True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days Overview

Group Name: True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (TLC)

Founder: James D. Harmston

Current Leader: Leadership structure may have evolved since the founder’s death, with current leadership details potentially varying.

Date Founded: 1994

Locations: Primarily based in Manti, Utah, with a smaller number of followers in various locations.

Characteristics:

• Group endorses non-orthodox theology: Yes, the TLC promotes doctrines and practices that diverge significantly from mainstream Mormonism and traditional Christianity, including the practice of polygamy and unique end-times prophecies.

• The Leader is an infallible authority: Yes, James D. Harmston was considered a prophet with infallible authority, and his teachings and directives were seen as divinely inspired and binding for members.

• Leadership seeks control over members’ activities, behaviors, and finances: Yes, the leadership exerted significant control over members’ lives, including their activities, behaviors, and financial contributions.

• Requires unquestioning faith and allegiance to the leader or group: Yes, members were expected to show unwavering faith and allegiance to James D. Harmston and the group’s teachings without question.

• Suppression of Critical Thinking: Yes, questioning the teachings or authority of James D. Harmston was strongly discouraged, and critical thinking that deviated from group doctrine was often suppressed.

• Intimidation, fear, and shame are used to control members: There have been reports of intimidation, fear, and shame being used to maintain control over members and enforce conformity to group beliefs and practices.

• Isolates or shuns former members, leading to loss of family connections and support: Yes, former members often experienced shunning and isolation from their families and social networks after leaving the group, resulting in significant personal and emotional hardship.

• Allegations of financial abuse and lack of transparency: There have been allegations of financial exploitation within the TLC, including pressure on members to make significant financial contributions, and a lack of transparency regarding the organization’s finances.

• Allegations of sexual misconduct: There have been some allegations of sexual misconduct involving James D. Harmston, including accusations related to the practice of polygamy and coercion of female members.

Narrative:

The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (TLC) was founded by James D. Harmston in 1994 in Manti, Utah. The group emerged as a splinter faction from mainstream Mormonism, promoting distinctive doctrines and practices that include the practice of polygamy and unique end-times prophecies.

James D. Harmston, the founder, was regarded as a prophet with infallible authority, and his teachings were considered divinely inspired and binding for members. The leadership of the TLC exerted significant control over the activities, behaviors, and financial contributions of its members, requiring unquestioning faith and allegiance to Harmston and the group’s doctrines.

Reports of intimidation, fear, and shame being used to maintain control within the TLC have surfaced, with former members often experiencing shunning and isolation from their families and social networks upon leaving the group. Allegations of financial abuse, including pressure to make significant contributions and a lack of transparency, have also been made against the organization.

Additionally, there have been allegations of sexual misconduct involving James D. Harmston, related to the practice of polygamy and the coercion of female members. Despite these controversies, the TLC has maintained a small but devoted following, primarily based in Manti, Utah.