
← Hidden Cults17 May · 32 min
Ep.54 Nation of Yahweh
The Nation of Yahweh began in Miami in the late 1970s under the leadership of Yahweh ben Yahweh, born Hulon Mitchell Jr., who preached that Black Americans were the true Israelites of the Bible and that he was the chosen son of God sent to lead them. What started as a movement focused on identity, discipline, and community rebuilding grew into a tightly controlled organization built around fear, obedience, and violence. Inside the Temple of Love, followers surrendered names, money, relationships, and personal freedom, while prosecutors later accused the group of operating through intimidation and murder. This episode follows the rise of the Nation of Yahweh in Miami, the people drawn into it, the violence tied to the movement, and the federal investigation that brought its leader down.
Part 1 – Hulon Mitchell Jr.: Oklahoma, Religion, and Reinvention (1935–1979)
Part 2 – Miami, the Temple of Love, and the Rise of the Nation (1979–Mid-1980s)
Part 3 – Fear Inside the Temple: Enforcers, Defectors, and Violence
Part 4 – Operation Jericho, Trial, and Conviction (1986–1992)
Part 5 – Prison, Release, Death, and What Remains (1992–Present)
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
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Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
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