Inside The Fundamentalist Church of the Latter Day Saints

Jeffs Admitted His Behavior Was Wrong And Punished Those He Was Afraid Would Speak Out

During the process of Jeffs’ trial, police uncovered thousands of pages of notes. In a 2005 journal entry, Jeffs seemingly admitted to his crimes when he wrote, “If the world knew what I was doing, they would hang me from the highest tree.”

Jeffs knew his actions were criminal, and to protect himself and maintain power, he punished those who threatened his leadership. Jeffs excommunicated 60 church members and “reassigned” wives and children from 300 families. In other words, men who threatened his leadership would lose their families.