Parents' Guide to

Breaking the Faith

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

FLDS-centered docudrama includes intense histories of abuse.

TV TLC Reality TV 2013
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What's the Story?

BREAKING THE FAITH is a docudrama that centers on a group of young women attempting to leave their polygamist community and restart their lives. Martha, Angie, Valarie, Linda, and Connie are living in Short Creek, a Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS) Church community along the Arizona-Utah border that is controlled by the now-incarcerated Warren Jeffs. With the help of some "lost boys," (young men who left or were expelled from the church), including Warren Jeffs' young adult nephews Zach and Matt, they escape from their homes and are united with former FLDS member and child welfare activist Carolyn Jessop, who then tries to help them transition into the "gentile" world. Trying to adjust to life outside of the FLDS isn't easy, especially when they are coping with the knowledge that they may never see their families again, and live in fear of the "God Squad," or church authorities trying to find them. They must also come to terms with the challenges being opposed to the faith they've been raised in.
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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Breaking the Faith offers a voyeuristic look into the FLDS lifestyle, the conservative and restrictive nature of which is discussed by the cast members that have been kicked out of, escaped from, or who are trying to leave the community. Some of the Church's most controversial activities (many of which are illegal in the mainstream world), are also highlighted. With the help of pictures, archived footage, and recordings of Warren Jeffs and fellow church leaders, many of the psychological fears former FLDS members live with are also underscored.

Despite some contrived, overdramatic moments, the stories being told here make it easy to root for these young people and their effort to live a freer, happier life that includes things ranging from wearing make up and going on vacation to drinking beer. They also reveal some very troubled young people, most of whom are struggling to find some sort of self-identity as they find themselves caught between two very different worlds.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the FLDS. What exactly is it? What is the difference between the FLDS church and the LDS (Mormon) church? Why is there so much controversy surrounding this church? What are some of the stereotypes that exist about it? How does the media portray the FLDS and its members? Do you think these characterizations are fair?

  • How real do you think some of the dramatic events that take place on this show are? Did they unfold in front of cameras, or were they based on actual events and staged for entertainment purposes?

TV Details

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