Formed in 2008, Holding Out HELP (Helping, Encouraging and Loving Polygamists), has helped about 1,400 people exit polygamist families and communities. Among those include a number of children looking to escape the grip of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS).

    The organization came to the aid of a teen who escaped an FLDS “repentance mission” house in Pocatello in July. Director Tonia Tewell said that through word of mouth, those fleeing the cult know that the Salt Lake City-based group can help them.

    “They are domestic refugees,” Tewell said. “We can help them to live outside the group.”

    Tewell said the FLDS church, based in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz., believes that children are property of the prophet, Warren Jeffs, and the church, and it’s not unusual for boys to be shipped out on work or repentance missions.

    Jeffs is serving life plus 20 years in a west Texas prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting two of his young wives. One of the victims was 12.

    Recently, Tewell notified federal authorities who contacted Bannock County law enforcement regarding boys placed in the care of Nathan Jessop in Pocatello.  

    Tewell said Holding Out HELP places youngster fleeing polygamist families with host families.

    “The families raise them and educate them right along with their own kids,” Tewell said.

    Whenever possible, communication between the child and their biological parents is encouraged.

    “It seems that the kids feel better if they can talk to their parents,” Tewell said. “But sometimes, the parents see them as unworthy because they left the church. Sometimes they are forbidden to talk to their children by leaders of the church.”

    Many individuals fleeing polygamist communities lack basic skills to navigate the outside world, Holding Out HELP provides training, shelter, counseling and life skills courses to help them assimilate into the outside world.

    Tewell said leaving the FLDS church is very emotionally difficult for its followers.

    “They are the property of the prophet and the church,” Tewell said. “They believe that the prophet has the power to send them to heaven or hell and they are scared to death.”

    For more information about the group, go to holdingouthelp.org.