Documentary Review: Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)

Letterboxd link: 3 stars

This documentary is somewhat misleading. It downplays one woman’s (Rebecca’s) role in bringing down Warren Jeffs while highly playing up the other’s (Elissa’s). I have read both their books. Elissa’s book was odd and self-serving, doing such things as painting herself as the favorite child in a family of thirty-plus kids. There are also many fibs in it that make herself look better; I don’t know how else to word that. I have read enough on the FLDS to be able to say so. Rebecca’s book states that Elissa left during Warren’s trial to go on her book tour, so she finished and published her book before the story was even complete—that tells you a lot about who Elissa is. This doc being biased towards her, it still has a lot of good footage, and excellent interviews with investigator Sam Brower, so it is worth watching.

Rebecca’s book: The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice

Sam Brower’s book: Prophet’s Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation Into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints 

‘Sister Wives’: Christine Brown’s Shocking Ties to the FLDS and This Man in ‘Keep Sweet: Obey and Pray’

Netflix link

Movie Review: Keep Sweet (2021)

Letterboxd: 4 out of 5 stars This was fascinating, especially considering the legal and religious issues involving paying property taxes—these people are willing to lose their homes on what they believe to be hallowed grounds, and render their huge families homeless, because they don’t believe in signing contracts or paying property tax.

There Might Be Cupcakes PodcastCarla Pettigrew

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