Groomed By The Shiny Happy Cult Leader (Gothard Girl Part 2) | Friends With Davey - Lindsey Williams

Ex-cult member Lindsey Williams spent nearly 3 years living in a compound with the leader of the Shiny Happy People cult, Bill Gothard.
In Part 2 of "Gothard Girl" Lindsey shares what happened after her forbidden relationship with another cult member was discovered and how Gothard reacted.
"Shiny Happy People" is the explosive documentary series from Prime Video that revealed the dark secrets of the Duggar Family (TLC's "19 Kids And Counting") and one of the most mysterious cults in America.
Follow Lindsey on social media:
IG - @thecultchronicles
Follow Davey on social media:
IG - @daveyjax
Follow Friends With Davey on social media:
IG - @friendswithdavey
Listen to Davey Jackson livestreaming with a new friend every Wednesday at 8:00PM CST.
Podcast audio available on Spotify, iTunes, and all streaming platforms.

[@michellepratico]

"the ax forgets, but the tree remembers"...oh my God! Very powerful!

[@ninaschultz6922]

So true. It took me decades to understand this phrase.

[@hollywebster6844]

When a narcissist apologizes it's just another manipulation.

[@user-ov8tu4il3f]

It makes me so angry to hear about cruelty done in the name of religion.

[@ninaschultz6922]

Oh, difficult comment. Depending on how to interprete it, anyway. Religious environments are usually strictly hierarchically structured, and as such, they are prone to coercion & abuse. Where orders are given by one and another submits, it is a perfect scenario for potential perpetrators to gain undue influence over others. And, if one were a coercive abuser, one would specifically seek such an hierarchic environment to perpetrate because it gives them plenty of opportunity. Therefore, any organised religion will be gravely endangered to host many perpetrators if the organisation does not always constantly fight actively against having such people within their ranks. And, may I add, organised religions are by far more known to tightly close their ranks and to not weed out bad seeds but hide them, and the churches have centuries and milleniums of atrocious history to show for their inhumane cruelties committed in the names of gods. I respect personal beliefs and spirituality completely, but I do not hold much space for any organised religion. Imo most religious organisations just take money from believers that they shame into feeling bad about themselves and thus must be "saved" by their church. A money-making fraudulent and coercive scheme, this is all I can see and gather, and there are only very few exceptions where a good thing comes out of organised religion. So rarely do good things result, that I must perceive them as outliers and exceptions to the rule of "organised religion is inherently bad".

[@NorseNerdleMeister]

My wife grew up in an environment similar to IBLP and she has been doing a massive deconstruction of how she was brought-up recently. I’m a former Christian, but am still spiritual and I’ve been fascinated and tried my best to be more supportive and much better engaged to the reality of what my wife went through, yet at the same time, I still felt disconnected. This amazing interview has finally brought the horrific environment of the IBLP so many women were subjected to, to a full-circle understanding and now I feel equipped to move forward and better support my wife in her journey and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this video!

[@thecultchronicles]

This had me in tears. It means the world knowing these conversations are helping others help others! ❤ if my prescience’s and growth can empower just one person, it was worth speaking up! ❤

[@Holdenwhat]

Commenting on the idea of not calling on birthdays/holidays/etc: my mother used to get ugly on those days, like making a big scene to gift other people and give me nothing. Eventually I stopped calling on those days (and she certainly never called me). Do i regret it now that she’s passed? Not even a little bit. I regret that I didn’t start doing it sooner.

[@Irishclover977]

The pride and awe I feel every time I hear Lindsey tell her story is insane. An absolutely beautiful human with so much bravery and courage!

[@PinkPosy1]

So glad that there is therapy for you. I grew up in a pretty conservative Lutheran Church but we were normal. We were taught that God was a loving God. Incidentally, when I heard BG talk in SHP doc, he sounded so much like Jim Bob Duggar it really creeped me out. Peace and happiness to all

[@PB-dq9gi]

Jim Bob Duggar is a clone of Bill Gothard.

[@MrBrunoUSA]

I love her story. I wish her well. I pray for the healing of whatever warped my father into the aggressive and abusive father and manager he became but we have had no contact in 30 years. He does mot even know what country I am in, let alone what city. It has been a healthy choice for me. She has been added to my prayer list. thanks for this wonderful story.

[@user-ov8tu4il3f]

Lindsey, I’m very happy for you that you got out of the horrible situation you were in and are processing everything and healing. ❤️

[@katwitanruna]

Break the silence. Break the cycle.

[@JCScavage97]

Lindsey, thank you for sharing your story. Well said again. It's hard to explain the narcissist behavior from leadership in these environments. I saw many parallels within the upci. Once you've see the abuse, you can't unsee it. Thank you all for the discussions again.

[@ninaschultz6922]

Totally agree, one first has to entangle from a narcissist and get some healing and education to be able to understand in what ways the narcissistic dynamic was harmful, what kind of control/coercion one was under, what kinds of manipulation/gaslighting were going on. Very difficult as well as very rewarding and empowering process.

[@brigettereissig5254]

my parents don't either deserve those titles!!!!! Love you Lindsey! Thank yu for speaking out!! I love you!!!!

[@kimt2au]

Everytime I see Lindsey interviewed I am astounded by her story and how she has come so far and is so dedicated to helping others.

[@thecultchronicles]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@user-ov8tu4il3f]

Lindsey, I’m very happy you got out and are in the healing process! You have an important story to tell and it’s making a difference for people.

[@CarolineInTheMoment]

Great interview, Lindsey is a great speaker, intelligent and inspiring

[@kimberleypatty2604]

I’m also from an abusive home and was raised in a cult church. Lindsay, you are amazing and brave. For a long time I put up with the abuse in my dysfunctional family system as an adult. Several years ago (after my narcissist father had passed) after a rather ugly encounter with my mother I was at my limit, and finally walked away. We were no contact for 5 years last year before she passed away. I don’t know that she even noticed. I have no regrets. My 2 children are my world and I just can’t understand treating children the way we were treated.

[@ninaschultz6922]

I love Lindsey & Brice, thanks Davey for bringing both on ❤❤❤ Lindsey is gold & Brice I totally fancy 😊 Highly narcissistic family dynamics for me, too, paired with constant verbal abuse & neglect & CSA, in the end I also took the difficult decision to speak to the parents openly about my experience growing up under them in their house. Same result for me: not heard a single word from the mother for 3 years now, and the father broke off last slight contact last year, too. Only after he delivered the message that I should not ever write them again about the subject that I had done at the time in one email. All I was asking for is acknowledgement for my feelings, I just wanted to be seen as a person and be treated with respect. All I got as a response was: "But you know how she is." Yeah, I do know, and that is why I have to choose my own path in order to not only merely and barely survive, but in order to thrive and live a full life. Since the separation, my life-long fight against sometimes very heavy depression has become almost redundant - the depression lifted completely. For the first time in my life I begin to feel like a real human being and not just like a shell of a freak who is worth nothing. A mother, a father, they can really & truly put knives to their children's hearts. I wish for anyone to be able to get their happy Hallmark family ending; but if not feasible and conditions are bad, make a plan, prepare at your own pace and get away at the right moment. It may just save your life.

[@user-ov8tu4il3f]

Lindsey, thank you for sharing you experience. You’re awesome.

[@LindaMarlene7]

Wow!! Such a sad story with an incredibly happy ending. Thank you for sharing!!! Very encouraging!!

[@katwitanruna]

This is not normal.

[@anitacaroline12345]

This is frighteningly relatable.

[@melissahodgson1958]

I hope I am counted Lindsey. That documentary confirmed everything I endured.

[@leaannmccombs2148]

Hi Lindsey. Your story makes me so sad. I’m so sorry for what you went through, both at home and because of Gothard. I grew up attending the IBLP conferences. It was the thing to do in the ‘70’s. He started out with some good principles but it morphed into the scary un-Christian cult you experienced. When I became a parent, I felt called to homeschool my children, so I eagerly researched his curriculum, assuming it the “Cadillac” of homeschooling. But Red flags quickly popped up everywhere as I realized the control over our lives it would require. Something was off, so we went a different route. I had no idea, of course, what was really going on behind the scenes and it grieves me to think of what so many kids were going through in the name of Christianity. I understand why you’ve run as fast as you can the other way. But I just wanted to be one voice that assures you that wasn’t an accurate representation of true Christianity. Or Christian homeschooling. Or what a family should be. God didn’t do that to you and Bill will answer to that God for all the innocent lives he ruined. Thank you for telling your story. Maybe it will rescue some families still trapped in its web. I wondered also if you’ve read Jinger Duggar’s book Becoming Free Indeed. She has a fresh and grace-filled approach to her own journey out of the cult. It might resonate with you as part of your own healing. Blessings on your future and with that wonderful husband you married.

[@maxstueven1965]

It's so terrible that the cult was the safe space from your home life.

[@gabyv8]

Love the intro!!!

[@karinglowski9391]

Sweet girl, my heart hurts each time I hear u share. I understand. I’m older. I went to the seminars too. I raised two boys alone😢. I want to talk to u. I’m sure u get many that want to talk to u. Reach out if u can❤

[@brigettereissig5254]

hi Lindsey it's me Brigette...we rode up together...I was 16 and Rachel my sis was 12. we went to that counseling seminar...i have the picture. he raped my sis and wanted me to be his mom's "caretaker"...other girls hated taking care of his mom cause she was awful...she loved having girls read graphic romantic awful novels out loud to her...i told Bill about it and he said "I honor my mother's requests and you are going to also

[@brigettereissig5254]

can I please share my story???

[@caroltaylor3555]

Lindsey , is there a place to hear Christine’s story. You said you looked up to her.

[@barbsilvey3276]

When you coming to Spokane in October!?!

[@mienafriggstad3360]

👏👍👍🙏

[@user-ov8tu4il3f]

Lindsey, I’m very happy for you that you got out of the horrible situation you were in and are processing everything and healing. ❤️

[@Crazypretty]

Thank you so much. I appreciate your compassion and for listening to my story. ❤

[@kimberleypatty2604]

I’m also from an abusive home and was raised in a cult church. Lindsay, you are amazing and brave. For a long time I put up with the abuse in my dysfunctional family system as an adult. Several years ago (after my narcissist father had passed) after a rather ugly encounter with my mother I was at my limit, and finally walked away. We were no contact for 5 years last year before she passed away. I don’t know that she even noticed. I have no regrets. My 2 children are my world and I just can’t understand treating children the way we were treated.

[@kimberleypatty2604]

Btw all I got from my father was “I wasn’t that bad of a father, was I?” I just looked at him. This also from the guy who many years later after finding out my cousin sexually abused me that there was no harm done.

[@thecultchronicles]

I am SO sorry you had such an awful upbringing. It really does make life much more difficult to navigate when we have to carry so much emotional, mental, physical and spiritual baggage. It seems you have been able to navigate into your own happy, healed space and I'm glad to see that! Be the parent to those kids that you never had! :-) Your awareness is already 10 steps ahead of where you were at at their age. :-)

[@thecultchronicles]

@@kimberleypatty2604 This breaks my heart. I'm now no contact with my parents and I have had to come to peace with the fact that they may never speak with me again. It's hard, but I'm finally free and have much more peace than I did trying to placate to them.