Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey – Netflix Review (4/5)

KEEP SWEET: PRAY AND OBEY on Netflix is a new true-crime documentary series in four episodes. It’s a fascinating watch about the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Do not miss out on it. Read our full Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey series review here!

KEEP SWEET: PRAY AND OBEY is a new Netflix documentary series in four episodes. It’s true crime since it’s all about the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FDLS). Well, the crimes of Warren Jeffs in particular.

It’s relevant to watch both for people familiar with the FDLS and Warren Jeffs as well as those who barely know about the crimes committed. All in the name of God – though it’s actually about money and power. Then again, isn’t it always?!

It is a fascinating watch, so if you enjoy docu-series about religion and cults, you do not want to miss out on it.

Continue reading our full Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey series review below. All four episodes will be out on Netflix from June 8, 2022.

So much abuse taking place!

I first remember hearing about Warren Jeffs and the FDLS many years ago. This was when the police (or the FBI rather) got involved in 2008 since the crimes became obvious. However, when this happened, the media also ended up playing a part. To the advantage of Warren Jeffs, at first.

I won’t say it was to the advantage of the FDLS [Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]. It really wasn’t, since the members of this church were often paying for the excessive lifestyle – and power trip – of their new Prophet, Warren Jeffs.

Personally, I remember when Oprah Winfrey went to visit the FDLS to hear about issues raised in the media. The “issues” were that underage girls were being married off and having children. So, these issues were actually very serious crimes.

However, the FDLS really knew how to make the PR machine work to their advantage. Something that becomes very obvious in the Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey Netflix documentary.

A very intriguing and honest Netflix docu-series

What makes the Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey documentary series work so well, is that it features many key people. We’re talking about family members of Warren Jeffs and people who still have family members in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The people were themselves previously in the FDLS. Some of them are still quite religious but after realizing what kind of person Warren Jeffs was, they left the FDLS. For this reason, all the people interviewed can talk about how and why it got so out of hand.

MORE DOCUMENTARIES OF THIS KIND

Be sure to check out Murder Among the Mormons on Netflix as well >

They can also try to explain the brainwashing element of it all. After all, you rarely just “join a cult”. You become a part of something you believe to be good and right for you. Then, suddenly, you realize that it’s something else entirely.

This tends to result in a real WTF-moment, as one of the women describes it.

While Warren Jeffs himself is “on the run” by hiding in plain sight and having fun in Las Vegas and Disney World, everyone else is struggling. And still, people in the FDLS support him. This is exactly why I don’t trust organized religion.

Watch the Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey series on Netflix!

Rachel Dretzin (Who Killed Malcolm X, Far From the Tree) is the director of the Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey docu-series on Netflix. Executive Producers include Jeff Skoll, Diane Weyermann, Miura Kite, Zachary Herrmann, Rachel Dretzin, and Alison Dammann. Grace McNally also serves as co-director and producer of this true-crime documentary.

For me, Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey works so remarkably well because they’ve managed to interview so many relevant people. All of whom are willing to be completely honest. Even though it often puts them in a bad light. But hey, they’re still working on accepting the fact that they were essentially brainwashed.

Also, they are clearly traumatized and trying to help save more people from the FDLS. The four episodes in this Netflix docu series are told in a very chronological way. This actually enables us, the viewers, to understand how it was that people were lulled into something that sounds (and is!) completely crazy.

You definitely do not want to miss out on this.

Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey is out on Netflix from June 8, 2022.