You may not have heard of this one. It's history is somewhat complicated and perhaps it is small enough that it should cause little concern. However, these weird cults mislead and lure astray young people or old ones for that matter. We need to be aware of them in the event some of their followers are encountered or if someone we know becomes interested in them.
The movements that influenced the beginning of this cult were from as far back as the 1800's. Perhaps the earliest of these was the New Thought movement started by Phineas Parkhurst Quimby. He was engaged in mystical and hypnotic healings. The second religious category to influence this cult was the Psychic and New Age family of religions. These religions arose in opposition to the swiftly changing thoughts away from mythology and superstitions to biblical truths. And they are suspected to have been highly influential in forming todays charismatic and miraculous healing denominations.
The actual beginning of the movement now called The Church Universal and Triumphant was started in the 1930's by a man named Guy Ballard and was named the I AM religion. But after his death in 1939, his wife continued as head of the group and it encountered much difficulties and divided into several splinter groups. One of these groups, started in 1958, was headed by a man named Mark L. Prophet who called it the "Summit Lighthouse" movement. Then, at his death in 1973, His wife Elizabeth Prophet, became head of the church and in 1974, the group was incorporated and named the "Church Universal and Triumphant" which is a term often used in reference to the Roman Catholic Church.
For those interested in more details of their teachings and/or history, you will find links below to sources of such information.