In this video, Sam opens up about his unique and complex journey growing up in the FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) community. With Warren Jeffs as the prophet and four mothers all married to his father, Sam’s childhood was filled with both cherished memories and challenging experiences. Sam shares what life was really like inside a polygamous household, from the daily routines with his large family to interactions with the influential Jeffs family, including visits to their home. He dives into the good parts of his upbringing, like working together in the family garden, but also reveals the darker realities of life within the FLDS church. Join us as Melissa asks Sam the tough questions about growing up in a tightly controlled religious environment—and his eventual decision to leave it all behind at just 18 years old. 00:00:00 Leaving the FLDS: A Life-Altering Decision 00:09:33 Memories of a Blissful Childhood 00:18:47 Childhood Adventures: Building Forts and DIY Bows 00:28:16 Transition to Homeschooling in FLDS 00:38:18 Childhood Memories and Family Dynamics 00:48:03 Moving into a New Home 00:57:18 The Risks of Rebelling in a Strict Community 01:07:21 Fear of Leaving the Community 01:17:10 Leaving the FLDS: A Life-Altering Decision Join our NEW Patreon HERE: https://patreon.com/growingupinpolygamy If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world." If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy Insta: @growingupinpolygamy New website is now up! www.growingupinpolygamy.com Theme Song created by @artcowles Please feel free to reach out to us! [email protected] --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupinpolygamy/support