Friday, September 07, 2007
'Lost boys' struggle in outside world
ST. GEORGE, Utah (CNN) -- Franky admits he's conflicted about the life of polygamy he has left behind along with the nearly three dozen brothers and sisters he's banished from seeing.

He also has mixed feelings about the man he once considered a religious prophet, polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs.

Jeffs, he says, was good to him. He taught him the values of family and the need for structure. "He ain't what everybody portrays him to be," the 21-year-old says.

But still Franky rejected Jeffs' polygamous lifestyle and the teachings of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS). He's now trying to make it on his own, one of the estimated 400 so-called "lost boys" who were kicked out of Jeffs' sect or left on their own.

It's not a term he particularly likes or embraces. "I'm not lost, because I ain't running around in a circle. No, thank you," he says.

Click here to read more

-- From Amanda Townsend, CNN Producer
Dan Simon, CNN Correspondent
Posted By CNN: 3:52 PM ET
  11 Comments
It is really sad what has been done to these boys! To be thrown out like trash with nowhere to go or nothing to take with them!! I think their parents and all of the leaders of the FLDS should be made to pay. They should be tried for abandonment and thrown in jail!!

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.
Posted By Cindy : 4:20 PM ET
It cracks me up how they are told not to talk to "you outside people" as though we are not worthy in their eyes. Seems like kicking young children out of their homes and shunning those who don't believe as they do is not something their God or for that matter our God would approve of.
Posted By Jolene, St. Joseph, MI : 4:23 PM ET
What Jeffs has done is no different than what religious priests of all sorts have done throughout history- threaten their believers into submission. In Jeff's case it was sexual submission, but the principle is the same. Who are we, who validate priests and nuns and ministers telling children stories of hell and eternal damnation- to criticize Jeffs?
Posted By Bill L. - Laughlin, NV : 4:24 PM ET
Jeffs has to be stopped. Regardless of the charges, he is mentally disordered. His threats alone are unlawful, and ruin these girls' entire lives. He purposely disgraces women and girls, leaving these girls without an education, alone, and digracing their families. Worst of all he teaches them to believe women are here to serve men.
Posted By Ann - Medford, Or. : 4:29 PM ET
I think Warren Jeffs should be committed, but shouldn't we help him? And if he is sick, shouldn't we feel sorry for him? We provide mentally sick people with help and compassion, why not him?
Posted By Harris Mecklen, Des Moines, Ia. : 4:31 PM ET
I some states and in Canada you can be 16 years old and marry. Then wouldn't Jeffs actions be legal? So, if Jeffs was in another state, he would not be guilty of a crime?
Posted By Mark S. - Denver , CO. : 4:35 PM ET
I sincerely hope Jeff's trial will give others the courage to come forward and testify against him. Hopefully enough evidence will come together to put him behind bars for a very long time.
Posted By Kelly, Lexington, Ky. : 4:38 PM ET
Being called a "prophet" is sometimes the result of brainwashing. No matter, Warren Jeffs acts are despicable and should be stopped.
Posted By Chet F., Orem, Ut. : 4:44 PM ET
This 21-year-old man is still young enough to make a new start-- with the right mentoring. I believe that with positive influences and a family to nurture him, Franky can now succeed out in the world despite the unfortunate period he has endured.
Posted By A. Mandeville, Birmingham, AL : 4:47 PM ET
I don't think I'll ever comprehend religions using God as an excuse to exploit and destroy church members, especially not in this century. I think these young men are survivors of a life of abuse who need help to recover from what they have endured. Hopefully they can receive whatever they need to reorient to a world outside of the FLDS and be o.k. These "boys" deserve their shot at happiness and serenity, too.
Posted By Tammy C., Berwick, LA : 5:30 PM ET
Everyone keeps saying all that is negative about O.J; But no one has yet commented on all those people who have made a name or money for themselves base the unfortunate deaths of Nicole and Ron. My take on the whole situation is we had the opportunity to send this man to prison for life or death and we screwed it up and now we are mad..He was aquitted by a jury of his peers, so for those of us who still think he is guilty you all never saw to it that he was found guilty, and for that I think it's only fair that we leave the man alone.
Posted By Hilary : 12:16 AM ET
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