The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice Hardcover – September 10, 2013

***If you don't already know the story--then this review contains the basic plot spoilers. Also, as of November 22, one of Rebecca's brothers has made some mildly inflammatory comments about this book in a short ebook. Short story--it's sensationalism without any substance over minor details and reads like that of a jealous family member angry at the way he was portrayed. Don't bother purchasing it (for anyone interested--I wrote a detailed review of it)***First things first. This book is not an attack against Mormons, God or even polygamy. And neither is this review. It makes clear distinctions about why the type of FLDS that Warren Jeffs was leading was in fact very different from both Mormonism as well as other forms of Christianity. If I recall--not once does Rebecca even use the word cult--but for the purposes of this review, I am going to. In my opinion, whether it's under the guise of religion or helter skelter--when you have a population of people who are both terrified of as well as essentially worship a singular leader, cut off from the rest of the world, indoctrinated from birth, driving out all those who dare to question, and most importantly creating a system of that greatly disadvantages and mentally stunts a portion of the population so that they are easier to control--that is in fact a cult.I rarely read books like these (although I did greatly enjoy the Susan Atkins' autobiography), but every once in a while I come across a news story that just captures my imagination. I remember seeing news articles when Jeffs was arrested where there was just a lot of controversy about whether or not Jeffs and his congregation of FLDS members were just misunderstood or whether they were in fact criminals. Eventually, during his trial--more evidence came to light that Jeffs was in fact a serial pedophile and abuser not to mention was a total con artist concerning his "religion". Jeffs would preach about abstaining from "worldly sins" but then would use the substantial tithe money to live the very type of life that he preached against. Enough tales of 12 year old brides, rape and systemic corruption emerged that I think eventually the media finally came around to the side of the prosecutors--but some still made the case that Jeffs and his members should have just been left alone.I dare anyone who thinks that to read this book. It's clear that even the prison terms that Jeffs and several high ranking members received was only just the tip of the iceberg. This book is positively heartbreaking. Told through the eyes of Rebecca Musser, this books gives a gripping perspective into the tragedy of the Warren Jeffs era FLDS.Rebecca starts with her traumatic childhood of her siblings and mother forced to live in a dark basement and abused by her father's first wife. The physical and emotional trauma she received in this house was in no way merely a form of physical discipline. This was not spanking a child carefully--this was full on bloody beatings from the first wife to the point of organ failure in the case of one of her beloved brothers, sexual molestation from a half brother, and grievous mental and emotional abuse. Rebecca makes it clear though, that at least in her mind---she viewed this as unusual and not the norm for all polygamous families. She makes it clear that child abuse is not a necessary byproduct of bigamy--though she did see reoccurring jealousy leading to violence or passive forms of aggression repeatedly in in first/second/third/etc... wife relationships.Something that was surprising to me though, was the realization that the FLDS movement was much more like the Amish than cult like towards the beginning of the book. While I would disagree with many if not all of their views, the FLDS church was not always synonymous with human trafficking and child rape. It seems it used to have a more democratic (though barely) structure not to mention didn't seek to wholly cut off their children from the outside world. Rebecca even attended a normal school up until somewhere in elementary I believe. Unlike many in the church, her father was a highly educated engineer who clearly passed on his mental acuity and passion for knowledge to Rebecca. It seems things honestly didn't reach the point of outright major law breaking (for the greater organization--certainly Rebecca and her siblings would have all been taken away and her parents put in jail if authorities were aware of the child abuse) until maybe the late 90s early 00s.What changed things was Warren Jeffs. He had taken over the "school" system and little by little chipped away at whatever real knowledge these kids had and replaced it with a systematic indoctrination of both the church, himself, "sexual purity"/total submission of women and how evil the rest of the "Gentile" world was. When his father (the revered yet lecherous Prophet who Rebecca was married off to at 19 and he 85) became sick, he took over the main religious not to mention purse strings of the cult. When his father died, Jeffs began a systematic purge of all those who opposed him as well as rewarding young and younger girls as wives to those who backed his rise to power. When Jeffs started to pressure the sister wives of his father--specifically Rebecca--into marrying him, this was the moment when Rebecca found the courage to escape the compound as she was absolutely sickened and terrified of Jeffs.In the time Rebecca left and the time Jeffs was finally arrested--it's clear that things just got worse. Just because these young brides weren't chained physically, they might as well have been. When you have virtually zero education, poor communication skills and own zero property to your name, you really don't have a choice. It's either leave (provided you aren't dragged back like many girls were) or marry. Neither of which is a fair choice. And many boys were also either raped or sent off to work in almost chain gain like conditions for various construction FLDS owned companies if they showed the slightest sign of mere hesitation or rebellion.As she became increasingly aware of just how great some of the lies told to her were, not to mention broken over the unknown fates of her biological younger sisters--she began a relentless yet cautious effort to locate her littlest sisters who she was concerned had been forced into marriage. Eventually, as the federal and state governments began to make a case against Jeffs and senior members of the church--they called upon Rebecca to help them. At great emotional and psychological harm to herself and her marriage, Rebecca slowly started helping the authorities build a case against these members. Eventually, she became the star and fearless witness in a series of trials which eventually ended up in prison sentences for Jeffs and other members. She symbolically wore red during her testimony in Jeffs trial, a moment of defiance as Jeffs had banned the color red from ever being worn in the FLDS church.While emotionally difficult to read, I do want to make it clear that this book was incredibly riveting. I knew the ending, I knew Rebecca had survived, I knew Jeffs was arrested and sentenced to life--and yet this was genuinely more tense and gripping than several thrillers I've read recently. All credit to Rebecca as well as Bridget Cook (co-author) for masterful storytelling.Part of what made this book so powerful to me is that it's not a rant. It's not a pity party. It's not even about how heroic Rebecca was--which she unquestionably was. It's clear the journey Rebecca went through was gradual and that she often felt hopelessly alone and not in control. And yet, with each little decision she made--she got one step closer and closer to not just freedom for herself but many of her siblings and others. Her steely determination and self respect is what saved her. And that's an incredibly empowering message.I would highly recommend this book to anyone simply curious about the history and insight into the world of the Jeffs era FLDS, as well as young girls. One of the many powerful ideas from this book that has really stuck with me--is that Rebecca didn't know she had the choice to respect herself. She had been taught that she was nothing except a body in which to sexually and otherwise serve the whims of the men in charge. And it was the moment that she realized that she was special that she was able to start questioning what she saw around her.Emotional, visceral, enlightening and riveting--this book can help you see the world a little bit clearer. Highly recommend.*********Promised myself I wasn't going to write any more--but ended up buying and reading the book by Rebecca's little sister Elissa who had been married off at 14 to a first cousin and repeatedly raped. I don't want to take anything away from her story--but the perspective here is wholly different. Elissa was a kid and relaid her story through the eyes of a kid--and tho Rebecca wasn't much older, she had much more knowledge and an awareness of what was actually happening due to her status as the elder Prophet's wife. Honestly, Rebecca is also simply a much better writer. Essentially, this book is much more detailed and provides a better perspective of the entire FLDS situation.

This book, above all else, is about hope. The emotions that welled up within me, while reading about Rebecca's life & experiences and the information contained within, caused me to tremble with anger, pain, and sorrow. Being taught happens in many forms. Rebecca has taught me much about the FLDS culture under the rule of Warren Jeffs & his father. It has shown me how as history repeatedly played out, one person, can control others through fear & threats. It has taught me that what I think I know & what is, is often very different. It has shown me what grace looks like. It has shown me what courage looks like. It has shown me what personal sacrifice looks like. It has also given a human face to evil, but has also shown me that one can never see the depths of evil within a human.This book was mentioned on a YouTube video & the subject matter intrigued me. I'm highly recommending this book to anyone who would like to cultivate an understanding of the FLDS culture, what the experiences are/were of women and children, and would like to see others break free from bondage. The subject matter is highly emotional and upsetting. I recommend it women everywhere.

Rebecca Musser wrote The Witness Wore Red, the story of the final days of freedom for Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) cult leader Warren Jeffs. Published in 2013 and ably co-authored by M. Bridget Cook, The Witness Wore Red takes the reader inside a very secretive and paranoid society.There is a depressing similarity to these FLDS tell-all books. A woman grows up in a polygamous household, marries too young to an older man she doesn’t love, leaves the FLDS community and is eventually forced to assimilate into the outside world she had been trained since infancy to distrust. At some point, she can mentally and physically separate from the FLDS community, carves out a new life for herself and her children, eventually collaborates on a book and can be found giving speeches on YouTube alongside Yonder Mountain String Band concerts and basketball dunks. You expect this highly dysfunctional, uber-patriarchal society to collapse under the weight of its own hypocrisy at any time, but it never does.The Witness Wore Red shines an unflattering spotlight on Rulon Jeffs, the FLDS "prophet," and his conniving, evil son, Warren, who would ascend to the throne upon Rulon’s death. Despite an age gap of over 60 years, Musser became the 19th “wife” of the senior (very senior) Jeffs. As Ms. Musser assimilates, there are re-occurring tensions between her and her new husband – he wants Rebecca to be the dutiful, “keep sweet” wife and mother; she wants to sell real estate and assist government authorities in Texas attempting to dismantle a FLDS compound.For additional insights into the FLDS culture, readers may wish to consult Jon Krakauer’s excellent work on Mormon fundamentalism, Under the Banner of Heaven. Krakauer’s book provides a historical perspective that Musser’s book lacks. Other FLDS works include Escape, co-authored by Carolyn Jessop, and Stolen Innocence, co-authored by Elissa Wall (Musser’s biological sister). These books are inspiring in a perverse sort of way, especially to those of us who face daily challenges a lot less daunting than the ones tackled head-on by ex-FLDS members. They highlight an underrated trait in 21st century America: resiliency.

Wow. If you like any of those crime drama shows (fiction or non-fiction), you're going to like this book. You know going into it that she gets out and that there are court cases and everything. I remember this all in the news. But I kept having great difficulty putting this down because it was exactly how all crime things are-- you can't look away from the accident.What I didn't realize was that so many people went back and are still suffering right now.

When Rebecca Musser was barely nineteen, she became one of Rulon Jeffs' (the then so-called "Prophet" of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) "young wives". As one of the first young women to be sacrificed to Jeffs (he married more than forty other women and girls after her, two within days of the wedding), she was at the heart of the FLDS, able to see Warren Jeffs' rise to absolute power and the rapidly-decreasing age of marriage.Throughout the book, you see the control the men have over the lives of the women. The women have no control over who they marry, or over their bodies when they do marry, and their salvation is held above their head as the stick to force them to total obedience.It's heart-breaking to read, and shocking that people can be so subjugated in a Western country such as the United States: young girls forced to marry men older than their fathers, even as they're sobbing, and having their spirit "bred" out of them (as the FLDS phrase goes). With her place at the top of the cult (apparently "privileged", but with no ability to travel freely, and constantly-monitored, I'd question the term), she was able to see the machinations of the cult up close, making her testimony incredibly valuable for anybody reading about the FLDS.It's an absorbing but horrific read. It's very emotionally-difficult to read some of the details, especially regarding the abuses of notorious cult-leader Warren Jeffs, whose rise to power and manipulation is laid bare here.Musser writes very well, and it's inspiring to see how she overcame a background of such abuse to speak against the leaders of the cult, and against oppression in general.Recommended for scholars and people interested in the FLDS, but expect an emotional punch.

Yes, its an interesting and utterly fascinating story and presumed insight into the life of Rebecca Musser. However, having read bother her sisters account of her own experiences and upbringing and her fathers rebuttal of events one wonders how much of this particular book is actually accurate. I read Elyssa's book first and enjoyed it immensely, I then read this one and throughout the first part covering the childhood I certainly noticed very loudly that certain things did not tally. Surely the experiences and history of 2 sisters cannot be so vastly different! Rebecca talks about constant abuse from her mothers sister-wives and yet Elyssa mentions none at all, in fact almost the opposite at times. Once or twice she mentions slight tension but nothing out of the ordinary surely in the lets face up, abnormal lifestyle situation. Elyssa's book STOLEN INNOCENCE is utterly absorbing and down to earth, it shouts honest at the reader and yet this one seems to say.. Sensationalized!YES.. I enjoyed it but please, read the other 2 books as well before you believe everything you see!

It takes a special person to stand up not only to a religious tyrant but his mass of brainwashed followers. Going against her upbringing and large extended family was a brave but necessary move. These men prosecuted were little more than paedophiles exercising control in the name of religion and instilling fear in their faithful flock should they fail to adhere to the rules of a self appointed messenger from God. May the faithful few of the FLDS learn to be less gullible and open their eyes to the truth of what has happened and learn from this.

I have read the book 'Escape' written by Rebecca's sister Elyssa and just like that book I often found myself open mouthed with shock at the treatment of women within the FLDS movement. Despite that, Rebecca writes with no bitterness that I could discern and simply tells the story like it is. I've really become interested in the many tv programmes that now deal openly with this subject and the former members who try to liberate those who want to leave. Freedom to think our own thoughts, live our own lives and make our own choices, is a privilege we are all entitled to.

Though often times sad, and deeply disturbing this is the story of a woman's journey of transformation beginning with a life in captivity, to gathering the courage to leaving the only way of life that she knew, to the first taste of freedom and the struggle to survive and overcome her past. This is a tale of justice, and the healing that her pursuit of justice brought about in her life, and the lives of others. It is a deeply personal memoir of the journey of an individual and the strength of the human spirit, but also a first hand account of life in a religious cult. It is satisfying in that the perpetrators were brought to justice, and that she was able to partake in the various legal processes that facilitated justice. You are able to see justice come round full circle, something which we don't often get to see in life- but it happened here. What an incredibly brave, strong and resilient woman. Highly recommended!!

I couldn't put this book down!!!!!!Really well written capturing life in the FLDS.Would definitely recommend. It was an honest account of life in the FLDS church.

It must be very easy to become drawn into a cult; I would imagine being told what to do, how to act and what to believe is the draw that makes you feel a part of something. However, when you realise that the beliefs are no longer there that problems begin. Rebecca had to leave everything/everyone she loved and start a new strange life away from what she new. But she did it resulting in 2 beautiful children. Every single page of her book is exciting and risky. But she survives! She now helps people similar to herself. Good luck, Rebecca, and your family. Keep up your good work.

A good read from the sister of Elissa Wall. Iv read almost all books on FLDS and now feel I not only know these families but I have a true picture of what life in such a cult was like for all women and children. Yet another book I hope can inspire change, one person at a time

This was a real eye-opener. To be honest, there's too much to comment on. It's a very interesting read, full of domineering, disgusting men, and brainwashed, submissive women. And, all done in the name of their faith; shocking! I gave it 4 stars for the author/victims, not because I enjoyed reading it.

Strong and accepting of the struggles people face when leaving cults she deals with the flds religion from her childhood within it to marriage, death if her husband the prophet and then her leaving followed by legal ramifications. Concise and clear in her message she even acknowledges that her father views it very differently. It is quite similar to her sister Elissa walls book.

An amazing story, it is hard to believe that people can be sucked in to live their lives following one man and yet it still goes on. Well written and well worth reading.

amazing story. i love anything to do with the flds and their culture and this is a first hand account of what happens. i have recommended it

Great book

Gripping stuff. A must read for anyone studying the FLDS, and an inspiring read for anyone wanting to leave a religious cult.

brillant read great insight into life of a poligmous wife and her struggles after her excape couldnt put it down