The General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, often shortened to the Church of the First Born, is a fundamentalist Christian sect with historical ties to the Latter-Day Saint (LDS) movement, though it maintains no present-day affiliation with Mormon fundamentalist groups that use similar “Firstborn” names. The group has also been referred to by older labels such as “Faith Preachers,” “Christian Faith,” “True Followers,” or “Burtonites,” although its members historically called themselves the “Followers of Christ.”
The movement traces its origins to the mid-19th century through a succession of baptisms associated with John N. Burton, Elias Brewer, and David T. McDonald. Burton was later removed from the LDS Church for apostasy and denied re-membership in 1860 for what church records described as “impure motives.” This separation from the LDS Church is presumed to mark the beginning of Burton’s involvement in what would eventually develop into the Church of the Firstborn.
On September 1, 1869, Burton baptized Elias Brewer, followed by Brewer’s son-in-law, David T. McDonald, in 1870. McDonald had married Brewer’s daughter, Lucinda Catherine, in 1866 and was ordained to preach in Otoe County, Nebraska, around 1870. He claimed spiritual gifts including healing and was reported by followers to have raised the dead.
In 1873 McDonald relocated to Texas, but by late that year he was preaching near Chanute, Kansas. Around 1876, a revival took place near Arkansas City, Kansas, leading to the organization of a church commonly referred to as the “Followers of Christ.” Arkansas City soon functioned as a gathering point for members preparing for the Oklahoma land rush. By 1880, the group numbered several hundred in Kansas, meeting primarily in private homes or schoolhouses.
McDonald later moved to Linn County, Kansas, where he died in February 1892. After his death, his work was continued by Gen. Marion Reece of Chanute, Kansas, a Civil War veteran whom McDonald had baptized and immediately called to preach. Reece helped establish congregations throughout Oklahoma. Contemporary estimates suggested roughly 1,400 members in the region, though the church’s informal structure means such figures cannot be confirmed.
Reece’s brother-in-law, Charlie Smith, migrated with other members to Idaho, where they (and subsequent communities in Oregon City, Oregon, and parts of California) continued using the name “Followers of Christ.” These communities maintained historical and familial connections with the Church of the Firstborn. Other early preachers, including brothers Nathan and Tommy Parisho, founded congregations such as those in Indianapolis in 1896. Another itinerant preacher, Jim Hays, was said to have baptized more than 1,000 people across the Great Plains and into Canada.
The church’s organization developed informally. Assemblies were overseen by elders, deacons, and baptized members, but no formal membership registries were kept. Worship was unprogrammed; services proceeded as members felt led by the Holy Spirit to preach, pray, prophesy, testify, sing, or speak in tongues. Music was usually limited to congregational singing, with occasional use of a piano in some assemblies. Formal Bible study programs and Sunday School were not practiced.
The theological framework of the Church of the Firstborn is summarized in its Articles of Faith, which are adapted from articles originally written by Joseph Smith. These articles affirm belief in the Godhead, salvation through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel, and the necessity of faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. They also affirm belief in the structure of the early Christian church (Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists), the operation of spiritual gifts such as tongues and healing, and the Bible as the word of God.
A central tenet is reliance on faith healing. Members generally believe that healing is accomplished through divine intervention alone and often avoid conventional medical treatment. Church doctrine allows certain limited practices such as first aid, eyeglasses, or hearing aids, comparing them to biblical analogies such as “crutches for the lame,” and distinguishing them from more extensive medical interventions. Although church officials have publicly stated that members may seek medical assistance, former members report that doing so may be regarded as a sign of weak faith and can result in social ostracism.
This reliance on faith healing has drawn public and legal scrutiny. In the 2010s, several legal cases involving preventable child deaths resulted in convictions of parents for manslaughter due to medical neglect.
A separate entity known as the Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven emerged later under the leadership of Terrill Dalton, who claimed to be the Holy Ghost and the father of Jesus. This group has connections to the Latter-day Saint movement but is distinct from the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn. Dalton and followers, including Geody Harman, were excommunicated from the LDS Church. Around 2014, following public controversy, the group left its headquarters in Magna, Utah, and relocated in a convoy to Idaho.
Before the move, Dalton’s headquarters in Magna was raided by the Secret Service, the FBI, and child protection investigators after allegations that included child molestation, sexual acts at meetings, and threats against public figures such as Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush and LDS President Thomas S. Monson. The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported finding no evidence of assassination plots or abuse, and the Secret Service closed its case.
After relocating to Fort Hall, Idaho, Dalton’s group faced conflicts with neighbors and local authorities. The group sought to construct a large, motel-like structure on residential property. Local officials denied the permit and issued a cease and desist Order, citing concerns regarding water and septic capacity and the group’s communal living structure. Reports on the group in Southeast Idaho documented further controversies, including accusations of polygamy.
Key Sources:
Hollenhorst, J. (2009, July 2). Church of “Holy Ghost” rocked by sex and assassination allegations. KSL-TV.
The Idaho State Journal. (2009, September 19). Inside the church of the First Born.
Johnson, L. (2009, September 30). Sect stirs debate. KPVI-TV.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 