{"id":108400,"date":"2021-02-08T16:38:01","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T00:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=108400"},"modified":"2021-07-22T15:37:35","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T22:37:35","slug":"q973-summary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=108400","title":{"rendered":"Q973 Summary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

To read the Tape Transcript,\u00a0click here<\/a>. To read the Annotated Tape Transcript,\u00a0click here<\/a>.
\nListen to MP3 (Pt. 1<\/a>,\u00a0Pt. 2<\/a>). To return to the Tape Index, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FBI Catalogue<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jones Speaking<\/p>\n

FBI preliminary tape identification note: <\/strong>Labeled in part \u201c8\/15\/73\u201d<\/p>\n

Date cues on tape:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tape contents consistent with identification note<\/p>\n

People named<\/strong><\/p>\n

Members of Peoples Temple:<\/em>
\nLee Ingram
\nLisa\/Alisa\/Aretha Grey
\nMabel Johnson
\nLynetta Jones, mother of Jim Jones [by reference]
\nGeorge Lewis (speaks)<\/strong>
\nJane Mutschmann<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Members of Peoples Temple, full name unknown:<\/em>
\nSister Anderson
\nSister Atkins
\n\u201cthe Baker boy\u201d
\nBrown
\nCooper
\nGarrison
\nJackson
\nMarsh
\nSister Mason (could be either Francine Mason or Irene Mason)
\nSister Robinson
\nSister Younger<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Public figures\/National and international names:<\/em>
\nSenator Edward Brooke (R-Mass)
\nAdolf Hitler, German Fuhrer
\nJoe Johnson, deputy mayor of San Francisco<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joseph H. Jackson, president of Black Baptist convention
\nKathryn Kuhlman, American evangelist
\nOral Roberts, American evangelist
\nA. A. Allen, American evangelist
\nDon Stewart, American evangelist
\nGeorge Bedford, San Francisco Baptist minister<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Samuel Goldwyn, movie mogul
\nJames Thurman Jones, father of Jim Jones [by reference]<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bible verses cited: <\/strong><\/p>\n

(Editor’s note<\/strong>: The verses below appear in order of biblical reference, not as they appear in Jim Jones\u2019 address. For a complete scriptural index to the sermons of Jim Jones, click here<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

    \u201cLot\u2013 dirty old Lot\u2013 Lot had a couple of angels\u2013 Angels are supposed to be able to fly. Couple of messengers dropped in on Lot, and Lot was very honored that a couple of angels dropped in, but a mob got outside, they wanted get the angels. That makes no sense. Nothing in that book makes any sense. If they flew in, why didn\u2019t they fly out? But the angels flew in, and the mob comes and wants to get the angel, and Lot goes to the door. Lot\u2013 good old righteous Lot. He comes to the door and he says, I\u2019ve got some young virgins, daughters here. My young daughters has never known any man. He says, now if you\u2019ll spare the angels\u2013 stupid ass angels oughta been able to spare themselves.\u201d (Genesis 19:1-16)<\/p>\n

    \u201cGod told him to do it. He read it in the Bible, where Abraham gave up his son. Abraham laid Isaac there, and gonna murder him.\u201d (Genesis 22)<\/p>\n

    \u201cJephthah gave up his daughter. Jephthah made some kind of a stupid vow. Jepthatah went out and said, if you let me win the battle of Ammon, let me fight this battle, and if I win this battle, God, he said, I\u2019ll make a blood sacrifice, the first one comes through my door. Well, Jephthah was a great prophet. Who came through his door? His daughter. He said, well, I\u2019m sorry. He said, I\u2019m gonna kill you. He said, you can go around and bemoan your fate for two\u2013 two months, and he let her go around bewailing her condition for two months, and after that, he burned her alive. That was the custom of the day, because God told him to do it.\u201d (Judges 11)<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s in the Book of Solomon, talking about who can piss the\u2013 and it\u2019s that word. He pisseth over a wall. I\u2013 I\u2013 I think it\u2019s just stupid to figure out who could piss over the wall. That\u2019s why I suppose all little boys have been doing it for the last 2,000 years. Every time they get the little, they get out and see who can do it the furthest.\u201d (Could be 1 Kings 14:10)<\/p>\n

    \u201cThey don\u2019t even know who his granddaddy was.\u201d (Matthew 1:1-17, compared to Luke 3:23-38).<\/p>\n

    \u201cOne place it says immediately after he was baptized with the Holy Ghost, he went into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights, and was tempted of the devil. Another writer said three days later he was at Cana of Galilee, turning the water into wine, having a good time with a bunch of drunks.\u201d (Matthew 4:1-2, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-2; contrasted with John 1:32, 2:1, 2:9).<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt said Jesus walked on water. Were you there?\u201d (Matthew 14:25, \u201cAnd in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.\u201d)<\/p>\n

    \u201cAnd the woman gets up in her eighties and danced all around this Temple this week. Didn\u2019t she? Danced all around. The beautiful Los Angeles Temple danced, praised, rejoiced, went home made every whit whole\u2026 And he danced around here and clapped hands and shook hands with all of you, and you saw that he was made every whit whole.\u201d (John 7:23, \u201c\u2026are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?\u201d)<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt is written, ye are gods. He said, why do you call\u2013 crucify me for calling myself the Son of God?\u2026 He said it is written, ye are gods and sons of the most high.\u201d (John 10:34-36)<\/p>\n

    \u201cHe said those that come after me will do greater things than I\u2026 and they that come after me, these things shall they do, and greater because I have come and gone to the Father.\u201d (John 14:12, \u201cVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father\u201d).<\/p>\n

    \u201cHe said I\u2019m only the first born of many brethren.\u201d (Romans 8:28-29, \u201cAnd we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.\u201d)<\/p>\n

    \u201cEven though Paul said I count all crap. He called it dung. In Hebrew that\u2019s the dirtiest word. That\u2019s the dirtiest word for S-H-I-T. He said I count all dung that I might know the revolution, the anointing, the Christ\u2026 Paul said dirty word, as I said, dung, and you go look it up, and that\u2019s the worse word for a bowel movement you can find.\u201d (Philippians 3:8, \u201cYea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ\u201d).<\/ol>\n

    Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    (Editor’s note:<\/strong> This tape was transcribed by Georgiana Mamlakah. The editors gratefully acknowledge her invaluable assistance.)<\/em><\/p>\n

    In this address delivered before the San Francisco congregation of Peoples Temple in August of 1973, Jim Jones speaks about the advantages of belonging to his church over any other. The comparison is made on several levels.<\/p>\n

    First, Jones goes after the King James Bible, detailing the inconsistencies, violence, justifications for slavery and other fatal flaws, not only with the text of the book itself, but of the men \u2013 drunken whoremongers and slaveowners \u2013 who wrote it. He attacks it for its use as an instrument of enslavement, and asserts that the only reason they believe in it is because their grandparents did.<\/p>\n

    Even as he disparages the Bible, though, he quotes it approvingly when it gives him permission to declare himself and his followers as gods, and to remind them that that book empowers them to do even greater things than Jesus did.<\/p>\n

    But the criticism is not limited to Christian churches, but to Muslims, Buddhists, the Church of Satan and to atheistic churches as well. \u201cI am an enemy<\/em> of organized religion,\u201d he declares early in the address. \u201cI will not stop until I see organized religion destroyed<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

    It isn\u2019t just the churches that people belong to, but the Skygod that people have erroneously put their faith in. So what is the alternative, he asks rhetorically, \u201cwhat do you base your faith<\/em> on?\u201d His answer: \u201cFaith in Jim Jones, faith in the people that are around<\/em> Jim Jones, faith in the people that walk<\/em> with Jim Jones.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The ministry of Peoples Temple is much more than they would find any other place. In the Temple, he tells them, the sick are healed, the lame are made to walk, the dead are raised back to life. The protection extends beyond the Temple\u2019s walls, to prevent fatal accidents involving his followers.<\/p>\n

    He also reminds the congregation of the other, more tangible things the Temple does, including getting people out of jail, standing with them in court, advocating for them in welfare offices, providing money to help with a mortgage or a month\u2019s rent. \u201cNow you say, you don\u2019t know why you should belong to this church. Honey, you better begin to ask why you don\u2019t<\/em> belong to this church.\u201d<\/p>\n

    There is one more reason for people to belong to the church, and that is the political power they have to get things done. Beyond the services to individuals, they have opportunities to make larger impacts upon public policy itself, because of their strength in numbers and the influence that gives them. \u201cHow many times health department was going to condemn a building, or how many times pensions were gonna be cut off, how many times welfare was gonna be cut, we get my people in there and it\u2019d be stopped<\/em>. \u201cThe city of San Francisco recognizes that. According to Jones, the deputy mayor told him, \u201cyou people are the only hope for Blacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

    His purpose in telling them all this, he declares near the end of the tape, is that \u201cI want to get something across to you, why you\u2019re a church, why we are a group, why we are a family.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Most of this language \u2013 including the scripture he quotes \u2013 is familiar to members of Peoples Temple, but at times he seems to be deliberately provoking newcomers and visitors. Throughout the address, some people in the pews have apparently had enough, and get up to leave. Jones calls after them, telling them not to bother to return when they have cancer or when they fall into financial destitution, as they surely will. \u201cI got some sister over there shook up till she feels really upset. Remember when you get homeless, there\u2019ll be nobody to take you in. These churches won\u2019t take you in\u2026 [Y]ou feel all upset with me, but when you get out of a home, there\u2019s only one person that\u2019s gone take you in.\u201d<\/p>\n

    FBI Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Date of transcription: 7\/6\/79<\/p>\n

    In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\u2019s investigation into the assassination of U.S. Congressman LEO J. RYAN at Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America, on November 18, 1978, a tape recording was obtained. This tape recording was located in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, and was turned over to U.S. Officials in Guyana and subsequently transported to the United States.<\/p>\n

    On June 23, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B110-7R38. This tape was found to contain the following:<\/p>\n

    A recording of JIM JONES praising himself and talking about the Bible and how it degrades the Black man.<\/p>\n

    Differences with FBI Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The summary is accurate and meets the FBI\u2019s purposes.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tape originally posted\u00a0February 2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you. To read the Tape Transcript,\u00a0click here. To read the Annotated Tape Transcript,\u00a0click here. Listen to MP3 (Pt. 1,\u00a0Pt. 2). To return to the Tape Index, click here. FBI Catalogue\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jones Speaking FBI preliminary tape identification note: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":27996,"menu_order":647,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-108400","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=108400"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110612,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108400\/revisions\/110612"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=108400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}