Desert towns straddling the Arizona-Utah border, once isolated and dominated by the disgraced prophet Warren Jeffs, have dramatically broken free from the cult's oppressive control. A remarkable symbol of this transformation is the recent opening of a winery in an area that was previously gripped by religious extremism.
The Reign of Warren Jeffs
Warren Jeffs operated as the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a radical sect that broke away from mainstream Mormonism in the 1930s to practice polygamy. His reign over Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, began in 2002 and lasted nearly a decade, during which he enforced a strict theocracy.
Jeffs inflicted widespread abuses, including arranging marriages with minors and taking around 80 wives himself, with approximately 20 believed to have been underage. He controlled every aspect of life, from dictating who could marry to forcing minors out of school and prohibiting personal autonomy.
A Dark Chapter Ends
Jeffs was convicted in Texas in 2011 for sexually assaulting two underage girls and sentenced to life in prison. However, even after his arrest, FLDS members continued to influence local governance, necessitating a 2017 court-mandated supervision order to separate church from state.
Former FLDS spokesperson Willie Jessop, who left the church, described the period as "life after Jeffs" in an interview with the Associated Press. "What you see is the outcome of a massive amount of internal turmoil and change within people to reset themselves," he said, adding, "frankly, it's a great life."
Path to Normalcy and Recovery
Since Jeffs' imprisonment, the towns have embarked on a slow but steady journey toward normalcy. A court-appointed monitor, Roger Carter, noted that Colorado City and Hildale now function as "a first-generation representative government."
Key changes include:
- The introduction of private property ownership, ending the FLDS's control over housing.
- The establishment of elected local government leaders, moving away from theocratic rule.
- Community events like the Colorado City Music Festival, fostering social cohesion.
- Family reunifications, as people reconnect with relatives previously separated by the church.
Symbols of a New Beginning
A poignant symbol of this rebirth is the Water Canyon Winery in Hildale, which offers wine tasting and a selection of natural wines. Hilldale Mayor Donia Jessop emphasised that the communities are actively moving forward from their dark past.
However, challenges remain. Former FLDS member Briell Decker, one of Jeffs' many wives, pointed out that the community has yet to fully acknowledge the horrors of the past. "I do think they can, but it's going to take a while because so many people are in denial," she told the Associated Press.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Jeffs' reign of terror has left a lasting mark, inspiring documentaries such as Netflix's Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey and ABC News' The Doomsday Prophet: Truth and Lies. These works highlight the extreme control and abuses that characterised life under the FLDS.
Former member Shem Fischer, who left in 2000, recalled the shift under Jeffs' leadership: "It started to go into a very sinister, dark, cult direction." Jeffs even appeared on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list before his arrest in 2006.
Today, the desert towns are rebuilding, with modern apartment complexes and a renewed sense of community. While the scars of the past linger, the emergence of local governance, private ownership, and even a winery signals a hopeful future for residents once trapped under a cult's chokehold.
