This week the Oprah Winfrey Network threw down it’s second powerful documentary into their OWN Doc Club. Jennilyn Merten and Tyler Measom of Left Turn Films take us behind the eyes of three teenage boys, Sam, Bruce and Joe, as they struggled to find their place in a strange new world in the film “Sons of Perdition”. This isn’t the first time members of the FLDS (Fundamental Latter Day Saints) have been in the news. They are best known as the religious sect that is run by Warren Jeffs (their Prophet) near the border of Utah and Arizona on a compound referred to as the “Crick”. Living life at the will of the Prophet, having multiple wives, no outside influences, lack of formal education or social interactions and young girls married off at the age of 14 are common in the lives of those who live on the Crick. Although Jeffs is currently serving time in prison, he still keeps his fist over the members…but not everyone is happy.

This eye-opening film’s three year journey chronicled exiled members as they tried to make sense of their new world. You see…while living in the Crick, there was structure, they lived by a code and everyone had a specific purpose and duty. They were taught to believe that if they left, they were “Sons of Perdition” and condemned to hell. When they did find the courage to run, most exiles didn’t run far….only to St. George which is about 30 miles from Colorado City and their families. Many would believe that getting out was the hardest part, but in truth it appeared that staying away was far more difficult.

In an ideal world, these children would escape (preferably with their mothers and fathers) and counseling and a support group would be waiting for them. What I seemed to notice the most was that these kids had very few people who knew what they needed. Although Jeremy and Sharla Johnson did try to provide a home for the boys, something was missing. You could see it when Sam meet with a potential adoptive family who through locked arms tried to make themselves comfortable. However during the meeting their eyes were shifting, their arms were crossed, and they couldn’t have been more rigid. Making him aware that they hadn’t made any decisions and that he wasn’t “on trial” (sure seemed like an inquisition though), it couldn’t have been any clearer they weren’t ready to open their home or arms to a kid who truly needed a family. Sam, a brother to ten siblings, wasn’t going to be trusted with their kids….not exactly welcoming words. The one thing he craved the most was family and it was clear he wasn’t going to be a part of theirs.

For me, this film really touched on all of the holes these kids kept falling through. Once they literally ran from the cult that trapped so many, they found themselves without a home, money, support, a mom, dad, family or even a religion to fall on for hope. On top of that, they had no real education or idea of what to expect. Their “earth” had changed.

At first the freedom was great with no prophet or parents….color my hair, cut my hair, listen to music and watch TV, drink and take drugs (they already thought they were going to hell). Freedom! Then the party got ugly. Depression, drinking and drugs…not a good mix. The drugs got so bad when living with the Johnsons, they were all asked to leave. Drugs can’t be an option in a home with small children. That is totally understandable. While living there, they were able to see what life can offer and how fun it can be, but it didn’t appear they were given any additional tools to deal with what they had endured. Not that it was anyone’s place to do this for them….I just feel bad. These kids needed therapy and deprogramming. Once surrounded by more siblings that you can count on both hands, multiple mothers and a community of like-minded people, they were now all alone. Their mothers had to sign papers for them to even be able to attend a school, and some didn’t even get that. All of them were lonely. So….there they were. Once with a rigid purpose and place in life and now without ANY direction or guidance. Just lost.

The film held a constant theme of trying to rescue Joe’s family. First the mom and five siblings, then his sister, Hillary, who was 14 and in danger of being married off, then an older sister, Sabrina….most of which were dragged back under pressure from the father. Clearly the families had a hold on all of them…even those who escaped. Think about it. How do you walk away and leave EVERYONE you love behind? For a mother to escape, she knows her children would be alone. And then there are the other relationships she has formed. With the cult so enmeshed, you can’t help but fear what will happen to those you leave behind. I think this is what ultimately traps most of the women and children. In the end, Joe was able to help his mother and all of his siblings get out…for good.

When watching the film, I struggled with what needed to be done for these exiles. They need therapy, an education, a healthier sense of religion, a place to sleep, food to eat, clothes to wear, jobs, encouragement and HOPE….just to start. Then my 12 year old nephew put it best “I couldn’t believe this is going on in our country. Why hasn’t the judicial system taken care of this? Why are we letting this happen? It seems like we don’t care.” I started to rebut the statement with all that we have done…trying to defend the process and how we are careful about others rights and so on. But in truth, there was no real good response. He was right. At 12 he knew, just as we all do. Now the question is what can are we going to do about it?