Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 47
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Safe Haven for the Abused
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has called for the establishment of a safe haven for
underage brides and abused children in Colorado City, since ―the nearest (Child Protective
Services) station is 30 miles away, and that‘s unconscionable given what we know today.‖
Goddard said the recent conviction of Deputy Marshal Rodney Home for bigamy and sex
with a minor sent a message. ―A lot of what was supposed to be protective armor in that
part of the world has been chipped away. Freedom of religion does not protect you from tax
evasion, welfare fraud, and child abuse."
Many in the town are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, which practices polygamy. A church attorney said the safe haven idea is silly,
and that people in Colorado City, which is admittedly isolated, can come and go as they
please. He said Goddard was "trying to set up police like an occupying army.‖ (Beth
DeFalco, AP in Casper Star Tribune, Internet, 10/29/03)
Underground Railway for Child Brides
People once associated with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints have founded ―Help the Child Brides,‖ an organization devoted to assisting young
girls to escape arranged marriages to older men in the polygamous sect. Bob Curran, of St.
George, UT, describes the church as ―a country within a country. Where there was once
religion, sadly it has degenerated to sex, power and money.‖ He added that authorities have
been lax in prosecuting underage marriage, incest, and white slavery. (Kingman Daily
Miner, Internet, 5/15/03)
General Assembly and Church of the First Born
Third Child Dies from Lack of Medical Care
The Tulare, CA, County District Attorney has filed charges of involuntary manslaughter and
child abuse against Wesley and LaRonda Hamm following the death of their 10-year-old
daughter, Jessica, who died while suffering from flu-like symptoms, without medical care.
The Hamms join fellow members of the General Assembly and Church of the First Born
in shunning physicians in favor of prayer.
Jessica is the third of the Hamm‘s children to die of illness without medical intervention —
the first died when they lived in Arkansas, the second when they resided in Indiana.
Authorities are trying to decide whether or not to remove the three remaining children from
the Hamm home for their own safety. The church has 60 families in Tulare County and
some 10,000 nationwide, according to the Hamms‘ attorney.
The Assistant DA says religious belief is not a defense against the charges, as it is in some
states. ―In California, parents have an obligation to provide for their children the basics of
living — food, shelter and care, including medical care.‖ (Tim Sheehan, Fresno Bee,
Internet, 10/3/03)
God’s Creation Outreach Ministry
Mother Pleads Guilty in Death of Son
Christy Edgar, on trial with her husband Neil for abusing and killing their 9-year-old son,
Brian, pleaded guilty in court to felony first-degree murder even as her lawyer urged her not
to do so. A week later, the jury found Neil Edgar and babysitter Chastity Boyd also guilty of
the crime. Brian choked to death on his own vomit after a sock was stuffed in his mouth and
he was wrapped like a mummy in duct tape. Witnesses testified that Brian and two adopted

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 48
children were routinely tied up for minor transgressions such as talking back to adults and
taking candy without permission.
The Edgars founded the now defunct God’s Creation Outreach Ministry, in Kansas City,
and married when she was 15 and he 17. She is reputed to have been a charismatic leader.
Both she and Boyd, along with five other women, still face child abuse charges dating to
their time in God‘s Creation Outreach Ministry.
Neil Edgar defended himself saying he left discipline to his wife and that he would have
stopped her from going as far as she allegedly did if he had seen what was happening.
The defense spoke of how Christy Edgar was considered a prophet, and manipulated Boyd,
a church member since the age of eight, into ―believing she was doing what God Almighty
wanted.‖ Boyd‘s lawyer described her as a 20-year old woman who functions like a 12-year-
old. A former church member said Christy Edgar told them that the idea of binding as
punishment had come to her from God. It was, the lawyer said, a ―classic situation of
brainwashing.‖
Prosecutors did not allege that Brian was intentionally killed, but that the defendants were
guilty of first degree murder because the child died during an act of child abuse. The
prosecution wanted the jury to consider a charge for less serious crimes, but the judge
refused. (Tony Rizzo, Kansas City Star, Internet, 9/19 and 9/26/03)
House of Prayer
Leader Arrested
House of Prayer leader the Rev. Arthur Allen, Jr., convicted of child cruelty, has been
sentenced to two years in prison for violating his earlier probation sentence. Allen was
recently arrested after eluding authorities for five months following his failure to attend a
hearing to determine if his probation should have been revoked.
Allen and two other church members were convicted last year of cruelty to children in the
beatings of two young boys in the congregation. He was sentenced to 90-days in jail and 10
years‘ probation but refused to attend anger management counseling and objected to a
court order to stop whipping children with a belt. [Allen says that the harsh discipline he
metes out is biblically sanctioned.] (Saeed Ahmed, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Internet,
8/19/03 AP, Internet, 8/25/03)
Kabbalah Centre
Called Authoritarian
The Kabbalah Centre, which popularizes the Jewish mystical discipline of kabbalah, and
includes among its adepts a number of well-known entertainers and Hollywood
personalities, is being accused by critics of high-pressure solicitations, ostracizing members
who fall out of favor, and even undermining personal relationships.
The singer Madonna says that kabbalah — which purports to teach anyone how the spiritual
and physical laws of the universe work so that ―you will achieve greater harmony and
balance, and ultimately gain more control over what happens to you — is ―very punk rock.
It teaches that you are responsible for everything.‖
Marsha Tantros, 60, a retired mortgage broker from Media, PA, tells how she meditated on
the names of God in kabbalah's mystical book, the Zohar, for insight into her bad feelings
about an acquaintance. ―I was able to be detached,‖ she said, ―and get an ‗aha‘ moment,
and release [the feelings]. I really feel that the [Hebrew] letters [in the Zohar] are alive.‖
Another student told how her business improved when she took a Centre course on
―increasing prosperity.‖ Berg claims that kabbalah study can ensure good health.