A warning. This episode contains discussion of sexual assault that may be disturbing.

Listener discretion is advised. As a note, we reached out to Tim Ballard's attorney to request an interview.

Our request went unanswered. And one last thing. After Tim Ballard left the anti-trafficking

organization OUR in

23, it was renamed OUR Rescue. Its new leaders say they do not condone Tim Ballard's

alleged actions while part of the old organization.

Picture a young male member of the LDS Church. He's in a white shirt, black slacks, and he's got a black and white name tag on his chest. He's smiling. He's embarking on his Mormon mission. It's the culmination of years of preparation.

This is a common portrait of teenage LDS boys when they are sent out across the world on their two-year missions.

After about six weeks of preparation, they venture into new cities to proselytize, convert, baptize, and serve people of their assigned community.

Tim Ballard was 19 years old when he traveled to Chile for his inaugural mission. Like many boys

on these trips, he spent a lot of time roaming the city looking for people to teach and

trying to connect with them in broken Spanish. It's likely that Ballard felt like he was

a part of this community, which makes his mission more personal. He likely felt he had to save

the people around him by converting them to his church. Ballard and boys like him are taught

all their lives that people outside his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

are in need of saving, and that they are the ones who should save them.

Mormon men learn that they are the protagonist of every story.

This is the opportunist, an original podcast from Podcast One.

You're listening to 10-part series on Tem Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad.

I'm Sarah James McLaughlin.

Music In past episodes, we've talked about Tim Ballard's actions.

Today we're going to unpack the root of the issue.

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