WorldWide Religious News

Church replaces jailed leader
("UPI," February 7, 2010)

Salt Lake City, USA - The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Utah has named a president to replace the imprisoned Warren Jeffs, documents indicate.

Wendell Nielsen, 69, was named to head the corporate entity and will handle the controversial church's business dealings, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Sunday. Nielsen, who is reported to have 21 wives, faces bigamy charges in Texas, the Tribune said.

Jeffs resigned as president of the FLDS corporate entity Dec. 4, 2007, after receiving two five years-to-life prison sentences for rape as an accomplice. The FLDS considers him a prophet appointed by God, making his status within the church unclear, the Tribune reported.

"As far as whom the members look to for their spiritual leadership, that's a decision most people make on an individual basis," Rod Parker, a Salt Lake City attorney who represents FLDS members, said.

Parker said the filing helps clarify who has legal authority to act for the church. Both Nielsen and church member Willie Jessop, who acts as spokesman for the assembly, would have that authority, he said.

When asked to comment on Jeffs and his status within the church, Parker said he would "rather not comment on who the prophet is out of fear there'd be retaliation by the government," the Tribune reported.

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