Episode Details

The School of Prophets formed inside a fringe offshoot of Mormon fundamentalism, where a small circle of men claimed divine authority and the right to receive revelation. At the center were brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, whose apocalyptic beliefs grew darker and more rigid as they withdrew from outside influence. What began as a pursuit of purity soon twisted into a violent ideology. In 1984, the Lafferty brothers carried out two brutal murders they claimed were commanded by God, shocking their community and the country. This episode uncovers how the School of Prophets took shape, how its teachings fed the Laffertys’ extremist worldview, and how a theology of revelation became a pathway to terror.

Part 1 – The Revelation of Blood
Part 2 – Prophets Without a Church
Part 3 – The Removal Revelation
Part 4 – The Murders of 1984
Part 5 – Trials, Prisons, and Prophets
Part 6 – Faith, Fanaticism, and Fallout

From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.

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International Resources

• International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
  https://www.icsahome.com
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• Open Minds Foundation
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• The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
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• Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
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• FaithTrust Institute
  https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
  Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.

United States

• Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
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• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
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Canada 

• Cult & Trauma Support Resources 
• Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Montreal-based, Canada-wide) Website: https://infosecte.org
• Phone: 📞 514-274-2333
• Email: infosecte@qc.aira.com
• Canada’s leading organization for individuals and families affected by cults, coercive groups, and spiritual abuse.
• Offers confidential support, referrals, and information