Getting WSOD, can't view any errors even after editing index.php
I figured it out!

The .htaccess file in sites/defaults/files/  CAN NOT include Deny from all

The tutorial I referenced earlier mentioned that /temp/.htaccess should have this included, but it didn't say that if you included it in other files that it would crash your site.

As a side note: It would be great if there was a basic tutorial out there for .htaccess files so that I can get an understanding of everything that's going on here without having to spend months/years learning everything else associated with hosting a drupal website completely inside and out.