Prophet's Prey by Sam Brower Summary

Prophet's Prey chronicles private investigator Sam Brower’s seven-year probe into Warren Jeffs and the FLDS Church, exposing systemic child abuse, polygamy, and financial crimes. The book details Brower’s efforts to dismantle Jeffs’ authoritarian control, including unearthing Jeffs’ hidden journal, which revealed his justification for underage marriages and delusional religious mandates.

True crime enthusiasts, readers interested in religious extremism, and legal professionals will find this book gripping. It offers a firsthand account of dismantling a dangerous cult and explores themes of power abuse, making it valuable for those studying manipulative leadership or advocating for victims of systemic abuse.

Yes—Brower’s insider perspective and meticulous documentation of Jeffs’ crimes provide a chilling yet vital exposé. The narrative blends investigative rigor with human stories, making it both educational and emotionally impactful for understanding the complexities of prosecuting religiously shielded crimes.

• Abuse of power: Jeffs’ manipulation of followers through fear and divine claims.
• Legal challenges: Difficulties in prosecuting crimes within insular religious groups.
• Survivor resilience: Stories of escaped FLDS members rebuilding their lives

Brower tracked FLDS financial networks, gathered victim testimonies, and collaborated with law enforcement. His breakthrough came from locating Jeffs’ hidden journal in an underground vault, which provided evidence of child marriages and Jeffs’ self-proclaimed prophetic authority.

• “The Lord will have me do this…”: Jeffs’ twisted rationale for marrying underage girls
• “I am the key, the holder of the priesthood…”: Highlights his delusional grandiosity and control over followers

Unlike Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven, which examines broader Mormon fundamentalism, Brower’s book focuses on Jeffs’ criminal empire and the painstaking investigation that toppled him, offering a procedural angle to the FLDS narrative.

Some reviewers note the graphic descriptions of abuse could be triggering. Others highlight Brower’s outsider perspective, which—while thorough—lacks firsthand accounts from FLDS women who endured Jeffs’ regime.

The book remains a cautionary tale about unchecked religious authority and systemic child abuse, issues still prevalent in extremist groups worldwide. Its insights into legal strategies against powerful institutions make it a resource for activists and policymakers.

Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison for child sexual assault in 2011. The case spurred reforms in prosecuting polygamist groups and increased scrutiny on isolated religious communities.

As a Mormon-raised private investigator, Brower understood FLDS theology but rejected its extremism. This dual perspective helped him gain informants’ trust while maintaining objectivity about the sect’s crimes.

Brower discovered Jeffs’ personal priesthood journal in a buried vault, containing explicit directives for underage marriages and self-aggrandizing prophecies. This journal became crucial evidence in court.