Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we investigate the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a sect that split from the mainstream LDS Church to continue practicing polygamy after the 1890 Manifesto. We examine the group's isolation in the Short Creek Community and their adherence to the "One Man Rule" doctrine, which dictates that God works through a single prophet with absolute authority.

We trace the rise of the church's most notorious leader, Warren Jeffs, who took power in 2002 and was later placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list before being sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault. The episode details the sect's chaotic history with law enforcement, from the 1953 Short Creek raid to the massive 2008 raid on the Yearning For Zion (YFZ) Ranch in Texas, where authorities removed 439 children following reports of abuse.

Join us as we uncover the dark realities of life inside the FLDS, including:

• Placement Marriage: The practice where the prophet assigns wives—sometimes underage girls—to men based on their "worthiness".

• The Lost Boys: The systematic expulsion of young men from the community to reduce competition for wives.

• "Bleeding the Beast": The alleged practice of defrauding government welfare systems while viewing the government as an enemy.

• Genetic Isolation: The high prevalence of fumarase deficiency, a rare genetic defect caused by generations of cousin marriages.

Finally, we look at the current state of the church, where Warren Jeffs continues to issue revelations from his prison cell, recently commanding members to prepare for the end of the world.