Customer Reviews

Prophet of Blood: The Untold Story of Ervil Lebaron and the Lambs of God

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This is the second book I've read about the LeBarons and it is a subject that I'm fascinated by and can't get enough of.
What a story this is.Its a story I don't think is totally over.
This book was written by 2 reporters who had covered the case extensively when Ervil was still alive. They did their homework and the book is interesting and engaging with a healthy dose of background, not only on the LeBaron family history, but the Mormon church and polygamist splinter groups as well.
I stayed up longer than I should have several nights reading this book. The story is laid out artfully and flows easily.
I think the authors made one big mistake though. The book only goes up to Ervil's death.I think the authors thought that with him in prison and then dead that the LeBaron cult died too.
They make that assumption in the last few pages of the book. They couldn't have been more wrong. What happened in the years after Ervil's 1981 death could fill another book. And it did.
I highly recommend that you check out Scott Anderson's excellent work-The four o'clock murders if you want to know the many twists and happenings that occurred after Prophet of the cult of the Church of the Lambs of God died in prison.

As I married into this infamous family, I too was fascinated about the history. I married one of Ervil's sons....one that broke away from his cult upbringing and went on to raise a family who followed the life and teachings of Jesus. (our family) He was just a little guy while most of this was going on....but the scars were there just the same. Growing up in a cult and never seeing his dad....raising himself with many brothers and sisters and sister wives....later on running away from the threat of being killed...and then breaking away and starting a new life and a wonderful family...replacing the shackles of the cult lifestyle with Jesus...now THAT is the story that continues today. Sure there are some remaining family members still practicing polygamy or running from the police or even still believing in the many initial cult practices. But the stories of those who left that behind and went on to live wonderful lives are the stories that are truly inspiring.

It is one difficult struggle to break free from the beliefs of a cult especially when you knew nothing else. My husband did. The real stories of moving forward against all odds would be an awesome thing to hear about as well.