BYU has documented the “One Mighty and Strong” who is in my novel, “Plural Bride to Be”, and who lived on my family’s farm with some of his wives in trailers when I was a child and teen. A BYU graduate student wrote on this subject and his work is in the restricted section of the library.
Anyone who has read my novel would recognize this crack pot “prophet.” My family worshipped this creepy guy and let him host his self-styled religious services in our living room regularly. In fact my parents named two of my brothers after him. The youngest boy is Loren, the prophet’s middle name. The brother just younger than me is Bill, the nick name for his first name, William. His full name is William Loren Goldman.
I had no idea that such a small time pervert would be listed at BYU as one of the many Mighty and Strong candidates as this guy had probably fewer than one hundred followers in his prime. He was working on collecting others but antagonized and lost some of them by starting to drink coffee and wine which my mother and some others abhorred. He also made wild claims about meeting Satan face to face and also Jesus and other departed deities. He said Satan was all sparkly red with no need for joints or bones, something like a gumby man, I think. Some of these tales were just too ridiculous even for my parents and other naive followers who fell away.
My exmo brother, Bill, at age 19 or so was the last in my family to see him. The prophet guy showed up at the door and asked for sugar for his coffee. He stood around and tried to make conversation but my unreceptive brother put him off and he left before anyone else arrived home.
One of this guy’s grown children once answered a post I wrote on RfM. It’s my understanding that he abandoned many of his wives and offspring, but I can’t be sure. My brother said he was travelling alone and was likely living in his car.
I assume few remember him with much honor or respect. Or am I unfairly attributing my own opinions to others regarding this Mighty and Strong wanna-be?
Does anyone know where this Mighty and Strong myth originated?
Did you hear of it when you were a member?

Here’s a link to a list of Ones Mighty and Strong over the centuries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Mighty_and_Strong
The footnote 12 referred to in the link above seems not to be available (restricted by BYU).
https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/MTNZ/id/31163

An institution of higher learning where knowledge is 'restricted'?

For whose benefit?

Some truths are not very useful.

Some truths are not very useful for you to know about us . . .


I believe that you can learn how to build an atomic bomb from the literature available to the public, but BYU needs to restrict religious information?


You better be able to explain this, Summer, or it's all your fault!

That’s why it’s called “Intellectual Reserve”, which sounds like a Ben & Jerry’s flavor to try when you’re feeling adventurous.

And in contrast, some things that are useful are not very true.

Most, perhaps all university libraries have materials that are restricted access. This would be materials that cannot be replaced (example, presidential papers donated to a library), ancient or unique one-off manuscripts, documents required to be kept inaccessible for a number of years as a condition of the donation of the docs to the library, etc.

There are a boatload of reasons for various levels of restricted access.

I agree.

And of that boatload, one reason is that many particular truths are inconvenient, in that they embarrass someone or something, as seems to be the case in this instance.

Most likely knew before it was made so clear in the H. Potter books and movies.

Lucky you!

Do you get to sign autograps?

I don't usually sign them because most are sold on kindle on Amazon and I have no idea who is buying them.

I have a hard copy from Cheryl!! It is a good read. The prophet she mentions in the book is difficult to define in a single adjective. How could folks believe in him as a spokesman for god?

Thank you Eric for your hard work and dedication and to the many other posters who inspired me.

I agree. It's hard to understand how cult followers can be so gullible.

Cheryl: you might have utilized this Wiki item before, but I repost this because the chart strikes me as encyclopedic, regarding the off-shoots.

But then, there are those micro-groups. In his book, "Secrets and Wives: The Hidden World of Mormon Polygamy, Sanjiv Bhattacharya examined some of these off-the-radar groups. I found lots of interesting material, and he addresses them from outside-the-Christian tradition (he's atheist and Indian). I was, ultimately, disappointed, because he kept raising the question, "Do the leaders of these groups REALLY believe what they preach, or are they self-seeking grifters?" He could never answer the question.

When we think of "cults," we usually think of denomination-sized groups, but there are lots out there, some very small, and many that are political, sci-fi, psychological/self-help, New Age, and so on. They come to our attention only when something very weird or tragic occurs, such as the mass suicide of Heaven's Gate or the branding and genital um...mutilation of NKIVM "celebrity sex" cult.

Your micro-LDS groups fit these criteria perfectly. What do you think, Cheryl? Are they true believers (in themselves), or just in it for the power, prestige, pride and sex?

I think these cult leaders talk themselves into believing their own hype. They do love the power, prestige, and sex, but they also often feed on the energy of their followers and think God must favor them over all other mortal men. Otherwise, why would followers be worshiping, raving and and praising them as they do?

He was at her parents house in Scottsdale, Arizona.
I went to pick her up for a date,
He didn't seem like much of a deity to me.
Wasn't very Mighty with only a few ragtag followers.
Didn't look as Strong as me.
But, of course, I'm not impressed with even more famous ones either.
Like Gordon B. Hinckley, the Pope, et al.
After I met him I took Cheryl out for a date.
Starting with evil coffee.
Glad that "Prophet" isn't breathing air on my planet.
He's on Kolob now. LOL
Jerry

They certainly have more power and exposure than the polygamist crackpots who are more isolated from from mainstream notice.

Is it worse to intimidate and lie to millions than to a hundred or so naive followers?

I'd say little polygamous cults usually harm individuals worse but at least there are vastly fewer victims than in the SLC mainstreamers.

Also, the regular church leaders often aide and abet the worst cultists because they want to hide what happens and avoid publicity that would reflect poorly on all of Utah and on the many factions in mormonism.

If either of you* ever find yourselves in New England...

:+)

*Invitation applies to any RfM'ers.

> His full name is William Loren Goldman.


Is this the guy's 1st wife?

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KWZ3-B2Z/hilda-heiner-1907-1995

I can't be absolutely certain.

I did meet Hilda first wife a few times, but of course she looked much different at that time.

I grew up hearing stories of "The One Mighty and Strong" a white Indian chief, currently living in an invisible city in the Yucatan, who would one day come to Utah, restore polygamy and "set God's house in order."

Ogden Kraut wrote a book about "The one mighty and strong."

So did Rhea Kunz.

He is sometimes referred to as "The one like unto Moses."

There might be a reference to him in Isaiah.

I forgot to mention that Joel LeBaron claimed to be TOM&S.

So did Ervil LeBaron.

So did Ben LeBaron.

So did Chris Nemlka.

I think any number of polygamous cult leaders have at least implied that they are TOM&S.

Who knows? Maybe I am TOM*S. It doesn't say the MAN mighty and strong, only the ONE mighty and strong.

No need for me to restore polygamy.

It never went away.

It's well represented throughout Utah and adjoining states. AND there are also still covert polygamists in many mainstream wards. Keep your eyes and ears open and check into it where it surfaces.

I must have been the most oblivious child in Nibley Park Ward.

As an adult, I have been told that many of my childhood playmates were from polygamous families. As a child, I was clueless.

The story I was told was that parents were divorced.

Of course, both stories could be true.

Lois

(Mebbe Superman is TOM&S. I'll ask him.)