Janice Morgan

She's been doing her best to look after the baby, a child with special needs, but she believes he'll thrive in Lori and Charles' home. And for a long time, she's right. So the Vallows formally adopt him and name him Joshua Jackson, or J.J., Over the next six years, something changes in Lori. It's gradual, almost unnoticeable at first, but she grows more interested in neo-fundamentalist beliefs.

She's been doing her best to look after the baby, a child with special needs, but she believes he'll thrive in Lori and Charles' home. And for a long time, she's right. So the Vallows formally adopt him and name him Joshua Jackson, or J.J., Over the next six years, something changes in Lori. It's gradual, almost unnoticeable at first, but she grows more interested in neo-fundamentalist beliefs.

That's Lori Helles, author of Children of Darkness and Light, a book that tracks Lori and Chad Daybell's relationship, crimes, and belief system. We're going to refer to Lori Helles by her last name so things don't get confusing between the two Lorys.

That's Lori Helles, author of Children of Darkness and Light, a book that tracks Lori and Chad Daybell's relationship, crimes, and belief system. We're going to refer to Lori Helles by her last name so things don't get confusing between the two Lorys.

About a year before adopting JJ, Lori became engrossed in subjects like near-death experiences and doomsday. She gets more interested in the, quote, end times, which, as Helles explains, isn't unheard of given Lori's Mormon upbringing.

About a year before adopting JJ, Lori became engrossed in subjects like near-death experiences and doomsday. She gets more interested in the, quote, end times, which, as Helles explains, isn't unheard of given Lori's Mormon upbringing.

But Lori tends to take things a step further. By 2018, she's attending survivalist classes and listening to doomsday podcasts because she wants to be ready for the end times, physically and spiritually. Then she meets an author named Chad Daybell. In October 2018, Lori goes to a doomsday prepper conference where Chad is one of the speakers. She already knows who he is.

But Lori tends to take things a step further. By 2018, she's attending survivalist classes and listening to doomsday podcasts because she wants to be ready for the end times, physically and spiritually. Then she meets an author named Chad Daybell. In October 2018, Lori goes to a doomsday prepper conference where Chad is one of the speakers. She already knows who he is.

She's read his books, and one friend considers Lori a Chad Daybell superfan. Like Laurie, Chad is a devout member of the mainstream LDS church who harbors not-so-mainstream neo-fundamentalist ideas. He wove those beliefs throughout his books, some of which he marketed as fiction and others nonfiction.

She's read his books, and one friend considers Lori a Chad Daybell superfan. Like Laurie, Chad is a devout member of the mainstream LDS church who harbors not-so-mainstream neo-fundamentalist ideas. He wove those beliefs throughout his books, some of which he marketed as fiction and others nonfiction.

But all of his writing, he claims, is based on his life and his visions, because he says he can communicate beyond the veil. The LDS Church preaches the idea of premortal life, that people existed with God before being born here on Earth. But they say most people can't recall this time before they were born thanks to the veil, a gift bestowed by God that causes them to forget their preexistence.

But all of his writing, he claims, is based on his life and his visions, because he says he can communicate beyond the veil. The LDS Church preaches the idea of premortal life, that people existed with God before being born here on Earth. But they say most people can't recall this time before they were born thanks to the veil, a gift bestowed by God that causes them to forget their preexistence.

Chad tends to take mainstream ideas and put his own spin on them. In his autobiography, he says that he had near-death experiences that tore through his veil.

Chad tends to take mainstream ideas and put his own spin on them. In his autobiography, he says that he had near-death experiences that tore through his veil.

At the prepper conference, Chad is hawking his books at a booth when he locks eyes with Lori, a bubbly, outgoing former cheerleader who adores his work. Once they get to talking, he thinks he's heard this woman's voice and even seen her face before. He even feels like they've been in love before. That night, he can't sleep.

At the prepper conference, Chad is hawking his books at a booth when he locks eyes with Lori, a bubbly, outgoing former cheerleader who adores his work. Once they get to talking, he thinks he's heard this woman's voice and even seen her face before. He even feels like they've been in love before. That night, he can't sleep.

He's too smitten with Lori, and he can't ignore the attraction between them, which he later describes as, quote, To Chad, it can only mean one thing. He tells Lori they knew each other in a previous life.

He's too smitten with Lori, and he can't ignore the attraction between them, which he later describes as, quote, To Chad, it can only mean one thing. He tells Lori they knew each other in a previous life.

Biblical scholars describe James as a brother or cousin of Jesus. Whether it's a vision or a pickup line, it works. Lori shares Chad's views on a type of reincarnation they call multiple mortal probations, the idea that a soul can make several trips between heaven and earth. Things move quickly as they text and talk constantly.

Biblical scholars describe James as a brother or cousin of Jesus. Whether it's a vision or a pickup line, it works. Lori shares Chad's views on a type of reincarnation they call multiple mortal probations, the idea that a soul can make several trips between heaven and earth. Things move quickly as they text and talk constantly.