In a chilling account of survival, Rebecca Lafferty has broken her silence about growing up within a notorious polygamist cult led by her own father, Dan Lafferty. The British-based mother has revealed harrowing details of her childhood dominated by religious extremism, abuse, and forced marriage.
A Childhood Stolen by Fundamentalism
Rebecca was born into the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a radical offshoot of Mormonism that practised polygamy and strict patriarchal control. Her father, Dan Lafferty, was a prominent figure within the sect who believed in taking multiple wives and enforcing rigid gender roles.
"We were taught that women were inferior to men from birth," Rebecca recalls. "Education for girls was discouraged, and our only purpose was to marry young and bear children for the community."
The Nightmare of Forced Marriage
At just 17 years old, Rebecca was forced into marriage with a man more than twice her age, a common practice within the cult. "I had no choice in the matter," she explains. "The elders, including my father, decided who I would marry. Resistance wasn't an option."
The marriage brought new forms of abuse and control. Rebecca was expected to submit completely to her husband while potentially facing the prospect of him taking additional wives, as polygamy remained a core tenet of their beliefs.
The Courageous Escape to Britain
After years of planning and secret preparations, Rebecca managed to escape the cult and fled to the United Kingdom, where she began the difficult process of rebuilding her life. "Leaving meant losing everyone I'd ever known," she says. "But freedom was worth any price."
Now living in Britain, Rebecca has undergone extensive therapy to process her traumatic experiences and has worked to educate others about the dangers of religious extremism and cult control.
Breaking Generational Cycles
Today, Rebecca is determined to ensure her own children never experience the oppression she endured. "I'm raising my children to think critically, to question authority, and to know they always have choices," she states.
Her story serves as both a warning about the dangers of extremist groups and an inspiration to others trapped in similar situations. "There is life after cults," Rebecca affirms. "No matter how impossible escape seems, freedom is possible."
