Why Are So Many MONSTERS Coming Out of The LDS Church?
Nov 03, 2023, 11:00 PM
Have you ever wondered why there seems to be a disproportionate number of cases involving members of the LDS Church, both current and former, who have been accused of serious crimes? This issue has been brought up multiple times on the podcast "Hidden Killers" with Tony Brueski. In a recent episode, Brueski sat down with author and former defense attorney Lori Hellis to discuss the troubling trend of fantastical thinking within the LDS community, which in some cases, has led to heinous crimes.
Hellis explains that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which claims 17 million members worldwide, is separate from the 70 to 80 splinter organizations that still follow the teachings of Joseph Smith. However, what is more concerning, according to Hellis, is the movement within the mainstream LDS Church of faithful members who subscribe to end times philosophies. This movement gained momentum in 2012 with the publication of the book “Visions of Glory,” which has created a groundswell of end times believers.
"The church is very much not just a faith, but it’s also a culture and a very insulated culture," Hellis notes. This insulation, she argues, makes it easier for members to buy into the belief that they are God’s chosen people and that the end times are near. Hellis suggests that this could lead to more cases like Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell, who believed they were called by God to lead the 144,000 and took drastic measures in the name of their beliefs.
Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were involved in a series of events that resulted in the deaths of Lori’s two children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, as well as Chad’s previous wife, Tammy Daybell. The couple’s beliefs in end times and their supposed divine missions were central to the investigation, with Lori believing that her children had become zombies and needed to die to be freed from their possessed states.
Hellis posits that while Lori and Chad’s belief system was on the extreme end of the spectrum, they were part of a much larger movement within the LDS Church. She goes on to suggest that we may see a major schism within the church in the next decade due to these extremist beliefs.
The conversation also touches on the recent cases of Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke, and the abduction of young Blaise Thibodeau, all of which have connections to the end times movement within the LDS community. Hellis points out that many of these cases are interconnected with the LDS mental health system, raising concerns about the church’s role and responsibility in these incidents.
Hellis does not want to denigrate the LDS Church, acknowledging that there are many faithful members who thrive in the church’s community. However, she emphasizes the need for accountability within the church, urging those who are faithful to the church to stand up and speak out against these extremist beliefs.
"I think it’s incumbent on those people who are faithful to the church to stand up and say, this is not what we believe and this is not what we condone," Hellis states.
Brueski agrees, adding that it is crucial for members of any organization to take action if they notice something wrong. "Stand up if something’s wrong, raise your hand and work to fix it," he urges.
The conversation between Brueski and Hellis sheds light on a concerning trend within the LDS community, prompting important questions about the role of religious beliefs in violent crimes and the responsibility of religious communities to prevent these beliefs from turning deadly. As the episode draws to a close, one can't help but ponder: How can a faith community balance respecting individual beliefs while also preventing those beliefs from spiraling into dangerous fanaticism?
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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Hellis explains that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which claims 17 million members worldwide, is separate from the 70 to 80 splinter organizations that still follow the teachings of Joseph Smith. However, what is more concerning, according to Hellis, is the movement within the mainstream LDS Church of faithful members who subscribe to end times philosophies. This movement gained momentum in 2012 with the publication of the book “Visions of Glory,” which has created a groundswell of end times believers.
"The church is very much not just a faith, but it’s also a culture and a very insulated culture," Hellis notes. This insulation, she argues, makes it easier for members to buy into the belief that they are God’s chosen people and that the end times are near. Hellis suggests that this could lead to more cases like Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell, who believed they were called by God to lead the 144,000 and took drastic measures in the name of their beliefs.
Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were involved in a series of events that resulted in the deaths of Lori’s two children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, as well as Chad’s previous wife, Tammy Daybell. The couple’s beliefs in end times and their supposed divine missions were central to the investigation, with Lori believing that her children had become zombies and needed to die to be freed from their possessed states.
Hellis posits that while Lori and Chad’s belief system was on the extreme end of the spectrum, they were part of a much larger movement within the LDS Church. She goes on to suggest that we may see a major schism within the church in the next decade due to these extremist beliefs.
The conversation also touches on the recent cases of Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke, and the abduction of young Blaise Thibodeau, all of which have connections to the end times movement within the LDS community. Hellis points out that many of these cases are interconnected with the LDS mental health system, raising concerns about the church’s role and responsibility in these incidents.
Hellis does not want to denigrate the LDS Church, acknowledging that there are many faithful members who thrive in the church’s community. However, she emphasizes the need for accountability within the church, urging those who are faithful to the church to stand up and speak out against these extremist beliefs.
"I think it’s incumbent on those people who are faithful to the church to stand up and say, this is not what we believe and this is not what we condone," Hellis states.
Brueski agrees, adding that it is crucial for members of any organization to take action if they notice something wrong. "Stand up if something’s wrong, raise your hand and work to fix it," he urges.
The conversation between Brueski and Hellis sheds light on a concerning trend within the LDS community, prompting important questions about the role of religious beliefs in violent crimes and the responsibility of religious communities to prevent these beliefs from turning deadly. As the episode draws to a close, one can't help but ponder: How can a faith community balance respecting individual beliefs while also preventing those beliefs from spiraling into dangerous fanaticism?
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com