News of the Jonestown massacre sent shock waves around the world. We read and watched in unbelief as we received the grim reports of the suicides and executions at Jonestown, Guyana. Then as the story unfolded, we learned more of the inner workings of the People's Temple operation and how suicide pacts and suicide drills were conducted. Yet, many of the people who lived in the commune of Jonestown reported a happy and productive kind of life. Relatives and observers were shocked and puzzled by the way so many died in blind obedience to their leader, Jim Jones.

As the army troops (the grave registration unit) withdrew from Guyana, some new evidence came to light which was almost passed over. The Major in charge of the army operation reported with utter amazement, "There were no Bibles in Jonestown!" This fact demonstrates how the people of the cult were weaned away from their Christian belief to follow the teachings and the instructions of Jim Jones with total obedience. "Where there is no vision (revelation), the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" (Proverbs 29:18).

--North Fork Church of Christ bulletin, Mattituck, NY

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