Peoples Temple Collection; Box 28, Virtual Item: 3, Q1053-Pt.1- San Francisco sermon

Digital Record

Identifier: ms-0183_28.03

Staff Only

Digital Object (mixed_materials)

Go to file

Dates

Digitized: 1973

Creator

Jones, Jim (Jones, James Warren) (Person)
Peoples Temple (Organization)

Summary Note

This tape consists of portions of two or three sermons — or, just as likely, one sermon, with numerous edits — with Jim Jones addressing his congregation in San Francisco in late 1974. There are many elements of a Jones address here, including commentary on the Bible, faith healings, observations of the political scene, warnings of the coming nuclear holocaust, and reminders of the Promised Land which awaits them in Guyana. The sermon opens with Jones in a combative mood, and the crowd is equally enthusiastic. Jones declares a passionate commitment to socialism, no matter what the costs. Don’t worry about dying, he tells the congregation, but rather, move forward with him. "I am saying to the world … Damn the torpedoes of religious systems that will try to put our light out. Damn their jails. Damn their assassin bullets… I say, full speed ahead." He adds that he has no intention of dying, but to bring them through victorious in life, "I will have my way." Full summary of the recording available at Alternative Considerations of Jonestown website, along with the tape transcript.

Rights Statement Note

The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.