A woman who grew up in Warren Jeffs’ polygamist Mormon cult has opened up about how her life changed after she and her family fled and found ‘freedom.’
Jeffs, now 66, began serving as the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) in 2002 – and he had more than 70 wives, 24 of whom were underage girls, when he was arrested in 2008.
During his time as the leader of the church, it was said that he brainwashed, imprisoned, and sexually and physically abused multiple women and children, resulting in him being sentenced to life in prison.
Now, one of his former victims, Ruby Steed, 24, who spent her early years living under his rule, has opened up about how far she has come since she escaped from the religious cult.
A woman who grew up in Warren Jeffs’ polygamist Mormon cult has opened up about how her life changed after she and her family fled. She is seen as a child (left) and recently (right)
Jeffs (seen in 2011), now 66, began serving as the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) in 2002
Jeffs (pictured with some of his victims) had more than 70 wives, 24 of whom were underage girls, when he was arrested in 2008
Now, one of his former victims, Ruby Steed (seen left as a kid and right now), 24, who spent her early years living under his rule, has opened up about how far she has come since she escaped
She shared her story on TikTok in a powerful video – and it quickly went viral, gaining more than three million views and leaving many people on the web impressed with her strength and bravery.
During her time in FLDS, Ruby said she was told that she wouldn’t have a choice in who she married or her career, and that she had no contact with the outside world. She is seen with her mom when she was a child
During her time in FLDS, Ruby said she was told that she wouldn’t have a choice in who she married or her career, and that she had no contact with the outside world.
Now, however, she has landed her dream job as a hairdresser and has traveled the globe.
‘If these two could have a conversation…’ she began in the clip, while showing a photo of herself as a child versus a photo of herself now.
‘Do we still dress like this?’ her younger self asked in the TikTok, to which she answered, ‘Nope, we get a whole new wardrobe.
‘Are we still close with mom? She’s our best friend,’ she continued, while snaps of her with her mother as a kid and recently flashed across the screen.
Now, however, she has landed her dream job as a hairdresser and has traveled the globe. She recently shared her story on TikTok in a powerful video – and it quickly went viral
‘If these two could have a conversation…’ she began in the clip, while showing a photo of herself as a child versus a photo of herself now
‘Do we still dress like this?’ her younger self asked in the TikTok, to which she answered, ‘Nope, we get a whole new wardrobe’
‘Are we still close with mom? She’s our best friend,’ she continued, while snaps of her with her mother as a kid and recently flashed across the screen
‘Do we still go to church? No, everything you taught is a lie,’ the next part of the video read, on top of a photo of Jeffs in handcuffs.
Ruby (seen as a kid) said she doesn’t go to church anymore because everything Jeffs taught her was ‘a lie,’ and called leaving ‘the best decision she ever made’
‘So we left? Yes, and it was the best decision we ever made,’ she added in the viral video.
‘Do we get to go to any cool places? Oh my God, yes. We travel a lot and we even move to Australia for a year,’ she gushed, while showcasing some pictures from her travels. ‘And we walk 500 miles across an entire state.
‘Do we get a career? Yes, we go to school and become a barber and it’s amazing. We get to meet cool people and travel with our job.
‘Are we still raising our little siblings? Kind of… But it’s different now. It’s better. They are more like best friends.
‘Do we make friends? Yes, lots of them,’ she concluded.
‘Cried making this,’ Ruby captioned the TikTok. ‘She had no idea how much better life was about to get.’
Ruby (seen as a kid with some of her siblings) said they’re still close but ‘it’s different now.’ She added, ‘It’s better. They are more like best friends’
Ruby (pictured recently with her siblings) said she has gotten to go a lot of ‘cool places’ and has met so many ‘cool people’
The hairdresser often shares snaps of herself at the beach, on top of a mountain, hiking in the woods, and doing other adventurous activities – and she even spent a year living in Australia
‘Cried making this,’ Ruby (seen as a child) captioned the TikTok. ‘She had no idea how much better life was about to get’
FLDS was created in 1930 by a group of Mormons who got ostracized from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because they refused to give up polygamy – the act of marrying multiple women.
Jeffs then took over as the prophet of the church in 2002, following the death of his father, Rulon Jeffs, who had 20 wives and approximately 60 children when he passed.
Six years later, police stormed one of FLDS’ ranches and arrested Jeffs, after they found over 400 children and evidence of ‘sexual, physical, and psychological abuse,’ Rolling Stone reported at the time.
In 2011, he was sent away for life after he was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault for having sex with two girls aged 12 and 14.
FLDS was created in 1930. Jeffs took over as the prophet of the church in 2002, following the death of his father, Rulon Jeffs (pictured together)
During his time as the leader of the church, it was said that Jeffs (pictured before his arrest) brainwashed, imprisoned, and sexually and physically abused multiple women and children
Police arrested Jeffs in 2008, after they found over 400 children and evidence of abuse on the ranch. Members of the cult are seen leaving the compound after the raid
In 2011, Jeffs (pictured in 2006) was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault for having sex with two girls aged 12 and 14. He is currently serving a life sentence plus 20 years for the charges
He is currently serving a life sentence plus 20 years for the charges, however, it’s been reported that Jeffs has continued to preach to FLDS’ remaining members from his prison cell – and as of 2018, the Guardian reported that there were still around 10,000 active members of the church.
In another one of Ruby’s TikToks, which was viewed nearly four million times, she showed some more comparison photos of her life in FLDS versus her life now.
‘Growing up in a cult, not being able to choose who I married, have a career, or have any access to the outside world,’ she captioned the throwback pics that saw her as a child.
‘Versus getting out, finding my freedom, and having the whole world to explore,’ she then wrote alongside some of her in recent years looking as happy as could be at the beach, on top of a mountain, hiking in the woods, and doing other adventurous activities.
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