0:00:17.492,0:00:22.652 I don't know anyone[br]who has a perfect life; nobody. 0:00:23.258,0:00:28.508 And I know that every single one of us [br]have our own personal challenges, 0:00:28.508,0:00:31.327 and trials and there are days[br]when we wish 0:00:31.327,0:00:33.547 that we didn't have to get out of bed. 0:00:33.955,0:00:38.004 There are days when we wish we could pull[br]the covers back up and hibernate. 0:00:38.504,0:00:40.507 But we all have a choice to make. 0:00:40.857,0:00:45.127 We have the choice to stay in bed[br]and keep the covers pulled over us, 0:00:45.127,0:00:47.097 or we have a choice to move forward. 0:00:47.658,0:00:51.608 When I was 14 years old,[br]nothing special stood out about me. 0:00:51.608,0:00:54.388 I was just average 14-year-old, 0:00:54.388,0:00:57.898 getting ready to graduate[br]from junior high, very excited. 0:00:58.749,0:01:00.759 I remember going to bed one night, 0:01:00.965,0:01:05.755 in a room that I shared with my sister,[br]in a bed that I shared with my sister. 0:01:06.255,0:01:09.752 I remember waking up to the voice,[br]a strange voice, saying[br] 0:01:10.112,0:01:12.742 "I have a knife at your neck;[br]don't make a sound. 0:01:12.980,0:01:14.960 Get up and come with me." 0:01:15.752,0:01:18.882 That started a nine-month-long nightmare. 0:01:19.382,0:01:23.762 I remember this strange man taking me[br]way up into the mountains behind my home, 0:01:23.962,0:01:25.756 all the while at knife-point. 0:01:25.978,0:01:30.138 I mean, I remember being brought[br]so far up into the mountains. 0:01:30.138,0:01:32.288 We crossed right over the top[br]of the mountain, 0:01:32.288,0:01:33.855 and started down the other side. 0:01:34.240,0:01:36.760 We were about a quarter[br]of the way down the other side 0:01:36.760,0:01:40.418 when we came to a grove of trees,[br]and nothing stood out about it, 0:01:40.418,0:01:42.758 nothing seemed special about it, 0:01:43.503,0:01:45.883 but he directed me inside[br]this grove of trees, 0:01:46.123,0:01:47.893 and I remember walking in, 0:01:48.148,0:01:50.848 and I saw that part of the mountain[br]had been leveled out. 0:01:51.268,0:01:52.988 There was a tent set up. 0:01:52.988,0:01:56.508 There were tarps lying on the ground,[br]hanging up in the trees. 0:01:56.508,0:02:01.009 I remember seeing a huge hole[br]in the ground behind the tent, 0:02:01.009,0:02:05.254 where they had laid logs across the top,[br]and then thrown dirt up on top of it. 0:02:05.866,0:02:09.769 But the most scary part[br]of this whole scene 0:02:10.510,0:02:12.637 was the woman that emerged from the tent. 0:02:13.389,0:02:15.959 She brought me in,[br]and she sat me down on a bucket, 0:02:15.959,0:02:17.749 where she tried to sponge bathe me, 0:02:17.749,0:02:22.039 and change me out of my pajamas[br]into strange robes. 0:02:22.483,0:02:27.863 I grew up in being very, very shy[br]and very, very self-conscious, 0:02:28.364,0:02:30.874 and that was just about[br]the most traumatic thing 0:02:30.874,0:02:32.794 I had ever had happen to me. 0:02:32.794,0:02:37.649 I remember begging and pleading with her[br]just to let me do it myself, 0:02:37.649,0:02:41.499 that I wasn't dirty, that I had[br]just showered the night before, 0:02:41.499,0:02:45.099 and that I could change myself;[br]I didn't need her help. 0:02:45.815,0:02:49.395 Finally, after - I don't know -[br]15 minutes, probably, 0:02:49.395,0:02:53.255 of begging and crying,[br]she finally just passed me the robes. 0:02:53.964,0:02:56.344 I wiggled them on,[br]she scooped up my pajamas, 0:02:56.344,0:02:59.507 and she left me alone in the tent,[br]sitting on an upturned bucket. 0:03:00.157,0:03:02.404 I remember sitting there and crying, 0:03:02.404,0:03:06.254 and crying, and thinking[br]of what had happened to me. 0:03:06.254,0:03:09.764 How had just yesterday I had been[br]at school with my friends, 0:03:10.374,0:03:12.784 How had just yesterday I'd been at home, 0:03:14.084,0:03:17.754 looking forward to graduating,[br]ready to go to high school. 0:03:18.084,0:03:19.655 How had this happened? 0:03:19.655,0:03:22.995 How had my world turned from day to night, 0:03:22.995,0:03:25.745 and what had happened to my family? 0:03:25.745,0:03:28.175 Had this man gone[br]through my house already, 0:03:28.175,0:03:29.555 and murdered my family? 0:03:29.965,0:03:31.765 What was going to happen to me? 0:03:32.105,0:03:35.655 The only thoughts that I could think[br]of were going to happen to me, were: 0:03:35.655,0:03:38.645 He's going to rape me,[br]and then he's going to kill me 0:03:38.645,0:03:41.835 because nobody survives being kidnapped, 0:03:41.835,0:03:43.495 nobody ever comes home. 0:03:43.495,0:03:48.054 I have never seen a happily-ever-after[br]in a kidnapping story. 0:03:48.054,0:03:50.764 Every story the news repeats,[br]it's always the same. 0:03:50.964,0:03:55.508 Maybe it's days later, weeks later,[br]years later, a body is found, 0:03:55.508,0:03:56.988 but that's what happens. 0:03:57.968,0:04:00.758 As I sat there crying,[br]I'm being so scared, 0:04:00.758,0:04:04.358 I remember the tent door unzipping,[br]and in walked this man, 0:04:04.626,0:04:07.714 and he had changed out of the dark clothes[br]he had kidnapped me in, 0:04:07.714,0:04:09.994 into a robe, just like the one I had on, 0:04:09.994,0:04:12.514 and he knelt down next to me,[br]and he started to speak. 0:04:12.514,0:04:16.334 And at first, I was so caught up 0:04:16.594,0:04:21.114 in my own worries and my own fears, 0:04:21.122,0:04:23.572 and what had happened,[br]and what was going to happen, 0:04:24.237,0:04:28.967 I couldn't even begin to think[br]to listen to what he was saying. 0:04:29.891,0:04:33.761 Finally, some part of me[br]pulled myself together long enough 0:04:33.761,0:04:37.001 to hear him say the words[br]that I was now his wife, 0:04:37.501,0:04:39.014 I was sealed to him, 0:04:39.234,0:04:43.264 and that I was supposed[br]to perform all wifely duties. 0:04:43.264,0:04:45.764 and it was time for us [br]to consummate our marriage. 0:04:46.226,0:04:49.256 Now I grew up in a very traditional home. 0:04:49.256,0:04:52.666 My family is very religious. 0:04:53.092,0:04:57.472 I have been raised to believe[br] 0:04:57.472,0:05:01.392 that sexual relationships are to be 0:05:01.392,0:05:03.078 within the boundaries of marriage, 0:05:03.588,0:05:06.515 and that's what I'd always believed. 0:05:06.515,0:05:10.245 That's what I'd always[br]intended on following. 0:05:10.615,0:05:13.055 And so here this man was, telling me 0:05:13.055,0:05:15.255 that I was supposed[br]to consummate our marriage, 0:05:15.255,0:05:17.755 and I may have grown up[br]in a bit of a bubble. 0:05:17.755,0:05:19.775 I mean I may not have been 0:05:20.305,0:05:24.249 the most forward-thinking 14 year old[br]in the world at the time. 0:05:25.501,0:05:30.241 Part of me wasn't even sure I knew[br]what "consummate a marriage" meant. 0:05:30.241,0:05:32.661 The other part of me[br]was praying and hoping 0:05:32.951,0:05:35.011 that it wasn't what I thought it was. 0:05:35.621,0:05:39.255 I quickly found out exactly what it was. 0:05:39.485,0:05:42.965 I remember begging[br]and pleading, and crying, 0:05:42.965,0:05:47.375 and tried to come up[br]with every reason I possibly could 0:05:47.375,0:05:51.965 to try to convince this man[br]to let me go, to not hurt me, 0:05:51.965,0:05:56.495 to just release me back to my family. 0:05:56.950,0:05:59.980 But nothing I said or did[br]made a difference. 0:06:00.500,0:06:01.977 I will never forget. 0:06:01.977,0:06:05.783 He pulled me off the bucket[br]where I'd been sitting, onto the ground, 0:06:05.973,0:06:08.863 where he ripped off the robe[br]I'd been forced to put on, 0:06:08.863,0:06:10.983 and he raped me on the floor of the tent. 0:06:11.502,0:06:15.492 Then when he was finished,[br]he got up, and he left me alone. 0:06:16.148,0:06:23.248 And I will never, ever forget[br]how I felt, how broken I felt, 0:06:23.490,0:06:27.511 how I was beyond all help, all hope, 0:06:27.961,0:06:32.641 that even if someone did find me,[br]what was the point? 0:06:33.491,0:06:37.506 I was useless, I was disgusting. 0:06:37.506,0:06:40.756 I wasn't worth saving, at that point. 0:06:42.506,0:06:44.656 I fell asleep thinking those thoughts, 0:06:44.866,0:06:47.894 and when I woke up, there was this man,[br]kneeling over me again, 0:06:47.894,0:06:50.664 and this time he had taken[br]a thick, metal cable, 0:06:50.664,0:06:53.534 and had wrapped it around my ankle,[br]and bolted it into place, 0:06:53.534,0:06:54.824 so I couldn't run away. 0:06:55.184,0:06:56.884 And that moment, I started thinking 0:06:56.884,0:06:59.844 of all the children[br]whom I had seen on the news, 0:06:59.844,0:07:03.293 whose stories always seemed[br]to end so tragically. 0:07:03.626,0:07:08.106 And I couldn't help but think:[br]They are the lucky ones. 0:07:08.636,0:07:13.146 They are so lucky: I wish[br]I could be one of those children, 0:07:13.146,0:07:16.131 because no one will ever hurt them again. 0:07:16.131,0:07:18.391 no one will ever make them feel[br] 0:07:18.391,0:07:22.821 like they are worthless,[br]or that they're unloved. 0:07:22.931,0:07:24.791 No one can never do that to them again. 0:07:24.791,0:07:26.381 I wish that was me. 0:07:26.961,0:07:31.151 And that is a brief look[br]of what the next nine months were. 0:07:31.151,0:07:33.899 Very early on, I made the decision 0:07:33.899,0:07:37.009 that I wasn't going to let[br]these two captors win. 0:07:37.405,0:07:41.118 I wasn't going to let them[br]take my life from me. 0:07:41.118,0:07:44.262 I would do everything[br]I possibly could to survive, 0:07:44.562,0:07:46.941 even if that meant outliving them,[br] 0:07:46.941,0:07:50.251 even if that meant[br]surviving for another 30 years, 0:07:50.251,0:07:53.161 going through this kind[br]of abuse every day. 0:07:53.511,0:07:58.501 Thank Heavens, it wasn't 30 years;[br]it was only nine months later. 0:07:58.751,0:08:01.196 I will never forget[br]the first time I saw my dad 0:08:01.196,0:08:04.379 after the police had stopped[br]and picked me up. 0:08:04.969,0:08:09.759 I will never forget feeling that,[br]no matter what lay in front of me, 0:08:10.239,0:08:14.970 it was going to be okay, and that nobody[br]ever again would be able to make me hurt 0:08:14.970,0:08:18.160 the way that two these people[br]had made me hurt the last nine months. 0:08:20.103,0:08:23.963 Best feeling in the world,[br]knowing that someone loves you. 0:08:24.495,0:08:27.136 The following day my mother[br]gave me a piece of advice, 0:08:27.136,0:08:28.768 and I'd like to share it with you, 0:08:28.768,0:08:31.971 because as I said,[br]we all have trials in life, 0:08:31.971,0:08:34.981 we all have those times[br]when we don't want get out of bed. 0:08:35.631,0:08:36.951 My mom said to me, 0:08:37.391,0:08:42.551 "Elizabeth, what this man[br]has done to you is terrible, 0:08:42.951,0:08:48.261 and there are not words strong enough[br]to describe how wicked and evil he is. 0:08:48.879,0:08:54.499 He has stolen nine months of your life[br]that you will never get back. 0:08:55.130,0:08:59.260 The best punishment you[br]could ever give him is to be happy, 0:08:59.749,0:09:03.499 is to move forward with your life,[br]because by feeling sorry for yourself 0:09:03.719,0:09:07.639 and holding on the past, and dwelling[br]on what's happened to you, 0:09:07.969,0:09:12.239 that's only allowing them[br]more control, more power, 0:09:12.589,0:09:14.769 steal more of your life away from you.[br] 0:09:14.769,0:09:16.484 So don't let that happen. 0:09:16.484,0:09:21.745 Justice may or may not be served,[br]restitution may or may not be made, 0:09:21.745,0:09:25.045 but don't you dare give them[br]another second of your life. 0:09:25.745,0:09:29.895 I have tried to follow that advice[br]every day since then, 0:09:30.396,0:09:33.859 I am a long ways[br]from following it perfectly, 0:09:33.859,0:09:38.480 but then again, what daughter is perfect[br]at following her mother's advice? 0:09:38.480,0:09:40.040 (Laughter) 0:09:40.370,0:09:43.021 But I know that we all have a choice. 0:09:43.361,0:09:47.251 I know that when we are faced[br]with trials, we have a choice. 0:09:47.501,0:09:51.621 We can give in and surrender,[br]or we can fight and we can move forward. 0:09:51.962,0:09:54.752 And as I've been able to go out[br]and share my story, 0:09:54.752,0:09:59.632 and speak with different people,[br]I have learned so much. 0:09:59.632,0:10:02.613 I have come to a point[br]in my life that I can say 0:10:02.613,0:10:04.763 although I would never wish[br]it upon myself, 0:10:05.163,0:10:09.453 and I certainly never would wish it[br]upon anyone else, 0:10:10.993,0:10:13.263 I am grateful for what[br]has happened to me, 0:10:13.483,0:10:17.623 because of what it's taught me,[br]because of the perspective it's given me, 0:10:17.623,0:10:20.001 and the empathy I've felt[br]for other survivors. 0:10:20.371,0:10:22.974 I am grateful that I can[br]make a difference. 0:10:22.974,0:10:29.374 I'm grateful that I can speak out,[br]and especially for victims of sexual abuse 0:10:29.374,0:10:31.904 who haven't been able[br]to speak out for themselves yet. 0:10:32.379,0:10:37.509 It is so traumatic, it is so scary,[br]coming forward and saying, 0:10:37.749,0:10:40.514 "I was sexually abused; I was hurt. 0:10:40.514,0:10:43.774 Someone stole something from me[br]that I'll never get back." 0:10:44.364,0:10:47.294 But I have to tell you, it is so important 0:10:47.294,0:10:50.514 to come forward and share your stories,[br]and speak out about it, 0:10:50.754,0:10:54.894 even if it's not to your community,[br]even if it's not on a larger scale, 0:10:54.894,0:10:56.587 but at least to law enforcement, 0:10:56.587,0:10:59.087 so that we can stop[br]those people that are out there 0:10:59.087,0:11:00.997 taking advantage of other people. 0:11:00.997,0:11:02.897 It is so important. 0:11:03.247,0:11:06.267 So I have to encourage[br]every single one of you. 0:11:07.247,0:11:12.627 When you are faced with a trial,[br]don't give up; don't surrender. 0:11:13.127,0:11:15.787 Move forward, because you never know 0:11:15.787,0:11:17.480 what you'll be able to do with it. 0:11:17.480,0:11:20.025 You'll never know the lives[br]you'll be able to touch. 0:11:20.755,0:11:23.253 I am so grateful to be here[br]with you all today. 0:11:23.253,0:11:25.081 Thank you so much.[br] 0:11:25.081,0:11:28.071 (Applause)