Overview
Jeffrey Lundgren led a small religious splinter group that separated from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now known as the Community of Christ. The separation occurred in the late 1980s, during a period when Lundgren presented increasingly independent teachings and claimed religious authority within the group.
The movement developed an apocalyptic outlook. Members reportedly prepared for a future conflict connected with the historic temple in Kirtland, Ohio, and some took part in paramilitary-style training and unusual group rituals. These practices should not be treated as representative of the Community of Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon and Latter-day Saint communities generally.
A necessary distinction
This page concerns the actions of one leader and a very small breakaway group. It is not a description of mainstream Latter-day Saint belief, practice or community life. “Cult” is retained here only as a historical descriptor used in discussions of the case; it is not a label for an entire religious tradition.
The Avery family case
In 1989, Dennis and Cheryl Avery and their three daughters were killed after tensions developed between the family and Lundgren's group. The family had belonged to the movement, but disagreements over Lundgren's decisions and authority reportedly intensified. The victims were buried on property associated with the group, and the case later became central to the prosecution.
The killings were framed by Lundgren in religious terms, but religious language does not lessen the criminal responsibility involved. The case illustrates how concentrated authority, isolation, apocalyptic certainty and obedience can combine to create serious risks inside a closed movement.
Trial and later proceedings
Lundgren was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to death in Ohio. His wife and son also received lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the crimes. Contemporary reporting described the trial as involving the group's beliefs about an approaching second coming and Lundgren's claim that violence against the Avery family had been religiously justified.
The death sentence and appeals belong to the historical record of the case. This article does not attempt to provide current legal advice or a complete procedural history; readers seeking precise case-law details should consult authoritative legal and archival sources.
Why the case is studied
For students of religion, the Lundgren case raises questions about the boundary between religious freedom and criminal conduct, the dangers of unaccountable leadership, and the ways apocalyptic narratives can be used to demand loyalty. It also demonstrates why researchers should distinguish a small splinter movement from the wider tradition from which it emerged.