Church of 'Holy Ghost' accused of sex abuse, death threats

MAGNA — Accusations of sex abuse and assassination threats are swirling around a small religious group led by a man who claims to be the Holy Ghost. He calls the charges a pack of lies, but they prompted a raid by the Secret Service, the FBI and child protection investigators.

Six weeks ago, officers surrounded and searched the Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven's headquarters in Magna, interrogating members for hours. According to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, they found nothing.

If the charges are lies, they reveal a most unusual church, torn apart by bitter personal and religious feuds.

Two weeks ago, KSL News trailed the church's members as they left Utah in a convoy of vehicles. It was a long-planned move at the direction of their prophet, Terrill Dalton, who says it's been revealed he's the Holy Ghost and the father of Jesus.

"From the Lord I've been told, yes, that's who I am," Dalton said.

For years, he and numerous followers lived in a duplex in Magna. Michael Stevenson, a former apostle in Dalton's church, has now unleashed a blizzard of allegations, including fondling of children and exhibitionist sex acts at church meetings.

"In front of everybody in their group," Stevenson said. "Even the children were present."

"I never, ever would allow that," Dalton told KSL News. "But knowing that somebody could accuse me; and more than that, that somebody might actually believe the allegation, that makes me upset."

In the group's 500 pages of scripture, Dalton and church member Geody Harman are called the "Two Witnesses." Stevenson claims they've repeatedly threatened assassination of President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush and others.

"And they claim that one of their duties as the 'Two Witnesses' is to go up to President (Thomas S.) Monson of the LDS Church, and that they're required to kill him when it comes time. They claim that he's the man of sin," Stevenson said.

"False!" Dalton responded. "False, false, false, false, false. I mean, all the way down that list."

The raid on the duplex apparently produced no evidence of assassination plots; the Secret Service closed its case, according to the sheriff's office.