William E. Jessop
Encyclopedia
William E. Jessop is a leader in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church). In a January 2007 telephone conversation between Jessop and church president Warren Jeffs
, Jeffs suggested that Jessop was the rightful leader of the FLDS Church. In a jailhouse visit with his brother Nephi, Jeffs reportedly stated that "Brother William E. Jessop has been the prophet" of the FLDS Church since the death of Rulon Jeffs
. Jessop should not be confused with Willie Jessop
, a frequent spokesperson for the FLDS Church.
and left the FLDS Church to start the schismatic Centennial Park Group
. However, his wife Kathy refused to follow him, and she and her children remained with the FLDS Church members. Kathy became the wife of Fred Jessop, and William adopted his stepfather's surname.
. Warren Jeffs now claims that when he performed this ordination, he made William Jessop an apostle—the highest priesthood ordination in the church—and that this ordination now gives Jessop the right to lead the FLDS Church.
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....
, Jeffs suggested that Jessop was the rightful leader of the FLDS Church. In a jailhouse visit with his brother Nephi, Jeffs reportedly stated that "Brother William E. Jessop has been the prophet" of the FLDS Church since the death of Rulon Jeffs
Rulon Jeffs
Rulon Timpson Jeffs was the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mormon fundamentalist organization based in Colorado City, Arizona....
. Jessop should not be confused with Willie Jessop
Willie Jessop
William Roy Jessop was a leader in and frequent spokesman for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . Jessop should not be confused with William E. Jessop, the person Warren Jeffs designated as his successor to the presidency of the FLDS Church.Jessop was a bodyguard...
, a frequent spokesperson for the FLDS Church.
Family background
Jessop is the son of Alma A. Timpson and one of his wives, Kathy. In the mid-1980s, Timpson had a falling out with FLDS Church leader Leroy S. JohnsonLeroy 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....
and left the FLDS Church to start the schismatic Centennial Park Group
Centennial Park group
The Centennial Park group is a Fundamentalist Mormon group, with approximately 1,500 members, who broke with Leroy S. Johnson, the senior member of the "Priesthood Council" and leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. However, there is no formal relationship...
. However, his wife Kathy refused to follow him, and she and her children remained with the FLDS Church members. Kathy became the wife of Fred Jessop, and William adopted his stepfather's surname.
Claim to leadership
Prior to his death, Rulon Jeffs had instructed his son Warren Jeffs to ordain William Jessop to be a counselor to Fred Jessop, who was a bishop in the FLDS Church in Hildale, UtahHildale, Utah
Hildale is a city in Washington County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,726 at the 2010 census.Hildale is a twin city to the more well-known Colorado City, Arizona, both of which straddle the border between Utah and Arizona. Hildale is the headquarters of the Fundamentalist Church of...
. Warren Jeffs now claims that when he performed this ordination, he made William Jessop an apostle—the highest priesthood ordination in the church—and that this ordination now gives Jessop the right to lead the FLDS Church.