Episode 51 | Married at 16 to a Stranger (In the FLDS) — Leona Blackmore’s Story

Follow Leona on tic tok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@leonamj8471?_r=1&_t=ZP-93wQhaFuAdLSupport me on substack!: https://jadenjeffs.substack.com/In this episode of the Jaden Jeffs podcast, Leona Blackmore (born Leona Johnson) shares her story of growing up in the FLDS in Hildale/Colorado City, being married at 16 in 2001, and later living in Bountiful, BC. She explains how she wanted to marry a Canadian to be near her sister and how political tension between Warren Jeffs and Winston Blackmore affected marriages and the Canadian community. Leona describes being rushed into a secret marriage trip to Mesquite, Nevada without knowing her husband’s name until clues emerged on the way, and she recalls being married by Warren Jeffs to Joseph (Winston Blackmore’s youngest son), who was 30 and already had a wife. 00:00 A Surprise Wedding Order: “You’re Getting Married Tomorrow”01:05 Meet Leona Blackmore: FLDS Roots & Life in Bountiful, BC01:51 Winston Blackmore’s Role in Canada (Bishop, Not Prophet)03:10 Growing Up in Colorado City: “Life Was Good Back Then”04:40 Rulon Jeffs Era: Sewing, Family Ties, and Faith05:29 Wanting to Marry Young—and Why Canada Mattered08:28 Warren Jeffs’ Ban on Canada Marriages & the Politics Behind It09:54 Asking Dad to Get Married: Readiness, Pushback, and Preferences13:36 Rushed Timeline: Wedding Dress, One Week, and No Name18:10 Secret Nevada Caravan Wedding: Meeting the Groom at the Motel26:39 First Days in Canada: Meeting Sister Wife & Settling In32:30 Early Polygamy Reality Check: University in Calgary & Jealousies36:23 First Baby, Sister Support, and Winston vs. Warren Tensions Begin38:54 School Prayer Sparks the Split: Refusing to Acknowledge Warren Jeffs40:36 Leadership Power Plays: Bishops, “Keys,” and the Rich Blackmore Episode42:43 Lines Drawn in the Sand: ‘Warrenites’ vs. Everyone Else45:03 Family Exodus & Being Labeled ‘Apostates’47:58 Dress Codes in Canada: Colors, Patterns, and Long Underwear50:22 Who Controls the Land? UEP Takeover and Property Wars in Bountiful54:39 Isolation, 50/50 Community Divide, and Why the War Knights Are Fading58:02 Marriage & Immigration: Living Between Canada and Bonners Ferry01:00:04 2018 Tragedy and the Relationship Breakdown01:04:05 Looking Back: Faith, Prophets, and Compassion for Everyone Involved01:07:41 Arranged Marriage vs. Dating: Advice for the Next Generation01:13:07 Choosing Singleness & Focusing on the Kids (Final Thoughts)👇**SHOP MERCH HERE FROM JADEN**[fromjaden.com](http://fromjaden.com)👇 **FOLLOW + SUPPORT THE PODCAST**Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3GHUWDyJ5ZJ0QzVu8EihBH?si=hpDUxgqMR9CIkwei0Ghiew🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jaden-jeffs-podcast/id1795576157✉️ Newsletter (Substack): https://jadenjeffs.substack.com/👇 **MY Website**JadenJeffs.com👇 **SOCIALS**Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realjadenjeffs?igsh=cm9ybmY1dzk1dmNp&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jadenjeffs100?_r=1&_t=ZP-91rDt1rkLz5Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BtYdgFoS5/?mibextid=wwXIfr👇 **WATCH NEXT**➡️ Most Popular Videos: https://youtu.be/I-gZtaxMv9whttps://youtu.be/3WIYe15Ostshttps://youtu.be/rNKg83fMuN4➡️ Podcast Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk3w3VkHlWzRgsNC_wNeOBxa0AEBnpsCz&si=izu5YMpxghxqO13m👇 **BUSINESS**📩 Contact: [email protected] me a Coffee via Venmo ❤️ https://venmo.com/u/fitoj