“Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey” is like “Big Love” meets “Fugitive” (and then meets NXIVM too).
It’s currently the #8 documentary in my 14 Best Religious Cult Documentaries ranking (and #1 of the FLDS/Warren Jeffs docs).
Watch “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey”
Stream it on Netflix at https://www.netflix.com/title/81292539.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 96/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.3/100
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 85/100 (User); 91/100 (Critic)
Review of “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey” (Spoiler Alert!)
“Keep Sweet” is full of so many shareable nuggets.
Here are nuggs I made note of:
- The FLDS are taught that the prophet (their version of the pope) is God on earth.
- Rulon Jeffs was the prophet as of some time in the 1990s.
- Rulon Jeffs had over 20 wives who would line up to kiss him goodnight. He would sometimes ask one to be intimate with him.
- Warren Jeffs, Rulon’s nephew, was appointed Principal of teachings. He removed all outside books.
- Rulon had a massive stroke. Warren started taking over leadership.
- When the Olympics came to Salt Lake City, Warren predicted the city’s destruction and told followers to evacuate to Short Creek. Over 10,000 followers relocated.
- Rulon died. His 65 wives dressed in white to honor him. Warren married 7 of his father’s former wives, including his own mother.
- Warren took over Short Creek. The FLDS owned all property and controlled local services like police.
- Warren took over FLDS businesses (e.g. HydroPak) run by members. Some believe the FLDS became the #1 human trafficker in the U.S.
- TV reporter Mike Watkiss explained the FLDS currency is underage brides, which conferred power. Followers were taught they needed at least 3 wives to go to heaven.
- A police officer was convicted of being with an underage girl, prompting Warren to flee to Eldorado, Texas. Locals were told it was a hunting lodge, but photos showed it was much larger.
- Warren broke up families, reassigning wives and children. He said they must obey to reach the afterlife “Zion.” Some “poofed” (disappeared) to the suspected Zion site.
- Warren became a Top 10 Most Wanted fugitive yet still traveled freely. Followers sent him $300K/week hidden in canned goods.
- Warren was convicted as an accomplice to rape from prison but retained followers who still consider him the Prophet.
- Recordings were found of Warren raping underage girls. He conducted 67 underage marriages and had 78 wives (24 underaged). Warren was sentenced to over 100 years in prison.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc