The Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God, also known as the Church of the Lamb of God, was a violent Latter Day Saint group founded by Ervil LeBaron that is responsible for dozens of deaths over two decades. After his death, it was run by several of his sons. Background When Joseph Smith founded the Latter Day Saint movement, Benjamin F. Johnson was one of his earliest followers. Johnson followed the church teaching and practiced polygamy, taking multiple wives. When the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints renounced polygamy, Johnson and his family, like many Mormon fundamentalists, continued the practice. In 1924, Johnson's grandson, Alma Dayer LeBaron, Sr. moved his family to Mexico, where the government showed no interest in prosecuting polygamists. They settled near Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua. Alma Dayer believed that Johnson was the rightful successor to Smith, and that Johnson had appointed Alma to follow him. After Alma's death, several of his sons claimed to be his true successor. In 1955, his son Joel founded The Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times and named himself the president. His brother Ervil became second-in-command, with full authority over their new settlement, known as Colonia LeBaron. A third brother, Verlan, also held a high position in the church. By 1967, tensions were rising between Joel and Ervil. Ervil began advocating for the return of the former Mormon principle of blood atonement. This required that a sinner must have their blood shed in order for them to have a place in heaven. Essentially, it required the death penalty for actions deemed crimes by Ervil. Joel refused to allow the practice into his church. The brothers also argued about the fate of their second Mexican colony, a ranch known as Los Molinos, in Baja California, Mexico. Joel intended the land to support future church recruits. Ervil wanted to develop the land as a resort. Foundation and fratricide By the late 1960s, Ervil LeBaron began preaching against his brother, accusing his brother of crimes against their faith. Proclaiming that he was the true successor to his father, Ervil began the Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God and named himself the president. Some of Joel's followers, including Daniel Ben Jordan and the Chynoweth and Rios families, switched their allegiance to Ervil. In 1972, Ervil orchestrated the murder of his brother, the first victim