Rulon Jeffs

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Rulon Timpson Jeffs (December 6, 1909 – September 8, 2002) (known to church members as Uncle Rulon) was the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mormon fundamentalist organization based in Colorado City, Arizona.

Jeffs was the son of David William Jeffs and Nora Timpson. Jeffs was a follower of FLDS Church leader Leroy S. Johnson, who died in 1986. Jeffs assumed the prophetic leadership of the FLDS Church after Johnson's death.

It was reported that at the time of Jeffs' death at age 92 that he may have had as many as 75 wives and 65 children^[1]; however, conflicting sources indicate that Jeffs may have been survived by 19 or 20 wives and "about 60 children," including 33 sons.^[2] Shortly after his death, one of Rulon's sons Warren Jeffs asserted his own leadership of the FLDS Church and subsequently married all but two of his father's widows, technically making him the stepfather of many of his siblings but (more relevantly from a political standpoint) solidifying his position in the community as well as insuring a measure of security for the widows. His son Warren Steed Jeffs allegedly ignored ongoing abuse of women and children and witnessed or supported a number of underage marriages.^[3]

[edit] See also

• List of Mormon fundamentalist leaders
• Mormonism and polygamy

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Rulon Jeffs. Biography of Rulon Jeffs located at www.fldstruth.org (official FLDS website)
• Official FLDS website

Preceded by Leroy S. Johnson

Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1986–2002

Succeeded by Warren Steed Jeffs

v • d • e Leaders in the Mormon fundamentalist movement Recognized Mormon leaders1 Joseph Smith, Jr. • Brigham Young • John Taylor Disputed Mormon leaders2 Wilford Woodruff • Lorenzo Snow • Joseph F. Smith Early Mormon fundamentalist leaders John W. Woolley • Lorin C. Woolley • J. Leslie Broadbent • John Y. Barlow • Joseph White Musser • Charles Zitting Leaders of the FLDS Church Leroy S. Johnson • Rulon Jeffs • Warren Jeffs • William E. Jessop (appointed successor) • Merril Jessop (de facto leader) Leaders of the AUB Rulon C. Allred • Owen A. Allred • J. LaMoine Jenson Leaders of the Latter Day Church of Christ Elden Kingston • John Ortell Kingston • Paul Elden Kingston Independents and other leaders Joel LeBaron • Ervil LeBaron • Alex Joseph • Tom Green • James D. Harmston • John W. Bryant Notes 1. Mormon leaders prior to the start of the fundamentalist movement and recognized by most fundamentalists as legitimate church leaders. 2. Mormon leaders that made changes to church policies on plural marriage.