Born in 1960, David Miscavige has been a Scientologist for most of his
life and is still remembered as the 12-year-old prodigy who served as
the youngest professional auditor at Saint Hill’s famed Hubbard Guidance Center in England.
He is further remembered for the fact that barely a year after entering
the Scientology religious order, the Sea Organization, at the age of
16, he was among a handful of people selected to work directly with L. Ron Hubbard. After personal instruction from Mr. Hubbard, the
17-year-old David Miscavige served as his Director of Photography for
the first Scientology training films.
Later, at Mr. Hubbard’s
request, Mr. Miscavige served as the senior executive supervising
ecclesiastical missions to Scientology Churches around the world. By
the age of 18, David Miscavige had become the individual L. Ron Hubbard
called upon to carry out the most important assignments. No Church
executive in history ever received more direct communication from L. Ron
Hubbard than Mr. Miscavige.
In 1983, L. Ron Hubbard described a
heroic Church executive who cleaned the ranks of rogue staff attempting
to seize control of Scientology while Mr. Hubbard was engaged in
intensive research and absent from the Church. As Mr. Hubbard himself
phrased it:
“So forgive me for not managing the Church when it
almost fell into hostile hands. It all came out all right. Why?
Because real Scientologists made sure it did. My faith was justified.”
That real Scientologist L. Ron Hubbard spoke of was David Miscavige.
In light of what had nearly transpired, L. Ron Hubbard requested a
corporate reorganization of the Church designed to ensure the Church
would not fall into hostile hands and the religion could move on into
perpetuity—always remaining true to its Source teachings. To that end,
L. Ron Hubbard saw to the formation of Religious Technology Center to
hold the Scientology and Dianetics trademarks and to preserve, maintain
and protect the Scientology religion. He appointed Mr. Miscavige a
Trustee of that Church organization.
To oversee his personal
affairs for the remainder of his life, L. Ron Hubbard also appointed
David Miscavige as chairman of the organization charged with handling
those matters.
Following L. Ron Hubbard’s passing in 1986, it
was Mr. Miscavige who steered Scientology through those difficult days;
for as history demonstrates, the true test of any religion is to survive
the passing of its Founder. Indeed, it was Mr. Miscavige who secured
that survival by obtaining full religious recognition in the United
States and ushering Scientology onto the global stage.
Since
then, Mr. Miscavige has steadfastly carried forth L. Ron Hubbard’s
legacy, until Scientology now stands as the only major religion to
emerge in this modern age. To be sure, what Mr. Miscavige has done is
no more or less than the fulfillment of L. Ron Hubbard’s vision—a vision
he knew would be faithfully carried out with Mr. Miscavige at the helm.
“Trust and friendship are things forged in fire and pounded out on the
anvil of life. We have been through a lot together. I trust you as you
trust me.”
—L. Ron Hubbard to David Miscavige
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