{"id":28833,"date":"2020-07-02T16:24:56","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T22:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mrm.org\/?p=28833"},"modified":"2025-05-21T13:07:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T19:07:00","slug":"kingstons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mrm.org\/kingstons","title":{"rendered":"Splinter Group: Latter Day Church of Christ (Davis County Cooperative Society, United Order)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most controversial splinter groups of Mormonism, the Latter Day Church of Christ, has been led by members of the Kingston family since it was founded in 1935. The church has received notoriety in two main areas: 1) A polygamous lifestyle and emphasis on arranged incestuous marriages between close relatives, and 2) the use of its church\u2019s many business enterprises, several of which have been used to launder money and cheat the government out of tax revenue. There is also a large amount of control in this organization, with leaders emphasizing compliant obedience to those in authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>An Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Church Name<\/td><td>Latter Day Church of Christ. Leaders refer to the church as the United Order or Davis County Cooperative Society while some outside the group call it the &#8220;Kingston Clan&#8221; or &#8220;Kingston Cult.&#8221;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Founder<\/td><td>Charles Elden Kingston<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Current Leader<\/td><td>Paul Elden Kingston (beginning in 1987)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Date of Founding<\/td><td>1935 (incorporated in the state of Utah in 1941)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Membership<\/td><td>5,000 (with one estimate that the number could be as large as 10,000)&#8211;the church is secretive about the number of members<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Main places of faith<\/td><td>Northern Utah, including Salt Lake City and Bountiful<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Doctrine<\/td><td>Many teachings are similar to the LDS Church, including belief in <a href=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/preexistence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">preexistence<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/plan-of-salvation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Plan of Salvation,<\/a> and three <a href=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/kingdoms-of-glory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">kingdoms of glory<\/a>; differences are mainly in authority (Kingstons in control), current polygamous practice, and United Order<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Scripture<\/td><td>The Bible (as far as it is translated correctly), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Eternal Destiny<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/celestial-kingdom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Celestial kingdom<\/a> for those who are members of the Order and involved in polygamy; hell for everyone else. <a href=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/sons-of-perdition-definition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sons of Perdition<\/a> are former members destined for <a href=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/outer-darkness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Outer Darkness<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Church\u2019s Main Focus<\/td><td>The practice of polygamy and making money with its many businesses<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Main principles<\/td><td>Law of One Above Another and Law of Satisfaction<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Website<\/td><td>dccsociety.org<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Founding of the Church<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This religion is known officially as the Latter Day Church of Christ\u2014the name was incorporated in 1977\u2014but is also called the Davis County Cooperative Society or United Order. Some outside the church have referred to the group as \u201cthe Kingston Clan\u201d or the \u201cKingston Cult,\u201d although leaders believe that these terms are \u201cinaccurate and derogatory.\u201d They also claim theirs should not be considered \u201ca fundamentalist Mormon organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The church had its beginnings in the person of Charles W. Kingston (1884-1975). As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kingston felt that the Utah church was in error because it had abandoned the teaching of plural marriage. He co-authored a book titled <em>Laman Manasseh Victorious: A Message of Salvation and Redemption to His People Israel, First to Ephraim and Manasseh<\/em> that talked about his beliefs. Kingston was excommunicated by the LDS Church in 1929.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1935, Charles\u2019s son Charles Elden founded the Davis County Cooperative Society. Since its founding, there have been just three main leaders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Charles Elden Kingston (1909-1948): He took the leadership reigns when the church began on January 1, 1935. He claimed that he was visited by six different personages whom he said came to him at different times. In the early years, followers wore unique outer garments with no pockets, causing others to call them \u201cblue coats.\u201d Not having pockets was meant to signify that the members were not tied to worldly wealth. The followers also were bareheaded and barefoot. Ironically, as a businessman, Kingston was the one who first pushed the church\u2019s business agenda. He died of cancer in 1948 at the age of 39.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>John Ortell Kingston (1919-1987): Brother to Charles Elden and son to their father Charles, John guided the church from 1948 to 1987. He created the name of the church (Latter Day Church of Christ) in 1977 and had an even better business sense than Elden. He promoted incestuous marriages that distinguishes the church today. He had 13 wives and dozens of children.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mrm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/download.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"203\" data-attachment-id=\"28841\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/kingstons\/download\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mrm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/download.jpg?fit=150%2C203&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"150,203\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"download\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mrm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/download.jpg?fit=150%2C203&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mrm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/download.jpg?resize=150%2C203&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28841\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Paul Elden Kingston<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<li>Paul Elden Kingston (1959-&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;): Known as the \u201cWatchman on the Wall\u201d who claims to hear from God regularly, Paul is the son of John Ortell. He inherited the top leadership position in 1987. A recent estimate is that he has 34 wives and more than 500 children, as several of his wives have had as many as 16 children each! He is an accountant and attorney as well as the Trustee-in-Trust of the Davis County Cooperative Society that is run by the church.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Doctrine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Order has many similar teachings of the LDS Church, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A belief in four scriptures: The Bible (except for &#8220;translation&#8221; problems), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Anything written by LDS leaders after the Manifesto came out in 1890; thus, Official Declarations 1 and 2 that are found in LDS scripture are rejected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The church website explains, \u201cThrough our belief in God, we understand there are Universal Principles of Success which govern all things, and that each person\u2019s success is based on their ability to understand and apply these Principles.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God is a man with flesh and bones<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Free Agency\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The website says, \u201cWe believe that all individuals have the right to do whatever they choose as long as they do not force, suppress, restrain, deprive, jeopardize, or interfere with the rights of others; and that persons who commit acts of this kind should be punished according to the law of the land in which they reside.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preexistence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three kingdoms of glory (Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial kingdoms)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Celestial godhood with family relationships is available in the celestial kingdom\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The website says, &#8220;God is a man who spiritually evolved to the point that He became omnipotent and omniscient. He created children in spirit form and desires that they also evolve into perfect beings.\u201d Because those who hope to attain this celestial state require physical bodies, the Plan of Salvation is that God created an earth where those in preexistence could live and be obedient to gain the celestial kingdom; like in Mormonism, the other two kingdoms are the terrestrial and telestial kingdoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Dr. Amy Osmond Cook in her book <em>Why They Believe: A Case Study in Contemporary Polygamy<\/em> (Sourced Media Books, 2011), the church claims to be the one true faith and others (including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and dozens of non-affiliated polygamous groups) are wrong. The church teaches in the importance of unity, which is necessary to gain heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first law to achieve unity is known as the \u201cLaw of One Above Another.\u201d Elden Kingston wrote, \u201cTo be one with each other means that each one of us is <em>one with the one above<\/em>.\u201d The chain begins with \u201cHeavenly Father, Jesus, Bro. Paul, numbered men, etc.\u201d Those who understand this principle and respect the chain of command are able to draw upon the power of God to help them in their lives. The idea is important even for children, as one church Sunday School manual explains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we think of the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the first thing that we should think about is obedience. We should always do what our parents and teachers want us to do. Brother Elden taught us that the Law of Obedience to the one over us is one of the first principles of the Order. We should be obedient to our brothers and sisters.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second principle is called the \u201cLaw of Satisfaction,\u201d which is also called The Golden Rule. According to the church website,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a parent, a manager or a leader, individuals must exercise their position through patience, long-suffering and service to others, never by force. Each individual should create a place where others can thrive, treating them as they would like to be treated. Finally, with regard to our peers, do unto them as you would have them do unto you. Support them in their endeavors and empathize with their challenges.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This means that not only should a person be obedient to those above him or her but there needs to be an attitude to do whatever the one in authority says \u201cwillingly and appreciatively,\u201d even when there is disagreement; not having an enthusiastic willingness and appreciation is considered a \u201cmajor crime.\u201d \u201cPleasing Obedience\u201d is thinking first about the church&#8217;s needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFirst time obedience\u201d is doing what a person is told the first time and feeling good about doing it. To show the importance of obedience to the person above, Charles W. Kingston wrote, \u201cEvery individual. . . no matter what authority, standing or station he is in, is responsible to the one above him in exactly the same way as if that individual was the Savior himself. . . We must look at the one above us in the same light we look at the Savior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Putting these two principles together (\u201cLaw of Obedience\u201d and \u201cLaw of Satisfaction\u201d) will provide \u201cpleasing obedience\u201d and allows the leaders control over its compliant membership. Those who obey believe that \u201cthrough strict obedience to the laws and principles of the organization, they will be given the opportunity to evolve to a higher spiritual level and eventually achieve godhood as part of a family unit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cook wrote,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Kingston organization stresses the importance of complete loyalty to the organization in thoughts, words, and actions. This loyalty is felt internally as organizational identification and expressed externally through organizational behavior that is consistent with organization goals and directives.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are three types of organizational loyalty: loyalty in thought, loyalty in words, and loyalty in actions. Cook explained,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The organization encourages loyalty in thoughts by advocating that members restrict their thoughts and school their feelings. Members are taught to discipline their words by refraining from criticizing organizational leaders, withholding information from outsiders, and sometimes lying to protect the organization. And members are taught to adhere to all organizational objectives with \u201cpleasing obedience.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Polygamy&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first three points under the \u201cMarriage, Lifestyle &amp; Age of Consent\u201d section on the church\u2019s website page titled \u201cOur Beliefs\u201d reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We believe marriage is a lifelong personal decision and should not be coerced. &nbsp;An individual should be well informed to make a mature and thoughtful decision before entering into a marriage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We believe marriages should be conducted within the legal age of consent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We believe marriage to be a cornerstone of our social fabric and stable relationships bring stability to our society as a whole.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Based on these points, one would almost assume that the church is monogamous. However, the fourth point hints to the polygamy that the church teaches as a true doctrine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We believe personal relationship between consenting parties should not be regulated by the State so long as they are free of coercion and are entered into by the free agency of both parties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the website it is argued that \u201calthough some members believe in plural marriage, the majority of adults in the Co-op are not in polygamous relationships&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although not in the majority, some men and women in the Co-op have chosen to enter into lifelong relationships that include multiple women. The DCCS reaffirms their belief that relationships between consenting parties is a matter of personal choice so long as they are not coerced and are entered into by the free agency of both parties. The State does not recognize these plural relationships as marriages and those obtaining licenses for marriage are encouraged to do so lawfully and within the guidelines given above.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do only a minority of church members practice polygamy? I&#8217;ll give them the benefit of the doubt, since the Kingston males generally have more than one wife&#8211;they obviously get &#8220;first pick&#8221; of the available women&#8211; and there are only so many females in the group to go around. Yet, whether every single member in the group practices plural marriage or if this number really is a minority, polygamy remains a church requirement to enter the celestial kingdom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What will happen to those male members (the majority) who are not fortunate to have any women available to them? Like other polygamous churches, the first three presidents of the LDS Church are accepted as legitimate (Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and John Taylor), and this is something all of them taught. Beginning with fourth president Wilford Woodruff\u2019s 1890 Manifesto that eliminated the acceptance of polygamy, it is taught that the LDS Church became apostate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early fundamentalist leaders that the church considers authoritative include John W. Wooley, Orrin C. Wooley, and John Y. Barlow. It is claimed that the church did not break off from any other group, although some say it had once been loosely affiliated with the Short Creek fundamentalist (FLDS) in the 1930s. The church denies this, however, saying \u201cthe DCCS is not and has never been affiliated with the FLDS or Warren Jeffs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The marriages within the group are arranged, as top leader Paul Kingston, along with his brothers Daniel, David, and Jessie, must agree on any marriages taking place within the group; the fathers of both children must also agree. Those males who are married and ordained are called \u201cNumbered Men,\u201d which comes from the group\u2019s interpretation of Revelation that only 144,000 &#8220;men&#8221; will be allowed to rule in heaven under God. Each man is designated by numbers, such as \u201cBrother #1,\u201d \u201cBrother #2,\u201d etc. The lower the man\u2019s number, the more holy and important he is considered in the church. When a numbered man dies, his number can be given again to another worthy male member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, when that man gets married, his children are numbered along with the wife who produced each one. To explain this numbering system, we\u2019ll use \u201cBrother 98\u201d as our example. If a woman gets married to this man as his first wife, she is known as #198. The first male child would be #1981 while the first female child is #1982, etc., with the males getting odd numbers and the females receiving even numbers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second wife\u2019s child would be #2981 (male), #2982 (female), etc., with the boys getting the odd last numbers and the girls the even last numbers. This is the Order\u2019s way to keep track of wives and children, especially since so many wives and children take different last surnames from their husbands\/fathers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is taught that people can become gods only in the celestial kingdom, the place where families can exist into eternity. Only those who are part of the Kingston group and marry polygamously can enter this kingdom. The Kingston family members are believed to have superior genetics because their lines originate with Jesus. According to the belief, Jesus was married to several wives who bore his children, a common teaching in 19th century Mormonism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Incest has played a major role in this church, which originated with the research done by John Ortell Kingston who had worked on dairy farms and created theories on genetics through the inbreeding of his cattle. He believed his study could help create a \u201cPure Bloodline.\u201d His research is responsible for members of the group marrying close relatives, including half siblings, uncles and nieces, and cousins. Many children have had birth defects due to this inbreeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There have also been charges made that some plural wives and their children have had to live in deplorable conditions, even having to resort to \u201cdumpster diving\u201d in grocery store garbage bins to find food. Welfare fraud has also been a complaint, as the \u201cother\u201d wives (who are technically unmarried because their husband was married to his first wife) have filed for welfare benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While John Ortell Kingston did not admit guilt, he ended up once having to pay the state $250,000 for evading taxes and getting financial benefits not due his family from the state. After many investigations, however, the authorities were not able to prove this charge in a court of law. In 1983, five years before he died, John Ortell Kingston was said to be worth $70 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The idea of having the plural wives apply for state welfare benefits because they (and their children) have no official ties to the husband\/father who is legally married to just the first wife is a teaching called &#8220;bleeding the beast.&#8221; In other words, this is an idea of making the government pay for the many wives and children will cause economic harm to the U.S. government and cause its destruction. However, the church denies that this idea has ever been promoted, as it states on its website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This type of doctrine has NEVER been endorsed by the Davis County Cooperative Society (DCCS; Co-op) or Latter Day Church of Christ&#8217;s (LDCC) leadership. &nbsp;It has been a long standing policy, that DCCS \u201cmembers are self-sustaining by means of their own labors\u201d if at all possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Illicit Marriages and Births<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to marriages to under-aged children, there has been evidence that girls as young as 13 have been forced into marriages with older men who already had one or more wives. A former member of the group, LuAnn Kingston, was forced to marry her first cousin in 1995. She said, \u201cThe joke used to be that if you weren\u2019t married by 17, you were an old maid. . . . Some want to be married. Some had to be. Girls are always trying to please. All they know is what they\u2019ve been told.\u201d <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mormonfundamentalism.com\/archive\/ChartLinks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source\u00a0 <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recent years, however, it appears the church leaders don&#8217;t want to get into legal trouble and are requiring the girls to wait until they are older before they get married.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many examples of teenage girls marrying exist. For instance, Jason Ortell Kingston, who is Paul&#8217;s youngest brother, was 16 when he married his 15-year-old half-sister Andrea Johnson; she became pregnant in 1992. Johnson died in childbirth, though the baby was saved who ended up having cerebral palsy. Johnson\u2019s condition (preeclampsia) is normally easy to treat, but medical care came too late because the family was fearful that the incestuous relationship would be discovered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The hospital records were mysteriously lost, although they were later found at University Hospital in Salt Lake City in 1998. A distrust in hospitals is common with members of the group, as there is a fear that their polygamous ways will be discovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2018 the <em>Salt Lake Tribune<\/em> published an in depth article explaining the underage marriages that have taken place in recent years:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the start of 1997, The Salt Lake Tribune found 65 marriages among members of the Kingston Group in which the bride was 15, 16 or 17. The two most recent of those marriages, according to wedding certificates, occurred in April (2018). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sltrib.com\/news\/polygamy\/2018\/08\/04\/girls-polygamous-kingston\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2019, the Utah law was changed so that 15-year-old girls can no longer get married. Females who are 16 or 17 can get married with the parent&#8217;s consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to marrying close relatives, leaders and some members defend the practice. In 2006, Rachel Young\u2014a member of the clan\u2014told one court,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are a small group of people. We encourage our young people to choose companions within their own faith. This makes some related marriages inevitable. To deny the right to marry within our faith would in effect deny us the right to exist. <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.sltrib.com\/story.php?ref=\/news\/ci_4540197\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As mentioned earlier, a number of different types of birth deformities have been documented in the group. For instance, six sons and two daughters of John Ortell Kingston and his second wife LaDonna Peterson (of 13 total wives) married at least 20 half sisters, nieces and first cousins, which led to many children being born with genetic deficiencies. Their seventh son Hyrum Dalton was polygamous but did not marry incestuously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Church\u2019s financial holdings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The church holds to the law of consecration, which was first created in 1831 by Joseph Smith. This means that members sign away control of their possessions and give the church leaders full financial control; members deed their homes, bank accounts, and other valuables to the church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The United Order (also called United Order of Enoch) is also practiced, meaning that business holdings of the church belong to the group. It should be noted that the LDS Church abandoned the &#8220;law of consecration&#8221; since it was a dismal failure; it was replaced with law of tithing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under \u201cCooperation &amp; United Order,\u201d the website reads,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We promote the economic welfare of the membership to increase their talents and abilities by utilizing their united funds and efforts for the purchase, distribution and production of commodities and the performance of service in their interest in the most economical way. We encourage members to patronize the businesses of other members where possible, while maintaining ethical, fair and vigorous competition. Members are encouraged to sell products and services based on their merit, superior quality, functionality and competitive pricing for the market, always thinking of ways to bring value to the customer.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The leaders have been prolific in creating several hundred different businesses controlled by the Davis County Cooperative Society, which some estimate to be worth as much as $300 million. (Like the holdings of the LDS Church, however, these numbers are just estimates; I for one think the total worth of the businesses could be much higher.) Among the co-op\u2019s holdings are a 300-acre dairy farm in Davis County; a 3,200-acre farm in Idaho; a coal mine in Emery County; 1,200 acres in Idaho; and a grocery store and restaurant supply company in cities including Tucson, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, Boise and Portland. Under the website section titled \u201cWe Look Toward a Future of Prosperity,\u201d it states,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We believe in supporting a stable, functioning and growing economy; with our members offering a financially tax positive population to the states we reside and to the United States of America. &nbsp;We have been well integrated with our friends and neighbors in our communities for over 85 years and we look forward to success in serving them for many decades to come.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Wikipedia, here are just several of the active businesses, many of which are in Utah:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/what-we-believe\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"39994\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A-1 Disposal<\/a> (Dumpster Rental and Trash Pickup)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/aaaalarm.net\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/aaaalarm.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AAA Security<\/a> (Home security and fire alarm systems)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yelp.com\/biz\/advanced-copy-and-printing-salt-lake-city\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.yelp.com\/biz\/advanced-copy-and-printing-salt-lake-city\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Advanced Copy &amp; Printing <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/advancevendingsupply.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/advancevendingsupply.com\/\">Advanced <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/advancevendingsupply.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/advancevendingsupply.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vending <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/advancevendingsupply.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/advancevendingsupply.com\/\">(<\/a>Vending Machines)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adigitalsys.com\/contact\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.adigitalsys.com\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Digital Systems (<\/a>ADS) (Business Enterprise Software)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thecoalfields.com\/owners\/1202905\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/thecoalfields.com\/owners\/1202905\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ANR Company Inc.<\/a> (Coal Mining Leases)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arrowutah.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.arrowutah.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arrow Real Estate<\/a> (Commercial property)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arrowutah.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.arrowutah.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Davis County Cooperative Society Inc.<\/a> (Helps members get job, housing, education, and general needs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deserttech.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/deserttech.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Desert Tech<\/a> (Guns and accessories)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.johnsmktplace.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.johnsmktplace.com\/\">Johns Marketplace<\/a> (Health food grocerty store)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.familyschooluniforms.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.familyschooluniforms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Family Stores True Value <\/a>(School uniforms)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pmcpeo.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"http:\/\/www.pmcpeo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Personnel Management Corp <\/a>(Payroll\/benefits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Premier Catering and Food Service (Food catering)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsmansbailbonds.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.sportsmansbailbonds.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sportsman&#8217;s Bail Bond Specialists<\/a> (Bail bonds)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsmanspawn.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.sportsmanspawn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sportsman&#8217;s Fast Cash <\/a>(Pawn shop)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.standardrestaurant.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.standardrestaurant.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Standard Restaurant Supply<\/a> (Restaurant supply)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody can say exactly how many businesses are controlled by the church. Still, while many businesses go under and others open up, it\u2019s clear that the money brought in from these holdings have helped the leaders become wealthy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The church\u2019s \u201cOur Beliefs\u201d section claims that \u201cwe believe in government and being subject to the Laws of the Land.\u201d In reality, however, the church is very secretive and hides information. And there have been cases involving fraud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For one, Washakie Renewable Energy that was founded in 2007 by Jacob Kingston and dealt with biofuel operations. However, in 2023, five individuals associated with the company were sentenced for their roles in a $1 billion biofuel tax conspiracy, the largest tax case in Utah&#8217;s history. According to the Department of Justice, the company claimed $1 billion in refundable renewable tax credits from 2010 to 2018, with the IRS paying out $511 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ruse involved applying to a federal program that gave up to $10 for each gallon of bio fuel that was manufactured. Instead of producing its own fuel, the company was selling fuel to foreign countries, including India and Panama, and then repurchasing the same fuel. More than $3 billion was cycled through multiple bank accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They also acknowledged paying $134 million to companies in Turkey and Luxembourg to protect them, as they made an agreement to have protection from the countries who vowed not to honor any extradition requests from the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, Jacob said that he and his brother Isaiah\u2014the church\u2019s CFO\u2014sent $30 million in fraud proceeds to the United Order that was used to buy luxury sport cars and million-dollar homes, including a $3 million home in Sandy, UT for Jacob and his wife Sally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sentenced were Lev Aslan Dermen, 56, who received 40 years in prison. Others sentenced were church members: Jacob Kingston, 46, got 18 years; Isaiah Kingston, 42, received 12 years; and Rachel Kingston, 67 received 7 years while Sally Kingston got 6 years. Jacob and Isaiah both testifed against Dermen for ligher sentences for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derman insisted that the Kingstons were the real fraudsters who were committing their crimes before he came unto the scene. John Huber, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, said, \u201cWhat brought them down as with many fraudsters was their outsized greed, which was out of control.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3a88641f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A statement on the church website under \u201cHonesty, Integrity, Trust &amp; Credibility\u201d reads, \u201cIndividuals and businesses are encouraged to be responsible private and corporate citizens, adhering to their commitments, displaying honesty and integrity and reaching professional and personal goals solely through honorable means.\u201d Answering the question \u201cWhat is the DCCS stance on fraud, abuse, and crime,\u201d the website explains:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3a88641f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DCCS has been speaking out publicly against fraud and abuse for decades. &nbsp;We re-affirm to our members that this type of behavior goes completely against our beliefs and principles and we cannot support anyone found to be engaged in this type of behavior. &nbsp;Any individual who is engaged in or becomes aware of any unlawful activity are encouraged to promptly correct any impropriety.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dccsociety.org\/faq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Source&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3a88641f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>For a link on a young former female member who ended up becoming a star witness in this case, click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-7091133\/Mother-tells-bravely-ran-away-incestuous-polygamous-cult-17.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mrm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/elsinore.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1207\" height=\"761\" data-attachment-id=\"28843\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/kingstons\/elsinore\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mrm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/elsinore.png?fit=1207%2C761&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1207,761\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"elsinore\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mrm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/elsinore.png?fit=1024%2C646&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mrm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/elsinore.png?resize=1207%2C761&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28843\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another company owned by the church was the Lake Elsinore Casino located in Southern California. In May 2019, the 22-table card room casino run by Joseph and Ted Kingston was shut down because it had been illegally operating with only provisional licenses for two decades. The casino was denied a permanent license in July 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was speculation that the casino was used to launder money. The closing of the casino was a blow to Lake Elsinore, as the city\u2019s mayor said it was \u201ca great partner for the city\u201d that employed 274 people, making it the fourth largest employer in the city. There has been an appeal, with no resolution as of March 2020. <a href=\"https:\/\/losangeles.cbslocal.com\/2019\/04\/30\/regulators-seek-to-shut-down-lake-elsinore-casino-linked-to-polygamist-cult\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pe.com\/2019\/05\/03\/linked-to-utah-polygamous-sect-lake-elsinore-casino-owners-could-be-denied-gaming-license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Historically the United Order is a religion that has depended on growth from within, including the birth of several thousand children that are a result of incestuous relationships. While the top leaders are very wealthy, their money hasn&#8217;t all come through hard work. Even though the church makes lots of money with its businesses, some members&#8211;especially polygamous wives and their children&#8211;live with very little. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It appears that this will remain a religion that is beholden to the Kingstons who, as long as they are allowed, will maintain psychological control of the members while living in their own little fiefdoms. Meanwhile, women and children in this organization continue to be harmed by the policies of the church and the dictatorial rule of their husbands\/fathers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>To see articles on other splinter groups of Mormonism, click&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/splinter-groups\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>For 5 episodes that aired on Viewpoint on Mormonism between 9\/14-18, 2020, click these: <a data-wpel-link=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/viewpoint-on-mormonism.blubrry.net\/splinter-groups-kingstons-part-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow external\">&nbsp;Part 1<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a data-wpel-link=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/viewpoint-on-mormonism.blubrry.net\/splinter-groups-kingston-part-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow external\">Part 2<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a data-wpel-link=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/viewpoint-on-mormonism.blubrry.net\/splinter-groups-kingstons-part-3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow external\">Part 3&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a>Interview with Doris Hanson&nbsp;<a data-wpel-link=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/viewpoint-on-mormonism.blubrry.net\/splinter-groups-kingstons-doris-hanson-part-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow external\">Part 1<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a data-wpel-link=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/viewpoint-on-mormonism.blubrry.net\/splinter-groups-kingstons-doris-hanson-part-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow external\">&nbsp;Part 2<\/a> &nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary One of the most controversial splinter groups of Mormonism, the Latter Day Church of Christ, has been led by members of the Kingston family since it was founded in 1935. The church has received notoriety in two main areas: 1) A polygamous lifestyle and emphasis on arranged incestuous marriages between close relatives, and 2) [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1256],"tags":[1445,1441,1442,1443,1444],"class_list":["post-28833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mormon-splinter-groups","tag-davis","tag-kingston","tag-kingstons","tag-latter-day-church-of-christ","tag-united-order"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Splinter Group: Latter Day Church of Christ (Davis County Cooperative Society, United Order) - Mormonism Research Ministry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Summary One of the most controversial splinter groups of Mormonism, the Latter Day Church of Christ, has been led by members of the Kingston family since\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/kingstons\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Splinter Group: Latter Day Church of Christ (Davis County Cooperative Society, United Order) - Mormonism Research Ministry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Summary One of the most controversial splinter groups of Mormonism, the Latter Day Church of Christ, has been led by members of the Kingston family since\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/kingstons\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mormonism Research Ministry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MormonismResearchMinistry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-07-02T22:24:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-21T19:07:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/mrm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/download.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eric Johnson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@mrmdotorg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@mrmdotorg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eric Johnson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"23 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mrm.org\\\/kingstons#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mrm.org\\\/kingstons\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Eric Johnson\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mrm.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a094c8a2f0a219795a02ed0050e6f2b6\"},\"headline\":\"Splinter Group: Latter Day Church of Christ (Davis County Cooperative Society, United Order)\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-07-02T22:24:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-21T19:07:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mrm.org\\\/kingstons\"},\"wordCount\":4547,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mrm.org\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mrm.org\\\/kingstons#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mrm.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/07\\\/download.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"davis\",\"kingston\",\"kingstons\",\"latter day church of christ\",\"united order\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Splinter Groups\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mrm.org\\\/kingstons\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mrm.org\\\/kingstons\",\"name\":\"Splinter Group: Latter Day Church of Christ (Davis County Cooperative Society, United Order) - 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He has coauthored\u00a0Answering Mormons\u2019 Questions\u00a0(Kregel, 2012) and\u00a0Mormonism 101\u00a0(Baker, 2015) with Bill McKeever. He has also penned\u00a0Mormonism 101 for Teens\u00a0(MRM, 2016). 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