Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 6, 1909, Rulon Timpson Jeffs became one of the most notorious polygamists in American history. Jeffs influenced thousands of FLDS members for decades as their leader. Leadership, polygamous marriages, and family-driven disputes shaped his life and remained until his 2002 death.
Early Life and Leadership
Religiously conservative Rulon Jeffs was born in the Mormon heartland. Polygamy, practiced by the FLDS but opposed by the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was taught to him early on. Later, he became a prominent FLDS leader after embracing his faith more fully as a young man.
Jeffs became FLDS prophet and president in the 1980s. Polygamy, the concept that males may marry numerous women, and his divine power over his followers characterized his reign. His rule was controversial and difficult until his 2002 death.
Impact of Rulon Jeffs on FLDS
As FLDS prophet, Rulon Jeffs had a big influence. The society swelled to hundreds of members under Jeffs, who became a religious authority who expected full allegiance. He was known for his FLDS-aligned polygamy and had over 60 offspring from many marriages.
Rulon Jeffs also imposed stringent laws on his followers, limiting marriage, family, and social relations. He imposed a hierarchical and patriarchal church hierarchy and claimed to be God’s immediate ambassador on Earth.
Succession to Warren Jeffs
Rulon Jeffs’ health declined as he aged, and his son Warren took over FLDS leadership. In the years leading up to Rulon’s death on September 8, 2002, Warren’s power inside the church expanded, and his leadership was already established.
Warren Jeffs would continue his father’s autocratic rule with even more radical and contentious ideas. He was arrested and convicted for child abuse, polygamy, and other crimes throughout his rule.
After Rulon was replaced by Warren Jeffs, several former FLDS members described a move toward more severe practices, including as forcing young girls to marry older men and expelling any who resisted Warren.
Rulon Jeffs’ Wives and Personal Life
The FLDS religion practiced polygamy, and Rulon Jeffs married several women. numerous of these ladies, some younger than him, were his wives, and he had numerous offspring, including church leaders.
He married Rebecca Musser in 1995, a famous wife. After leaving the FLDS, she criticized it openly. Musser’s story, The Witness Wore Red, recounts her time as Rulon Jeffs’ wife and the FLDS community’s oppression under him.
Jeffs married numerous women during his prophethood, including Zola Jeffs, whom he married early on. It is believed that Rulon Jeffs had 20 to 30 wives, although some stories imply a significantly greater number.
Dead and Buried
Rulon Jeffs, 92, died in St. George, Utah, on September 8, 2002. His son, Warren Jeffs, took over the FLDS church after his death. Rulon was buried in Colorado City, Arizona’s Isaac W. Carling Memorial Park, a sacred spot for FLDS and polygamists.
Rulon Jeffs died in 2002, yet his legacy is still debated. Some FLDS members still believe he was a prophet, while others departed owing to his repressive actions and those of his son. After Rulon’s death, Warren Jeffs became FLDS prophet, a more divided and dangerous figure than his father.
Conclusion: Rulon Jeffs Legacy
Rulon Jeffs’ life and leadership shaped American polygamy. His demise in 2002 ushered in a new, even more problematic era for the FLDS. Many former FLDS members have spoken out against his and his son’s atrocities. The world continues to evaluate Rulon Jeffs’ complicated and disturbing legacy after his death.