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Breaking Free

How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs

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Breaking Free

Written by: Rachel Jeffs
Narrated by: Rachel Jeffs
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About this listen

In this searing memoir of survival in the spirit of Stolen Innocence, the daughter of Warren Jeffs, the self-proclaimed Prophet of the FLDS Church, takes you deep inside the secretive polygamist Mormon fundamentalist cult run by her family and how she escaped it.

Born into the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Rachel Jeffs was raised in a strict patriarchal culture defined by subordinate sister wives and men they must obey. No one in this radical splinter sect of the Mormon Church was more powerful or terrifying than its leader, Warren Jeffs - Rachel's father.

Living outside mainstream Mormonism and federal law, Jeffs arranged marriages between underage girls and middle-aged and elderly members of his congregation. In 2006 he gained international notoriety when the FBI placed him on its 10 Most Wanted List. Though he is serving a life sentence for child sexual assault, Jeffs' iron grip on the church remains firm and his edicts to his followers increasingly restrictive and bizarre.

In Breaking Free, Rachel blows the lid off this taciturn community made famous by John Krakauer's best-selling Under the Banner of Heaven to offer a harrowing look at her life with Warren Jeffs and the years of physical and emotional abuse she suffered. Sexually assaulted, compelled into an arranged polygamous marriage, locked away in "houses of hiding" as punishment for perceived transgressions, and physically separated from her children, Rachel, Jeffs' first plural daughter by his second of more than 50 wives, eventually found the courage to leave the church in 2015. But Breaking Free is not only her story - Rachel's experiences illuminate those of her family and the countless others who remain trapped in the strange world she left behind.

A shocking and mesmerizing memoir of faith, abuse, courage, and freedom, Breaking Free is an exposé of religious extremism and a beacon of hope for anyone trying to overcome personal obstacles.

Rachel Jeffs grew up in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the polygamous Mormon sect, which she escaped in 2015. Rachel lives in Idaho with her five children and two dogs.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 Rachel Jeffs (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers
Religious Studies True Crime Marriage Mormon Cult
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What listeners say about Breaking Free

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Excellent

Excellent, bien équilibré du début à la fin. Pas de longueur. La narratrice, le personnage principal, est un peu monotone, même quand elle relate des passages alors qu'elle est en colère, mais elle a une voix douce et agréable.

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Intense and overwhelming story!

What an incredible story written and narrated by the author. Hard to believe these tragic things happened to all of these people and especially Rachel.
A great memoir!
#Audible1

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Thank goodness she did break free

It is incredible that, even after being incarcerated, this despicable man continued to control his cult through communications. He had people so convinced of his doctrine that they kept obeying. An eye opening look at the power and control of a cult. I admire anyone who has worked their way free of the mental and physical clutches of a cult, especially when it’s your own family. Rachel’s courage is admirable - and may she go on enjoying all the ice cream she wants. Highly recommended.

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Heartbreaking story

This was a hard book to listen to just so much abuse. I was raised in a legalistic faith, but cannot imagine following the rules that Rachel had to follow just to be a part of her church. Very heartbreaking.
Her father is a horrible man! Thank you for sharing your story, Rachel.
I hope and pray one day you will be completely healed from your abuse.

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Incredible story

It’s an impactful story. I struggled slightly with the flat affect in her narration. I typically enjoy hearing from the actual author and those who experience these situations, I feel though, some aren’t meant for narration. I would have appreciated a different narrator as the low affect tired me at times and distracted me from the story.

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intriguing read!

I struggle with the monotoneness of the reader in the beginning but she did great! I prefer books being read by the author, and so proud of rachel for sharing her truth! way to go!

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Rachel is a Survivor.

Rachel is a Strong, Amazing Women. I Love this book. Hope she writes another.

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thank you for sharing your story

thank you for sharing your story - your story is very moving. Sending light to you and the others who were impacted

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Fascinating and Gribbing!

I couldn't put this book down. Such an unbelievable life she has lead and to hear it in her own words and from her own voice is absolutely fascinating. It's a story more of us should read. Thank you Rachel!

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W.O.W.

I could not stop listening to this from the first chapter. Her story is so absolutely heartbreaking and horrific that it's hard to believe it was real. My heart breaks for her and her family but I am so thrilled to hear they are safe and happy now. Thank you so much for sharing your story Rachel ❤

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