Kristyn decker biography

Synergy Books Publishing

Memoir

Kristyn Decker was born Sophia Allred, in Her family were, and are, a major subdivision of the polygamist Fundamentalist Morman groups. In , after fifty years living polygamy, it&#;s joys and sorrows, and many abuses, she finally left. With the support and encouragement of her third husband LeRoy Decker, and her friends on the “outside” she wrote her testimony of physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse at the hands of the patriarchal polygamist cult in which she was born and raised, and to which her family had belonged for several generations. The author has set out to document life as the child of a polygamist family, and then as a plural wife. She also describes her journey, beginning in the late eighties, to find out who she was – besides being the daughter of Owen Allred and the wife of Mark, who was always there to help others and always put everyone else before herself – and to learn to love herself.

The author has managed to convey her experiences in detail, with sympathetic understanding and compassion for herself and her family. I could feel her heartbreak and depression, confusion and joy, as she unfolded chronologically the events of her life. Her addition of background information concerning the history of the Latter Day Saints, the schisms that led to mainstream Morman and polygamist groups holding such different interpretations of their gospel, and different lifestyles, the recent (the last thirty years or so of the twentieth century) events which shaped her family&#;s life– the further splits, arrests, attacks, state attempts to rescue women and children, documented cases of wife trading, under-age marriage, neglect and abuse, incest, murders, torture etc. &#; were an interesting, and essential, addition. They put events in context, and explained some of the more unusual (extreme, ignorant, insane) aspects of polygamist belief and lifestyle. I found this book engross

Kristyn Decker

Love, Secrets, and Second Chances—February’s Must-Read Books Await!

Kristyn Decker was the twelfth of her father's twenty-three biological children. In , she became the first of her husband's two wives. In the fall of , she ended her marriage. While Kristyn raised her seven children, she taught on and off for eighteen years in the Apostolic United Brethren's private school. When her last child was four years old, Kristyn began taking college classes. She was an assistant Head Start teacher for four years and the lead teacher for four more years. She also sponsored in several self-help groups, worked on a research project for the Utah State Child Care Association, received an AS degree, began teaching early childhood classes to adults, presented at Early Childhood conferences, received a $, SBA loan, and started a business. In , after Kristyn earned a BA in early childhood and elementary education, she began teaching in the public schools. She will retire from teaching this year to spend more time with her family, promote her books, and continue as president of the Hope Organization, which is dedicated to assist those who want to leave polygamy. Kristyn will continue to live her multifaceted, fulfilling life in an abundance of love and joy.

Series

Books:

Fifty Years In Polygamy, May
Paperback / e-Book

Kristyn Decker's memoir.

By Kristyn Decker Fifty Years in Polygamy: Big Secrets, Little White Lies (2nd Second Edition) [Paperback]

March 10,

Sophia (Kristyn) was born into Apostolic United Brethren, a group of Fundamentalist Mormons that practice polygamy. Raised from young to believe that polygamy was Sophia's and her future husband's way into Heaven. She married at 17 and despite not wanting to share her husband, Sophia encouraged him to marry a second wife since she was taught this was just how things are.

Through much abuse and many years in a horrible marriage, at age 50 Sophia, now Kristyn, leaves her husband and life of polygamy behind for a better life.

I never knew much about FLDS until recently. I knew there were Mormons that still practiced polygamy, but I never knew what their beliefs were, how secretive they are, all the abuse that goes on and just how horrible things are for the women and children.

I've only read one other book so far about a woman that left polygamy and that is Escape by Carolyn Jessop. That book got me interested in reading about others who left polygamy and that's how I came across Kristyn Decker's book.

I think the writing is a bit disjoint and jumps around somewhat. However, once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Some stuff was difficult to read, like the abuse that went on. In the first chapter of the book I was already horrified; I couldn't believe what the doctor had done to her. And then the next few chapter detailed what her stepbrother had done to her. It was horrible.

I think what bothered me the most was how Kristyn kept going back to her husband despite knowing deep down nothing would change. But I did keep reminding myself that from the time she was a child she was brainwashed into believing that is just how marriage is. No matter what your husband does, how many wives he marries, just keep sweet and be the perfect wife. And when you're taught that your whole life, it is hard to unlearn it in a short period of time.

I am just

With five kids still at home,

Fifty Years in Polygamy: Big Secrets and Little White Lies

There is much ado about polygamy these days. Media coverage, HBO's Big Love, TLC's Sister Wives, the acts committed by cult leader Warren Jeffs and his followers--all of these keep a slew of polygamy-related issues at the forefront of society. But none can depict the ongoing, daily atrocities and heartaches that are hidden behind the scenes, behind closed doors, within the hearts and souls of thousands of smiling faces.

Kristyn Decker's memoir recounts the harsh realities of being born and raised in the second largest polygamist sect in America--the Apostolic United Brethren, or the AUB (Allred Group). For five decades, Kristyn, then Sophie, was caught up in a cult of plural marriage and lived it until she thought it would kill her. When she finally had the courage to leave, she knew she had to share her story.

Fifty Years in Polygamy: Big Secrets and Little White Lies describes a life of religious submission, lies, secrets, poverty, abuse, jealousy, depression, and loneliness. The gripping, detailed events in this book will shock you but will also inspire compassion, understanding, and perhaps even the courage to change your own life.

"Fifty Years in Polygamy is a compelling read, full of raw emotion that reveals the abuses hidden under the cloak of religion. Kristyn Decker's book depicts the cries of thousands of women across the world--another voice who through fear remained silent for too many years."

--Irene Spencer, author of New York Times bestseller

Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamous Wife

Fifty Years in Polygamy is