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Carrie Sheffield's upbringing was anything but normal. She was the fifth of eight children with a violent, mentally ill, street musician father who thought he was a modern-day Mormon prophet destined to become U.S. president someday.
Growing up, Sheffield moved around a lot. They often lived like drifters, camping in sheds, tents and motorhomes. In her lifetime, Carrie attended a total of 17 public schools.
"I had a traumatic childhood. I was raised in a very abusive cult environment that was very impoverished and violent," said Sheffield. "I've had multiple siblings attempt suicide, and I have considered suicide multiple times over the years."
One of the things that Carrie says that upset her the most growing up is that her father claimed he was doing all of this in the name of God and that it was God's will.
"I had to distinguish between who God is and what God's will is and how sometimes broken people can use God's name in wrong ways, and it can be very confusing."
Carrie’s father was eventually excommunicated from the official Latter Day Saints Church, and she was the first of her siblings to escape her toxic household.
"I chose my loyalty to the LDS church over my loyalty to him," said Sheffield. "That's when he disowned me. He said my blood had changed. I was no longer his daughter. I was excommunicated from the family. They photoshopped me out of family photos."
After leaving, Carrie struggled with her mental health, which continued through college and for most of her adult life. But she eventually seized control of her life, transcended her troubled past, and overcame her toxic inner voice thanks to the power of forgiveness cultivated through her conversion to Christianity.
Carrie now shares her experience in her book Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness. She hopes believers and non-believers will pick up her book.
"I wrote it to challenge people to search their hearts. What in your heart is causing you to feel this way, and how can you take that to God and ask him to heal it?" said Carrie. "I also wrote it to help believers have more empathy."
Carrie hopes that by sharing her experience, she can help others who are trapped and voiceless break free and find God.