List of Mormon fundamentalist leaders

Mormon fundamentalist leaders are those who lead, or have led, a Mormon fundamentalist group.

Early Mormon leaders

These leaders were presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which authorized plural marriage for many years. Mormon fundamentalists generally accept the first three LDS Church presidents as prophets of God:

• Joseph Smith, Jr. (1829–1844)^[1]
• Brigham Young (1847–1877)^[2]
• John Taylor (1877–1887)^[3]

Some Mormon fundamentalists also regard the next three LDS Church presidents as leaders because of their post-1890 support for plural marriage. However, some reject the LDS Church presidents beginning at Wilford Woodruff due to Woodruff's decision to issue the 1890 Manifesto. Many others reject Joseph F. Smith due to his issuance of the Second Manifesto in 1904.

• Wilford Woodruff (1887–1898)^[4]
• Lorenzo Snow (1898–1901)^[5]
• Joseph F. Smith (1901–1918)^[6]

Major Mormon fundamentalist groups

When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began excommunicating members who practiced polygamy after the Second Manifesto, Mormon fundamentalist groups began breaking away from the LDS Church. Early on, there were two main Mormon fundamentalist groups. One was the Short Creek Community in Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah. The other was the LeBaron family group in Mexico.

Factional breakdown: Mormon fundamentalist sects

Short Creek community and groups which evolved from it

See also: Latter Day Saint practitioners of plural marriage: Mormon Fundamentalist and List_of_Latter_Day_Saint_practitioners_of_plural_marriage#Mormon_fundamentalists_sects

Pre-split Short Creek leaders

The following are the leaders of the Short Creek Community prior to its split.^[7][8][9]

• John W. Woolley (1918–1928)
• Lorin C. Woolley (1928–1934)
• J. Leslie Broadbent (1934–1935)
• John Y. Barlow (1935–1949)
• Joseph W. Musser (1949–1954)

Kingstons

Due to a succession conflict after J. Leslie Broadbent's death, Charles W. Kingston and Elden Kingston created the splinter group called the Latter Day Church of Christ, or "Kingston clan."^[9]

• Charles W. Kingston (supported leaders from 1935 until his death in 1975)
• Elden Kingston (1935–1947)
• John Ortell Kingston (1947–1987)
• Paul Elden Kingston (1987– )

Apostolic United Brethren

Joseph W. Musser ordained Rulon C. Allred to the Council of Friends. The Council refused to admit Allred, resulting in a split whereby those that followed Allred became known as the Apostolic United Brethren. Musser ordained a new council called the 1952 New Priesthood Council.^[10] The presidency line of the AUB is as follows.^[9]

• Joseph W. Musser (1949–1954)
• Rulon C. Allred (1954–1977)
• Owen A. Allred (1977–2005)
• J. LaMoine Jensen (2005– )

Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

After the Short Creek community split in two, it continued to thrive and became known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints under Leroy S. Johnson. Its leaders include the following.^[8][9]

• Charles Zitting (1954)
• LeRoy S. Johnson (1954–1986)
• Rulon Jeffs (1986–2002)
• Warren Jeffs (de facto leader) (2002–2007)
• Merril Jessop (de facto leader) (2007-Feb 2011)^{[11][discuss]}
• William E. Jessop (appointed successor)(2007– )
• Wendell L. Nielsen (legal president) (2010- Jan 28, 2011)^[12]

Blackmore/Bountiful Community

This group was formed in September 2002, when FLDS Church president Warren Jeffs excommunicated Winston Blackmore, who for two decades was Bishop of the Bountiful, British Columbia group of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church), The community split nearly in half—about 700 people continue to follow Blackmore, while about 500 follow Jeffs.^[13]

• Winston Blackmore (2002–present)

Centennial Park ("Second Ward")

Under Leroy Johnson's leadership, Marion Hammon and Alma Timpson were dismissed from the Short Creek community in 1983; they went on to create the Centennial Park group or "Second Ward" in Centennial Park, Arizona, so named to distinguish it from the FLDS Church, which they call "First Ward".^[14][15]

• J. Marion Hammon (1983–1988)
• Alma A. Timpson (1988–1997)
• John W. Timpson (1997–present)

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of God

This schism, also known as the Nielsen/Naylor group^[16] and the "Third Ward" resides mostly in the Salt Lake Valley. It broke with the Centennial Park group after Marion Hammon passed away in 1988.^[17][18] Frank Naylor (apostle) and Ivan Neilsen (high priest and Bishop) disagreed with Alma Timpson’s leadership of Centennial Park, prompting them to create a new group called the "Third Ward", with Naylor presiding.^[18] In recent years, they have formed a close association with Winston Blackmore’s community of Bountiful, British Columbia.^[17][18]

• Frank Naylor (1997–present)

Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

After the murder of Rulon C. Allred in 1977 Gerald Peterson, Sr proclaimed that Allred had passed on the priesthood to him. Peterson went on to found the Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the following year.

• Gerald Peterson, Sr. (1978–1981)
• Gerald Peterson, Jr. (1981–present)

Other Mormon fundamentalist groups

Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times

The Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times is headquartered in northern Mexico that was founded in 1955 by Joel LeBaron and members of his family. Joel claimed his priesthood line of authority from his father Alma, who had been ordained by Alma's grandfather Benjamin F. Johnson, who had received the priesthood from Joseph Smith. The church continues to exist in Chihuahua Mexico, Los Molinos, Baja California, San Diego, California, Central America, as well as a large number in Salt Lake City, UT.

• Joel LeBaron (1955–1972)
• Verlan LeBaron (1972–1981)
• Current leadership unknown (1981–present)

School of the Prophets

See also: Under the Banner of Heaven

The School of the Prophets is headquartered in the Salem, Utah area. In 1968 Robert C. Crossfield published revelations he had received in the "Book of Onias" which, among other things chastised certain LDS Church leaders, and he was excommunicated in 1972.^[19] In 1982 Crossfield established a "School of the Prophets" for the world, presided over by a President and six counselors.^[19] Ron and Dan Lafferty, convicted of the July 1984 murder of their brother's wife and infant daughter, served for a month as counselors in the Provo, Utah School of the Prophets in March 1984.^[20] Four months after being removed ^[21] from the School they committed their crimes. The continuing revelations were later named the "Second Book of Commandments"^[22] and has 251 Sections dating from 1961 to the present.

• Robert C. Crossfield (1982–present)

True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days

The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (TLC) is headquartered in Manti, Utah. Membership is estimated at 300 to 500. Organized in 1994, the TLC was a new "restoration" for the "very last days" before the Second Coming of Jesus. While the church initially grew rapidly, it has since stagnated and declined in numbers and converts since it ceased missionary efforts in 2000.

• James D. Harmston (1994–present)

The Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven

The Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven originally organized in Magna, Utah by former members of the LDS Church. Practice polygamy and the law of consecration. Dalton purports to be the Holy Ghost and the Father of Jesus.^[23] However, the group may have deteriorated in numbers after relocation from Idaho to Montana^[24] and the arrest and extradition of Dalton to Utah.^[25]

• Terrill R. Dalton (c. 2001–present)

See also

• Factional breakdown: Mormon fundamentalist sects

References

1. ^ "Joseph Smith Jr., 1st President of the Church". History of the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ©2004. http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=1&topic=facts. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
2. ^ "Brigham Young, 2nd President of the Church". History of the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ©2004. http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=2&topic=facts. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
3. ^ "John Taylor, 3rd President of the Church". History of the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ©2004. http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=3&topic=facts. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
4. ^ "Wilford Woodruff, 4th President of the Church". History of the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ©2004. http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=4&topic=facts. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
5. ^ "Lorenzo Snow, 5th President of the Church". History of the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ©2004. http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=5&topic=facts. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
6. ^ "Joseph F. Smith, 6th President of the Church". History of the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ©2004. http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=6&topic=facts. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
7. ^ Hales, Brian C (2009). "Questions regarding the described 1886 ordinations". MormonFundamentalism.com. http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/NEWFILES/1886OrdinationQuestions.htm. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "Official website of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints". The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. © 2008. http://www.fldstruth.org/index.php. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
9. ^ ^{a b c d} Hales, Brian C (2009). "Fundamentalist leadership succession chart". MormonFundamentalism.com. http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/18-02-COF%202006%20color%20on%20tan%20w%20gray.gif. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
10. ^ Hales, Brian C (2009). "Rulon C. Allred". MormonFundamentalism.com. http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/RulonCAllred.htm. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
11. ^ McKinley, Carol (March 5, 2011), Inside a troubled fundamentalist Mormon sect, Salon Media Group, Inc., http://www.salon.com/news/religion/?story=/mwt/feature/2011/03/05/inside_flds_trouble_brewing, retrieved March 11, 2011, "In just a few weeks, Jeffs has gone on a rampage, kicking out at least 40 of his most pious men. One of those faithful is Merril Jessop, a 70year-old FLDS bishop." 
12. ^ Wagner, Dennis (February 24, 2011). "Jailed sect leader retakes legal control of church". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-24-jeffs-church_N.htm. "Utah records show Nielson formally quit that post Jan. 28." 
13. ^ Utah Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General's Office. The Primer, Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Polygamous Communities:Fundamentalist Mormon Communities. Updated June 2006. Pages 11-22.
14. ^ Hales, Brian C (2009). "Centennial Park and the "Second Ward"". MormonFundamentalism.com. http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/CentennialPark.htm. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
15. ^ Utah Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General's Office. The Primer, Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Polygamous Communities. Updated June 2006. Page 14.
16. ^ http://ldsmovement.pbworks.com/f/Church+of+Jesus+Christ+of+Latter-day+Saints+and+the+Kingdom+of+God+-+Utah+Business+Filing.pdf
17. ^ ^{a b} Utah Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General's Office. The Primer, Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Polygamous Communities. Updated June 2006. Page 21.
18. ^ ^{a b c} Hales, Brian C (2009). "The Naylor Group (Salt Lake County)". MormonFundamentalism.com. http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/NaylorGroup.htm. Retrieved 1 April 2010. 
19. ^ ^{a b} Hales, Brian C., Robert C. Crossfield, http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/RobertCCrossfield.htm, retrieved August 26, 2011 
20. ^ Van Wagoner, Richard S. (1989) [1986], Mormon Polygamy: A History (2d ed.), Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, ISBN 978-0941214797 
21. ^ Crossfield, Robert. "The Controversy Between Ron and Dan Lafferty And the School of the Prophets". United Order Publications. http://www.2bc.info/pdf/Laffertys.pdf. Retrieved 11 September 2011. 
22. ^ Unsworth, Alam, Second Book of Commandments, http://ldsmovement.pbworks.com/w/page/15644898/Second%20Book%20of%20Commandments, retrieved September 11, 2011 
23. ^ Holy Ghost' cult stirs Idaho debate after move from Utah, Salt Lake City Utah: KSL Broadcasting, September 15, 2009 
24. ^ Hollenhorst, John. "Rape Charges Filed Five Years Later Against Man Claiming to be 'Holy Ghost" 18 August 2010. Retrieved 19 Aug 2010
25. ^ Montana sect leader waives extradition to Utah on rape charge - The Associated Press, August 25, 2010