Rulon Jeffs
Encyclopedia
Rulon Timpson Jeffs (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 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; however, conflicting sources indicate that Jeffs may have been survived by 19 or 20 wives and "about 60 children," including 33 sons. 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, figuratively making him the stepfather of many of his siblings and solidifying his political position in the community. Warren allegedly ignored ongoing abuse of women and children and witnessed or supported a number of underage marriages.
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one of the largest Mormon fundamentalist denominations and one of the largest organizations in the United States whose members practice polygamy. The FLDS Church emerged in the early twentieth century when its founding members left...
, a Mormon fundamentalist organization based in Colorado City, Arizona
Colorado City, Arizona
Colorado City is a town in Mohave County, Arizona, United States, and is located in a region known as the Arizona Strip. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 4,607...
.
Jeffs was the son of David William Jeffs and Nora Timpson. Jeffs was a follower of FLDS Church leader Leroy S. Johnson
Leroy S. Johnson
Leroy S. Johnson was the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , a religious group that practices plural marriage and was based in Colorado City, Arizona....
, who died in 1986. Jeffs assumed the 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; however, conflicting sources indicate that Jeffs may have been survived by 19 or 20 wives and "about 60 children," including 33 sons. Shortly after his death, one of Rulon's sons Warren Jeffs
Warren Jeffs
Warren Steed Jeffs was the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . In 2011, Jeffs was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault....
asserted his own leadership of the FLDS Church and subsequently married all but two of his father's widows, figuratively making him the stepfather of many of his siblings and solidifying his political position in the community. Warren allegedly ignored ongoing abuse of women and children and witnessed or supported a number of underage marriages.
External links
- Rulon Jeffs. Biography of Rulon Jeffs located at www.fldstruth.org (official FLDS website)
- Official FLDS website