Life Inside the FLDS Polygamous Group - An Exclusive Interview with Celesta
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Part 2 will be released on Friday, August 25th 2023
Celesta unveils the untold realities of life within the FLDS, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges she faced, the suppression she endured, and the courage it took to break free.
🌟 A Journey to Empowerment: Hear firsthand how Celesta's unwavering spirit led her on a path of self-discovery and growth after leaving the FLDS behind. Her inspiring journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of personal transformation.
🗣️ Giving Voice to the Voiceless: Through this conversation, Celesta sheds light on the importance of raising awareness about the experiences of those who have been silenced for too long. Her voice is a beacon of hope for others who are seeking liberation and a better life.
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It is gratifying seeing Ex members go on to live happy meaningful lives
This woman is NOT a poster child of happiness! You cant see the pain in her eyes?!
My mom died when I was 14.. religious abuse and schizophrenia were reasons. This story resonates so much.
Hugs 🥺💙
@@lalasvlog1591 Thank you. Hugs to you as well, you are very brave to speak, I am grateful as it gives hope that it will get better 💚💜
My condolences 😢. The experience is mutual but with other family members. It shouldn't be that religious trauma helps feed the predisposition for mental illness, but it is often the case.
As much as I love these interviews, and look forward to them, they are so heartbreaking. Religion should bring you comfort, not cause you pain.
Yeah, this one really got me because of what happened with her dad.
Please don’t be offended my friend and think about this before you answer. Give me the name of one religion that brought through happiness to this world?
Why should religion bring comfort?
@@gregsilva1472Why should it be? It's not like just because we live on hell which is planet earth, but it doesn't have to be purgatory!
Through pain you get enlightenment, and the skills to provide for others.. unlike being selfish, always seeking comfort
Thank you for sharing your story - it sounds like your Dad died of a broken heart. Grief can be heavy. I can't imagine losing an entire family and way of life would ever end well. It is devastating for the men that this happened to.
My heart breaks for you, I couldn't cry when my father died, but your story really touched me. How can "church leaders" supposedly given power from God be so meanl? I'm going to fight cruelty to my last breath. Thank you for sharing this part of your life
18:47 although I was never Mormon this was my experience as well when my faith in my high demand community and Christianity in general fell apart back in 2019, I was so depressed that I almost ended it all because I felt there was nothing left to live for and after years of episodes of that depression I started taking meds more recently and it has brought back a sense of peace I haven’t felt in a long time. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I love your pod casts and interviews
Such an intelligent & level headed young woman. Wishing you the best, young lady.
This reminds me of making funeral arrangements with a family from Colorado City when I worked in Phoenix. The baby died in a hospital in Phoenix. When they came down to make the arrangements and meet with me the mother of the baby was only sixteen and she was accompanied by a man that was somewhere between 55 and 65 years of age. When I was gathering information for the death certificate at and asked what the name of the baby's father was, they told me they did not know. I immediately got the gut feeling that the senior citizen sitting across from me had fathered the baby. Of course they weren't going to tell me that because he could have been prosecuted for statutory rape. I knew they were from Colorado City because it went on the death certificate and also they were wearing the clothes that those people there wear. I think this was a real 2008 when Warren jeffs was on the run and it was in the news all the time in the valley. That young lady called me back about 3 or 4 months later asking me if I could help her get a headstone for her baby. It was a very sad situation that I will never forget, and I will never forget the surname. It was Roundy. That's the only time I met anyone with that last name, so I'm guessing they all live in that area.
My ex husband’s youngest aunt was wife 1 to Sam Roundy in Colorado City 50+ years ago. I’m sure that’s some relationship to my sons. Not surprised.
That's so sad. And sick. 😢
This was a really great interview. Celesta is so well spoken and really has a story to tell. Can't wait for part 2 💜
Thank you!
“I don’t know, yeah, that’s
Just my opinion I try really hard to not be too disrespectful because it’s, I don’t know, I’ve spent all my energy being sacrilegious and all that against and against it just because of my pain that I’m just kind of like there there was actually to the point now where I can actually kind of start to see like okay there was some good in this, not so much here, yeah.”
I moved back to Colorado City 5 years ago and i cant believe how much it changed ran away at 16 before warren I now live in CP. I love it now.
Oh honey! I so very much resonate with you. 💕 I was very much like you as a child, looking around at adult people with their beliefs and wondering how it made any good sense at all.
I'm so happy for you that you had a great daddy who loved you! Good on him. Sounds like he did his best despite the life situation he was in and his mental illness.
I probably shouldn't use this word/term (my sociologist daughter says that's it's not really a 'thing' and that I probably shouldn't use the term) - but thank goodness you had so much common sense, even as a child. Looking forward to the rest of your story on Friday.
Good job Sam and Melissa. 😎
Thank you for sharing your support and kindness! ❤️
You guys are amazing ❤
Good thing that you are interview with Peter Santenello,I found you guys now I subscribe in your channel.👍
I was raised LDS outside of Boston. My ward was 90+% converts. One of my favorite Sunday school teacher was Sister Goldberg. She and her family were Jewish converts. If we did a lesson on the Old Testament she would read from the Torah. Some people from Deseret didn't approve but everyone was fine with it.When I moved to Phoenix I got a a completely different experience than what I grew up with. I met the people Roseanne Barr described as "Amish with guns". I couldn't believe it was the same church. I was watching the tv news and it shows Rulon Jeff's birthday party in 1980. I asked the people I worked who is this guy?.
I had zero clue there were any other Mormon sects besides LDS and RLDS until my brother and SIL moved to Utah around 2000 (we are LDS from FL). He worked in construction and could win a bid for any jobs, get a job at any supply shops or even pick peaches. He found out there were about a dozen different fundie groups that got all bids because they had children and men working for less than minimum wage.
There are many fundamentalist religions… I grew up in similar circumstances in a completely different religion… just left in the past few years… it’s been a lonely struggle but it’s the time of the Great Awakening of humanity
Aww I’m so sorry to hear about your Dad. I have an Uncle with Schizophrenia so this is heartbreaking. Thinking of you Celesta and wish you all the luck.
I can't wait for part 2! Amazing stories!!! I hope it helps you heal & helps others escape being entrapped mentally & physically.
Thank you!
I clicked IMMEDIATELY! Happy for a new upload ❤
Thank you so much! We hope you enjoy.
I love you guys so much.. you’re just so kind. So warm and sweet to people. Nonjudgmental.
Made me feel so angry and sad how her sick father was treated, just pure evil, so prutal, they destroyed him and stole him from his family.
Thank u Celesta for sharing
I'm bipolar and I've had hilucinations both scary and benign and my heart goes out to her dad my brain doesn't work without medication I'm so glad I was an atheist in a non religious home by the time I got diagnosed, unfortunately it took years because when I was young I thought I was evil and seeing demons it was so awful I didn't dare tell anyone. I hate how many religions prevent people from getting the medical help they need and accuse them of being evil simply because they need medicine even the broader Mormon church has this belief in it, as I suffered from it for years
You guys always have such great content. Thank you for your loving care for people that need support.
Thank you for your kind words and support. We are thankful to have a platform to help others share their stories.
Celesta, I’m so proud of you! ❤️🩹
Thank you, Celesta, for talking about your life.
Love the interview you guys are doing! So interesting, love that you mentioned interviewing Christine Katas on your live as she works with the current FLDS and has a different perspective
Thank you!
Hi & just wanted to let you know, I enjoyed your video, I'm Lutheran & also when I joined my church a few yrs back, I got labeled an Apostate by my ex's JW religion (if you can call it that) Thanks for an interesting explanation. Peace, & see you on the next one, love, Janine Smiley🙂😀😍🤩😇🏡🚗🚘⌚🛋🚪🛏🌌🌠🌚
Hey! It’s kinda cool that Christine Katas was actually the one who married my husband Taviah and I in 2021! I hope you guys do and interview with her it would be very interesting!
That's so cool. We're hoping we can interview her soon ☺️
Hi guys! New subscriber wishing you all the BEST!!!
I am so sorry your Dad sounds incredible, schizophrenia when treated one can live meaningful life with medication. It sounds like you had a positive upbringing because you had a loving home.
Heart wrenching brokenness, unbelievable I could not bring myself to go to my grandpas funeral, because I did not want to see him dead. But to be denied of that by others- that’s just evil! Love from Jesus to you celesta
Is there a part 2 to this interview? It seemed like it got cut off. I was so intrigued by Celesta. It's wonderful that her family was so happy together for so long but then the tragedy of how she lost her father was so horrific! I am so sorry to hear they had to endure that. Her father suffered so much. I'm so sorry for all his pain of losing his family and being alone. It chokes me up to hear and think about it. No human being should have to go through that. HUGS to all of you. I hope one day you can get your brother and mother together with the rest of you again.
Wow y’all are really increasing the videos!! Woop woop!
I teared up, hearing your story. You are so well spoken, and explain in a way and a time line I can easily follow. Hope you continue to do well.
Bless her heart. She has endured so much pain. 38:05
Watching from Philippines and Kuwait!!!
The church ostracized and ultimately killed this woman's Dad - how revolting! AND she was so young, which means her siblings were even younger. AND by all accounts, he was a really good guy! His family was RIPPED from him because of RELIGION! This man had an illness that invariably requires family members and friends to help keep vigil; instead, he was treated like a leper and made to be alone. THAT'S HORRIBLE!! I've lived in the St. George, Ivins area. BY FAR , one of the strangest places/areas ( Utah state), I've encountered in the nation. I know where Cedar City is as well as other areas of Utah. Now, this woman has to spend the remainder of her life without her Dad... and already has since she was 14 years of age. That's a lot of pain to endure. I can see the miles of pain in her face. So sad.
I think it’s very cruel the way that young people are abandoned if they choose another path. That’s not right and I can’t imagine how much pain that would cause.💔
Thank you
While I did not live polygamy, I lost my father to suicide in 2017. I feel society does not properly handle everything in these situations. Sending peace to her and her family. It is a complex type of loss that many truly don't understand.
Thank you ❤️
Thanks for sharing
Celeste is so beautiful! If you interview her again, tell her I said so! She's gorgeous! Much love and support to her and the other victims of Warren Jeffs. Beautiful people.
Sorry to hear that story about her dad😢
I love this guest such strength ❤
Thank you!
I am here because of A A Ron from Growing up in Sicentology.
These are powerful stories. I would love to hear more about the financial side of things. I know children had to work, but how do they afford so many wives and children? No judgment whatsoever. It's puzzling, that's all.
Agreed. With sending fathers away and wives staying at home, how did these folks eat and pay for heat?!
I think a lot of them commit welfare fraud. Only the first wives are able to be legally married to the husbands (if they even did that in FLDS, I am not sure). So they are able to get government benefits and probably charity too. The church would also seize control of the members’ businesses and assets, so they had substantial income from that. They also have their young boys working in construction for less than minimum wage, if they even get paid at all.
I got a lot of this information from the documentary series Keep Sweet, Pray and Obey.
I am so sorry to hear the story of your dad Celesta. So very cruel. It really beggars belief. What a bunch of dreadful men with all their cronyism could subject another human being to to this utter garbage of an excuse for a religion. I live in Australia and we have a large community of Plymouth Brethren whom I believe are similar to you guys. I have to be involved a their business by way of my own job and I can see the cronyism and the dark masculine style of making their decisions and their family lives. Though I am pleased to say I have recently noted that some of the newer wives are quite switched on women.I very much hope that in the near future your brother and your mother make a big decision to leave. I wish you happiness Celesta and also justice ultimately.
So sad that so many lives were ruined.
You guys are great
Seeing angels is a common thing now with the Great Awakening ❤
Such a great interview!
Thank you!
How can it be that Warren Jeffs is allowed to still speak into those people's lives out of prison??
Hopefully with our stories coming to light we can help put a stop to that. I wish for him to have absolutely no contact with anyone from the community, in any way.
@@lalasvlog1591 I totally agree with you! 😭
Unfortunately… the people with their own free will..allow it…
I grew up Pentecostal oneness holiness and also used to daydream about gettin “kidnapped” by someone from “the world” who would let me live normal.
🙌🏻
Excellent
The Catholic church also refused to allow a religious burial if a person committed suicide. I remember as a child a man we knew from church killing himself and the church would not allow a church funeral. Even as a child of 10 or so...that did not seem right to me...
Not sure if this is still the norm for Catholics...I left the church years ago...
Depends on the parish or the priest.. I know of a young woman who had a lot of mental health issues and she committed suicide and she had a church funeral
"I'm really glad for the exposure I did have to the TV, I was allowed, even tho it was a warped perspective" that's exactly why TV music media etc was taken from the community and banned
What’s warped are the secret handshakes & secret ceremonies held in temples. What’s warped is that God supposedly lives on another planet.
On the whole kidnapping fantasy at age nine: though it could be an early reaction to her environment, I wouldn't put too much stock into it. Having fantasies of running away or becoming an orphan is very typical at that age for kids even those growing up in good homes and outside cults. That is why orphan (or temporary parentless) stories are so popular for kids (think Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, etc).
Box car kids for me , obsessed . A library person told my daughter the series is inappropriate for today's kids . ??????
I think Celesta’s father died of a broken heart. I’m rather amazed that she is still living in the same town.
Wow I was surprised when she said young kids don't notice church stuff my only childhood memories were completely run by fears propagated by my church there was no part of my life that wasn't run by the Mormon church, my primary president leader hated my mom and used to get me alone and question me about our homeschool curriculum because she wanted to take my mom's kids away and call social services on her I knew this and gave her all the right answers (they were true too) and she would go away mad I must have been 4 and younger my home town was only Mormon and it was so scary we ended up having to flee when I was seven when my dad died because everyone was afraid of my dad there and when he died we lost our protection and the town went after us Mormonism ruled my life for 20 odd years it nearly destroyed me and I have no childhood memories that aren't completely rulled by Mormonism it still effects my life 28 years later wow, I'm stunned this young FLDS ex member had such a church free childhood good for her.
After I was diagnosed with a mental illness, I was put with a gentile therapist. My bishop asked me if they wanted me to get a divorce. I was like no.
Omg, her talking about her father really really got to me. That poor poor man (and everyone in the family). I can't remember where I read this but the article was talking about how mental illness is really exacerbated by most religions bc (just like with him) it tends to default into negative/ evil connotations vs anything positive or even neutral. The article was comparing people with mental illnesses from religious vs non-religious situations and the non-religious generally had a pleasant or benign view of their voices (or whatever the situation) and got help early on, whereas heavily religious areas the person was ostracized and terrified. A truly heartbreaking situation affecting some of the most vulnerable people in the population.
Don’t pick and choose though, remember it’s nuanced. For example I could site many non-religious hospitals studies on outcomes for religious vd non religious patients, religious had better health outcomes for all conditions, esp. cancer, better outcomes increased the more a person prayed. It’s not so black and white.
@@cjdflkj lol I can pick and choose when I'm specifically talking about one study about one topic.
Wow this makes a lot of sense! My father was definitely taught that his voices were “bad” and it caused him to spiral worse after the cult took his family.
its just terrible how mentally ill people are treated
The hypocrisy and emotional abuse was cruel. Also, despite his mental illness, perhaps he did see angels. And we all know today that some people see spirits today and THAT is not demonic. No doubt they were warning your Dad to get out of this cruel mess of a “religion”.
“What a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive…”
Liked, shared and commented
Thank you!
Omg, this is so sad😢
August 29, 2006 and the new leader was also arrested for the initial traffic stop with the girls in the trailer was also August 29
I understand that polygamy was practiced in Old Testament times but I’m wondering how they reconciled the belief that a man had to have at least three wives to get to the Celestial Kingdom, with what it says in I Timothy 3 verses 2 & 12 that a Bishop or a Deacon (positions of leadership in the Church) a man was to be the husband of one wife.
I don't know if that particular verse is changed but they are using a different bible version. One that was "corrected" by Joseph Smith. Much is altered so as to not disagree with the BOM.
@@amberinthemist7912
Supposedly, they still use the regular Bible in addition to the Book of Mormon but I guess they disregard the inconvenient parts.
I’ve also shut them down before by asking if the Book of Mormon is another gospel given by an angel from heaven and when they say yes, I show them Galatians 1: 6-9 where it says “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
I have never seen them be able to explain that away. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen them change their minds because of it either.
I'm Orthodox Jewish so we live according to the bible or the Old Testament. The idea of 3 wives being a requirement is not a part of the Old Testament. The forefathers were allowed to have more than one wife. However this is no longer something Jews do and we have a big emphasis on marriage and being faithful to your (single) spouse. Maybe the whole 3 wives thing is from the new testament?
@@Tm-gg2mz
It’s not in the New Testament. The verse I mentioned is part of the New Testament. It’s a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to one of his followers named Timothy who was to be a leader in the New (at the time) Christian Church. I don’t know of any other places in the New Testament where it’s specifically mentioned.
I’m not a Mormon so I’m just guessing but maybe they’re looking at the fact that some patriarchs and kings had multiple wives. It seems to me that a man would have to be quite wealthy to have multiple wives because he would have to support them so it seems unlikely that an average guy would have multiple wives. I have heard of fundamentalist Mormon men who were defrauding the welfare system by having multiple wives all collecting welfare benefits, food stamps etc. That seems risky to me and it’s definitely dishonest.
Or as amberinthemist7912 mentioned, they have their own version of the Bible that was “corrected” by Joseph Smith so maybe their version has been modified to support the practice of polygamy.
I guess if you start your own religion you can make up whatever rules you like.
@@amberinthemist7912
I’m going to see if I can get my hands on one of their Bibles and check out some of the content.
Do many ex-FLDS members convert to the main LDS church?
Her Dad, what a tragic story.
The whole "this is what the bishop and his family are doing" phenomenon is probably where most of the restrictions originated..... also when Lyle was bishop somone would say "this is what he told me" and act like what he told one person applied to eveyone that was apart of the religion
Is there a part 2?
Hi! Yes, part 2 will be released on Friday.
How did a "cleanse" trigger schizophrenia??
Physical ans psychological stresses are two of the main ways to trigger latent schizophrenia. Many people are genetically predisposed but will simply not develop it until they become extremely stressed
The big mistake in this sad story of all this FLDS is Warren Jeffs should receive the death penalty where the Devil has a special place for him in the depth of his hell to suffer for eternity for what he did .
How do they get away with polygamy? Last I checked it was illegal.
@4:02 poor guy wanted to be worthy, what a stressful cult. Poor dude couldn't get a second wife because he drank mountain due.
How did flds deal with your father's schizophrenia? Was he able to get good treatment and medication?
Man, her poor family. So sad.
Love story ( your mom and dad) !
Stealing children from their mothers is unacceptable in a civil society. That should tell you a lot of what kind of society we live in.
The damage the LDS Church causes is to make its members feel that polygamy is somehow natural.
The image of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young's 14 year old brides absolutely horrifies me.
Yes, the church has attempted to bury its polygamy past, but we need to know that there are areas in Utah
where 14 year old brides are put into polygamous relationships!
It is so sad because polygamy is not an issue with most of its regular members.
Im a current member of the mainstream LDS church. I don’t think polygamy is natural. Can’t loop us in all one group. :)
@@PdittsSorry! God bless!
All forms of marriage are man made.
Will there be a part 2 to this?
Yes, part 2 will be released this Friday! Thanks!
Aren’t they supposed to be having more freedom now than they were before?
More wives means more kids so i don't think it's necessarily more help. 😂 Just saying from observation and living in a plural situation myself in that community.
How many ppl lived there when it was raided?
I would guess that "Beauty and the Beast" would be banned because Belle liked to read books
When she was talking about her step grandma being taken in by her dead husbands brother I immediately thought about sams dad taking in mother Mildred, are you guys related
Oh God, that temple bed, that was so disturbing when I saw that bed. Also, the Flds church had been taking kids from their mothers for years before the FBI raid in Texas. I believe the women of the Flds church were manipulating the Media in that situation.
The church was literally taking female children and marrying them off to old men! And they have the audacity to tell the secular authorities they were in the wrong.
Celesta , wow u r all grown up Since last saw u with your mother Heidy and Dave , I was the vacuum guy at that time , your parents were so sweet , white souls , keep going girl , never quit , Dave was a simple man a soldier, a true disciple of The Lord .
💜💜✝️
Break the silence. Break the cycle.
SO let me get this he was in the FLDS and is she an EX LDS?
He left the FLDS when he was 18, then joined the LDS. She was raised in the LDS. They met in the church and married in the mormon temple. The were very active in the LDS church for many years, he had leadership roles there. On their channel are some videos where they talk about their story or more his story. They both left the LDS after some years but they don't phrase it like that. Or they didn't say it like that in these videos. They phrase it as "no longer active members of the church, but we have great respect for the members of the FLDS and the LDS". And "no longer part of organized religion but not because we don't respect the spiritual experiences others had and have in the church or we ourself had in the church. It was because it was the best decision for our family. But we do not want to hurt or disrespect our family that is in church". I don't get it why they don't say clearly that they aren't EX-members. Some commenters said, that maybe she doesn't want to lose the connections to her parents and close family members.
Fasting and drinking caffeine at the same time is harmful but it doesn't cause schizophrenia.
Wow
I just realized that i play acted polygamy when i was a child. My friend and i were both married to elvis presley. Lol We had never even heard of polygamy .
I don't understand how a "cleanse juice" and mountain dew triggered schizophrenia.
Maybe the cleanse juice was drugged? But personally I think the lack of food and religious brain washing triggered it.
From the sound of it, the gentleman suffered from schizophrenia, and the “cleanse” and accompanying ten day fast triggered schizophrenic episodes. 🤷🏽
Alot of mental illnesses are driven by metabolism and how your body feeds the brain is what I hear.
How do these people twist and blaspheme the Word Of God like that? It is insane that people can be brainwashed with this stuff!
16:37 😅 brats dolls!
Do you two believe in John 3:16?
I guess she is quite, how shall we say... Celestial.