Stand up, Creekers, and stop the abuse
 
By Fawn Holm
Opinions
The Arizona Republic
 
To all ex-Creekers:

Those who judge me for being on TV, for standing up and doing something about the crimes and abuses at the "Creek," who say I am "hurting my family" or "ratting on the Creek" - I have something to say to you.

I, at least, am not sitting around pretending it never happened.

I am not trying to run away from the pain by working myself to death or partying with drugs and alcohol.

You can only run for so long.

People say I hurt my parents. What did they do to me? I asked them nicely if I could leave. Do you think they said, "OK, let us find you a safe place to go?" No! My parents got a restraining order on my brothers who had left, and had me placed under house arrest.

Since I left, I am no longer welcome in their house. Why? Because I will bring "evil spirits" with me, and they would have to "rededicate" their house.

Our families talk about having to stand before God and atone for our sins. How do you think our loving God is going to react to parents who say, "We could not let our kids into our house because they might bring in evil spirits"?

Our families tell us that they "hurt for us" and wish we would come home. But they only say that until they realize how strong and free we have become. They then say there is no hope for us.

I think my parents' should be proud of me! I stood up and fought for the freedom I believe in. I stood up, and I am not sitting until this job is done.

I am the youngest of my mom's 18 kids. I was born three months early and nearly died. My mom said the reason I lived was because I had a big mission.

Standing up is my mission.

To all of you who wonder if you should go back to the Creek, because you are going to "burn in the fire of the last days if you don't," let me get this straight: You are afraid that our God, a loving, caring God, is going to make you choose between happiness, love, success and heaven? I don't think so.

Our families, the ones who won't let us visit them, say living at the Creek is the only way to have happiness, love, success and heaven. I have witnessed love at the Creek. For example:
  • A wife leaves a husband whom she "loves" to go and suddenly "love" another man, because the "prophet" told her to.

  • Little kids (or big ones) "love" their father, then turn around and say he's a bad man because the "prophet" said so.

  • Families turn their backs on "apostate" children because "prophet" Warren Jeffs told them to. Ten minutes earlier they were begging those same children to return because they "love" them.
I understand that you miss your family and friends at the Creek. But if you go back, the people at the Creek will make you choose them only. You will not be allowed to speak to those "inside." You do not have to make that choice out here. That is love and happiness to me.

I'm fed up with ex-Creekers judging me for speaking out. We need to stand up together and take a position. You are in or you are out - there is no middle.

Stop running and stand up. Let's stop this abuse together.
 
azcentral.com
Originally published August 15, 2005
 
Back