1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: Before we jump in, we must warn you this episode 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: contains explicit content, such as sexual abuse that may be 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: disturbing some people. Listener discretion is advised. Samuel was born 4 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: on February fourteenth, nineteen thirty seven, and he was. 5 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 2: Dead ikwandn Fevrero was Nosletikavan in his Historia Nasim. 6 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 3: At that very moment, Aaron took him into his arms 7 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 3: and presented him to God, and the child came back 8 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:38,279 Speaker 3: to life. 9 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: Sharimbusman remembers hearing the stories of the apostle Samuel's miraculous 10 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: rebirths many times over while growing up in a luzel 11 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: Mundo lo. 12 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 4: Que. 13 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 3: We're also told that on another occasion, Samuel fell into 14 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 3: a well died and when they lifted him out of 15 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 3: the well, he came back to life. 16 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: Samuel's rebirths were just one of the many miracles the 17 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: apostles of laluzel Mundo were blessed with. There were visions 18 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: of paradise, prophetic dreams, and special protection from evil, the 19 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: devil and sin. But miracles didn't just happen to the apostles. 20 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: They could also perform them, like the time Sachill Martin's 21 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: aunt drank bleach as a young girl. 22 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 5: My grandmother starts to flip out and she tells my 23 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 5: grandfather and he's like, no, we take her to the 24 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 5: emergency room, and she's like no, no, no, We're going 25 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 5: to take her to the Apostle of Jesus Christ and 26 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,199 Speaker 5: he's going to bring her back to life. 27 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: The Apostle heal her with prayer. The Apostles prayers are 28 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: considered the source of all blessings for the flock. If 29 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: you have a good job, it's the Apostles prayers. If 30 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: you have healthy children, it's the Apostles prayers. If you 31 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: have good sex, it's the Apostles prayers. This belief in 32 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: the Apostles miracles among LDM members is so strong that 33 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: when Samuel finally did die at the age of seventy seven, 34 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: followers like Sharimgu's Man refused to believe it. 35 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 2: Uduela and what did those basis and isidia. 36 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 3: To us? Samuell held over He come back from the 37 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 3: dead twice, so the day he died, the hope was 38 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 3: that he would come back to life just as Jesus 39 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 3: Christ had. Popo were jumping to their own conclusions about 40 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 3: how he could return and some even offered the lives 41 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 3: of their own children in exchange for a minute of 42 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,639 Speaker 3: Samuel's life. 43 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: The believers waited days, even weeks for Simul to rise again. 44 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: Believers sprayed on the floor of the temple next to 45 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: the coffin. They cried underneath the church at the entrance 46 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: of his mausoleum. His presence had become so towering, so 47 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 1: all encompassing. They could not believe he was just gone. 48 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: If Jesus had resurrected, why not, some weel he was, 49 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: after all, the closest thing to God on earth. The 50 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: special connection between the Apostles and God, that God himself 51 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: had chosen them and would allow his might to flow 52 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 1: through them, was used to first gain followers, then keep 53 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: their hold over the congregation. It was the founding myth 54 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: of Laluzelmundo. If you are not inside the church, the 55 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 1: miracles sound fake phony, easily dismissed. But when you live 56 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: in the world of Laluzelmundo and believe in the Apostle, 57 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: these miracles and the apostles divinity are very very real. 58 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: This is Sacred Scandal season two. Lalus del Mundo and 59 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: I'm Robert Garza, L luzel Mundo is not just a church, 60 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: as we learned in previous episodes. It's a powerful and 61 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: powerfully corrupt transnational institution with strong connections to Mexico's political elite. 62 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 1: This episode explores how the church gained so much power, money, 63 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 1: and influence, one miracle at a time. This is episode 64 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: three the election. LLDM had humble beginnings before the apostle 65 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: was named. At on, he was known as Yusebio Jua, 66 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: King Gonzalez, a foot soldier in revolutionary Mexico, living with 67 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: his young bride, Elisa, in Monterey. We'll hear more about 68 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 1: Elisa later. The couple had recently converted from Catholicism to 69 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: Evangelical Christianity after meeting a pair of wandering preachers who 70 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: spoke of fantastic visions and miracles and took as many 71 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: wives as King David. Intrigued, the newlyweds left the army 72 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: to serve the preachers. But then, about a year after 73 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: their conversion, something fantastic happened. One night in April nineteen 74 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: twenty six, Eusebi was asleep in his bed with his wife. 75 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: He awoke to a thunderous voice and the shimmering white 76 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: hand pointed right at him. The voice said, your. 77 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 3: Name will be Aaron. I will make it known to 78 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 3: the world, and you. 79 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 4: Will be a blessing. 80 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: Brilliant multi colored stars spelled the name Arona across the heavens, 81 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: fading into the dawning day. He had been visited by God, 82 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: or so he claimed. The vision convinced the man newly 83 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: named Aaron and his wife Elisa, they had been touched 84 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: by something special. Within a week, the couple left their 85 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: evangelical teachers and began wandering south through the Sierra Madre Mountains, 86 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: trekking over five hundred miles in search for a place 87 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: to build their own Jerusalem. The couple eventually made their 88 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 1: way to Warajara, arriving on the fist day of the 89 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,279 Speaker 1: Virgin of Wailupe and preaching to anyone who would listen 90 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: about Aaron's divine connection. In l DM, this vision is 91 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: known as the Election. It's the church's origin myth, the 92 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: central tenet of its faith, and the foundation from which 93 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: the apostles unquestionable iron rule would spring. Use how former 94 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: el DM deacon Huil Silva remembers it. 95 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 6: Not theology, not high doctrines of a resurrection or judgment. No, no, no, 96 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 6: They spend ninety nine percent of the time taking about 97 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 6: the election, the privileges of being elected by God directly. 98 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 1: We can either confirm nor deny these miracles, and it 99 00:06:57,920 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: seems neither can the apostles. 100 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 6: NASONI, when his preaching said, I can't say a dead 101 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 6: body stand up. 102 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 2: Your cuelo the sila muerto levantade jo poiego. 103 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 6: I can tell a paralytic guy what, But God didn't 104 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 6: send me. 105 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 2: To do that. You comna ben was alvarecarne. 106 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 6: I'm not gonna do it because God didn't send me 107 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 6: to do that. He sent me to save your souls, 108 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 6: not your bodies. 109 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 3: Ami Cristobo alvarda carne. 110 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 7: Amigristo maybe Ino Salvarto alma. 111 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: The story of our own's vision that he was chosen 112 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: by God was convincing enough to gain him a small following. 113 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: This was nineteen twenties Mexico and twere religious movements were 114 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: popping up all the time in the wake of America's 115 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: Evangelical Revivalism. Still preaching under his teacher's pentecostal banner, Aaron 116 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: saw shoes and bibles door to door while the rest 117 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: of his flog sold fried food in the streets of Wallajara. 118 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: But Arna and his congregation were not welcome by their 119 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: staunchly Catholic neighbors, and the group faced constant heckling and harassment. 120 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: His higher ups at the Church of the Good Shepherd 121 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: back in Monterey were not happy with the group either. 122 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: As a pastor, aar On often straight from the doctrine, 123 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: and he did not live modestly or behave humbly yeah 124 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,200 Speaker 1: jah I located the kavan or le rossi Avon. 125 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,839 Speaker 8: He was chastised because he asked for perfume to be 126 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 8: sprayed where he walked and flower pedals to be thrown 127 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 8: at his feet. He was criticized for presenting himself like 128 00:08:58,840 --> 00:08:59,599 Speaker 8: a demigod. 129 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: Anthropologist Rnede La Torre is the leading expert in Elaliam's lore. 130 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: She explains how Aaron transformed himself from humble pastor to 131 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: a full blown divinity the yogochal moment of resacamentem scorentitos. 132 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 8: What change The moment was exactly in nineteen forty two 133 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 8: when he broke from the Evangelical church, and from then 134 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 8: on he began to project his figure as semi divine. 135 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: Two decades after he first converted, Aaron broke away from 136 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: his church. Acting again on a vision, God appeared to Aaron, 137 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: denounced his former pastors as greedy, envious, corrupt, and ordered 138 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 1: him to get baptized again. This time, though Aaron would 139 00:09:53,760 --> 00:10:00,199 Speaker 1: do what not even Jesus did. He baptized himself. This 140 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: is the moment when Aarn fully became the Apostle of God, 141 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: the one person on Earth able to open or close 142 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: Heaven on Hell for the rest of humankind. Newly minted Apostle, 143 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: Aaron not only rebaptized himself, he also changed the church's 144 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: main feast, the Santacena, into a full on celebration of himself. 145 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: He moved it from December to his birthday in August, 146 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: and added pageantry and mandatory gifts. Aaron was really going 147 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: off the doctrinal script. These moves were not without some controversy. 148 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: About two hundred of his followers left, but the rest 149 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: of his five or six hundred acolytes remained by him 150 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: and followed in his footsteps, being rebaptized by the Apostle's hands, 151 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 1: and soon they would help Aron build his own holy city, 152 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: one where they would be saved from the heckling Catholics 153 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: and free to praise as they pleased. In a stroke 154 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:14,199 Speaker 1: of luck, Aaron's old army commander general became governor of Jalisco. 155 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: With the governor's generous help, Aaron acquired an abandoned acienda 156 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: close to forty acres of sparse land at the outskirts 157 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: of Wallajara. The land would become his personal fiftom, an 158 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: evangelical utopia where no leave is turned without the Apostle's blessing. 159 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: It would be known as Hermosa Provincia, or Beautiful Province. 160 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: Having felt first hand the rejection and hostility of the 161 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,959 Speaker 1: community around him, he wanted to found a settlement apart 162 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: from the world at large, a fable, shining city on 163 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 1: a hill where mundane society would have limited rich and 164 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 1: only Christ through his Apostle, would rule supreme. More on that, 165 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:13,599 Speaker 1: After the break, the Apostle led his flock to a 166 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: settlement just outside the city of Wallajara, Ermosa Provincia. In 167 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: this new sanctuary, Aaron was able to consolidate his power, 168 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: and he was able to perform miracles of a sort. 169 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: In post revolutionary nineteen forties, Mexico land was hard to 170 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: come by the nation was rebuilding itself. Strongmen ruled over 171 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: a struggling federal government, and farmers and workers had been 172 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: displaced by the never ending wars. But Aaron, having access 173 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,559 Speaker 1: to a bunch of land, was able to provide his 174 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: followers with homes, jobs, community and salvation. Ermosa Provincia quickly 175 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,599 Speaker 1: became a hot ticket. The lots were sold exclusively to 176 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: church members at reduced prices. The faithful flocked, but there 177 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: was a catch. If you left the church, you lost 178 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: your job and probably your home. And commitment to LDM 179 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: was not a casual affair. There would be no private life, 180 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: no time away work, schools, friendships, courtships, marriages, leisures and interests. 181 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: Even hairstyles and dress codes were governed by ledm's increasingly 182 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: strict rules. And if he controlled every moment of his followers' lives, 183 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,679 Speaker 1: there would be less time for them to question if 184 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: his connection to God was real or if the rumors 185 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: that he was a pedophile who had gotten his twelve 186 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: year old stepsister pregnant were true. 187 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 2: Dostravachan, but I saw, like. 188 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,199 Speaker 3: Secta Abbibidio and Racan. 189 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,079 Speaker 7: The cult has lived in the eye of the hurricane 190 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 7: ever since hour and in forty two when they accused 191 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 7: him of being an adulterer, that he read little girls, 192 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 7: they're used to living in the eye of the hurricane, right, 193 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 7: So for them there is one one thought. No one 194 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 7: is going to come to us to tell us who 195 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 7: the servant of God is. We know him, we know 196 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 7: who he is, and for us, he's honorable, even if 197 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 7: the news says otherwise. 198 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: Egtrberta was a high ranking pastor in LDM during the 199 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: nineteen eighties and nineties. He watched the church grow on 200 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: the around sona successor sa Way. He's a first hand 201 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: how Samuel continued his father's legacy, his divinity, but also 202 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: his corruption and his sexual abuses. 203 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 3: Fum camio tremendo joby v loso Chenda's joby villo Novendez. 204 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 7: I lived through the eighties. I saw the growth. I 205 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 7: saw when they began to build the Great Temple in Guadalacara. 206 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 7: I saw some wealth, enthusiasm, the so poor that all 207 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 7: his constant encouragement gave. Although he was under he wasn't, 208 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 7: but he urged the ministers to be holly, to be clean. 209 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: Ector remembers how Samoil and Arne, who he calls by 210 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: their family name, the Joaquins made their followers feel like 211 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: they were part of something special and sacred. 212 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 2: Los Joaquines. But Son Mukaridos in hospital. 213 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 7: Yes, the Huakins truly are very beloved and very respected, 214 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 7: any of them, all of them for the church, for 215 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 7: the called the Joaquin family is very powerful. 216 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: Samoeil was Aaron's youngest son, and it was not obvious 217 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: he would take over. When asked about a successor, Aaron 218 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: was vague loosely referencing his revered and loyal elder pastors. 219 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: But when Aaron died in nineteen sixty four, his wife, 220 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: Elisa Flores, had other plans. She spread a rumor saying 221 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: that right before his death, Aaron dreamt his pastures appeared 222 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: with the face of a monstrous Hyaena ravenous like wolves. 223 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: Elisa reminded every one of Samuel's birth that his father 224 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: had raised a stillborn child to the heavens, crying Samuel, Samuel, Samuel, 225 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: when suddenly the child took a deep breath and began 226 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: to cry. The crowning moment came when the apostle's body 227 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: was laid in the wake at the feet of the 228 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: temple's altar. And the tearful flog bawled, tore at their 229 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: clothes and pulled out their hair. At that moment, Samuel's 230 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: sister took her father's hand and pulled off Aaron's seal ring. 231 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: She raised it for the community to see and slid 232 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: it onto Samuel's finger, saying, Israel's lamb has not gone out. 233 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: It is lid and shining forth. Samuel then stepped out 234 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: and told the mourners he had dreamt himself reading the Apocalypse, 235 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: the part where the Angel of God cleanses the earth, 236 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: when the Almighty Boys interrupted him to say that Angel 237 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 1: is you. At twenty seven. Just like that, Samuel became 238 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: the second Apostle, like his father, chosen by God, and 239 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: as apostle, he would flex that power to its fullest extent. 240 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: When we return how Samuel built a holy empire through 241 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 1: unholy alliances. Samuel's apostles ship was not guaranteed. The fight 242 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,679 Speaker 1: that ensued between the church's elders and him was fierce. 243 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: In order to maintain control, he needed to find a 244 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 1: way to keep his followers in check and prevent information 245 00:17:59,080 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: from leaking out. 246 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,440 Speaker 6: So he wanted to create his own group that was 247 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 6: totally loyal to him, a group. 248 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: That could keep everyone in lockstep and reported only to him. 249 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 6: And he accomplished creating this group called Unconditionals. The conditioners 250 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 6: were young, the majority of them close to his age, 251 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 6: others younger than him. But he wanted a group of 252 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 6: pastors that were totally loyal to him. 253 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: The Unconditionals the Apostle, some Well's most trusted inner circle. 254 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: Some call them the Aronites. Their existence is strongly denied 255 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 1: by the Church to outsiders. Oil Silva was one of them. 256 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 6: Well, I never wanted to be a nunconditioner now, but 257 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 6: Samuel called you. He ordered you to be an unconditioner, 258 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 6: so you cannot deny the will of the Apostle. So 259 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 6: I became an conditioner for Samuel. And when I was 260 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 6: requested that blank page signed, I didn't. 261 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 2: Did it blank? 262 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:16,880 Speaker 7: Blank or win on several I signed several blank sheets, Yes, 263 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 7: blank sheets, because I was an unconditional. 264 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: A signed blank page may not seem like a big deal, 265 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: but imagine if someone had the power to create any 266 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: type of document such as an accusation or an ambition 267 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: of guilt, or the petition of a mortgage or a will, 268 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: and then printed on the blank page you just signed. 269 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: They could manipulate it and use it against you however 270 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:43,919 Speaker 1: they wanted, And that was the point. Here's former pastor 271 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: Hector Vera again. 272 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 2: So now the CI is the system dispostos. 273 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 7: They asked me if I was willing to do anything, 274 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 7: if the servant of God commands us to do something, 275 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 7: we're going to say, yeah, yes, We're not going to 276 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 7: think about it. Even my ex wife told two of 277 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 7: my children that she was unconditional. She let them know 278 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 7: she was willing to kill to defend sam Oil. 279 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: One of the first things Samuel did was use his 280 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 1: secret police force to increase the feeling that he was 281 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:23,639 Speaker 1: an omnipotent divine being. He was able to establish this 282 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: vast network of informants who were willing to put him 283 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: above their own friends and family. The unconditionals act as 284 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: spies for the Apostle, reporting on anyone who isn't following 285 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: his rules or being loyal to him. 286 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 3: Beyond this course, socket Pestan I see. 287 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 5: Eske Samuel Tony. 288 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 8: There was a saying they began telling everyone that was 289 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 8: just cruel. They would say that Samuell sees everything someone 290 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 8: can see, not just when I have seen or have 291 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 8: made a mistake. But he can also see my desires. 292 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 8: He can see it all. Not only can he see 293 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 8: into your homes, but also into your conscience. LDM members 294 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 8: were taught that every time they thought or did something sinful, 295 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 8: they would be somehow immediately punished because Samuel had the 296 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 8: power to do so. With this network of informers, ldm's 297 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:24,439 Speaker 8: members often spent their whole life tiptoeing around their own 298 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:29,640 Speaker 8: thoughts and actions, just to avoid displeasing some way. Sharimgu's 299 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 8: man knows this feeling all too well, having experienced it 300 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 8: when he was young. 301 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 2: Premo Muco and Luzl Mundo is probably. 302 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:43,879 Speaker 3: I lived in my aunt's house with my cousin, who 303 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 3: was three years younger than me. The light of the 304 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 3: world forbids going to carnivals because they're seen as pagan celebrations. 305 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 3: But once I decided to go to the carnival with 306 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,360 Speaker 3: my cousin, and while we were there he was murdered. 307 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 3: Some drunk head beat him up and kill them. It 308 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 3: was a very difficult time in my life. I corrupted him. 309 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,119 Speaker 3: It was my fault he had strayed, and I carried 310 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:08,919 Speaker 3: that thought with me. 311 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 1: For decades. Shaddin believed he was responsible for his cousin's 312 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 1: death because omnipotent Samuel had seen his sinful behavior and punished. 313 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 2: Him Ricordo, Canvales and Ferrero. 314 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 3: When this happened, I was twenty one and he was eighteen. 315 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 3: This so all went down in February, and I remember 316 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 3: that in August I went to Guadalajara and I got 317 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 3: to see some Well up close. I remember crying to 318 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 3: some Well for my cousin's soul, because to me, his 319 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 3: soul was damned. 320 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: Despite the smoke and mirrors, he had his followers, Samuel 321 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: grew his divinity through earthly means. Under Samuel, the church expanded. 322 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 1: In return for favors, local politicians gifted LERDM more land 323 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: and less red tape. L DM went international, from Guallajara 324 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 1: to all of Mexico, to Costa Rica, Ethiopia, the Netherlands 325 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: and beyond. And with more territory came more money, which 326 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: was a good thing because as his flock grew, so 327 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 1: did some Well's extravagant tastes. Renee la Torre remembers attending 328 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: one of his birthday celebrations. 329 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 8: I got to see some all very close. He was 330 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 8: alone at his table on a chair with big golden wings. 331 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:47,959 Speaker 8: Everything was different at his table. His cops were gold 332 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 8: under decoration was something like out of a thousand and 333 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 8: one Nights. It was like a theme party. That part 334 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 8: of my field job was very revealing. On Samuel's feast day, 335 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 8: it was very striking, with women dancing and parading in 336 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 8: front of him in mock magic carpets with all the 337 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 8: imaginative trainings of power. One of Samuel's main gifts to 338 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 8: his congregation, his most extravagant of extravagances, was the building 339 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 8: of a giant temple smack in the middle of Vermosa Provincia. 340 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,359 Speaker 6: Yeah, Samuel was a visionary because he wanted to do 341 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 6: big things, even though he knew he didn't have the 342 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 6: resources to do it. But he told me once, if 343 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 6: you want the church to accomplish something, you need to 344 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 6: create a necessity and the means will come. 345 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 1: After Samuel told his congregation he wanted to build a 346 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: sanctuary to honor his father and for good, but it 347 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,679 Speaker 1: would be difficult to build such a big, beautiful temple, 348 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: such a marvel, to require lots of sacrifices. 349 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 6: So in order to get the resources to build a church, 350 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 6: you need to first put the need in front to 351 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 6: the people and say, hey, we want to build a 352 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 6: sanctuary for God. So in order to do that, we 353 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:17,920 Speaker 6: need to sacrifice everything. 354 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: The sacrifices were of course for the followers, not for 355 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: the apostle or the royal families. 356 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 6: They will put some prestriction. For instance, if you eat 357 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 6: meet one or twice a week, stopped buying meat, yes, 358 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 6: its free holids and of beans and rice, the minimal 359 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 6: in order for you to be able to give more 360 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 6: towards the common goal. 361 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:46,440 Speaker 1: Well, Silva knows it well. He was the young architect 362 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: brought in to oversee the construction. The first brick was 363 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 1: laid in nineteen eighty three, and once complete, the temple 364 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: would be the largest religious structure in Latin America. It 365 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: looks like a multi store wedding cake, towering over everything 366 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: around it. 367 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 6: It took us from July the third, nineteen eighty three, 368 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 6: and we finish unofficially in August of nineteen ninety one. 369 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 6: And I say unofficially because Samuel didn't want to declare 370 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 6: like an official inauguration of the temple. 371 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 1: Samuel didn't want to declare the temple complete because he 372 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 1: didn't want to stop the flow of money pouring in 373 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: from ledm members from all over the world. 374 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,120 Speaker 6: He told me, if we say that we are done, 375 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 6: they're not gonna give up any more money for the construction. 376 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 6: So just keep going and we will say that we 377 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,440 Speaker 6: in the future. Because the symbol at the top wasn't 378 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 6: yet built or installed, so he said, no, no, officially, 379 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 6: we're not done yet, so keep going with the offerings. 380 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 6: You know, every month the. 381 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: New temple was literally built by the people. Members of 382 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: the church offered their skills for free, as mason workers, carpenters, electricians, 383 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: and plumbers, and those without trades offered their hands and backs, 384 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: including women, children, and the elderly, all without insurance, overtime 385 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: pay or any of the usual labor protections mandated by law. 386 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: Some paid for that loyalty and generosity with their lives. 387 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 6: I winnessed two. I winness two accidents in different occasions, 388 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:28,680 Speaker 6: you know. 389 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 2: The first one was. 390 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 6: An electrician that fell from the highest part of the 391 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:39,160 Speaker 6: structure that was being built. 392 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,719 Speaker 1: The electricians slipped from the very top of the temple 393 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: to the concrete floor close to the altar. Both Roel 394 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: and other congregation members working on site were instructed at nothing, 395 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: not even death, would stand in the way of the construction. 396 00:27:55,880 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 6: So we were ordered to pick up the remains as 397 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 6: put it in a whale barrow and move it to 398 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:08,360 Speaker 6: another building and tell the authorities that he fell from 399 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 6: cleaning the tanks on the top. 400 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: Oil and others moved the electricians body to another side 401 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 1: away from the temple. When the authorities arrived, they seemed confused. 402 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 6: I remember, because when the authorities came, they say, hey, 403 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 6: all this happened, falling from three floors and they just 404 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,440 Speaker 6: crashed their heads. You know, this was this guy made 405 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 6: of a gelatine or yellow or what. 406 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 1: But ultimately they accepted Ledm's official explanation. This was the 407 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 1: nineteen eighties Ermanza Provincia. By this time the government was 408 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: deep in Ledm's pockets. The two deaths Oil witnessed were 409 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 1: not the only cover ups during the temple's construction. But 410 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 1: none of that matter to the faithful. To LLDM, that 411 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 1: building represents what the Vatican is to Catholics or the 412 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: Botala to Himalayan Buddhists. 413 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 6: He was understood like a sacrifice for the goods, you know, 414 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 6: of the Church. And the people accepted that because it 415 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 6: was like an honor that one of their members died 416 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 6: building the main temple for the church. You know, so 417 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 6: they accepted the fact and they knew, you know, they 418 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 6: actually happens in the temple, but they knew that they 419 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 6: were they wouldn't go to authorities to report or be 420 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,120 Speaker 6: a you know, bad news for the church. 421 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 1: Today, the Temple of Armosa Provincia stands taller than Walajara's 422 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: colonial Catholic Cathedral. It is truly gorgeous. On the outside, 423 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: it looks like a seven tier snow white marine fantasy, 424 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 1: covered by scalloped walls that during the day act as 425 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 1: skylights and by night illuminate the darkness with pastel colored floodlights. 426 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: You can see the church for miles around. Inside its 427 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 1: all white marble floors and the apostles giant initials in 428 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 1: gold trimmings, with room for twelve thousand l DM devotees. 429 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 1: Reneede la Torre says that more than anything else, the 430 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 1: temple cemented someone's legacy and rallied the faith of his followers. 431 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 5: It was as the Quendakata munist pacify the Grandaca mondorural 432 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 5: more poverty. 433 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 8: So it was like the very poor rural world had 434 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 8: been transplanted into the city very poor people, but they 435 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 8: had a sense of belonging, of community, mutual help and 436 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 8: safety inside the neighborhood. And the temple was oul Allah. 437 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 8: It was a symbol that God had fulfilled his promise 438 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 8: during Aaron's election as apostle, where he was told he 439 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 8: had been chosen to lead his people and help them. 440 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:02,960 Speaker 8: To any doubt, they would point to the temple as 441 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 8: if to say, we can't question anything. Here's the proof 442 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 8: that God is with us and with Samuel. It represented 443 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 8: a new look, modernity and prosperity. That temple locked in 444 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 8: Samuel's neo charismatic identity. The temple didn't just lock in 445 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 8: Samuel's divine identity, it also solidified his impunity. It showed 446 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 8: some Oil the authorities were willing to look the other 447 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 8: way when it came to building inspections, tax breaks, even death. 448 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 8: And it showed his followers there was nothing sam Oil 449 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:48,440 Speaker 8: couldn't do, nothing he couldn't see. So in nineteen ninety seven, 450 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 8: when a man named with Hispadia and a crew of 451 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 8: former church members began to talk on national TV about 452 00:31:54,440 --> 00:32:00,520 Speaker 8: the apostle Samuel and his abuses, Jews Pugaminataggle, Promeo, de 453 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 8: Ann you John. 454 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 4: I was threatened for about two years. I was told 455 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 4: not to talk about any of it because Samuel had 456 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 4: a lot of influence in the government. He had a 457 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 4: lot of money and an entire town that wanted to 458 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 4: hang me. 459 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: Ledm devutees like Joel turned a blind eye. 460 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 6: I didn't believe Moissas at the time. I didn't believe 461 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:28,720 Speaker 6: the girls. I began to have a lot of doubts 462 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,160 Speaker 6: that were, you know, piling up in my mind in 463 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 6: the back of my head. But still I was defending somewhere. 464 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 1: The church was almost a century old, three generations deep. 465 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:43,040 Speaker 1: None of the scandals before had stopped the apostles growing power, 466 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 1: so why would this one. It would take another decade, 467 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:52,560 Speaker 1: another apostle, and many more survivors going public for the 468 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: church's divine image to start to peel. And still it 469 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:00,600 Speaker 1: wasn't easy, and I was fucking scared. 470 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 5: I was like, these fuckers are in some weird powerful 471 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:12,520 Speaker 5: mafia that and they it's all families. They protect the business, 472 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 5: they protect the name, and I am now fucked over 473 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:21,360 Speaker 5: because of my life of abuse and knowledge of Nason. 474 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 1: That's next on Sacred Scandal. Sacred Scandal La luz el 475 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:33,240 Speaker 1: Mundo is a production of Exile Conton Studio in partnership 476 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: with Iheart'smichael Tura podcast network, and is hosted by me 477 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 1: Roberta Garza, produced by Sabin Johnson with the help of 478 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:46,160 Speaker 1: Stella Emett, Reynolds, Gutierrez and Anna Isabel Octavio. Written by 479 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:51,880 Speaker 1: myself and Monissa Hendrix, Research by Roberta Garza, additional reporting 480 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:57,080 Speaker 1: by Florencia Gonzales Geragarcia, Engineering by Uga Mendoza and Sabin Jensen. 481 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 1: Sound designed by patikin Unis. Original music by Patrick Hart, 482 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: edited by writer Alsop and Rose Red. Executive producers are 483 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:12,720 Speaker 1: Rose Reed, Carmen gratterol Isac Lee, and Nando Villa, Daniel 484 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:17,480 Speaker 1: Batista Overseas audio at Exil Conston Studio. Our executive producers 485 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:21,800 Speaker 1: Aret iHeart, r Gisel Banses, and Early in Santana. Sacred 486 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 1: Scandal was created by Melanie Bartlett and Paula Varos. Special 487 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 1: thanks to the voice actors in this episode and Sonic Union. 488 00:34:30,120 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 1: For more podcasts, go to the iheartradiop or anywhere you 489 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:35,640 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite podcasts.