True crime fans have uncovered a horrific documentary that left viewers âdisgustedâ when it first aired.
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey tells the harrowing true story of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), led by Warren Jeffs.
The four episodes feature disturbing interviews with survivors and excommunicates of the FLDS church, a polygamist Mormon denomination, including some who had intimate relationships with Jeffs.
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He also married several underage girls to other adult men in the group. As of today, Jeffs, 70, is serving a life sentence for his crimes, but is still considered the prophet and president of the church, having maintained thousands of followers despite his heinous acts.
In the documentary, some of the victims and former FLDS members speak about how they, and other members of the congregation, were coerced by him before a 2008 raid saw law enforcement agents bring to light the evidence of sexual, physical and psychological abuse hundreds of people endured.
The synopsis reads: âIn 2008, a dramatic raid at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in West Texas generated attention around the world, as law enforcement agents uncovered stunning evidence of sexual, physical and psychological abuse and took 400+ children into custody.
âKeep Sweet: Pray and Obey , directed by Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Rachel Dretzin, gives viewers an in-depth look into the secretive polygamous sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) and the rise of self-professed prophet Warren Jeffs.
âThe four-part documentary series features never-before-seen archival footage and harrowing personal stories from some of the courageous women and men who escaped.
âFrom forced underage marriage and pregnancy to a complete unraveling into an oppressive criminal cult under Warren Jeffsâ rule, the story uncovers extraordinary bravery battling tyrannical control in modern America.â
Viewers have been left horrified by the true story, with one suggesting it under a Reddit thread for âthe most horrifying crime documentary ever watchedâ, writing: âThe ending of that one just left [me] so disgusted.â
Another called it âsickeningâ, adding: âAs someone whoâs a millennial, I was too young when Jeffs was arrested, and as a European this story hasnât crossed my path before. The build up in this docu-series is done in a smart way. It starts of absurd, as any religious fanaticism is to me. But you really get to understand how this happens to children born into this. It just gets more maddening and sickening, with the worst at the end. I was left shedding tears in anger of how this suffering exists in this world.â
Another called Jeffs âthe devil himselfâ, while someone else said: âThis documentary is absolutely eye opening and sad in so many ways. It actually makes you mad that guys like this can acquire so much power and how he took advantage of so many people. Itâs definitely worth watching but get ready to be shocked that this kind of crap goes on in our country.â
Several others called Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey âhard to watchâ, while another said it was âdisturbingly disgustingâ.
One person called it âa gut-wrenching story,â while someone else said it was âincredibly insane and sadâ.
Someone else said: âMy dear God, I am utterly shaken,â adding: âIt is heartbreaking to watch this, you will find it hard to believe what brainwashing can do to a personâs mind. Thousands of individuals who are like robots with twisted minds. I am utterly shocked.â
Director Rachel Dretzin previously told Netflixâs You Canât Make This Up podcast about prioritising the victims and survivors being able to tell their stories for the first time.
âOur focus [is] not only on the experience of being in that cult,â she said. âItâs on the people, particularly the women who managed to defy it and escape it, which â if you know anything about the FLDS â is a pretty miraculous and incredible thing to do.â
âWhen we started working on this documentary, I didnât know how we were going to visualize what happened, because these people werenât allowed cellphones or allowed to go on the internet,â she went on. âAs it turned out, people did film⊠[there was] a treasure trove of archival footage from inside the FLDS [that] just existed in peopleâs phones and computers.â
She added that the documentation is what sealed Jeffsâ conviction at his trial, revealing: âEvery crime he committed, he recorded on tape, or audio or journals.â
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey is available to watch on Netflix.


