“Breaking the Faith” (premiering Sun. Nov. 24 at 10:00 p.m. on TLC) isn’t just about a group of young people trying to start new lives — it’s about how (and if) they do that after escaping the controversial Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a cult run by convicted felon Warren Jeffs. Jeffs is serving a life sentence for child sexual assault (he’s said to have 78 wives, 24 of whom were underage when he married them), but he’s reportedly still the president of the organization. In this exclusive clip, watch what happens one day before “extraction,” which aptly describes what it takes to get people out of this cult.
The FLDS religion (which has nothing to do with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, despite the similarity in the names) remains one of the most secretive communities in America. It’s a world of unquestioned authority, arranged marriage, and little contact to the outside world. With an estimated 10,000 followers of the church, no series has fully explored the experiences of individuals who choose to leave the compound – until now. “Breaking the Faith” shares the story of nine young men and women who are trying to build a new life outside of the FLDS – either by choice, or by force.
The young men are cast-outs not welcome to return to their homes, while the women are escaping the controlling ways of the cult and hoping for a better life on the outside. Leaving a life where every decision was made for them, they are now faced with making life-altering decisions and dealing with the challenges of living in a world where they are responsible for every decision they do make. Though they”ll finally experience freedom, it comes with the fear that retribution for leaving the compound will come without warning.
Will you watch “Breaking the Faith”?