Basic Training Handbook

DISCLAIMER: Publications by The Family are archived here for educational purposes. The content is occasionally sexually explicit, offensive or promotive of criminal acts and we collect them to document their existence and wording but do not condone the points of view or activities. Original spelling, grammar, and style have been preserved where possible.

The Basic Training Handbook (BTH) is a manual published in February 1987 by The Family for teenagers on how to become a Family "disciple". The inside cover page states that it is "suggested required reading for all members ages 10 & over."

Archived Pages

Inside cover page. Illustration by Hugo Westphal.

The following pages (with the exception of the front cover) were obtained from an un-purged version of the Handbook. A listing of the purged or altered pages is available.

• Cover and Table of Contents (6 pages, 779k) – pages i-v.
• The Word Warrior's Weapon! (1 page, 182k) – page vi. — by Edward Priebe
• Teens!--The Future of Your Father! (1 page, 220k) – page 1. — by David Berg, ML DO 2056.
• Revolution For Jesus! Are You With Us? (1 page, 146k) – page 2.
• Confirmation that "Revolutionary Rules" Are for Today (1 page, 235k) – page 3.
• Introduction to "Revolutionary Rules" (6 pages, 1.3MB) – pages 4-9.
• What Does It Mean To Be Truly Revolutionary? (6 pages, 1.3MB) – pages 10-15. — by Karen Zerby
• To Our Teens!--Do Your Best! (9 pages, 1.9MB) – pages 16-24. — by Sara Kelley
• When Are Teens "Adults"? – pages 25-28. — by Sara Kelley
• Prayer for Sara! Peter's Challenge To The Teens! (10 pages, 2.1MB) – pages 29-38. — by Sara Kelley and Steven Kelly.
• Our Teen Training Standard (7 pages, 1.41MB) – pages 39-45. — by Sara Kelley
• Don't Be A Delinquent Parent! (3 pages, 322k) – pages 45-46. — by Sara Kelley
• Teen Life With Dad in Huntington Beach! (12 pages, 2.55MB) – pages 47-58. — by Jonathan Berg
• Our Main Motive: To Witness & Win Souls! Reflections on How Dad Raised Us As Teenagers! (4 pages, 852k) – pages 49-62. — by Jonathan Berg
• Teen Maturity & The Challenge (2 pages, 496k) – pages 63-64. — by Faith Berg
• Letters From Our Shepherds! (1 page, 150k) – page 65.
• Dad's Prayer For David's Fever! (7 pages, 1.61MB) – pages 66-72. — by David Berg, ML DO 2236.
• Sensitivity! (5 pages, 1.06MB) – pages 72-76. — by Steven Kelly, Peter Letter 32.
• Appreciate Your Blessings!--Dad's Talk to the Kids! (2 pages, 393k) – By David Berg, ML DO 2237.
• "In Quietness & Confidence!" (4 pages, 787k) – pages 79-82. – By David Berg, ML DO 2238.
• Mama's Talk to David & Techi on Daydreaming! (5 pages, 1.18MB) – pages 83-87. — by Karen Zerby, Maria Letter 49.
• Mind Discipline!--Teaching Children To Concentrate! (4 pages, 952k) – pages 88-91. — By Karen Zerby, Maria Letter 50.
• Thinking His Thoughts! (2 pages, 326k) – pages 91-92.
• Conviction & Honesty! (4 pages, 1MB) – pages 93-96. — By Karen Zerby, Maria Letter 51-R.
• Jealousy & Yieldedness! (6 pages, 1.35MB) – pages 97-102. — by Steven Kelly, Peter Letter 34.
• Communication (2 pages, 1.3MB) — pages 103-104. — by Karen Zerby, Maria Letter No. 53, 1986-08.
• Teaching Kids Consideration! (3 pages, 3.9MB) — pages 105-107. — by Karen Zerby, Maria Letter No. 54, 1986-06.
• "Do Unto Others" -Another Aspect of Showing Love (4 pages, 5MB) — pages 107-110. — by Karen Zerby, Maria Letter No. 55, 1986-09.
• Preparing for Adolescence -Book Excerpt for Teens (2 pages, 2.4MB) — pages 110-111. — by James Dobson.
• Teens!--It's Time to Take the Responsibility & the Blame Yourselves! — pages 111-114. — by Karen Zerby, Maria Letter No. 56, 1986-06.
• Search the Scriptures! -Teen Pow-Wow with Sara on Word Reactions & Sensitivity! (9 pages, 11.8MB) — pages 115-123. — by Sara Kelley, 1986-06.
• David's Reaction To His Sickness & Dad's Prayer! David Records his lessons &victories from sickness! (1 page, 1MB) — page 124. — by Rick Rodriguez, Sara Kelley and David Berg.
• Hot or Cold! -Is It "Cool" to Serve Jesus? A Teen Pow-Wow With Sara On Worldliness (8 pages, 9.8MB) — pages 125-132. — by Sara Kelley, 1986-11.
• Teens!--Your Call To Arms! Faithy's Reaction to "Hot or Cold! -Is It 'Cool' to Serve Jesus? (3 pages, 794k) — pages 133-135. — by Faith Berg.
• Teens In The Bible (3 pages, 778k) — pages 136-138. — by Bruce.
• 2 Timothy 2--Timothy Was A Teenager Too! (1 page, 204k) — page 139. — by Sara Kelley.
• Let Jesus Shine (1 page, 253k) — page 140. — by Karen Zerby, Maria Letter No. 57, 1986-07.
• Keep Smiling! --And Other Helpful Hints for Habits! (7 pages, 1.8MB) — pages 141-147. — by Sara Kelley, 1986-07.
• Make-Up & Hair Care (1 page, 238k) — page 148. — by Sara Kelley and Hope, 1985-09.
• Tennage Dieting! (1 page, 669k) — pages 149-151. — By Sara Kelley.
• "Girl Talk" --For Teens & Preteens! Got Your Priorities Straight? (1 page, 273k) — page 152. — by Sara Kelley.
• Teen Helpers! Teachers or Babysitters? (1 page, 265k) — page 153. — By Sara Kelley.
• Welcome To TTC! (1 page, 219k) — page 154.
• The Battle Hymn of The Revolution! (1 page, 157k) — page 155.
• Keynote Address! Opening Talk to the Lat. Am. TTC Teens! (20 pages, 5.2MB) — pages 156-175. — by Grant Montgomery, Faith Berg, Damaris, Lois, Juan Carlos Rosas and Paul T., 1986-07-19.
• What Are Our Goals At The TTC? As Compiled by the Mexico TTC Teens! (1 page, 224k) — page 176.
• The Teen Explosion! Summary of Searchers' Reports from Latin American Teen Training Camp! (17 pages, 3.9MB) — pages 177-193. — by Grant Montgomery, Faith Berg and Damaris. (also includes "LA TTC Pix!," "Names of Teen Groups to Choose For Teen Camps! --Or for any kind of Team, Room or Group!" and "Latin American TTC Schedule!")
• Signs Used At TTC! (1 page,162k) — page 194.
• "Teens' Daily Report" used at TTCs (1 page, 146k) — page 195.
• Fast Guns! Quips Composed by Teens at the Mexico Teen Training Camp, July 1986 (4 pages, 690k) — pages 196-199.
• Disciplinary Standard for TTCs! (8 pages, 2.1MB) — pages 200-207. — by Sara Kelley, 1986-08.
• Obeying Leadership! From the "Revolution for Jesus" Handbook--1972 (5 pages, 1.2MB) — pages 208-212.
• The Revolutionary's Pledge (1 page, 155k) — page 213. — By Karen Zerby.
• Pictures from Mexico TTC (1 page, 186k) — page 214.
• Mexico TTC Teens Heed the Call! – pages 215-217 — by Grant Montgomery
• Japan TTC Pix! (6 pages, 980k) — pages 218-223.
• Japan TTC Schedule! (1page, 200k) — page 224/
• Prayer Requests of The Teens! First Sunday Fellowship --Japan TTC, Prophecies Received by Adults, Verses Received by Teens (2 pages, 481k) — pages 225-226.
• Japan TTC Log Aug 27-Oct 14, 1986 (47 pages, 12.1MB) — pages 227-273.
• Teen Training Skits! --From Japan TTC (19 pages, 4.6MB) — pages 274-292 — 1986-10.
• Questions You Always Wanted To Ask! (8 pages, 1.9MB) – pages 293-300.
• Teen Graduation! Be A Sample--Not Self-Righteous Teen Soldier! (8 pages, 1.7MB) — pages 301-307. — By Sara Kelley, 1986-09. (also includes "TG for Our Teens!--Photos" on last page.
• TTC Teens Testify of Their Transformation! Teens' Reactions from Mexico TTC! (16 pages, 3.9MB) — pages 308-323.
• Japan TTC Teens Thank God for New Lives! (5 pages, 1.2MB) — pages 323-327.
• Teens' Lessons from Teen Training! From Teens' Visit to Grandpa's House & From Abroad (8 photographs) (1 page, 161k) — page 328.
• The Teen Revolution! Teen Training At Dad's Home--Molding The Future For Us All! (4 pages, 1.1MB) — pages 329-332. — by Sara Kelley, 1986-04.
• Motherhood!--Your Calling Teens Share Lessons From Sara For Childcare Helpers (7 pages, 1.7MB) — pages 333-339.
• The Habits of A Godly Woman (5 pages, 1.1) — pages 340-344.
• Leadership Training By Leading! (3 pages, 770k) — pages 345-347.
• More Teen Lessons From David! (2 pages, 522k) — pages 348-349. — by Rick Rodriguez.
• Notes from Naomi! Teen Trainee Records Jewels from Sara's Pow-Wows! (3 pages, 722k) — pages 350-352.
• Reproofs of Instruction Are A Way of Life! Notes By The Teens From Sara's Talks On Correction! (9 pages, 2MB) — pages 353-361.
• Lessons on Prayer (253k) — page 362.
• Pre-Teens For Jesus! Pre-Teens Write of Changed Lives After Teen Training With Sara! (3 pages, 744k) — pages 363-365.
• Daily Lessons In Teen Training! (6 pages, 1.5MB) — pages 366-371.
• If I Only Had--Reflections on "Days of Heaven"! (2 pages, 514k) — pages 372-373.
• A Teen Relationship! Missionary Teens Learn Yieldedness, & To Put Jesus First! (2 pages, 518k) — pages 374-375.
• Serious Illness Made Me Love Jesus More! Confessions & Lessons from One of Ho & Esther's Oldest! (2 pages, 570k) — pages 376-377.
• Be a Dropped-out Soul-winner (4 pages, 1MB) — pages 377-380. — by Jonathan Berg.
• Word & Study Helps! (9 photos) (1 page, 139k) — page 381.
• A Mini-Pubdex Study! From the L.A. TTC! (4 pages, 782k) — pages 382-385.
• Reccomended Reading For Prayer Vigil! (1 page, 193k) — page 385.
• Word Compilations By Themes! (1 page, 188k) — page 386.
• List of Categories in "Categorical ML List" In Pubdex (1 page, 183k) — page 387.
• Alphabetical Index of Letters in "The Basic Mo Letters" Volume (1 page, 163k) — page 388.
• Memory Review Made Easy! (12 pages, 2MB) — pages 389-400.
• My Word Project (3 pages, 493k) — pages 401-403.
• Sickness Lesson Form (1 page, 147k) — page 404.
• Teen Daily Report, Sample daily report used by teens in Grandpa's house. (2 pages, 226k) — pages 405-406.
• Good Videos for Teens! (3 pages, 693k) — pages 407-409.
• Memory Verses Put To Song For Easy Memorising--And Needed For Teen Training Camps! (1 page, 160k) — page 410.
• Alphabetical Index to Aaron Songbook (1 page, 204k) — page 411.
• Keep Soaked In The Word! Older Children & Teens' Reading Assignments (2 pages, 518k) — pages 412-413. — (also includes "Dad On "Hiding The Word In Your Heart"" (from DO 2063), 1986-09-09 by David Berg.)
• The Big Lie Komic (ML #736)--The Truth about "Evil-ution!" (17 pages, 3.6MB) — pages 414-430.
• Thank You, Jesus, for our King, And for our Queen so fair. (1 page, 118k) — page 431. — poster by Hugo Westphal and Jan McRae depicting David Berg and Karen Zerby.
• We're Going Forth To Conquer! Special Teen Reprints! (1 page, 201k) — page 432.
• Children of The Future! --Techi & Davida's Birthday Talk (16 pages, 4.2MB) — pages 433-448. — By David Berg, DO 2059, 1985-03.
• Real Parents!--Decisions! Children & Choice! (4 pages, 1.1MB) — pages 448-451. — by David Berg, Do 2060, 1985-03.
• Teen Sex! (9 pages, 2.4MB) — pages 451-459. — by David Berg, DO 2061, 1985-09.
• The Early Teens!--The Crucial Years!--The Age of Decision! (6 pages, 1.6MB) — pages 459-464. — by David Berg, Do2062, 1984-08.
• We Are It! Compiled from The Mo Letters by Apollos (12 pages, 3.1MB) — pages 465-476. — DFO 2222, 1986-07.
• Teens For Christ!--Are You One! (12 pages, 3.2MB) — pages 477-488. Compiled by Apollos, DFO 2223, 1986-07.
• My Personal Pledge of Dedication (2 pages, 359k) — pages 489-490.
• Basic Training Handbook Index (16 pages, 2.5MB) — pages 491-506.

Purged Pages

In memorandums issued to members in June 1991 and March 1996, World Services and Family Leadership ordered that selected pages in the Basic Training Handbook be destroyed or altered. While only a partial listing of the purge checklist items for this publication has been obtained by xFamily.org, purged and unpurged versions of this publications were compared by one of its editors and the following deletions or alterations were discovered:

Listed pages were removed in their entirety unless otherwise noted.

• Pages i and ii (inside cover and credits and copyright date)
• page 1 (Teens! The Future of Your Father!)
• page 2 (REVOLUTION FOR JESUS--ARE YOU WITH US?)
• pages 25-28 (When Are Teens "Adults"? by Sara)
• pages 39-44 (Our Teen Training Standard! by Sara)
• pages 97-102 Jealousy and Yieldedness! - Peter #34)
• pages 171-178 (last pages of keynote address by Mexico TTC Leaders and "TTC Goals! Teens Express Their Personal Goals At TTC!")
• page 230 (blacked out paragraph in "JAPAN TTC LOG!")
• pages 233-234 (from "JAPAN TTC LOG!")
• pages 256-258 (from "JAPAN TTC LOG!") [page 256 has blacked out words at end of 1st column 2nd paragraph]
• pages 293-300 ("Questions you Always Wanted To Ask!")
• pages 317-318 (from "Teen Graduation!")
• pages 325-326 (from "Japan TTC Teens Thank God for New Lives")
• pages 383-388 (from "A Mini-Pubdex Study!")
• pages 433-459 ("GN 206: Children of The Future" (ML #2059), "Real Parents--Decisions! Children & Choice" (ML# 2060), "Teen Sex" (ML #2061) [page 459 has blacked out image or text at top of first column]
• page 492 (from Index) [blacked out text]
• page 495 (from Index) [blacked out text]
• pages 503-504 (from Index) [blacked out text]