Introduction

This summer, a movie called The Sound of Freedom took America by storm. The hero was Tim Ballard, the founder of an organization called Operation Underground Railroad. The movie depicted Ballard as an avenging hero who rescued trafficked children from a life of slavery. The truth, we’re all finding out, is something more complicated and a lot less heroic.

Ballard left the organization around the time Sound of Freedom premiered, following an investigation into his sexual misconduct. It’s a wild story involving the The Church of Latter Day Saints, a psychic channeling the Prophet Nephi, and serious criminal investigations.

Here to tell us about it are Vice’s own Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman.

Stories discussed in this episode:

Mormon Church Denounces Tim Ballard’s “Morally Unacceptable” Activities

Tim Ballard’s Departure From Operation Underground Railroad Followed Sexual Misconduct Investigation

‘Sound of Freedom’ Producer Felt the Naked Breasts of Apparently Underage Trafficking Victim

Operation Underground Railroad Child-Rescue Missions Were Based on Psychic Intelligence

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