A 5th-Generation FLDS Member Describes Life in a Polygamist Cult and Escape

Alyssa Bistline, a 21-year-old who was raised in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), shared her experience of escaping a polygamous community in Arizona. Born into the fifth generation of FLDS members, Alyssa grew up in a secluded town known as Short Creek, or The Creek, where strict rules governed daily life. Members of the community, referred to as “Crickers,” were prohibited from engaging in activities such as listening to non-religious music, consuming outside media, or wearing the color red. Female members were required to wear long dresses and layers of long underwear, and they were not allowed to cut their hair. The community also banned pets, leading to instances where animals were shot when the ban was enforced.

Alyssa’s family faced significant upheaval when her father, Leslie, was removed from the household to make way for her mother to marry another man, James “Jim” Jessop. This left Alyssa, along with her brothers and mother, living in the basement of Jim Jessop’s home, where they were subjected to abuse and harsh treatment. Jim Jessop, part of a high-ranking family within the FLDS, was known for his violent behavior, including beating Alyssa’s brothers and psychologically tormenting her. He often threatened to marry her, a practice common within the community where men would take their wives’ daughters as plural wives.

The FLDS community placed a strong emphasis on control and obedience, which extended to education. Public schools were closed when Alyssa was in kindergarten, and private schools had shut down by the time she was 11. Despite these restrictions, Alyssa found a way to continue learning by teaching her cousins and younger siblings basic reading and writing. She expressed a deep passion for education, which she felt was suppressed by the community’s strict policies.

Alyssa’s journey to escape the FLDS community began when she reached the age of 13. She started teaching her younger relatives, a small act of defiance against the educational restrictions imposed by the group. Her eventual escape from the community marked a turning point, allowing her to pursue her own path and reclaim her autonomy. The story of Alyssa Bistline highlights the challenges faced by individuals within such tightly controlled religious communities and the importance of protecting the vulnerable. Micah 6:8 reminds us that justice, mercy, and humble service are essential in our interactions with others.

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