Carolyn Jessop is an accomplished American author, best known for her harrowing account of growing up in and eventually escaping from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamist sect. Born in 1968, Jessop was raised in the largest community of the FLDS church in the United States, giving her a unique perspective on the inner workings of this insular society.
Jessop's upbringing in the FLDS church, which is separate from the mainstream Mormon church, was marked by strict adherence to traditional gender roles and a rigid hierarchy. As a child, she was raised with the understanding that her ultimate goal was to become a plural wife and mother in service to the church's leadership. However, Jessop's life took a dramatic turn when she was married off at the age of 18 to Merril Jessop, a man more than twice her age who was already married to two other women.
Despite the challenges of living in a polygamous marriage, Jessop remained a member of the FLDS church for 17 years, during which time she had eight children. However, her growing disillusionment with the church's leadership and practices eventually led her to make the courageous decision to escape with her children. This decision was not without risk, as defectors from the FLDS church often face severe consequences, including ostracism and violence.
Since leaving the FLDS church, Jessop has become an outspoken advocate for survivors of abusive religious groups and has worked to raise awareness about the dangers of forced marriages and polygamy. Her autobiography, "Escape," provides a harrowing account of her experiences within the FLDS church and has helped to shed light on the experiences of other women who have left the group. Today, Jessop lives in the Salt Lake City area with her children, where she continues to speak out against the harmful practices of the FLDS church and other similar groups.