This is a great documentary on the 'cult' of FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints - not to be confused with LDS). Leader and polygamist Warren Jeffs twisted his 'prophet' status, and that allowed him to control and sexually abuse women and under aged girls in his congregation -- finally ending up in prison for his crimes. You watch this and your jaw drops -- how could this STILL be happening in America in this century? One of his 87 (!) wives finally managed to escape despite being persecuted by the church for her attempts -- thankfully, or this story might never have been told. .
There's a bookend to this story not mentioned in the documentary and just as fascinating. Nearly 200 years ago the founder of the original Latter Day Saints (Joseph Smith) had a 'revelation' that his 'church' should practice polygamy in the name of God. Looking back, it seems like he and his friends were making an excuse to get more women, including under-aged ones, into his bed by whatever means they could. Brigham Young continued this practice (How did they even named a University for him?) Finally one of Young's many, many wives divorced and denounced him, his practices, and polygamy (Anna Eliza Young). She left and then wrote "Wife Number 19" as a tell-all in 1876. Like "Briel," who tells her story in "Prisoner," Anna Eliza was expelled, denounced and shamed by the church. Finally multiple marriages were 'outlawed' in part as a result of those efforts, but this documentary clearly shows that 150 years later the practice still is flourishing -- along with the extreme damage it can do to those inside if they want out.
There's a bookend to this story not mentioned in the documentary and just as fascinating. Nearly 200 years ago the founder of the original Latter Day Saints (Joseph Smith) had a 'revelation' that his 'church' should practice polygamy in the name of God. Looking back, it seems like he and his friends were making an excuse to get more women, including under-aged ones, into his bed by whatever means they could. Brigham Young continued this practice (How did they even named a University for him?) Finally one of Young's many, many wives divorced and denounced him, his practices, and polygamy (Anna Eliza Young). She left and then wrote "Wife Number 19" as a tell-all in 1876. Like "Briel," who tells her story in "Prisoner," Anna Eliza was expelled, denounced and shamed by the church. Finally multiple marriages were 'outlawed' in part as a result of those efforts, but this documentary clearly shows that 150 years later the practice still is flourishing -- along with the extreme damage it can do to those inside if they want out.
