Book SummaryBreaking Free, by Rachel Jeffs

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Breaking Free

Rachel Jeffs explores her past as a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The book narrates her upbringing in a secluded, fervently religious group and her subsequent entry into a prearranged marriage.

Rachel's upbringing was positively influenced by her father's position as the leader of the FLDS.

Rachel's upbringing stood in stark contrast to that of her contemporaries, as she was the daughter of the FLDS's leader. Her early years were marked by periods of education and happiness, all of which took place under the watchful and nurturing supervision of her father. She honed her swimming skills when she was seven years old, took part in family performances on Friday nights, and cherished the chance to showcase her creativity during times when entertainment choices were scarce.

Rachel was raised to view Rulon Jeffs, the previous leader of the FLDS, as the ultimate paragon of virtue.

Rachel was profoundly impacted by the death of Rulon Jeffs, the revered patriarch of the FLDS. She recalls her father standing by Jeffs' coffin, highlighting the immense privilege she was given in being instructed to regard the Prophet with utmost reverence.

Rachel grew up within the confines of the FLDS community, an environment characterized by stringent regulations and seclusion.

Rachel grew up within the secluded FLDS community located in Sandy, Utah, where she conformed to strict dress regulations, led a life of isolation, and remained steadfastly committed to the religious teachings of the group. Interactions with the external environment were restricted, and adherence to the rules, particularly those concerning marriage as prescribed by the spiritual leader, was essential. Her dad played a pivotal role in embedding within her a belief that their family occupied a distinct and privileged status, closely connected to the holy teachings espoused by the spiritual guide.

Rachel's marriage to Richard Allred was prearranged for her.

Rachel embarked on a different chapter of her existence by entering into matrimony with a gentleman belonging to the FLDS community, in accordance with the group's established marital...

Breaking Free Summary The sect's authoritarian control was wielded by the group identified as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The book scrutinizes the authoritarian and coercive hierarchies that define the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints—a group infamous for its strict control and indoctrination of adherents. The story focuses on the absolute control wielded by the spiritual leader, the strict rules governing the followers' behavior, and the harsh repercussions for those who dare to question the established power.

The leader of the FLDS exercised absolute control.

He was considered the sole individual capable of receiving divine communications.

The doctrine of the FLDS emphasized that only the person recognized as the deity's earthly messenger possesses the unique ability to converse directly with the celestial through the receipt of divine insights. The declaration granted the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints singular power, acknowledging him as the sole conduit for divine instruction and commands.

The community was entirely under the sway of its leader, who determined marital matches and upheld order with stringent discipline.

Her father, serving as the spiritual leader, maintained stringent authority over his...

Breaking Free Summary The sect was rife with abuse, oppression, and control, and was identified as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The author recounts a harrowing tale of abuse, oppression, and control within a sect known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Rachel suffered abuse from her father, who held the position of the FLDS Prophet.

Rachel suffered extreme and continuous mistreatment at the hands of her father, the leader of the FLDS.

Rachel experienced sexual misconduct by her father starting when she was just a young child.

Her dad began a cycle of abuse by singling her out for special attention, which soon escalated into sexual abuse. He exposed himself inappropriately to her and forced her to touch him when she should have been reading or helping with household tasks. Rachel grew up with an ingrained fear that made defiance difficult because her father's actions sharply contradicted the sacred teachings about the sanctity of the body.

He abused his position of authority to hide his abusive behavior.

The prophet of the FLDS, who was also Rachel's father, masked the abuse by using his power to instill a sense of control and fear. He preserved this illusion by imposing silence and warning Rachel of severe repercussions if she disclosed the...

Breaking Free Summary Rachel's struggle to escape the FLDS cult and rebuild her life outside its boundaries.

Rachel's growing resistance to the control exerted by her father.

Rachel's viewpoint regarding the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints shifted to one of non-acceptance as a result of the oppressive dominance exercised by her father. She grappled internally as her personal moral convictions conflicted with the doctrines that had been imposed on her. Rachel Jeffs started to doubt her father's behavior and the teachings of the FLDS after he took wives who were younger than she was, leading to practices that made her uneasy. For Rachel, forced confessions of sins — often false — became a breaking point. No longer willing to remain compliant, she ceased strictly following these confessions, signaling a newfound resistance to the dominance imposed by her patriarch.

Rachel's courageous exit from the FLDS.

Rachel meticulously orchestrated her departure in complete secrecy. Rachel Jeffs and her siblings exchanged observations in secret, seeking unity within the family while becoming more wary of their father's manipulative and controlling behavior. Rachel and her sisters managed to break away from a life of subjugation in a strict religious sect,...