Wendell Loy Nielsen

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Wendell Loy Nielsen (born c. 1941) was, according to documents filed with the Utah Department of Commerce,[1] the President of the Corporation of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church), based in southern Utah.[2] The FLDS Church, first incorporated in 1991, does not require the church president to be its Prophet. However, traditionally the President of the FLDS Church was also the religious head, or Prophet. Warren Jeffs officially resigned as president of the church on December 4, 2007, but his status as Prophet is unknown.[3]

Nielsen has also served as first counselor to both Warren and Rulon Jeffs.[4]

In January 2011, Warren Jeffs retook control of the FLDS Church after removing Nielsen as church president.[5][6]

As of 2012, Neilsen is no longer a leader in the FLDS Church.[7]

Bigamy charges

In 2008, Texas authorities indicted Neilson with three counts of bigamy for purporting to marry persons other than his spouse while being legally married.[8] According to records seized by Texas law enforcement during a raid on the YFZ ranch, Nielsen may have as many as 21 wives.[2][8]

Neilsen was charged with 3 counts of bigamy. Two wives were in their sixties and one was in her forties. He received the maximum sentence of ten years. This was in contradiciton to the statements of the Texas Attorney General's Office that this case was about prosecuting underage marriages[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://bycommonconsent.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/wendellnielsen.jpg Certificate
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jennifer, Dobner (February 15, 2010). "Polygamous church in Utah names new president". Salt Lake City, UT. Associated Press. Retrieved February 2, 2010. 
  3. ↑ Winslow, Ben (March 27, 2007). "A prophet no more? Jeffs called himself a 'sinner' in jailhouse conversation". Deseret News. Retrieved February 17, 2010. 
  4. ↑ Adams, Brooke (February 2, 2010). "Polygamous sect has new president, but is Jeffs still FLDS prophet?". The Salt Lake Tribune (Hildale, UT). Retrieved February 17, 2010. 
  5. ↑ CNN Wire Staff (February 23, 2011), Jailed polygamist retakes control of church, retrieved March 11, 2011 
  6. ↑ Daily Mail Reporter (February 24, 2011), Polygamous sect leader ousts 30 followers as he takes control of his church again... from prison (the Daily Mail ed.), Associated Newspapers Ltd, retrieved March 11, 2011 
  7. ↑ http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53633154-78/judge-trial-angelo-san.html.csp
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "The state of Texas vs. Wendell Loy Nielsen". Grand Jury indictment. Retrieved February 2, 2010. 

External links


Religious titles
Preceded by
Warren Steed Jeffs		 President of the Corporation of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Jan 9, 2010 – Jan 28, 2011 		Succeeded by
Warren Steed Jeffs
Preceded by
Warren Steed Jeffs		 Prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
possibly 2007

TBD; disputed among:

 Succeeded by
incumbent


Recognized leaders[lower-alpha 1]
Disputed leaders[lower-alpha 2]
Early fundamentalist leaders
Leaders of the fundamentalist sects
The Apostolic United Brethren
The FLDS Church
The Centennial Park group
  • J. Marion Hammon
  • Alma A. Timpson
  • John W. Timpson
The Latter Day Church of Christ
The LeBaron Sects
Independents and other leaders
  1. ↑ [a] Mormon leaders prior to the start of the fundamentalist movement and recognized by most fundamentalists as legitimate church leaders.
  2. ↑ [b] Mormon leaders that made changes to church policies on plural marriage; recognition of legitimacy of leadership varies by fundamentalist group.


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