Janet Z, now 32, grew up in a polygamous cult with 44 siblings and was expected to become a plural wife. Born in 1994 into a break-off group of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), led by convicted sex offender Warren Jeffs, her life was strictly controlled. Jeffs was on the FBI's ten most wanted list before his arrest in 2006.
Living in a 13-bedroom, 15-bathroom home in Salt Lake, Utah, Janet had one father with four wives, all considered her mothers. As sibling number 25, she was taught that women must follow men and enter arranged marriages in their early twenties. At 20, she left her family to settle elsewhere in Salt Lake City, feeling 'free' for the first time.
Life Inside the Cult
'My whole life, I was raised that it was a privilege to marry a man as one of his wives,' says Janet, now a stay-at-home mother in St George, Utah. 'As a woman, you are treated like a second-class citizen.' She explains that fathers are considered leaders until marriage, after which husbands take over. Some men are kind, but others ignore their wives' emotions and the challenges of raising large families.
Janet and her siblings were homeschooled from 8 a.m., starting with an hour of religious scripture, then English, math, and history until 3:30 p.m. 'My biological mother led lessons, and my sister helped. Schooling included religious teachings,' she says. In 2010, younger siblings began attending school because homeschooling became overwhelming. Janet stayed home to help run the household and graduated online.
No Dating Allowed
Romantic life was strictly forbidden. 'I was raised from birth to become a plural wife. They teach you not to date, as that messes up God's plan,' Janet explains. As she neared her twenties, she spoke with friends and family in arranged marriages and realized the harsh reality: sharing a husband caused constant heartache. 'My friend said it was like watching her husband cheat in front of her face, and there was nothing she could do.'
That was the tipping point. In 2014, at age 20, Janet told her parents she was leaving. 'I told my mum a month before I left. My dad was worried I would waste my life.'
Life After Leaving
Starting over in Salt Lake City felt 'freeing'. Her biological mother also left the cult but still lives in the family home with ten members. 'Watching us children live our lives separately made her question everything. She realized she didn't want to be told what to do by men,' Janet says.
In 2024, a decade after leaving, Janet's father passed away. She also lost one of her other mothers in 2023. Most of her sisters have left the group, but most brothers still follow the religion.
