"Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey" directed by Rachel Dretzin is a documentary series spanning four episodes. It delves into the world of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), shedding light on the lives of its members. This paper argues how religious teachings continue to affect people's actions even after they leave the religion, showing how deeply ingrained those beliefs are. Through personal stories and different themes, the film reveals how religious ideas affect ex-members' mental health, relationships, and freedom. Within the first episode of the documentary series, the film explores the current leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) and the unique upbringing experienced by its members within …show more content…
The members that will be mentioned throughout the paper are Alica (one of LeRoy Jeff’s wives), Elissa (one of Rulon Jeff’s wives), Wallace Jeffs (the son of the prophet Wallace Jeffs), and Myrna (one of Rulon Jeff’s wives). During this time Warren Jeff's sermons became “so scary” which is how Alicia, one of his 32 wives, describes them. The sermons would always include the main topics of fire, damnation, and Joe Smith's dreams that would visually describe death. Warren also told them that the world would end, if the Olympics came to Salt Lake City. They were compelled to relocate to Short Creek when the Olympics arrived in February 2002. Wallace Jeffs says, “I believe that Warren (the prophet), thought I needed to gather and relocate the people into one place so that I could control them better.” This illustrates how gullible the community was to Warren sermons that they sold their homes, businesses, and jobs to follow Warren and the chance of making it into the celestial kingdom. Their God did not appear once the Olympics were
The Seven Five is a documentary that frivolously reexamines the crimes of Officer Michael Dowd and his team of dirty cops. Dowd is a former New York police officer who was stationed in the 75th Precinct in Eastern New York. The film presents the nefarious deeds of these officers via original interviews with Dowd and his former comrades as they recount their crimes and explain the reasoning behind their unethical behaviors. While working as a cop, he embellished his income through criminal exploits which include stealing guns, drugs, money, and eventually he began working in drug rings selling cocaine. Dowd’s felonious activities were extremely lucrative and earned him approximately $4,000 a week. Dowd was eventually arrested in 1992,
Roberts, B. H.. A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City; Bookcraft, 1957.
Moore does not devote much of his attention to religious ideas. Instead, he examines several different instances of the blending of the sacred and the profane in popular American culture. Moore narrates the direct and indirect effects of the public display of religion for both sacreds and seculars. History, lifestyle, work, education, government, music, sporting events, marketplace, literature, and womanhood influence people. He also brings up how religion can influence racial militancy and terrorism that threaten equality, domestic security, and national identity.
Scott, Donald. "Mormonism and the American Mainstream." Teacher Serve. National Humanities Center, Aug. 2004. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. .
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly known as the FLDS Church, was officially formed in 1990 by Warren Jeffs. Ho...
Terry Tempest Williams is fully aware that she is contradicting the church when she writes “women have no outward authority,” yet she still chooses to take part in a ritual of healing that can only be performed by the men. Williams, however, does so in privacy and in the “secrecy of the sisterhood.” The word secrecy hints at the idea of doing something which is not accepted and against certain beliefs of today’s church. She was born and raised in a home of devout Mormons who follow the traditional beliefs of their faith. She acknowledges that the Mormon Church places great importance on obedience. In college she began to question her faith and today would not consider herself an “orthodox Mormon,” although Mormonism still has an impact in her life and work. In her writing, Williams continually contradicts the values of the Mormons.
With the advancements in the study of social sciences, there has been a somewhat parallel growth of cults which though have their foundations in the original Bible and the Christian teachings, yet one may observe that the majority of the present day cults not only deny the essential doctrines, they openly emphasize and present their own personal reinterpretations of the biblical scriptures. The following paper will present two such cases, those of Christian Science and the Mormons, and strive to present some of the comparative elements, their beliefs, customs, religious ceremonies and leadership aspects.
Singular, Stephen. When Men Become Gods: Mormon Polygamist Warren Jeffs, His cult of Fear, and the Women Who Fought Back. Macmillan, 2009.
The subject of LDS women suffering from depression is a thorny matter; the LDS community bristles at its mention while many women feel the grip of the icy fingers of depression grow increasingly tighter. “In any dominant culture, particularly a religious one,” Dickey speculates, “there’s a lot of striving for an ideal that’s often unobtainable, whether it’s a spiritual one or has to do with lifestyle. The body needs an escape valve.” In most cases, the women suffering from depression don’t have an escape valve, let alone any idea of where to find one, instead they often self-destruct with prescription drugs.
As a young child, Williams was taught through the Mormon teachings to appreciate nature and family, finding God in both. It is through her Mormon faith that Williams is able to survive the pain, suffering and fear cancer causes her. Williams describes the deep-rooted connection between her Mormon faith and her family in the opening pages of Refuge. Through her family, Williams supported her mother and grandmother through their fatal cancers, while acknowledging that her Mormon faith stresses family and community (Williams 13). This provided Williams, her mother and her grandmother with a support network through these difficult times.
Walker, Joseph. "LDS Christianity: Differences That Matter." Deseret News [Salt Lake City] 27 Nov. 2011. Print.
Cults are dangerous institutions that have existed for many years, corrupting and reforming the minds of innocent people into believing outrageous doctrines that eventually result in disaster. Horrifying cases involving men such as Charles Manson, Jim Jones and David Koresh have bewildered people and raise the question: how could individuals be easily susceptible to the teachings of these men, so influenced that masses go as far as to commit the unthinkable? Individuals who are in a vulnerable position in search for an identity are attracted to cults because they offer a sense of belonging. In addition, isolation from society contributes to the functioning of a cult for it creates an atmosphere where submissiveness and obedience runs high. These two factors seem to hold true for one of the most notorious cults currently established in the United States and Canada. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or, FLDS, is an international polygamist sect that incorporates belonging and isolation along with a dangerous mentality that have resulted in the abuse of women and children in the name of God.
"Growth of the Church - LDS Newsroom." LDS News | Mormon News - Official Newsroom of the Church. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. .
“History of Fundamentalist Mormons.” Wheat & Tares. Wheat and Tares, 2011. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. .
The movie “Glory” tells the history and the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. It became the first black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War. The Regiment was made up of black soldiers – some were Northern freemen, some were escaped slaves. The leader was General Robert Gould Shaw, the son of Boston abolitionists. The men of the 54th Regiment proved themselves worthy of the freedom for which they fighting, and the respect of their fellow white soldiers.