List of Mormon fundamentalist leaders

These leaders were the first three Presidents of the Church of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church):

• Joseph Smith (1830–44){{Cite web | title = Joseph Smith Jr., 1st President of the Church | work = History of the Church | publisher = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | date = 2004 | url = http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=1&topic=facts | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040804012211/http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=1&topic=facts | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2004-08-04 | access-date = 1 April 2010}}
• Brigham Young (1847–77){{Cite web | title = Brigham Young, 2nd President of the Church | work = History of the Church | publisher = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | date = 2004 | url = http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=2&topic=facts | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040804145118/http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=2&topic=facts | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2004-08-04 | access-date = 1 April 2010}}
• John Taylor (1877–87){{Cite web | title = John Taylor, 3rd President of the Church | work = History of the Church | publisher = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | date = 2004 | url = http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=3&topic=facts | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040808201452/http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=3&topic=facts | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2004-08-08 | access-date = 1 April 2010}}

Some Mormon fundamentalists also regard the next three LDS Church presidents as leaders:

• Wilford Woodruff (1887–1898){{Cite web | title = Wilford Woodruff, 4th President of the Church | work = History of the Church | publisher = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | date = 2004 | url = http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=4&topic=facts | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070218233959/http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=4&topic=facts | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2007-02-18 | access-date = 1 April 2010}}
• Lorenzo Snow (1898–1901){{Cite web | title = Lorenzo Snow, 5th President of the Church | work = History of the Church | publisher = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | date = 2004 | url = http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=5&topic=facts | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040814153715/http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=5&topic=facts | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2004-08-14 | access-date = 1 April 2010}}
• Joseph F. Smith (1901–1918){{Cite web | title = Joseph F. Smith, 6th President of the Church | work = History of the Church | publisher = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | date = 2004 | url = http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=6&topic=facts | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040814060620/http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=6&topic=facts | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2004-08-14 | access-date = 1 April 2010}}

When the LDS Church began excommunicating members who practiced polygamy after the Second Manifesto, Mormon fundamentalists began breaking away from the LDS Church. At first, there was one main Mormon fundamentalist group, the Council of Friends, also known as the "Woolley group" and the "Priesthood Council".{{cite web|last=Hales |first=Brian C. |title=The Council of Friends |url=http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/CouncilofFriends.htm |publisher=mormonfundamentalism.com |access-date=16 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226185120/http://mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/CouncilofFriends.htm |archive-date=26 December 2013 }} The Council of Friends was centered in Salt Lake City and the Short Creek Community, later called Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. The Council of Friends would ultimately split into four Mormon fundamentalist sects, the Latter Day Church of Christ{{cite web|last=Hales |first=Brian C. |title=Charles Elden Kingston |url=http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/CharlesEldenKingston.htm |publisher=mormonfundamentalism.com |access-date=16 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021185700/http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/CharlesEldenKingston.htm |archive-date=21 October 2013 }} (1935) located in Salt Lake City, Utah; the Apostolic United Brethren{{cite web|last=Hales|first=Brian C.|title=1952 Priesthood Council Split |url=http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/1952PriesthoodCouncilSplit.htm|publisher=mormonfundamentalism.com|access-date=16 January 2014}} (1954), located in Bluffdale, Utah; the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1954), located in Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah; and Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times,{{cite web|last=Hales|first=Brian C.|title=Dayer LeBaron|url=http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/DayerLeBaron.htm|publisher=mormonfundamentalism.com|access-date=16 January 2014}} located in Chihuahua, Mexico.

{{LDS sects/Mormon fundamentalist|state=expanded}}

{{see also | List of denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement#Mormon fundamentalist| l1 = List of denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement: Mormon fundamentalist sects | List of Latter Day Saint practitioners of plural marriage#Mormon fundamentalists sects | l2 = Latter Day Saint practitioners of plural marriage: Mormon Fundamentalist}}

{{see also|List of Mormon fundamentalist leaders}}

The following are the leaders of the Council of Friends prior to its split:{{Cite web|last=Hales |first=Brian C |title=Questions regarding the described 1886 ordinations |publisher=MormonFundamentalism.com |year=2009 |url=http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/NEWFILES/1886OrdinationQuestions.htm |access-date=1 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211235031/http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/NEWFILES/1886OrdinationQuestions.htm |archive-date=11 February 2010 }}{{Cite web | title = Official website of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | publisher = The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | date = 2008 | url = http://www.fldstruth.org/index.php | access-date = 1 April 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100330223759/http://www.fldstruth.org/administration.php?index=8 | archive-date = 30 March 2010 | url-status = dead }}{{Cite web | last = Hales | first = Brian C | title = Fundamentalist leadership succession chart | publisher = MormonFundamentalism.com | year = 2009 | url = http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/18-02-COF%202006%20color%20on%20tan%20w%20gray.gif | access-date = 1 April 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110226170842/http://mormonfundamentalism.com/18-02-COF%202006%20color%20on%20tan%20w%20gray.gif | archive-date = 26 February 2011 }}

• John W. Woolley (1918–28)
• Lorin C. Woolley (1928–34)
• J. Leslie Broadbent (1934–35)
• John Y. Barlow (1935–49)
• Joseph W. Musser (1949–54)
• Charles Zitting (1954)

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

• Charles W. Kingston (supported leaders from 1935 until his death in 1975)
• Elden Kingston (1935–47)
• John Ortell Kingston (1947–87)
• Paul Elden Kingston (1987–)

Joseph W. Musser ordained Rulon C. Allred into the Council of Friends. The Council refused to admit Allred; this resulted in a split, whereby followers of Allred became known as the Apostolic United Brethren. Musser ordained a new council, known as the 1952 New Priesthood Council.{{Cite web|last=Hales |first=Brian C |title=Rulon C. Allred |publisher=MormonFundamentalism.com |year=2009 |url=http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/RulonCAllred.htm |access-date=1 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112155800/http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/RulonCAllred.htm |archive-date=12 January 2011 }} The line of succession of the AUB is as follows:

• Joseph W. Musser (1949–1954)
• Rulon C. Allred (1954–77)
• Owen A. Allred (1977–2005)
• J. LaMoine Jensen (2005–14)
• Lynn A. Thompson (2014–2021)
• TBD (2021–)

After the Short Creek community split 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:

• LeRoy S. Johnson (1954–86)
• Rulon Jeffs (1986–2002)
• Warren Jeffs (de facto leader) (2002–07)
• Merril Jessop (de facto leader) (2007 – February 2011){{Citation|last= McKinley|first= Carol|title= Inside a troubled fundamentalist Mormon sect|url=http://www.salon.com/news/religion/?story=/mwt/feature/2011/03/05/inside_flds_trouble_brewing |access-date=March 11, 2011|date= March 5, 2011|publisher= Salon Media Group, Inc.|quote= 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 70-year-old FLDS bishop.}}^[discuss]
• William E. Jessop (appointed successor) (2007–)
• Wendell L. Nielsen (legal president) (2010 – January 28, 2011){{cite news|publisher = USA Today|url = https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-24-jeffs-church_N.htm|first = Dennis|last = Wagner|title = Jailed sect leader retakes legal control of church|date = February 24, 2011|quote= Utah records show Nielson formally quit that post Jan. 28.}}

The Church of Jesus Christ (Original Doctrine) Inc.,{{cite news|title=LDS Church wins, Canadian polygamist loses in fight for 'Mormon' name|url=http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/2058895-155/lds-church-wins-canadian-polygamist-loses|access-date=19 January 2015|publisher=Salt Lake Tribune|date=14 January 2015|quote=Finally giving up the fight, Blackmore has agreed to change his group's corporate name to "the Church of Jesus Christ (Original Doctrine) Inc.}} was formed in September 2002 when FLDS Church president Warren Jeffs excommunicated Winston Blackmore; for two decades, Blackmore 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 evenly—about 700 people continue to follow Blackmore, while about 500 follow Jeffs.Utah Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General's Office. [http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/cmsdocuments/The_Primer.pdf The Primer, Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Polygamous Communities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127133628/http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/cmsdocuments/The_Primer.pdf |date=2013-01-27 }}:Fundamentalist Mormon Communities. Updated June 2006. Pages 11-22.

• Winston Blackmore (2002–present)

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. "Second Ward" distinguishes it from the FLDS Church, which is known as the "First Ward".{{Cite web | last = Hales | first = Brian C | title = Centennial Park and the 'Second Ward' | publisher = MormonFundamentalism.com | year = 2009 | url = http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/CentennialPark.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117020348/http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/CentennialPark.htm |archive-date= 17 November 2015 | access-date = 7 January 2017}}Utah Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General's Office. [http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/cmsdocuments/The_Primer.pdf The Primer, Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Polygamous Communities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127133628/http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/cmsdocuments/The_Primer.pdf |date=2013-01-27 }}. Updated June 2006. Page 14.

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

This group (also known as the Nielsen/Naylor group){{Citation |others=Utah Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General's Office |title=The Primer, Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Polygamous Communities: Fundamentalist Mormon Communities |url=http://infosect.freeshell.org/infocult/ThePrimeronPolygamy.pdf |access-date=June 29, 2010 |date=June 2006 }} primarily resides in the Salt Lake Valley. It broke with the Centennial Park group after Marion Hammon died in 1988.Utah Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General's Office. [http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/cmsdocuments/The_Primer.pdf The Primer, Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in Polygamous Communities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127133628/http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/cmsdocuments/The_Primer.pdf |date=2013-01-27 }}. Updated June 2006. Page 21.{{Cite web | last = Hales | first = Brian C | title = The Naylor Group (Salt Lake County) | publisher = MormonFundamentalism.com | year = 2009 | url = http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/NaylorGroup.htm | access-date = 1 April 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091008230739/http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/NaylorGroup.htm | archive-date = 8 October 2009 }} 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 known as the "Third Ward" with Naylor presiding; they likewise primarily reside in the Salt Lake Valley. They have formed a close association with Winston Blackmore's community of Bountiful, British Columbia.

• Frank Naylor (1997–present)

After the murder of Rulon C. Allred in 1977, Gerald Peterson, Sr proclaimed that Allred had bequeathed 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. (1978–81)
• Gerald Peterson, Jr. (1981–)

The Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times has its headquarters in northern Mexico. It was founded in 1955 by Joel LeBaron and members of his family. LeBaron claimed his priestly line of authority from his father Alma (who was ordained by Alma's grandfather Benjamin F. Johnson, who received the priesthood from Joseph Smith). The church exists in Chihuahua Mexico, Los Molinos, Baja California, San Diego, California and in Central America; there is also a large group in Salt Lake City, UT.

• Joel LeBaron (1955–72)
• Verlan LeBaron (1972–81)
• Current leadership unknown (1981–)

The Church of Jesus Christ in Solemn Assembly and its political arm, the Confederate Nations of Israel, are headquartered in Big Water, Utah.{{Citation | last = Stokes | first = Jerry | year = 2007 | title = Changing World Religions, Cults & Occult | page = 159 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DTPJpanTizwC&q=%22Church+of+Jesus+Christ+in+Solemn+Assembly%22&pg=PA159 | access-date = October 7, 2013}}{{Citation | last = Melton | first = J. Gordon | year = 1992 | title = Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America | isbn = 9780815311409 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=KRTGzgpDvL4C&q=%22Church+of+Jesus+Christ+in+Solemn+Assembly%22&pg=PA52 | access-date = October 7, 2013}}{{Citation | last = Webb | first = Loren | date = December 22, 2012 | title = Southern Utah Memories: Alex Joseph Story | publisher = KCSG Television | location = Big Water, Utah | url = http://www.kcsg.com/view/full_story/20905999/article-Southern-Utah-Memories--Alex-Joseph-Story-?instance=home_stories2_tip | access-date = October 7, 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131021165725/http://www.kcsg.com/view/full_story/20905999/article-Southern-Utah-Memories--Alex-Joseph-Story-?instance=home_stories2_tip | archive-date = October 21, 2013 }} It was founded in 1977 by Alex Joseph and initially grew rapidly. However, after the death of Joseph the status of this sect is unknown.

• Alex Joseph (1977–98)
• Current leadership unknown (1998–)

{{see also|Under the Banner of Heaven}}

{{distinguish|School of the Prophets}}

The School of the Prophets has its headquarters in the Salem, Utah area. In 1968 Robert C. Crossfield published the Book of Onias, which contained revelations he claimed to have received since 1961. These revelations chastised LDS Church leaders for their abandonment of the celestial laws. Crossfield was excommunicated in 1972.{{Citation| last=Hales| first=Brian C.| title=Robert C. Crossfield| url=http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/RobertCCrossfield.htm| access-date=August 26, 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827164335/http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/RobertCCrossfield.htm| archive-date=August 27, 2011}} The continuing revelations were later published as the Second Book of Commandments.{{cite book|last1=Hales|first1=Brian C.|title=Modern Polygamy and Mormon Fundamentalism : The Generations after the Manifesto|date=2006|publisher=Greg Kofford Books|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|isbn=1589580354|edition=JWHA pre-release.}} In 1982 Crossfield formally established the School of the Prophets, overseen by a president and six counselors and headquartered in Salem, Utah.

Ron and Dan Lafferty served in March 1984 as counselors in a local school of the prophets for the Provo, Utah, area.{{Citation|last=Van Wagoner|first=Richard S.|title=Mormon Polygamy: A History|author-link=Richard S. Van Wagoner|year=1989|edition=2d|orig-year=1986|publisher=Signature Books|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|isbn= 978-0-941214-79-7}} Four months after being removed from the school for refusing to renounce their revelation calling for the killing of certain individuals,{{cite web|last=Crossfield|first=Robert|title=The Controversy Between Ron and Dan Lafferty and the School of the Prophets|url=http://www.2bc.info/pdf/Laffertys.pdf|publisher=United Order Publications|access-date=11 September 2011}} the Laffertys murdered their brother Allen's wife and infant daughter.

• Robert C. Crossfield, founder and president (1968–2018){{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.2bc.info/onias/FAQ.html |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=www.2bc.info}}

The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (TLC) has its headquarters 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, declining in numbers and converts since it ceased missionary efforts in 2000.

• James D. Harmston (1994–2013){{cite news|last=McFall|first=Michael|title=Utah polygamous church leader dies of a heart attack|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56525075-78/church-harmston-tlc-christ.html.csp|access-date=28 June 2013|newspaper=Salt Lake Tribune|date=27 June 2013}}
• Current leadership unknown (2013–)

The Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven was originally organized in Magna, Utah by former members of the LDS Church.{{citation |first= John |last= Hollenhorst |date= July 2, 2009 |title= Church of 'Holy Ghost' rocked by sex and assassination allegations |url= http://www.ksl.com/?sid=7024344&nid=148 |publisher= KSL-TV |access-date= 2013-02-15 }} It practices polygamy and the law of consecration. Its leader, Terrill R. Dalton, purports to be the Holy Ghost and the father of Jesus.{{Citation |title= 'Holy Ghost' cult stirs Idaho debate after move from Utah |date= September 15, 2009 |publisher= KSL-TV |location= Salt Lake City |first= John |last= Hollenhorst |url= http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=7932728 |access-date= 2013-02-15 }} However, the group may have declined in numbers after its relocation from Idaho to Montana{{citation |last= Hollenhorst |first= John |url= http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=12057437 |title= Rape Charges Filed Five Years Later Against Man Claiming to be 'Holy Ghost' |date= 18 August 2010 |publisher= KSL-TV |access-date= 2013-02-15 }} and Dalton's and assistant Geody Harman's arrest for (and conviction of) two counts of rape.{{citation |url= http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53908499-78/dalton-harman-church-sex.html.csp |title= Religious sect leader pleads guilty in 'Holy Ghost' rape case |first= Stephen |last= Hunt |date= April 14, 2012 |newspaper= The Salt Lake Tribune |access-date= 2013-02-15 }}{{cite news |title= Sect leader waives extradition on rape charge |url= http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=12126417 |agency= (AP) |date= August 24, 2010 |publisher= KSL-TV |access-date= 2013-02-15 }}{{citation |last= Morgan |first= Emiley |date= March 22, 2012 |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865552691/Jurors-deliberating-fate-of-Holy-Ghost-charged-with-raping-daughter.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120324072654/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865552691/Jurors-deliberating-fate-of-Holy-Ghost-charged-with-raping-daughter.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= March 24, 2012 |title= Sect leader 'Holy Ghost' convicted of raping daughter |newspaper= Deseret News }}

• Terrill R. Dalton (c. 2001–present)

• Factional breakdown: Mormon fundamentalist sects

{{Reflist|2}}

{{LDS sects/Mormon fundamentalist}}

*List

Category:Latter Day Saint movement lists

Fundamentalist leaders