Synopses & Reviews
When police raided the Short Creek compound of the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1953, it soon became a political and publicity nightmare and eventually cost the governor of Arizona his job. From that point on, skittish public officials allowed the polygamist sect to practice its tenants unmolested for the next 50 years and turned a blind eye to child abandonment, kidnapping, statutory rape, incest, and massive tax and welfare fraud.
But then Warren Jeffs, a new FLDS prophet, escalated the sects crimes to near madness. Activists watched in horror as he used his limitless authority and the resources of a tax-supported communityin essence, a feudal empire on the Utah/Arizona borderto devastate thousands of lives on cruel whims, marrying girls as young as 11 to 60-year-old men and driving off teenage lost boys” who Jeffs felt threatened his authority.
Answer Them Nothing is the chilling story of the victims, activists, prosecutors, judges, cops, and attorneys who in 2001 began the struggle to dismantle the FLDS empire and bring Jeffs and his henchmen to justice. It is a mesmerizing journey into one of Americas darkest corners, a story that stretches over three states and deep into history of the powerful Mormon Church.
Review
"Weyermann's well-researched muckracking is colorful and gripping . . . a distrubing account of how a religious quasi-dictatorship can flourish on American soil." —Publishers Weekly
Review
"The book is undeniably unsettling—the author doesn't pull any punches in her descriptions of the FLDS' illegal acts—but it's also definitely worth reading as a reminder of the horros that can go on in our own backyards." —Booklist
Review
"A worthy read . . . Weyermann writes crisply." —Phoenix New Times
Review
"Weyermann's powerful exposé on the FLDS' origins, its subsequent rise to power and how it held court over the U.S. political system is essential reading as the struggle for justice continues today. A masterful exploration of one of America's most shameful secrets." —Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
The compelling story of the struggle by law enforcement and activists to dismantle the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is finally told. In 1953, when police raided the Short Creek compound of the FLDS, it soon became a political and publicity nightmare eventually costing the governor of Arizona his job. Thus began 50 years of skittish public officials turning a blind eye to heinous offenses such as child abandonment, kidnapping, statutory rape, and incest, as well as massive tax and welfare fraud. Warren Jeffs became the new FLDS prophet and president in 2002, and anti-FLDS activists watched in horror as he used his boundless authority and the resources of a tax-supported community to devastate thousands of lives on cruel whims. This exposé presents a detailed, chilling account of how a hostile, destructive group can manipulate the U.S. judicial system. It is a mesmerizing journey into one of the United States's darkest corners, a story that stretches over three states and deep into the history of the powerful Mormon Church.
Synopsis
When police raided the Short Creek compound of the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1953, it soon became a political and publicity nightmare and eventually cost the governor of Arizona his job. From that point on, skittish public officials allowed the polygamist sect to practice its tenants unmolested for the next 50 years and turned a blind eye to child abandonment, kidnapping, statutory rape, incest, and massive tax and welfare fraud.
But then Warren Jeffs, a new FLDS prophet, escalated the sect's crimes to near madness. Activists watched in horror as he used his limitless authority and the resources of a tax-supported community--in essence, a feudal empire on the Utah/Arizona border--to devastate thousands of lives on cruel whims, marrying girls as young as 11 to 60-year-old men and driving off teenage "lost boys" who Jeffs felt threatened his authority.
Answer Them Nothing is the chilling story of the victims, activists, prosecutors, judges, cops, and attorneys who in 2001 began the struggle to dismantle the FLDS empire and bring Jeffs and his henchmen to justice. It is a mesmerizing journey into one of America's darkest corners, a story that stretches over three states and deep into history of the powerful Mormon Church.
About the Author
Debra Weyermann is an award-winning journalist who has written for numerous publications, including the Arizona Daily Star, the Denver Post, Harpers, and the Santa Barbara News-Press.