Netflix’s 2022 docuseries Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey exposed the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) and its leader Warren Jeffs, who orchestrated child marriages and sexual abuse under the guise of religion.
The Cult
The FLDS, a polygamist sect that splintered from mainstream Mormonism, was led by Warren Jeffs, who:
- Controlled every aspect of followers’ lives
- Arranged marriages between adult men and underage girls
- Banished young men to reduce competition
- Accumulated over 70 wives, many children when “married"
"Keep Sweet”
The title phrase refers to the FLDS teaching that women must remain perpetually pleasant, submissive, and obedient—a form of control that silenced abuse victims.
The Documentary
Four episodes featured:
- Former FLDS members breaking their silence
- Audio recordings of Jeffs’ teachings and “revelations”
- Footage from inside the secretive communities
- The FBI manhunt and 2006 arrest
Cultural Impact
#KeepSweet sparked discussions about:
- Religious extremism in America
- Child marriage laws (or lack thereof)
- How cults operate in plain sight
- The courage of survivors who left
The Trial
Jeffs was convicted in 2011 of child sexual assault and sentenced to life plus 20 years. He continues to lead the FLDS from prison, with thousands still following him.
Trigger Warnings
The series came with content warnings for child abuse, and Netflix added resources for abuse survivors.
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