Random Former Members Of FLDS Community Share Their Stories (13 items)

• (#13) 'We Would Anoint The Center Of The Hood Of The Car With Oil'

  Although "blessing" or "dedicating" houses is common among the Mormons, only the FLDS take the extra step of sanctifying their cars, according to Redditor /u/used2bflds:

  We would anoint the center of the hood of the car with oil (extra virgin olive oil as per FLDS custom of all Priesthood blessings), then have two elders sit in the driver and passenger seat, putting the right and left hand on the knee of either, and dedicate the vehicle for safe passage from one destination to the other.
• (#8) 'I Was Pinned Against The Wall As A Small Child By A Particularly Jealous Mother'

  Many affirm that having multiple wives and multiple children led to complicated relationships. Redditor /u/used2bflds remembers the conflicts between the different wives:

  I've seen the fights. Yelling matches in front of the kids, wives ganging up on other wives, wives chasing each other around with sticks...

  But that didn't compare to when they would turn on each other's kids and use them as punishment for the other. There were times I was pinned against the wall as a small child by a particularly jealous mother for minor infractions (saying "shut up" to one of her kids was one I remember) for 30 minutes or more.
• (#3) 'A Couple Of My Brothers Were Told They Were No Longer Welcome'

  When asked about the basic math of making sure there are enough women and men to couple up, Redditor /u/used2bflds talks about the church's "purges:"

  Young men (and occasionally married men) would be asked to leave the church. We were usually told they were being "called to repentance," but there was never any plan for them to come back. Sometimes people would, but it was few and far between. A couple of my brothers were told they were no longer welcome. But they were told they wouldn't have a chance to return. When I was in the church, I believed there was a reason for it, (they both had... records) but both have since turned their lives around and become awesome individuals. They were told by religious leaders that they would never amount to anything.
• (#5) 'When Men Were Asked To Leave, There Were Sometimes Reasons'

  Commenting on the church's practice of "purging" male members to ensure there were many women for each man, Redditor /u/used2bflds recalls:

  I made the decision to leave the church myself. When men were asked to leave, there were sometimes reasons. One particular case, though, was when the church leaders told a man I respect and admire he needed to "repent from afar" for doubting the leaders, but after he had left, they told his family he had [acted inappropriately with] children.
• (#2) 'I Have 40+ Siblings'

  Redditor /u/used2bflds explains the chaos and challenges of raising dozens of children in the same home:

  I have 40+ siblings. I do know the exact number (more than some people from the FLDS can say, sadly). Mealtimes were served youngest first, then second helpings were a buffet style. Boys and girls were in separate bedrooms, but not much more than that.
• (#4) 'The Fights Ended Up With My Dad Kneeling On Top Of Me'

  While discussing his early childhood in the church, a former Redditor details a confrontation with his father:

  So he comes at me again trying to grab my face, and I block him. Then we start fist fighting. I've been fighting my dad like this since I was about 7, so I'm really good at blocking his punches. I never attacked first - as a general rule I may have pissed him off on purpose, but I ALWAYS made sure he threw the first punch. I wasn't the type to rage at my dad. I raged a lot, but I wouldn't be aggressive like him.

  Needless to say, most of the time the fights ended up with my dad kneeling on top of me, punching my face while I'm yelling trying to block it. My only other option was to get around him and run out of the house.

  I've slept outside over 50 times between about 9 and 18 years old when I ran away.

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