Today we will discuss someone described as the “spiritual leader” of alleged murders Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow, alleged abuser Tim Ballard, and recently-imprisoned Jodi Hildebrandt.
Thom Harrison is a prominent Utah therapist who published a book called “Visions of Glory” in 2012, focusing on three of his alleged near death experiences (including personal visitations from Jesus Christ). As has been uncovered over the past few years, Thom Harrison’ and his book “Visions of Glory” have been highly influential across the Mormon “prepper” neo-fundamentalist community, and particularly in the lives and stories of Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow, Tim Ballard, Jodi Hildebrant, as well as other “preppers” such as Julie Rowe, Rod Meldrum, and alleged abuser-therapist Maurice Harker.
Part of what has made Visions of Glory so successful is that Thom (through the pseudonym Spencer) claims in his book that his visions were approved of by an un-named Mormon apostle (who now is known to be the late Neal A. Maxwell).
Finally, we will discuss how the Mormon church was made aware of Thom Harrison and his book in the 2012-2013 time period, and chose to promote Thom to bishop instead of to punish him and/or stop the publishing of his book.
Lauren Matthias (Hidden True Crime Podcast), Megan Connor (Lori Vallow’s cousin), and Mindy Caldwell (Mormon super-sluether) will be joining us for this panel discussion.
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Show Notes:
- Visions of Glory
- Lori Vallow & Visions of Glory – TikTok @ Elisha Lee
- Thom Harrison
- Hidden True Crime Podcast
- Eternal Core Podcast
- “Trust in the Lord” Ensign or Liahona, Nov 2019, 27
- Thom Harrison’s Linked In
- Doctrine and Covenants 129
- Sound of Freedom
- AVOW (Another Voice of Warning)
- Denver Snuffer
- Denver’s church Remnant Church
- The Infamous Reddit Email about Lori Vallow
- ConneXions
- “You are not not enough” by Jodi Hildebrandt
- Latter Day Media – YouTube
- Life Star
- Firm ExPo
- Rod Meldrum
- Book of Mormon Evidence
- Adam Paul Steed on Hidden True Crime
- The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy by Carol Lynn Pearson
- Maurice Harker on Fox 13 News
- Maurice Harker – FLOODLIT
- Sons of Helaman website
- Maurice Harker – Salt Lake Tribune
- As a Thief in the Night by Roger K. Young
MSP Related
- 1805: 8 Passengers Ruby Franke and “Therapist” Jodi Hildebrandt Arrested – The Mormon Angle
- 1817: Ruby Franke’s Family Speaks Up, Mormon Sexual Shame, and Jodi Hildebrandt
- 1754: The Lori Vallow Daybell Trial – Week 1 – Money, Power, & Mormonism
- 1759: The Lori Vallow Daybell Trial – Weeks 2 & 3 – Castings, Deaths, and Temples
- 1426: Natasha Helfer Excommunication Debrief
- 203-204: The Mormon Forgery Bombings – The Complex Legacy of Mark Hofmann 25 Years Later
- 1764: Lori Vallow Guilty Verdict – w/ Cousin Megan Conner
- 1760: Growing Up Mormon With Lori Vallow Daybell – Cousin Megan Conner
- 1743: Joining and Leaving the Moonies / Unification Church – Cult Expert Dr. Steven Hassan
- 1808: Niece of 8 Passengers’ Mormon “Therapist” Jodi Hildebrandt Speaks Out – Jessi Hildebrandt
- 535-539: Tom Phillips, the Second Anointing, and Mormon Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland
- 980-982: Remembering the Swedish Rescue, From Those Who Attended
- 430-434: Hans Mattsson — Former LDS Area Authority Seventy (Sweden)
- 1813: Mormon Church Condemns Tim Ballard
- 1814: Sexual Allegations Against Tim Ballard w/ Vice News
- 1819: Tim Ballard’s Alleged Victims Press Conference – The Couple’s Ruse
- 1820: Tim Ballard’s Alleged Excommunication
- 1497: Rod Meldrum’s Book of Mormon Heartland Model
- 1553-1554: Rodney Meldrum – Founder of the Book of Mormon Heartland Model
- 1564: Rodney Meldrum and the Book of Mormon Heartland Model Pt. 3
14 Responses
Has this podcast ever talked about hypnogogic hallucinations? For those that may not be familiar with them, basically, they are fairly common hallucinations that only happen when a person is falling asleep but hasn’t fallen asleep yet. These are NOT associated with disorders the way other hallucinations are, but they are nevertheless hallucinations. Examples include thinking you hear the doorbell ring, hearing your child say mom/dad, seeing someone next to your bed, seeing shapes, feeling someone sit next to you, etc. I have had quite a few myself and if I didn’t know what they were, I can see how I would easily think there were spirits, ghosts, etc. around me. I think people need to know about these because they probably account for a fair amount of “otherworldly” experiences. Obviously not everything mentioned in this episode can be attributed to hypnogogic hallucinations, but it’s an interesting point to consider. Personally, anytime I’m listening to a vision-type story that someone starts with “I was going to bed and hadn’t fallen asleep yet…” I mentally assume they’re going to tell me about a hypnogogic hallucination.
I would say that there is a mormon teaching that everything needs to be created spiritually before physically.
I could see how that teaching might then evolve into plants, furniture or other iniamate objects being able to communicate and need to praise good/ ask for repentance.
As I listen I continue to be amazed that anyone could fall for it, just as I am amazed at how much personal power members give over to the direction of Mormon doctrine and Mormon leaders. I am saddened at the same time as my parents gave their lives to this system. They remained children unable to parent the “too many children” they obediently produced.
Love this panel ! you helped us all stomach this trash in a funny way to help lessen the negative effects on our thoughts!! so interesting and yet so sad!
You are right, tragic reality!
I am getting confused though … who is experiencing all this in the book in relation to who wrote the book and to Spencer and to the therapist???? I am confusing the people involved.
Now i just pray I don’t have nightmares tonight!!
Is there a transcript? I just can’t listen to that voice, when I know how it’s used when he’s not performing.
above note continued… the end of podcast explains the people in greater detail. so i think i get it now. whewwww what a racquet.
Within any large group of people, you’ll find the gullible, those claiming to be leaders and people willing to follow. Others that are sensible and not part of the drama and that do not place other humans on pedestals. others needing to be important and given some extra power. there are as well good leaders that empower people to be strong and that are not self serving and that warn against relying on others that would deceive while warning additionally against prideful behavior . others wrapped up in the mystery and spirituality seeking to be Chosen, where they are only great in their own minds, a the few that follow them. Broad paint brushes cross many lines.
People starting to believe that their new thoughts about “portals” are especially profound, right since they all started to have their own internet connections.
The book is a Joke. But so am I. I bought the darn thing, This book is all about see how much money you can make from the rubes.
I saw the obvious fraud when the author did his initial set up. He set it up to make it impossible to verify any claim. The apostle is no longer with us and therefore unable to confirm the conversations. The visionary tells his story to the author only after being instructed by the apostle what his name would be. After that I read about two pages and recognized the setup and the obvious hook for mystical (Liahona) Mormons. The book is made more credible by the reciting of parallels to accepted doctrines and cosmological views.
The picture of the eternal core group, I’m blown away because the one just above the author, Alema Harrington, came every week and spoke to us when I was in Inpatient treatment for depression and addiction!
I know Alema Harrington pictured right above the author, I’m blown away that he is part of this group!😮
I have appreciated much of your content. However, claiming that Thom Harrison is responsible for the lunatics that have emerged in our society is completely ignorant and reckless. This episode feels more like a Clickbait type induced theory rather than common sense. This episode proves why Thom Harrison went by the pseudonym Spencer…. to minimize the witchhunt that you’re perpetuating. It seems like you’re going to any length to make the church look bad to justify your exit from it. I also have left the church, so this is not coming from a person that is actively defending it. But I think your approach is making you lose credibility.
This podcast episode was incredibly eye-opening! Thom Harrison’s insights into Mormon Neo-Fundamentalism shed light on complexities I hadn’t considered before. It’s fascinating to see how personal experiences shape individual beliefs within the broader framework of the church. I appreciate the depth and nuance in the discussion; it really made me reflect on my own understanding of faith and community. Thank you for bringing such important conversations to the forefront!