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Jonestown
Temple Members' Stories

What was the appeal of Jim Jones' Peoples Temple? By the time of its deadly end in the Guyanese jungle, membership exceeded one thousand people.

In these video interviews, eight former Temple members -- including one who survived the deaths at Jonestown -- describe their motivations for joining, and the points at which their expectations changed.

Nobody joins a cult. Nobody joins something they believe is going to hurt them. -- Deborah Layton, member of Peoples Temple

Select a member:

Tim Carter Hue Fortson Jr. Glen Hennington Claire Janaro Bryan Kravitz Deborah Layton Janet Shular Jordan Vilchez

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Jonestown American Experience