Michael Brooks
La Luz del Mundo (LLDM) is a nontrinitarian Christian denomination with headquarters in Guadalajara, Mexico. It was founded in 1926 during the Mexican Cristero War, a conflict between the secular, anti-clerical government and Catholic rebels. LLDM teaches that there was no salvation on Earth between the death of the last Apostle around 96 AD and the calling of Aarón Joaquín in 1926. Members believe that the Church was founded by Jesus Christ and that it has been restored by Aarón Joaquín. LLDM has been described as a cult and has been accused of discriminating against women, with women being taught to submit to their husbands and not allowed to become ministers or hold major leadership roles within the Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of religion | Nontrinitarian Christian denomination in the Restorationist tradition |
| Location | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Leaders | Aarón Joaquín, Samuel Joaquín Flores, and Naasón Joaquín García |
| Beliefs | Jesus Christ founded the Church two thousand years ago, but it became corrupt after the deaths of the Apostles |
| There was no salvation on Earth between the death of the last Apostle and the calling of Aarón Joaquín in 1926 | |
| Aarón Joaquín was the restoration of the original Christian Church | |
| Apostles are directly chosen and sent by God to "preach the will of God and Salvation" | |
| Women are considered equal to men in social spheres and have equal capacities for obtaining higher education and pursuing careers | |
| Women cannot become ministers or serve in major leadership roles within the Church and are taught to submit to their husbands | |
| Women wear a head covering during religious meetings | |
| Members are treated as "second-class citizens" and the church is called a "sect" in an offensive manner in Mexico | |
| The founder, Aarón Joaquín, was beaten by Cristeros and jailed by the government for preaching in a public space | |
| The church has been described as a cult | |
| The church has been accused of abuse |
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What You'll Learn
La Luz del Mundo is a non-trinitarian Christian denomination
La Luz del Mundo (which translates to "Light of the World") is a non-trinitarian Christian denomination that emerged in the 1920s in Guadalajara, Mexico. It was founded by Eusebio Joaquín González, also known as Aarón Joaquín, during the Mexican Revolution and Cristero War, a period marked by social and political conflicts between the secular, anti-clerical government and Catholic rebels.
La Luz del Mundo is considered a Restorationist movement within Christianity, believing that the original Church founded by Jesus Christ became corrupt and was lost following the death of the last Apostle, John, around 96 AD. They teach that their church is the restoration of primitive Christianity, with Aarón Joaquín seen as a modern-day apostle of Jesus Christ, chosen by God to preach His will and offer salvation.
This religious group has faced discrimination and been labelled as a "sect" in Mexico, with members claiming to be treated as “second-class citizens." La Luz del Mundo has established a strategic alliance with the Mexican state to counter Catholic influence, and its friendly relationship with the government has granted it acknowledgement and legitimacy.
La Luz del Mundo practices a form of Pentecostalism, incorporating elements from Mexican and Catholic cultures to create a syncretic religion. It has evolved into an authoritarian church with a hierarchical structure, centred around powerful and charismatic leaders. These leaders are regarded as direct descendants of God's apostles and are believed to be divinely chosen.
The current leader, Naasón Joaquín García, is revered by his followers as God's only living apostle. However, he has faced criminal charges, including sex abuse, human trafficking, and possession of child pornography. Despite these allegations, the church remains loyal to García, who continues to lead from prison.
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It was founded in 1926 by Aarón Joaquín
La Luz del Mundo, or "The Light of the World", is a nontrinitarian Christian denomination founded in 1926 by Aarón Joaquín. The full name of the church is "Iglesia del Dios Vivo, Columna y Apoyo de la Verdad, La Luz del Mundo", which translates to "Church of the Living God, Pillar and Ground of the Truth, The Light of the World". The church is headquartered in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Aarón Joaquín, born Eusebio Joaquín González, established La Luz del Mundo on April 6, 1926. Joaquín was born in 1896 or 1898 in Colotlán, Jalisco, Mexico, into a family of limited means. During the Mexican Revolution, he joined the Constitutionalist Army and fought against the rebels from 1915 until the end of the war in 1921, remaining in the army until 1926. In that year, while working in Coahuila, he encountered ministers of the Apostolic Church of Faith in Christ Jesus, after which he left the army.
Joaquín was reportedly beaten by Cristeros and jailed by the government for preaching in a public space. In 1934, he founded the first officially recognized temple of La Luz del Mundo in the San Juan de Dios colony in Guadalajara. He supported himself by working as a street vendor, selling shoes and Bibles outside temples.
La Luz del Mundo teaches that there was no salvation on Earth between the death of the last Apostle (Apostle John) around 96 AD and the calling of Aarón Joaquín in 1926. Members believe that the Church was founded by Jesus Christ around two thousand years ago and that after the deaths of the Apostles, it became corrupt and was lost. La Luz del Mundo claims that through Joaquín, it represents the restoration of the primitive Christian church that was lost during the formation of the Catholic Church.
La Luz del Mundo has been referred to as a cult, with some drawing comparisons to the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) group in the Philippines. The church has faced discrimination in Mexico, which has been attributed to the influence of the Catholic Church.
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The church is headquartered in Guadalajara, Mexico
La Luz del Mundo (LLDM) is a nontrinitarian Christian denomination with roots in Mexico. It was founded in 1926 during the Mexican Cristero War, a conflict between the secular, anti-clerical government and Catholic rebels. The church's full name in Spanish is Iglesia del Dios Vivo, Columna y Apoyo de la Verdad, La Luz del Mundo, which translates to Church of the Living God, Pillar and Ground of The Truth, The Light of the World. The name is derived from two passages in the Bible: 1 Timothy 3:15 and Matthew 5:14.
The church is headquartered in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The first temple of La Luz del Mundo was founded in 1934 in the San Juan de Dios neighbourhood of Guadalajara. The neighbourhood surrounding the temple is known as Hermosa Provincia and is inhabited almost exclusively by members of the church. In 2000, the church purchased a 140-hectare zoo called Silver Wolf Ranch on the outskirts of Seguin, Texas.
The church's flagship temple is located in Guadalajara and is pyramidal in shape with an innovative structure. In addition to the flagship temple, La Luz del Mundo has several other unique buildings, including a replica of a Mayan pyramid in Honduras, a mock Taj Mahal in Chiapas, and a Greco-Roman-inspired temple in Texas.
The church has faced accusations of discrimination, with members being treated as "second-class citizens" and referred to as a "sect" in an offensive manner in Mexico. There have also been protests from members of neighbouring communities regarding the use of schools to shelter church pilgrims during the Holy Supper celebration.
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It has been described as a cult
La Luz del Mundo (which translates to "Light of the World") is a nontrinitarian Christian denomination in the Restorationist tradition, with headquarters in Guadalajara, Mexico. The church was founded in 1926 during the Mexican Cristero War, a conflict between the secular, anti-clerical government and Catholic rebels.
La Luz del Mundo teaches that there was no salvation on Earth between the death of the last Apostle around 96 AD and the calling of Aarón Joaquín in 1926. Members believe that the Church was founded by Jesus Christ around two thousand years ago, and that after the deaths of the Apostles, the church became corrupt and was lost. La Luz del Mundo claims that through Aarón Joaquín, it is the restoration of the primitive Christian church that was lost during the formation of the Catholic Church.
Despite its roots in Christianity, La Luz del Mundo has been described as a cult by some. This characterization may be due to several factors, including its authoritarian structure, dynastic leadership, and allegations of abuse and control over its members.
The church has evolved into an authoritarian institution with a well-defined hierarchy that sustains its authority and control over its members. It functions around two powerful, charismatic figures: its founder, Aarón Joaquín, and its current leader, Naasón Joaquín García, who are regarded as modern-day apostles of Jesus Christ. The Joaquín family has led the church for at least three generations, with Naasón Joaquín García taking over from his father, Samuel Joaquín Flores, in 2014.
There have been several allegations of abuse and misconduct by La Luz del Mundo leaders. In recent years, García has been accused of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and possession of child pornography. He was arrested and charged with these crimes, and the trial is currently ongoing. Additionally, there are reports of abuse and grooming of women and children within the church, with some members sharing their stories through platforms like Reddit and Netflix documentaries.
The church has also been criticized for its control over its members. It has established a presence in colonias populares in Mexico, and its churches are usually financed and constructed by local congregation members. While women in the church are considered equal to men in social spheres and encouraged to pursue education and careers, they are not allowed to become ministers or hold major leadership positions. They are taught to submit to their husbands and have specific religious practices, such as wearing a head covering during meetings.
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La Luz del Mundo has been discriminated against by the Catholic Church
La Luz del Mundo (LLDM) is a nontrinitarian Christian denomination in the Restorationist tradition, with international headquarters in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It was founded in 1926 during the Mexican Cristero War, a struggle between the secular, anti-clerical government and Catholic rebels.
LLDM teaches that there was no salvation on Earth between the death of the last Apostle (Apostle John) around 96 AD and the calling of Aarón Joaquín in 1926. Members believe that the Church was founded by Jesus Christ approximately two thousand years ago and that after the deaths of the Apostles, the church became corrupt and was lost. LLDM claims that through Aarón Joaquín, it is the restoration of the primitive Christian church that was lost during the formation of the Catholic Church.
According to sociologist Rodolfo Morán Quiroz, the discrimination against LLDM started by the Catholic Church and continues in Mexico. Church founder Aarón Joaquín was reportedly beaten by Cristeros and jailed by the government for preaching in a public space. In 1995, as thousands of members of the church traveled to the Holy Supper celebration in Guadalajara, several members of a neighboring community supported by a Catholic cardinal protested the use of schools to provide temporary shelters for church pilgrims. Protesters said that after the ceremony, the schools were left in disarray; however, church authorities presented photographic evidence to newspapers to contradict these claims.
In addition, LLDM has been accused of being a cult, with its top leader, Naasón Joaquín García, sentenced to 16 years in prison for sex abuse charges. The California attorney general’s office, which prosecuted the case, stated that Garcia used his authority within the church to coerce young girls into sex acts. Garcia denies these allegations. However, abuse survivors have shared their stories on online platforms, connecting with each other and exposing the abuses they suffered at the hands of LLDM leaders.
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Frequently asked questions
No, La Luz del Mundo is a nontrinitarian Christian denomination in the Restorationist tradition. It was founded in 1926 during the Mexican Cristero War, a conflict between the secular, anti-clerical government and Catholic rebels.
La Luz del Mundo is Spanish for "The Light of the World".
Members of La Luz del Mundo believe that the Church was founded by Jesus Christ around two thousand years ago. They believe that after the deaths of the Apostles, the church became corrupt and was lost. La Luz del Mundo claims that it is the restoration of the primitive Christian church through Aarón Joaquín, who is regarded as a modern-day apostle of Jesus Christ.
La Luz del Mundo has been described as a sect in Mexico, where it faces discrimination. It has established a strategic alliance with the Mexican state to counteract Catholic influence, and its friendly relationship with the government has given it acknowledgment and legitimacy.
