Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story (2025 Lifetime Movie)
📺. Stream/Watch the Movie (Ad): Watch Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story
Cast: Britt Robertson, Kaitlyn Bernard, Michael Eklund
Director: Ali Liebert
Writer(s): TBA
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
Rachel endured years of trauma. Subjected to her father’s manipulation and abuse, Rachel navigated a maze of twisted “purity tests” and psychological games. When she finally spoke out, she faced disbelief and further isolation.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Rachel Jeffs is with her husband on his wedding night, and before they consummate the marriage, he asks if she knows what that means. Rachel says her father taught her. He instructed her on how to be a good wife. (UGH! No!)
In 1991, in Utah, on the compound of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a young Rachel is putting her soul at risk by showing her arms and talking about TV. Rachel and her sister Becky are devout followers of their religion.
Mother Barbara notices something is off with little Becky after she is punished by Warren Jeffs in vile, manipulative, and abusive ways. He tells his young girl to be sweet and obey. Rachel explains to Mother Barbara that she is just tired from praying too hard, not being abused by her father. Rachel tells her mother, but Mother Barbara turns a blind eye.
Flashforward eight years later, Rachel plays the fiddle and finds her voice speaking up against her father when he beats the younger girls with a yardstick. She is more of a mother than Mother Barbara and writes notes begging Warren Jeffs to stop his abuse. He begs her to repent with him, and it is extremely disturbing. Warren Jeffs can’t have his older daughters causing a revolt, so he arranges to marry them off. He tells them that wives are the property of their husbands.
Rachel hopes her new marriage will be an escape from her father, and her new husband, Rich, isn’t as controlling; however, he does have multiple wives. The sister wives don’t like Rachel because she is a nepo baby. Rich confronts Warren about the abuse, and Warren asks him to forgive him.
Then Warren gets promoted to the head of the church when the prophet dies. Warren marries some of his father’s wives and tells Mother Barbara to pray away her cancer. Then he gets up and moves to Texas, taking everyone with him, except Rachel, Becky, and Mother Barbara. The husbands, Rich and David, are upset their families aren’t worthy to join the land of refuge.
Warren ends up on the FBI’s most wanted list and discusses another land of refuge in South Dakota. He demands that his followers cut themselves off from the Gentiles, build a compound, or their families will be broken up and given to more worthy male followers. (Becky and her family are among those affected.)
At Mother Barbara’s funeral, Warren makes it all about himself and says God gave Mother Barbara to punish her. He also says multiple women can lie in his bed at night to comfort the “grieving” widower. God told him that it is cool, so it’s all good!! (But it is not.)
Rachel has a miscarriage, and her sister wives think she is doing it to get attention from Rich. Rachel asks Rich to stand up for her and her children. She is punished for speaking up, Warren sends them to Las Vegas, and they stay in a house to hide. They aren’t there long before Warren is arrested for soliciting underage marriage.
In 2008, the sister wives and Rachel get word that their punishment is over. Rich also has a new wife, who is sixteen.
In 2013, the prophet sent some weird revelations from jail. Drink water every 30 mins, cook with no seasoning, and no hugging children. He also sends Becky to a house alone because her former husband, David, is taking legal action to gain custody of their children. Warren also sends Rich away. The rules are arbitrary and extreme. It is merely an effort to exert power and control over his followers from a distance, and it is effective.
Rachel’s children are taken away, and she is sent to live in hiding alone. Rachel prays to God for help, and she tries to escape the compound and save her children. Her sister wives allow Rachel to see their mother, but are sure to tell Rachel they aren’t her kids, but Rich’s. Rachel decides to speak out against Warren.
When Warren finds out that Rachel is going to the press, he gives her back her children but locks them in their house.
Becky eventually breaks out and finds her sister. They realize that they were both abused at the hands of their father. The sisters work together to break free because no one is going to save them or their children. Becky gets out, wears a sleeveless shirt, and drives on the compound to help Rachel escape. They drive off with the kids! LETS GO!
Mother Barbara’s mother takes in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They spend a day at the beach and look forward to their lives free from the clutches of their psycho father.
STRAY Thoughts
Warren Jeffs received a life sentence plus 20 years and is not eligible for parole until July 22, 2038
The Polygamist sect leader was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting two underage followers he took as brides.
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints leader was handed the maximum sentence possible.
Me being shocked this is so current, but also, watching Sister Wives on TLC.
Overall rating
Number of Kills: None, but someone should kill Warren Jeffs in prison.
Lifetime Tropes: True Story, Ripped from the headlines,
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷🍷🍷 (Glass of Wine)
Should you watch it?
Pour it up! (Check it out!)
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*Photo Credit: © 2025 A&E Television Networks, LLC
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