Customer Reviews

Illegitimate: How a Loving God Rescued a Son of Polygamy

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4 star:		(1)
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Brian is very careful to focus the text specifically on the abuses he suffered as a boy growing up without fathering in a polygamous LDS household. He goes to pains not to assault Mormonism per se, as this is not the goal of the book, but rather the abuses put upon the children by those who setup a false and absent godhood in themselves as the father's of so many children whom they at best benignly ignored and at worst as was the case for Brian horribly abused.

In the end though this book is about triumph, the triumph of a boy becoming a man and finding grace, fulfillment, and love through a journey of discovery ending in finding the real love of a gracious God.

Brian wrote not to raise up his suffering, but rather to tell about his healing and the peace he found. He wrote about a journey beginning in fear and abuse an ending in a place where he was capable of forgiving the man who abused him.

I highly recommend this inspirational, at times poignant, and strongly written book.

I laughed, I cried, my anger grew, and I rejoiced, as I finished reading "Illegitimate" at 3 o'clock in the morning. It is rare and powerful when someone has the courage to be this honest and open about their pain and hurt. Thank you Brian for sharing with the world the hope your story brings. The great writing balances these emotions in a way that left me in awe.

Brian gives an amazingly gripping look inside a very closed society where control and the misuse of power cripple innocent children emotionally, intellectually, physically and socially!

A must read for anyone concerned about the children of our nation and our collective future.

His life is a miracle of grace and healing. He is very vunerable and honest about his own failings, which makes his story believable at a deep level. The epidemic of "fatherlessness" in our nation is no more strongly represented than between the covers of "Illegitimate"!!

This was such an excellent book. Mackart went into much detail on the history of the FLDS church and the practice of polygamy. He showed how polygamy can hurt the children, who then grow up to be adults who have a hard time adjusting to the real world if they choose to leave...or are doomed to marriages with no love. But then, Mackart and some of his siblings are able to escape the FLDS "cult" and some of them, including the author, become Christians. He also learns what our true God really is about, not one who is controlling or secretive or has multiple wives, but one who is our true saving grace, who doesn't want the harm that comes along with the polygamous lifestyle.. With the help of God and loving people in Brian's life, he is able to live a productive life outside of the FLDS church.

This is a great book on extreme Mormonism, and I would highly recommend this. This does a great job of explaining the history and the harm that the FLDS church can cause.

Reading this book was like Brian takes you by the hand and you walk into a time machine. He sets the dates and you real back through his life, watching as each event unfolds. It is a visual, emotional, and spiritual journey. He shares his most intimate and vulnerable secrets. So much so, I experienced the laughter, tears, pain, humiliation, joy, love, the need to be accepted, despair of being rejected. The total and final acceptance that was right there all along. Then, watching him walk into the loving arms of Jesus.

Hoping there's a sequel about the life in THE Father.

A sad story about a young boy trying to find himself as well as a relationship with his father. This book was interesting and I enjoyed reading it but enjoyed "Escape or Shattered Dreams" much better. They just seemed to be more interesting throughout the book. I felt the ending was the best part of this book where Brian was able to continue his fighting for peace in any way he could. It was great that he was able to finally see family members that had been lost to him for many years.

This book was such an insightful glipse into the closed doors of polygomy. I am so glad that Brian had the courage to bring into the light his family's struggles as a part of his amazing testimony. The male perspective into the world of polygomy was enlightening and intriguing. The events that brought Brian to Christ are evident throughout his young life. God really wanted Brian with Him in His Kingdom forever. One man's story can help change the world! I hope this book is encouraging to people from all walks of life. Thank you for sharing your amazing story Brian!

Illegitimate is the biography of one man who was one of the youngest children of 32. all living in the same house with his mother and 3 "sister" wives. The book begins with a session with a psychologist after he indicated he wanted to kill his father.

The author does an excellent job of weaving in and out of his life. the lives of his 32 siblings. and the shame felt because he had to hide his identity.

This book does a wonderful job of explaining the belief system of the FLDS from the man's perspective. In fact.I plan to keep the book on my shelf as a reference book. He includes the history. and both pro's and con's of living under this system.

Unfortuantely. in this family the father was sexually abusing his daughters. which led to disolving the entire family as he knew it. His story also includes how he became a Christian. and his story of how he feels it saved his life. and took away his need to kill his father.

For those who are interested in learning about this lifestyle. I cannot think of a better written book from the man's perspective.

I have read from 25 to 30 books on Polygamy. Maybe more. I know the history. I've read the history waaaay too many times. Seems like all the books take up too much time on the history. OK - we get it! This one doesn't do that. It's a very good read and one you might not be able to put down. I would recommend this book. It deals more with the guy's life than the history of polygamy. Yes, it does have some history but he keeps it to a minimum. Good book.

What an excellent, excellent book!!!! I took my time, savoring the journey, into Brian's personal life. Not only did I learned about FLDS but I felt like I was part of his precious family, warts and all. And yes, I did say precious. I laughed, cried, and grieved - with Brian and for Brian. Thank you so much for letting me (and thousands of others like me) peek into a polygamous family with so much honesty. An honesty that did not come easy I am sure.

What an amazing journey of God's redemptive grace. Brian explains his painful journey from a huge family (yet unloved by his father) to the family of God.