Benjamin Roden grew up in Oklahoma and spent a brief time working as a schoolteacher before being employed in oil fields in Oklahoma and later Odessa, Texas. Roden married Lois Irene Scott in 1937. Three years later, the Rodens were baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kilgore, Texas, by Cree Sandafur, who later served as president of the Southern Union of Seventh-day Adventists from 1974 to 1979. The Rodens came to accept the teachings of The Shepherd’s Rod in 1946. For a short time in 1953, the Rodens and their six children lived at the old Mount Carmel Center. Roden was in charge of the gardens and provided fresh produce to Victor Houteff. Following Houteff’s unexpected death in 1955, Roden believed he was endowed with a prophetic gift, which allowed him to understand God’s plan for the Davidian and Seventh-day Adventist movements. He claimed to be instructed by God to give a message to Florence Houteff and the executive council of the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists. After hesitating, he was called to write a letter and sign it “The Branch,” an allusion to the anointed branch mentioned in Zechariah that was to be Jesus’ new name. It also came to be the name adopted by the church, establishing the Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventists. ~ Source: Courtesy of the Texas Collection at Baylor University. Benjamin Roden. [Waco] Branch Davidians: Robert F. Darden III Collection #2334, Series IV Photographic Materials, Photographic Materials: Photographs: “Mad Man in Waco.” (1 of 2), 1938-1993, Box 4, Folder 27. ~