Growing Up In Polygamy: Elise's Story - Part 1

[@LEO.THE.SECOND]

I’m so proud of you momma! Your courage inspires me everyday and I’m proud to be your daughter☺️🩵

[@elisebarlow]

I love you too ❤ thank you for your support 🫶🏻

[@debbie6787]

You have an absolutely beautiful voice!

[@elinajoseph6755]

yess i definitely agreee!!

[@nicolec1004]

I checked out your channel ❤

[@LEO.THE.SECOND]

@@nicolec1004 🩵🩵

[@ViolAM3]

Just wanted to leave a comment to support your channel and the excellent work you do and interviews you provide!

[@MsFitz134]

I always love hearing people's stories, these are my favorite episodes. Thank you for being willing to share your experiences.

[@mollygraf3305]

Another fascinating interview. Elise is so articulate, she's interesting to listen to. I'll be looking forward to the next part of her story.

[@ridwaanmohamed869]

Another invaluable interview. Thank you so much for documenting all of these stories! Elsie is so articulate. And you, as always, do so well at conducting.

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thank you 😊

[@mariamunroe6861]

Great Talk , can not wait for Part 2...., Thank You

[@lisasprite3322]

Thank you for sharing your experience 🩷 When you described holding your “2nd Mom’s” hand during the wedding - my heart 💘 I am glad you have some kind memories to bring forward. I think you are doing great ❤️

[@kkaye76]

Listening to you all describe trying to understand the Why's of church decrees, remind me of my experience in an apostolic type church. The rules were ridiculous, in my opinion, but I did try to learn & understand them. I eventually left the church because they didn't believe in the Gift of Jesus, that is free without any strings and laws. If you didn't speak in tongues, you weren't saved. My beliefs definitely were not a fit. Some fairly mainstream religions seem to closely aligned with many current day cults. It's amazing how much they are so similar.

[@mienafriggstad3360]

😲 Wow! I attended a Pentecostal churchs growing up. I now attend an Apostolic Church. Evey church I have ever attended (past age 6) and currently attend; believe in speaking in tongues; all the gifts of the Holly Spirit and baptisms; but doing them is not mandatory for salvation; simply John 3:16

[@candace9243]

I really enjoy hearing these stories. When Elise spoke about growing up in the SLC area, that resonated with me. I live in LaVerkin now but grew up in West Jordan and there was a polygamous family I remember going to school with. They were Barlows. Of course that was a LONG time ago...in the early 80s. Thanks for getting these stories out ♡♡♡

[@fluteteachermarcie6283]

The university I attended accepted my mom’s transcripts and my ACT scores for admission. No extra accreditation was necessary. (This was all in Michigan, however. Each state has different laws in place for homeschool requirements. I was homeschooled 2nd through 12th. My mom had to prepare transcripts and a diploma, and then I took the ACT test to apply to college. I had also taken some standardized state testing at a public school during my high school years that qualified me for academic scholarship money. The public university I attended accepted my homeschool documents, and of course they were happy with my ATC scores. I had a great experience with my homeschool education experience-I’m now homeschooling my son as well.

[@ashleydanielson3222]

That’s usually how it works for homeschooling.

[@ericapickering8101]

That’s pretty much how my homeschooling went. Transcripts & ACT score. I was homeschooled 3-7th, then 11-12th. My junior & senior year I actually took classes at a local college.

[@tamibrantley7986]

I like that Krystin Decker refers to the “raid” as a rescue. They were trying to rescue women and children from what was illegal.

[@jesussaves6625]

I don't agree morally with these lifestyles whatsoever, but these people are only legally married to one person. If they want to call their "mistresses" a spiritual wife, then why should that be any more illegal than other people who live together and have children out of wedlock, or call themselves "polyamorous" these days?

[@tinafrompasadena3192]

​@@jesussaves6625 I agree with you. I don't align with this type of life... Definitely not the mindset of this so-called religion.... But take that away and compare it to ordinary, these men are just pumping out kids they can't afford with every mistress they can get into. The thing I do disagree with is sheltering the kids from the world and teaching them the world is unsafe. The Brown family gave us a really good idea of how living in secret can damage the kids.

[@hollyrichardson5838]

@@jesussaves6625I think because they are indoctrinated as kids there is abuse, religious blackmail etc. people who are polyamorous agree to it as adults and there is no indoctrination. Not a cult, a leader, punishment etc.

[@vjs4539]

​@hollyrichardson5838 lots of people are indoctrinated, that doesn't give the government the right to arrest people on a mass scale and tear children from their mothers.

[@tamibrantley7986]

It is different because they are told from birth if they don’t participate in polygamy they are damned to eternal hell. The people are being manipulated by spiritual coercion.

[@elisaa1620]

Everybody has their life story from how they were raised to childhood trauma, but if you didn’t go through these life experiences you wouldn’t become the person you are today. Great interview

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thank you!

[@Jenniferalvarez19818]

Great interview Sam and Melissa

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Thank you!

[@maureenbrown6610]

Sending best wishes for you and your family. You are so brave to talk about it.

[@elisemarie4894]

I approve of this video…😂 love when I see another Elise! Can’t wait for the second part! Missed your live last week! 😢Hope to catch the next one (and soon!).

[@marionwernermoulton3252]

Can’t wait for part two!

[@mienafriggstad3360]

Very interesting😲 Elsie speaking about her school/ church dress code in 94 being more lenient then Short Creek. I graduated from a Christian Highschool with school uniforms in 94; in BC 🇨🇦. I thought our school, our church and our family was strict and modest (similar to LDS then) but at least we were "sorta trendy" 🤣 I remember arround that time; first hearing about and seeing news paper articles about the FLDS in Bountiful BC 😪

[@kmpage333]

My family nickname was "Karen the Red Baron", aka KTRB. I've moved on through blue, green and now purple. But truthfully, I love almost all colors! In my disability years, I'm diving into art. Wouldn't that have made them livid! I'm so glad you made it out and I love your curtains! And I know how to tat, knit, crochet, spin and weave.

[@laurencantrell7631]

Sam and Melissa. Had a surprise at my local Costco today.. I live in NW Georgia, about 20 miles outside of Atlanta. in 87mm7 saw what i guess was a FDLS young woman, dressed in olive green, a 9:46 prairie dress, and with a fish tail braid

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Oh wow. I wonder what they were doing there. Possibly just driving through. Interesting!

[@ktbela86]

I thought Elise was making a Handmaids Tale referrence when she first mentioned 'Aunt Lydia' but then realised that was just the womans actual name. She sounds a lot nicer than the one in Handmaids Tale too.

[@sherrita80548]

She was evil you should read Flora Jessop book where she mentions her and the ways she tortured her as a child

[@peggygarcia6125]

It's so interesting to me the absence of instruction and direction focused on how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and how to love and be loved by God in order to love one another. Nothing about honoring the individuals God created and helping them and your children fully becoming and being true to God's intentions for his creation. I just want to say: question authority especially authority that intends to replace God. Truly trustworthy people can handle being questioned. They have nothing to hide. Their intentions are honorable. If they find they are causing harm or pain they want to know so they can change it. Jesus was moved by other's suffering. Part of the salvation he brought was to alleviate suffering, not to be the source of totally unnecessary suffering. I once heard a spiritual man say that if God came to earth today and saw how people interpreted his teachings, he would have a flat forehead from slapping himself and saying: "I don't believe it!" Thank you both and your guests for bringing spiritual enlightenment to so many people.

[@ETBlair]

It’s a cult of obedience to male leaders. I don’t think they really care about their people. It’s just rule following.

[@brunetteone4082]

Elise is the first story I ever heard of, the first book I ever read. She's the reason I dove into the ungodly world of polygamy. I read and watched documentaries. I cheered when her life turned out so good and cheered harder when WJ went go prison.

[@beatrizbueno3016]

The point about the jewelry may seem overreacted but I am trying to frame it as being forced as a child to do something that was considered as very inappropriate. Like pretending to have sex or appearing partially naked in front of the whole school. I would totally freak out 😬

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Exactly.

[@leesam3012]

I love these videos! You both do a great job! ❤

[@Boudicea97]

I lived in Clearfield, I think the factory was just down the street from where I lived. Someone said they manufactured stuff for NASA there, but I never knew if that was fact or Fiction.

[@elisebarlow]

HydraPak was in West Jordan

[@Boudicea97]

@@elisebarlow Thank you for clarifying, I wasn't sure what was being manufactured in Clearfield, its amazing just how much industry is in the SLC Valley, there are factories all over making who knows what. When I relocated to SLC with a company I worked for I started in Park City, moved to Bountiful then to the Layton area. I went to work for the court system because relocating every 6 months was a pain. I enjoyed living in SLC, people think it just Mormons and ultra conservative , but in reality it's a great city with something for everyone.

[@anxiety4daysmusingmedic891]

It's been a little bit since this was posted. Thank you for discussing color. I have strange relationships with certain colors, including red. C-ptsd is a real gift. Lol 😅 it's my discussion point this week in therapy. Thank you Thank you Thank you ❤

[@ladybugmom10]

I respectfully disagree with the comment about the Raid being a rescue. Decker wasn’t even around at that time I believe. I’ve heard many many stories from the people who were there including my own grandparents. The raid was extremely traumatic for families being separated. Can you imagine your family being together one day and ripped apart the next, not knowing when your father was going to come home. Children at that time had no idea what was happening. I think if anyone is interested in learning the truth about the raid, look for articles from those who we’re actually there. That said I really enjoyed this interview.

[@soude85]

It was their parents fault that the children didn’t know what was going on! Men impregnating multiple women, ending up with 20+ children is wrong and unfair. These children needed to be rescued

[@ladybugmom10]

@@soude85 I’m curious if you have have spoken to anyone who was actually there?

[@bernice4599]

@@soude85I agree!! But must of been a traumatic “RESCUE “ to those lil children. Hopefully their mothers told them they were actually in a CULT!!

[@galfromthecrik4461]

When you realize that many of those children had already been traumatized and separated from their own families you can see how it was more of a rescue. Many mothers told me they wouldn't have gotten their children back if not for the raid.

[@autumn5852]

@@bernice4599most rescues are traumatic ~ that’s the nature of rescues!

[@CatCat-pd1iv]

Am I the only one who thinks she looks like Kelly Clarkson? Idk maybe they have similar mannerisms too. I’m just getting Kelly Clarkson vibes! She’s beautiful and speaks so well! I enjoyed this video a lot!

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

We totally agree!

[@FaithBurnside]

Its interesting to hear your views about Lydia Jessop. I read a book (i want to say one of the Walls?) That paint a pretty grim picture of her

[@GrowingUpinPolygamy]

Oh interesting! I've only ever heard positive things about her. That being said, I didn't know her on a very personal level.

[@hollyrichardson5838]

Is The Handmaids Tale Aunt Lydia inspired by this woman?

[@elisebarlow]

I started to watch Handsmaid Tale and it was very triggering in so many ways. The names of some of the characters were very ironic and I believe they are based off of FLDS and LDS culture, but in a very twisted way. I couldn’t get myself to watch it all because it was just too much 💔

[@vjs4539]

​@@hollyrichardson5838no. That was the intention of the authors, but the people who wrote handmaids tale were awful people. Not the flds women.

[@mmoore3743]

@@elisebarlowIt would be incredibly difficult to watch after what you've been through. ❤

[@DorisTheChicken3013]

Wow! I lived in the NASA area as a kid & saw Challenger blow up with own eyes.

[@ladybugmom10]

Yes there were 2 separate schools at that time. The Jeff’s school and then the Mackert school which is where my family attended. And yes there was definitely a classification of members. We were more poor and didn’t have a royal last name like the ones that attended Alta academy

[@ambam90]

It was either Rebecca Musser or her sister Elisa Wall who wore red to court to testify against warren. Thought that was hilarious.

[@alexsandraknox9852]

It was Rebecca. Her book is one of my favorites of those I've read from ex FLDS, I'm pretty sure it's called The Witness Wore Red.

[@hestiasgardenhomestead7562]

I remember one of my teachers tell us that his brother worked for the company that made the o rings for the challenger. Wow

[@nancycornett9949]

Thank you!

[@vjs4539]

Someone in her dad's company tried to warn NASA that those O rings weren't going to work for the challenger. But they wouldn't listen. I think there's even a movie about it.

[@karenouillette3156]

Elise has such a wonderful personality, just ❤ her

[@vjs4539]

The hair poof and the French braids were started by a few "rebellious " teenagers. But because some not so rebellious women and girls liked it, it became a fad. And then Lyle Jeffs made it doctrine.

[@clw87]

Okay, please know this is absolutely NOT a critique on the woman who was Aunt Lydia in real life, who seems like she was wonderful at her vocation of delivering babies and handling moms in vulnerable places. The beginning of this is totally 🤯 with literary references of Handmaid’s Tale. The names Aunt Lydia, and Fred… Aunt Lydia concentrating on the babies, the belovedness and reverence of Aunt Lydia by the faithful community, etc etc. The parallels are a little trippy to a literary nerd like myself 😶

[@vjs4539]

The people who wrote the handmaids tale knew the names of some of the prominent flds people. This was intentional, so that people like you would feel creeped out just by hearing the names. I actually cannot believe anyone watched the handmaids tale, because it's not even fact based. Just brainwashing by far left lunatics.

[@bacaworld7095]

20 seconds in and I am already heartbroken for you! Why are humans so easily manipulated into such nonsense

[@denisepeiris3222]

Omg. Aunt Lydia was in charge of the Hand maids in Hand Maid Tales. Scarey parallel. And Fred also! Hearing the real LDS stories sounds like pure fantasy to me. Had no idea people lived these kinds of lives. Science fiction stuff. Or should I say Religious fiction.

[@tinafrompasadena3192]

I'm wondering if there are people who can speak about Robyn Jessup's family and Robyn herself. She said her husband was abusive. I think she isn't completely forthcoming.

[@bernice4599]

So very sorry for you all of you growing up in a Cult 😢

[@katlizski]

It's so strange to me because we are taught growing up in the mormon chuch a question of a child led to the church but now in modern modern mormonism lds, flds and other group we are told to except things in blind faith don't question. But questioning things I feel makes us human, another thing to take away from us.

[@mmoore3743]

As an LDS member, I've never experienced being told or an expectation of accepting anything blindly.

[@autumn5852]

@@mmoore3743how did you rationalise a man putting his head in a hat and forming a religion from it? What answers are there to such nonsense?

[@Nora-xk5tf]

Jumping here 120-days late (very interesting story content) Thanks guys. QQQ: What happened if a person had an allergic skin reaction to the under-garments scratchy cotton fabric? Weren't you guys over-layered dressed. QQQ: Baby's too? Rather at what age did a child start to wear your under-garments? QQQ: What age did / do FLDS Baptisms? If yes, what age Baptized. Did you guys wear garments to bed? Did /do people (if yes) wear PJ's on top? Suffocating?? How did a menopausal woman handling HOT FLASHES not shred her under garments and burn them?

[@marionmoulton5847]

The curtains are red. Maybe not by accident!

[@autumn5852]

She said she bought them in that colour because red is her favourite colour.

[@theresathekid8261]

Were tools with red handles get thrown away?

[@streaminglive7213]

From what I've read on the internet, Jeff Warren's has a pretty sad existence right now. Mental breakdowns and suicide attempts.

[@elisebarlow]

When I was still in the FLDS, at the time he was put in prison and he started to go crazy and from the pulpit the congregation was being fed many coverups (example… the evil and corrupt gentiles and apostates are making up stories to paint a distorted image of our pure prophet. That all the stories they are telling aren’t true and that the people mustn’t listen to any of the publicity. This was a tactic to have more control of the followers.

[@buffywhitney60]

The Spanish word for red is Colorado (city)

[@karennau1997]

I think every person that hears her story should send Warren a clock and fill his prison cell😅

[@rebeccamiller1741]

Interesting stories , I am not of a particular religion or upbringing as such ... still the whole plural wife situation mystifies me ... Not thinging it is healthy ..still these stories of human experience are neat.

[@teamcougars]

Red is such a powerful color 😅

[@elisebarlow]

I agree!! Holds a lot of power ❤

[@ANNEWHETSTONE]

Love ❤️ red!!

[@pamelaboyd2494]

I read her book. It was absolutely amazing.

[@Cymraesarall]

I notice Elise mentioned wearing jumpers - I thought it unusual for an American. I’m a UK viewer.

[@elisebarlow]

Jumpers were a usual piece of clothing growing up for me.

[@Cymraesarall]

@@elisebarlow are you American, and is it the same as a sweater?

[@elisebarlow]

Yes I’m from the United States. A jumper is a sleeveless dress.

[@vjs4539]

They were popular in the 80s in the US. The jumpers she wore were most likely store bought, not homemade.

[@larisabeaumont21]

​​@@Cymraesarall more a pinafore dress

[@williamdarger4335]

The story I was told growing up was the color red was the color of Jesus would be wearing in his second coming are referred more to blood red color not just any red

[@teamcougars]

I like the color red but I look awful in red unless it’s more maroon than actual red 😢

[@mariekatherine5238]

What IS that hair poof about? Just because some wife of Warren Jeffs did it, he liked it, so now everyone had to have it? Was there anything religious to it?

[@11Gotama11]

Whats with the grooming of Warren Jeffs?

[@stella-gx8ne]

Decision on a whim. Sounds like TFG.

[@Thingys-Jill]

Polygamy is a felony but "polyamorous" relationships are not. Ironic and weird (both of them).

[@jita14]

Didn’t her mom mind another wife coming in?

[@marierilea2636]

Wearing long underwear in the summer? Was it extremely hot?