Wendell Loy Nielsen

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]

As of 2012, Neilsen is no longer a leader in the FLDS Church.[6]

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.[7] According to records seized by Texas law enforcement during a raid on the YFZ ranch, Nielsen may have as many as 21 wives.[2][7]

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.[8][9] This was in contradiction to the statements of the Texas Attorney General's Office that this case was about prosecuting underage marriages.[8][9]

See also

References
  1. http://bycommonconsent.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/wendellnielsen.jpg Certificate
  2. Jennifer, Dobner (February 15, 2010). "Polygamous church in Utah names new president". Salt Lake City, UT. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. 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. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53633154-78/judge-trial-angelo-san.html.csp
  7. "The state of Texas vs. Wendell Loy Nielsen" (PDF). Grand Jury indictment. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  8. "Jury chosen in trial of former Mormon sect leader Wendell Loy Nielsen". GlobalPost - Boston, Massachusetts. March 22, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  9. Waller, Matthew (March 26, 2012). "Celestial marriages detailed in Wendell Loy Nielsen's trial". gosanangelo.com. Standard-Times. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints titles
Preceded by
Rulon T. Jeffs		 Prophet
Warren Jeffs
2002 – present
With: Disputed interruptions by:
Lyle Jeffs (designated acting president)
William E. Jessop (once momentarily successor)
Merril Jessop (once de facto head)
Wendell L. Nielsen (one time head of temporal affairs)		 Succeeded by
incumbent
Warren Jeffs
Corporation of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints titles
Preceded by
Rulon T. Jeffs		 President
2002 – December 4, 2007		 Succeeded by
Wendell L. Nielsen
Preceded by
Wendell L. Nielsen		 President
January 28, 2011 – present		 Succeeded by
incumbent


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