment - "sixteen wives bore him 57 children"
Joseph Smith: Insane comment - " Mormon historian Todd Compton estimates that Smith married at least 33 women and that one-third of them were simultaneously married to other men."
I chatted with a teenage girl who said she would be honored to be one of Joseph Smith's wives. These people aren't fooling around...or are they?
Let the games begin. Anyone else want to be a Mormon? Even though Carolyn is very careful to label this abuse Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS) that isn't really accurate now is it. What would it take to get this Mormon boat back on it's original course? Just ONE word from their latest Prophet. Be very afraid. Unless of course you laugh at the stupidity of all this. (I bet a few Mormons laughed at first too!)
It's fascinating that the FLDS really don't seem to have much in the way of scholarly Biblical theology. The men seem more like abusive Hillbilly's than Greek studying Bible college historians or philosophers. Are they just making this crap up as the go along (very much like Joseph Smith did!) and seldom are they to be questioned by anyone.
The God of the Bible is never afraid of being questioned. It's a relief to know that God did not make Adam & Eve, and Eve 2, and Eve 3, and Eve 4 etc.
From what i've seen of polygamy in its current state: this is just the beginning. With or without Mormonism (or religion).
At the end of the day Carolyn's X-husband is just another DEADBEAT Dad who doesn't even know how to love. What a relief that Carolyn woke up and did what her children needed. God Bless You girl. You ROCK!
January 20, 2016
While it wasn't as riveting as Escape, Triumph is still a good read. It is broken into two parts, the first dealing with the big raid on the FLDS compound in 2008 where so many children were taken away from their homes. I remember the story well, how strange those women seemed and like the author I found them to have a zombie like appearance. I also have to think that not all FLDS are as horrific people as Jeffs and Merril. I could be wrong. She does give opinions in the book, but it is also based on what she knew being involved with the group and you can understand why some of her feelings are bitter or angry towards those in the cult. The second half of the book looks back at some scenes from Escape, and also updates the family and what they have all been up to. For the most part it looks like they all had a happy ending, except maybe Betty who went back to FLDS but for her perhaps that was a happy ending. Though not as good as Escape was and sometimes repetitive I found the second half to be better. Because I forgot a lot of Escape and also because her words about dealing with the control and abuse in the household gave me some ideas how to manage to survive a toxic workplace without going crazy something I was in desperate need of. If she was brave enough to tough out all those years living with it, I can surely handle eight hours a day. So overall despite the repetitiveness, and often opinionated commentary it was still very much worth the read and good to hear about this courageous woman and how she has no only escaped but seems to have survived and thrived along with her children to lead better happier lives.
October 14, 2013
1. Her first book read like fiction. This one not so much. A lot of it was sort of advice for those trying to survive. It would be helpful for those in that situation, but I didn't need it.
2. When are her and Brian going to get married!? He really does have to be a special guy to deal with all of that. But she's a special woman, too.
3. Will she ever find a non cult religion that she is comfortable with? I hope that she sees that God is a loving God and not the god of the FLDS.
4. I liked gaining for knowledge of the FLDS such as the Texas raid and the Mountain Meadow Massacre.
5. I cried on the last page when Harrison reacted to the whale at Sea World.
6. I hope Betty escapes one day.
7. Will anything ever bring down the FLDS?
8. I am saddened by the abuse and lack of education for the FLDS children.
9. I'm glad she got child support.
10. I'm also glad she is in a place in her life where she can help others by her expert testimony.
11. When reading Escape I told my husband that I thought a big reason she was able to escape was probably because of her education and in this book she confirmed my opinion.
2. When are her and Brian going to get married!? He really does have to be a special guy to deal with all of that. But she's a special woman, too.
3. Will she ever find a non cult religion that she is comfortable with? I hope that she sees that God is a loving God and not the god of the FLDS.
4. I liked gaining for knowledge of the FLDS such as the Texas raid and the Mountain Meadow Massacre.
5. I cried on the last page when Harrison reacted to the whale at Sea World.
6. I hope Betty escapes one day.
7. Will anything ever bring down the FLDS?
8. I am saddened by the abuse and lack of education for the FLDS children.
9. I'm glad she got child support.
10. I'm also glad she is in a place in her life where she can help others by her expert testimony.
11. When reading Escape I told my husband that I thought a big reason she was able to escape was probably because of her education and in this book she confirmed my opinion.
August 2, 2010
In this follow up to “Escape”, Jessop effectively answers the question, “If life is so bad for women in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) why don’t they leave?”
In 2008, based on a call from a young woman claiming abuse, Texas authorities raided the Yearning for Zion Ranch and ended up placing over 400 children in foster homes while investigating the alleged abuse. Overwhelmed by the number of children and utterly confused by the reaction of the mothers and children, Jessop was brought in to help child-care workers and authorities understand FLDS culture. I’m not sure her task was at all possible, but in describing her own childhood, marriage, home-life and eventual escape from the FLDS, Jessop lends perspective to a culture that is absolutely (and thankfully) foreign to the typical American.
While a very different type of book, “Triumph” will make a nice companion to Jon Krakauer’s history of the Morman Church “Under the Banner of Heaven: a Story of Violent Faith”.
In 2008, based on a call from a young woman claiming abuse, Texas authorities raided the Yearning for Zion Ranch and ended up placing over 400 children in foster homes while investigating the alleged abuse. Overwhelmed by the number of children and utterly confused by the reaction of the mothers and children, Jessop was brought in to help child-care workers and authorities understand FLDS culture. I’m not sure her task was at all possible, but in describing her own childhood, marriage, home-life and eventual escape from the FLDS, Jessop lends perspective to a culture that is absolutely (and thankfully) foreign to the typical American.
While a very different type of book, “Triumph” will make a nice companion to Jon Krakauer’s history of the Morman Church “Under the Banner of Heaven: a Story of Violent Faith”.
June 15, 2010
This book was an amazing testament to the human spirit and the resilinacy of children. I love when she says, during her day in court "I was no longer a bird confined to a cage to be tortured. I had found my wings and was determined to soar" pg. 74. She also had a great-and genuine attitude toward forgiveness, "forgiveness had nothing to do with trusting a person who'd injured you. It involved letting go of the anger you felt and making space for emotional growth." And the way she phrases her ability to forgive "I had to free myself from the storm of rage that churned inside me....I was beginning to grasp that forgiveness was breaking the chains that bind you to your captor." pg. 192-193
This book will speak to any one that has ever been through an ugly divorce, abusive relationship, has a disabled child or just likes to see people overcome a major adversity. If you were interested in the raid in Eldorado of the polygamy compound you will find this very interesting.
This book will speak to any one that has ever been through an ugly divorce, abusive relationship, has a disabled child or just likes to see people overcome a major adversity. If you were interested in the raid in Eldorado of the polygamy compound you will find this very interesting.
April 17, 2012
Unfortunately Carolyn writes too many of her opinions in this book. I really enjoyed reading her first book Escape. I felt like her ideas on home schooling, parenting, and religion were too biased and became a tirade for her anger. I would never home school my children and may not agree with homeschooling however, I would not lash out at anyone for doing it. It became very obvious she used this as therapy and maybe should have kept most of this to herself. Many of the things she writes were from the first book and it felt like a rerun. It is also poorly written with ideas all over the place.
The part I liked about the book was the account of the raid on the YFZ ranch and the hearings that followed. It was good to hear that some were held accountable for their actions. After the media lost interest we never heard that people were actually prosecuted.
To hear what happens to her children was worth the read.
The part I liked about the book was the account of the raid on the YFZ ranch and the hearings that followed. It was good to hear that some were held accountable for their actions. After the media lost interest we never heard that people were actually prosecuted.
To hear what happens to her children was worth the read.
December 3, 2015
3.5 stars
I also listened to this on audiobook.
Part 1: 4 stars. Part 1 is her reaction and experience after the raid of the YFZ Ranch in Texas. It was highly insightful to listen to an informed reaction to what happened surrounding that incident, the subsequent legal proceedings, etc. I liked this as much as the first book.
Part 2: 3 stars. This felt like a combination of a reminiscing diary and a self-help book about how to have triumph in your life. It was good, but didn't draw me in nearly as much as part 1 and the previous book. That said, if I were a person in some sort of an abusive relationship or something like that, Part 2 may have been far more meaningful to me; it was well-done.
I also listened to this on audiobook.
Part 1: 4 stars. Part 1 is her reaction and experience after the raid of the YFZ Ranch in Texas. It was highly insightful to listen to an informed reaction to what happened surrounding that incident, the subsequent legal proceedings, etc. I liked this as much as the first book.
Part 2: 3 stars. This felt like a combination of a reminiscing diary and a self-help book about how to have triumph in your life. It was good, but didn't draw me in nearly as much as part 1 and the previous book. That said, if I were a person in some sort of an abusive relationship or something like that, Part 2 may have been far more meaningful to me; it was well-done.
May 10, 2010
Carolyn's follow-up book to her first book "ESCAPE". She was born into the FLDS (Fundamentalists of Latter Day Saints) Mormon polygamous cult. For 35 years she lived this way, until 2003 when she finally escaped with her 8 children. People don't leave the cult, they are forced out but hardly ever leave because of their brainwashing and the way they live almost makes it impossible for them to get away unnoticed. Young girls are married off (usually purchased)to much older men in the cult beginning at age 12. Some have several babies by the age of 15. I found her story fascinating and I am amazed this is going on today, in 2010 on U.S. soil.
August 26, 2013
I absolutely loved this book. The strength this woman had, can teach a lot to other women in an abusive situation. I would definitely recommend it. In some parts it requires particular attention to be able to learn from her experience. Definitely worth reading it.
November 25, 2015
The first part of the book is good as it describes the raid on the YFZ ranch in Texas and that was interesting. But then when she just started to spend chapters on loving yourself and being independent and the importance of education it got kind of boring for me.
June 23, 2025
4 stars!
I really resonated with Jessop’s version of forgiveness that she writes about in her book. Anger can consume so much of your energy that it can keep you weak and trapped in the same circumstances that made you angry in the first place. Forgiveness doesn’t have to be a clean slate with the person who wronged you. Forgiveness can be letting go of your anger, not for the sake of your abuser, but for your wellbeing and healing.
The book repeats a lot of points from Escape, which is understandable because not all of the readers will have read her first book (though they absolutely should). But this does make the start of most chapters in the second part of the book where context is given a bit of a drag for readers who know this from reading Escape. Jessop does add in a lot of new events that she didn’t really talk about in Escape, despite them taking place during the same time period Escape covers. Instead of these being simply told to us (similar to Escape’s style), the second part of the book serves as a guide for people in bad situations using real experiences from Jessop’s life. She talks about the lessons she learned from every experience. It’s almost like a self-help book. I like it.
I kind of wish the author had waited to publish this until after the trial of her abuser. We see a couple FLDS men get sentenced for their crimes against girls, but since Escape and Triumph both describe Merril’s crimes it would have been nice to read about his trial and sentencing. I’ll have to Google what happened to him after I write this because the trial had not happened at the time of publication. It feels like the book was published in the middle of a story that was still unfolding.
Still, it’s a good book. I’m happy to hear that Carolyn and her children are doing well and that she’s living a good life with Brian. I wish her and her family all the best <3
I really resonated with Jessop’s version of forgiveness that she writes about in her book. Anger can consume so much of your energy that it can keep you weak and trapped in the same circumstances that made you angry in the first place. Forgiveness doesn’t have to be a clean slate with the person who wronged you. Forgiveness can be letting go of your anger, not for the sake of your abuser, but for your wellbeing and healing.
The book repeats a lot of points from Escape, which is understandable because not all of the readers will have read her first book (though they absolutely should). But this does make the start of most chapters in the second part of the book where context is given a bit of a drag for readers who know this from reading Escape. Jessop does add in a lot of new events that she didn’t really talk about in Escape, despite them taking place during the same time period Escape covers. Instead of these being simply told to us (similar to Escape’s style), the second part of the book serves as a guide for people in bad situations using real experiences from Jessop’s life. She talks about the lessons she learned from every experience. It’s almost like a self-help book. I like it.
I kind of wish the author had waited to publish this until after the trial of her abuser. We see a couple FLDS men get sentenced for their crimes against girls, but since Escape and Triumph both describe Merril’s crimes it would have been nice to read about his trial and sentencing. I’ll have to Google what happened to him after I write this because the trial had not happened at the time of publication. It feels like the book was published in the middle of a story that was still unfolding.
Still, it’s a good book. I’m happy to hear that Carolyn and her children are doing well and that she’s living a good life with Brian. I wish her and her family all the best <3
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March 15, 2023After escaping from an extremist Mormon sect, the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, this book follows Carolyn’s navigation of the 2008 raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch which was, at the time, run by her ex husband Warren Jeffs. Although her 8 children already out, many of Carolyn’s step children were still very active members of the church.
I think my biggest take away from this book is how frustrating the legal system must be in familial situation especially when “religion” is involved. More than anything the disservice for the children who clearly were abused and neglected is mind blowing. And while I recognize the importance of allowing people to practice their religions freely, that’s not what seems to be happening.
Definitely worth the listen (I did the audiobook) and the thought processes it sparked!
I think my biggest take away from this book is how frustrating the legal system must be in familial situation especially when “religion” is involved. More than anything the disservice for the children who clearly were abused and neglected is mind blowing. And while I recognize the importance of allowing people to practice their religions freely, that’s not what seems to be happening.
Definitely worth the listen (I did the audiobook) and the thought processes it sparked!
November 22, 2020
The first half of the book about the raid on the FDLS compound, CPS, and trial was super interesting. The second half of the book was disjointed and gave more storiEs to build off the first book. Glad this family got it’s “Triumph”
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