In a courtroom in San Angelo, Texas, in August 2011, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) leader Warren Jeffs defended himself against the charge of sexual assault on the basis of religious freedom. It was an outrageous defense given that the women and children of his FLDS have no freedom whatsoever, religious or otherwise. Their minds have been coerced, cajoled and controlled since the moment of birth.
Author: Zoe Murdock
Zoe Murdock is the author of Torn by God: A Family’s Struggle with Polygamy, a novel based on real events that deals with modern issues involving Mormonism, polygamy and religious fanaticism. She grew up in a small town in Utah, but currently lives in southern California where she writes and teaches fiction full time. She is greatly concerned about the “you versus me-ism” that is becoming the norm in all realms of society, from personal relationships to politics and religion. She and her husband run every day on the mountain trails near their home to enjoy nature and bring equilibrium into their lives.