del english church living god column ground truth light world simply del christian international headquarters mexico abbreviated practices form theology centered leaders founder born born men regarded church modern day jesus christ servants god church beginnings mexico violent struggle anti clerical government catholic rebels conflict centered west central states like focused missionary efforts given environment time del remained small missionary endeavor built temple church continued grow expand interrupted internal believed designated ministry lord revelation god son samuel son church present countries million adherents worldwide describes restoration primitive christianity use crosses images worship services members observe christmas holy week female members follow dress code includes long skirts head religious services church del church living god column support truth light world derived passages bible matthew history historical background born august young age joined mexican revolution leave met later married stationed state came contact teachings forbade followers good wear regular clothes baptized resigned army wife domestic workers 1920s mexico underwent period instability administration seeking limit influence catholic_church state religious sphere mexican society protest policies catholic_church suspended religious services bringing uprising mexico uprising war lasted 1930s april vision god changed later told leave wife served journey preached near entrances catholic churches facing religious persecution arrived december wars impacted catholic non catholic congregations especially evangelical movements small movements attacked government resulting hostile environment work early years working shoe formed group met wife apartment began constructing church hierarchy later charged minister oversee congregations early years late 1920s traveled states preach holy supper held commemorate jesus church met rural areas fearing complaints catholic neighbors contributed migrants countryside added significant members church temple built urban zone members encouraged buy homes neighborhood establishing community temple registered spiritual christian church claimed received god word dedication temple saying light world del church living god column ground truth church identify moved new meeting place street san_antonio southeast forming second small community populated mainly members community attempt escape hostile environment create society returned preach associates learned baptized formula jesus christ preached baptism jesus christ collaborator marked separation rest community significant members left church tensions began build birthday congregation gave gifts flowers sang hymns celebrating birthday celebration generated heated debate culminated church members including described power struggle accused having enriched expense faithful church took accuse members committing young women accusations aimed close temple government permission members attribute episode ambition formed group called good shepherd leadership doctrines practices similar leader considered prophet god membership mexico defected pastor baptized vision july baptism ordered jesus congregation baptized source legitimacy authenticity challenged gone able consolidate leadership church growth church city issues safety developed street meeting place late 1940s early 1950s purchased plot land outside city called beautiful province purchased land outskirts intent forming small community exclusively members land sold reduced prices church members community included services provided included health education urban services provided years partly help church received municipal non municipal authorities outside assistance obtain public services ended residents formed directly petition government received white flag city neighborhood city eliminated early 1970s started missionary efforts central_america early 1960s congregations missions death church members spread countries including mexico neighborhood standard model church replicated cities mexico countries born february leader church age death continued father desire international expansion traveling outside mexico extensively visited members church mexican state august later year went los_angeles missionary trip church expanded costa_rica colombia guatemala small temple demolished replaced larger work integrated church replicated model cities mexico abroad approximately members church increased million million says church growth attributed factors including social benefits improves living conditions believers oversaw construction schools hospitals social services produced church expanded countries including netherlands switzerland israel years head church died home december present december fifth born family spiritual leader international director church born previously served pastor los_angeles california year work continues lead church ambition fulfill promise received god vision grow number imagine perceive urges youth members church join spreading doctrine ends earth beliefs practices worship del religious services male female members separated worship preacher perspective women sit left temple men right church use musical instruments services dancing women cover heads veil worship services hymns sung cappella despite members listen instrumental music composed christian music singing sing time congregations practice songs maintain proper melody religious meetings church believes worship god temples devoid images saints crosses considered places worship plain walls wide clear windows church holds daily prayer meetings week meetings sundays regular sunday meet temple sunday school begins prayers hymns preacher usually minister talk reads bible presents material covered week talk common members sex read cited verse bible end talk hymns prayers recited voluntary offerings given sunday evening services begin hymns prayers members congregation sexes bible sing hymns shorter talk held aim deepening talk church holds scheduled prayer meetings day daily prayer meeting usually lasts hour service includes talk meant remember material covered sunday school prayer originally started wife female church member prayer meeting includes talk evening prayer structure meeting prayer meeting members expected prepared hymn books consecrated bible members believe bible teachings source christian doctrine source ministers lay persons talks prayer meetings organizational arrangements sunday school church authorities attempt maintain teachings beliefs congregations bible historical reference religious services members find cited bible verses quickly regardless level education seen sufficient rules faith salvation del teaches salvation earth death john calling members believe church founded jesus christ approximately thousand years ago deaths god church corrupt lost church claims restoration church lost formation roman_catholic_church times passed beginning ministry seen restoration original salvation attained church following bible based teachings leader calling servants god church states members believe calling servants god sent express god salvation believes called god restore succeeded death turn succeeded death teaches true christian church founded jesus christ led considers true servant god jesus christ era members believe allows find peace feel close god attain meaning lives hopes joining christ reign del rejects doctrine trinity later addition christian theology believes universal god jesus christ son god world trinity god essence jesus jesus christ god according teachings church baptism jesus christ forgiveness sins baptism holy spirit confirmation god entrance heaven disagreement external sources according theologian church jesus conform practice theological librarian agrees church says refuses use term person describe modes god says church worship focuses exclusively jesus christ source salvation role women tradition female members wear makeup instructed wear long skirts women hair short shoulder blades restrictions apply recreational activities wearing bathing suits permitted women wear head covering religious meetings according interview women church considered equal men social spheres equal capacities obtaining higher education social careers goals interest established prayer hearing followers abused catholic husband prayer led women prayers seen religious activity equal activities prayer provides space empowerment women express develop status congregation membership said concerning prayer membership considers female gathering giving authority women religious ecclesiastical framework ritual plane equality absence men said women church playing subordinate roles church acquire certain benefits church women attire according worn indigenous members specially designed female members says wearing long skirts meaning woman difference men women church female members feel like inferior human beings says women describe attire biblical commands found long hair female members church dress code makes feel honoring god essence states dress codes sign organization men forbidden growing hair long wearing shorts public women times autonomous general population mexico says growing trend educated women having husbands supporting roles seen church mexico houston texas congregations young female members said want undergo post secondary education told degree students young men women equally encouraged enter post compulsory education fathers members likely mothers direct daughters attending university practice women according women missionaries lowest tier church hierarchy states rank position common women states wives important members church usually rank according women active play key roles organizing activities church female office holders head groups women groups men help administer members ministerial hierarchy paid services members turn century began promoting women public relations positions previously held men december women men serve legal representatives church public relations positions held women include spokesperson director social communication assistant director international affairs church operated civil organizations women occupy executive positions director violence prevention intervention center south milwaukee director director president director usa beliefs practices church teaches moral civil principles community service science gift god members celebrate christmas holy week important yearly rituals spanish santa held yearly august anniversary birth held international headquarters organization ecclesiastical organization organization head church jesus christ representation servant god organizational authority general director church ranks expected develop qualities doctor prophet expected undertake missionary tasks doctors explain word god interpret administer members managers responsibility moral conduct certain groups congregation grant permits members wish leave congregations jobs outside church district lowest hierarchy laborers mainly assist higher ups missionary work territorial organization church group unable fully provide religious needs members called mission missions dependent congregation administered minister group congregations missions form district church nation divided multiple districts mexico districts form jurisdictions act legal entities architecture uses architecture temples express faith symbolism attract potential converts church buildings replica pyramid honduras mock mexico inspired temple california flagship temple located headquarters smaller temple built anchorage alaska chile symbolize northern southern reach church missionary efforts temple flagship temple innovative structure project began church temple built accommodate people deemed insufficient accommodate growing number people attended annual celebrations construction began july laid cornerstone lasted august temple completed largely members church notable architectural feature working class district outskirts city dozens institutions architects engineers invited submit proposals new temple design submitted final proposals font later awarded honorary degree structures said favorite works temple resurrection temple difficult temple built accommodate annual ceremonies building design represents infinite power existence god consists seven levels base symbolize steps human spirit perfection february laser beacon installed commemorate year anniversary founding july pinnacle temple replaced aaron rod ton bronze sculpture artist installation metre long structure required special crane main temple houston texas inspired architecture largest temple constructed united_states temple pillars resemble according religious historian building decorated carved scenes bible stained glass depict biblical scenes temple hold people interior marble floors glass wood structure worth million consists temple classrooms offices sitting area free standing columns circle temple column represents including temple aaron rod church symbol represents god power spiritual life believers large golden dome symbol reference church founder construction temple began finished construction church volunteers provided funding skilled workforce structure designed church members design revised architects ensure compliance building codes decorations ornaments designed installed church members temple serves central congregation southeastern texas statistics definitive statistics total membership reported having million members worldwide million mexico church appear mexican census census prior mexican census reported members nationwide census reported members numbers differ significantly census compared census figure said ambiguity census source world christian encyclopedia reports adherents mexico mexico estimated church members mexico williams estimated membership says membership numbers reported plausible given great interest generated religious authorities following receives mexico el_salvador estimated members congregations minister congregations members members controversy wake heaven gate mass suicide found embroiled controversy play mexico major media outlets members anti cult groups accusations church leadership church members defended integrity church academics denounced climate religious minorities mexico allegations potential mass suicide following heaven gate mass suicide march mexican journalists asked religious group home stage similar acts following day flagship program leader obscure anti cult group pointed group potential commit mass suicide claims based interview church members conducted years earlier denied claims arguing answers individuals entire community religious scholars characterized accusations fraudulent reports ideological enemies criticized employed interview noting interviewer subjects obtain desired response incident focused media attention church accusations broadcast mexico watched sexual abuse accusations day 35th wedding anniversary follow report handful women claimed sexually abused approximately years earlier report august shortly church significant holiday member accused sexually teenager accusations spearheaded anti cult group demanded stripped legal recognition religious organization people later filed formal complaints state prosecutor statute limitations alleged crimes passed issue came life february following year days birthday reported kidnapped stabbed gunmen received shallow dagger life danger died blood loss blamed stabbing earlier attack allegedly beaten men warned criticizing church leader church spokesman denied church involvement attack suggested orchestrated attack desperate attempt previous charges church judicial authorities investigating charges said alleged victims fully cooperative members suspicious mexican legal system arguing favored church years later spokesman state prosecutor said criminal complaints unsuccessful addition statute limitations accusations called controversy persecution fueled obscure interests journalist described issue campaign described dirty war exploited media criticized accusations brought mass media thought likely accusations attempt church bad image journalist called campaign characterized systematic use discrimination opposition new temple california acquired vacant nursery building commercial zone ontario california church planned use religious activities assured long building requirements met city passed law requiring new religious organizations obtain use permit operate church commercial zone church petitioned permit concerned residents objected plans professor board member led opposition church called destructive sect said seen children teenagers working overnight site conditions ontario officials met residents began researching church checking cities temples found problems considering questions citing traffic parking disruption economic plans area city denied permit church sued city denying use building services allegedly violating civil rights case settled court church allowed build temple city agreed pay cash fee credits church case taken court city officials attorneys concluded city likely lose case spend money settlement discrimination according members members protestant denominations treated second class citizens says church called sect offensive manner mexico said discrimination started catholic_church past caused seek help authorities promoted religious freedom establishing community continues mexico church founder beaten jailed government preaching open air thousands members church traveled holy supper celebration members neighboring community supported cardinal protested use schools provide temporary shelters pilgrims protesters said ceremony schools left disarray church authorities presented photographic evidence newspapers claims according students members church refusing celebrations customs concerning day dead schools punished case reported mexican newspaper female member church pushed fellow bus passenger crossed member wearing long skirt july public official sealed entrance del temple trapping congregation inside officials removed seals incident occurred complaints individuals like presence church area reporter stated church compliance local laws female church members faced discrimination verbal abuse buses schools hospitals church members patients mexican hospital denied access ministers hospital required permission catholic clergy ministers visit patients ministers church reported site newly constructed temple subject harassment members vandalism physical threats religious caused request increased police protection february seventy ministers different nations appeared mexican authorities lack police protection church residents city series attacks left members hospitalized
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