This article discusses sexual abuse.
Before Trust Me: The False Prophet, there was Keep Sweet and Obey, a Netflix documentary chronicling the shocking rise and fall of Warren Jeffs, the self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). Sound familiar? It should, as Jeffs was the predecessor, albeit an unwilling one, to Samuel Bateman, the latest controversial leader of a radical FLDS sect.
To understand how Bateman was able to seize power, it’s crucial to grasp the legacy of Jeffs and the lasting damage he inflicted on his community. His imprisonment created a power vacuum and a fractured community, which is what initially drew cult expert Christine Marie and her husband, Tolga Katas, to Short Creek, Arizona. There, they worked to support survivors of Jeffs’ abuse and the vulnerable followers left without guidance.
Here’s everything you need to know about Warren Jeffs: his rise, his crimes, and where he is today.
Who is Warren Jeffs?
Warren Jeffs was born on December 3, 1955, and grew up just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, fully immersed in the FLDS faith. He later served as the principal of Alta Academy, a private FLDS school in the area.
His father, Rulon Jeffs, became the FLDS prophet in 1986, dissolving the church’s council and positioning himself as the sole leader. Warren, a premature baby who survived against the odds, was seen as the golden child and heir apparent.
When Rulon passed away in 2002, Warren declared himself his successor, claiming it was his father’s will. He resided in the FLDS community known as “Short Creek,” which spans Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. He also established the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas, enforcing strict rules on followers, including dictating clothing, toys for children, and banning television and internet access.
By 2018, The Guardian reported that Jeffs had “married” 80 women and children, though these unions were spiritual rather than legally recognised. Some of these marriages included his father’s former wives.
Legal troubles soon followed. His nephew, Brent Jeffs, publicly alleged that Warren had sexually abused him as a child. Two of Warren’s own children, who later left the FLDS, have since made similar accusations, highlighting a disturbing pattern of abuse within the leadership.
What happened to Warren Jeffs?
In 2005, Arizona authorities indicted Warren Jeffs on charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor. The following year, Utah charged him with two counts of rape as an accomplice for arranging a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin.
In 2006, Jeffs was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list and was arrested in August. He was convicted in Utah in 2007 of being an accessory to rape, but that conviction was later overturned. In 2008, a raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas uncovered evidence of Jeffs and his followers marrying underage girls, further intensifying legal scrutiny.
Jeffs went on trial in 2011 in Texas for two “celestial marriages”: one with a 12-year-old girl and another with a 15-year-old girl who later had his child. Both unions violated Texas law. He was found guilty on both counts of sexual assault and sentenced to life in prison, where he remains today.
Is Warren Jeffs dead?
Samuel Bateman’s teachings directly contradicted the final instructions Warren Jeffs left for his followers. For instance, Jeffs had prohibited new marriages and the birth of additional children, yet Bateman actively pursued both.
Trust Me: The False Prophet reveals that Bateman claimed Jeffs had actually died while in custody, alleging the government was falsely asserting he was alive and that Bateman was now channelling Jeffs’ authority.
There is no evidence to support Bateman’s claims. Recorded documentation confirms that Warren Jeffs is very much alive, though still incarcerated.
She brought down Samuel Bateman.
Where is Warren Jeffs now?
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate database, Warren Jeffs is currently serving his sentence at the Louis C. Powledge Unit in unincorporated Anderson County, Texas. He was transferred there in August 2011 following his conviction.
Jeffs does not have a projected release date and will not be eligible for parole until July 22, 2038.
Reports indicate that Jeffs has faced serious health challenges while incarcerated. In 2007, he reportedly attempted suicide by hanging. In 2011, he was hospitalised for pneumonia after participating in a three-day fast, highlighting the ongoing struggles he has faced behind bars.
Does Warren Jeffs still have followers?
In March 2016, the Deseret News reported that Warren Jeffs sometimes receives more than 1,000 letters per day from FLDS members. Each letter must be opened and inspected by prison staff before he can read it.
Many FLDS members continue to regard Jeffs as their prophet and adhere to his teachings. According to A&E, prison officials have suspected that Jeffs’ brothers used hidden recording devices, disguised as everyday items like watches and pens, to capture weekly meetings with him. Jeffs was also believed to have written coded letters, which were intercepted and deciphered by followers, including some of his wives.
Despite attempts to control his communications, Jeffs was linked to a 2022 written edict. Purportedly authored by Jeffs and distributed by his son Helaman Jeffs, the document urged former members to return to the faith and hinted at Jeffs’s eventual release. “Pray that Warren Jeffs will go free, and he can meet you in your congregations soon, all peoples who desire to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on earth,” it stated, according to Fox 13.
The man behind the sinister cult.
Do you need to watch Keep Sweet and Obey to understand Trust Me: The False Prophet?
Both documentaries are directed by Rachel Dretzin and are set in Short Creek, Arizona. Keep Sweet and Obey chronicles the rise and fall of Warren Jeffs, while Trust Me: The False Prophet focuses on cult expert Christine Marie coming to assist members of Jeffs’s following after his incarceration. The power vacuum left by Jeffs is what ultimately allows Samuel Bateman to rise to power.
That said, as long as you understand who Warren Jeffs is and why he held such influence within the community, you don’t need to watch Keep Sweet and Obey first. Although we’ll add that if you haven’t seen it, it’s an absolutely gripping Netflix documentary series!
Watch Trust Me: The False Prophet on Netflix.
For more information about reporting and recovering from rape and sexual abuse, you can contact Rape Crisis on 0808 500 2222.
If you have been sexually assaulted, you can find your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre here. You can also find support at your local GP, voluntary organisations such as Rape Crisis, Women's Aid, and Victim Support, and you can report it to the police (if you choose) here.
