Vivian Shillander

Vivian Shillander, a former member of The Family, succeeded in rescuing her children from the cult in Thailand against incredible odds during the late 80s. The U.S. watched her story on the ABC television program "20/20" in July 1988.

David Berg reacted by writing a harsh letter to The Family cursing Vivian and advising members to be prepared to give their lives to defend the group's "rights" and its children from "the Devil's system." He counselled Vivian's husband – still a member of the cult – to move near his ex-wife's residence in South Dakota, infiltrate her home, convince her that he had repented, and then steal the children and disappear with them. The letter's content is extremely violent, and it specifically instructs members not to give in to law-enforcement officials who knock on their doors – and to be willing to die in defense of their homes.

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