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"If he wants to build credibility again, I think [an apology] is part of the process," Andrew Chatwin said.
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William E. Jessop
Age » 43
Family » Legal wife is Joanna Jessop, 53, with whom he has 11 children.
Residence » Lives in Hildale, but his family owns a ranch in Sandy Valley, Nev.
Employment » Jessop has worked in construction, painting and farming, though much of his life has been spent working in various FLDS positions.
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Banishment ends » Jessop said he sometimes questioned what he was doing, but he believed God spoke through Jeffs and continued Jeffs’ bidding. Then, on Jan. 24, 2007, Jeffs called Jessop from the Washington County Jail.
Jeffs was awaiting trial on charges of rape as an accomplice. Jessop was living at an FLDS home in Westcliffe, Colo. According to a transcript of the call that was later made public, Jeffs called himself "one of the most wicked men on the face of the Earth." He said Jessop was the "key holder" and referenced Doctrine and Covenants Section 43, which says only the prophet can make revelations for the church.
Jeffs, it seemed, had abdicated his role as prophet and FLDS leader to Jessop.
A meeting of high-ranking FLDS men was quickly held in Amarillo, Texas. The men talked about what Jeffs had done and what to do next, but no decisions were made.
"We were just kind of sitting there in limbo for about two months," Jessop recalled.
Then one of Jeffs’ brothers, Nephi Jeffs, called Jessop.
"He’s back," Nephi Jeffs said of his brother.
Just as quickly as he gave it away, Jeffs reassumed FLDS control. Then, on Oct. 25, 2007, another phone call came.
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It was Merril Jessop, another high-ranking FLDS member. Merril purported to be reading a revelation from Jeffs. It said William Jessop no longer held the priesthood and should go to Wisconsin and repent. The revelation didn’t specify what Jessop had done. He assumes he was banished to Wisconsin because it was far from any FLDS.
Jessop went to the Mississippi River town of La Crosse, Wis., and worked painting houses and milking cows. He said four of his "ladies" (polygamist parlance for spiritual wives) were living with him. He spent 13 months there before receiving another phone call from Merril.
Jessop could return to Hildale. No explanation was given. But Merril said Jessop should start trying to reunite families.
Jessop found a list of men who had been kicked out and began calling them and telling them to return.
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‘Come clean before him’ » Jessop continued working for and living with the FLDS, but his faith in Jeffs began to waver. Jeffs kept sending his followers long, written ramblings warning of evil. Jeffs’ brother Lyle was supposed to be caring for women whose husbands had been booted. But bills were going unpaid and some women and their children reported their utilities had been shut off. The bishop’s storehouse, where FLDS members were supposed to find food and supplies, had bare shelves.
Then, in early 2011, Willie Jessop told Jessop about the evidence against Jeffs, including how Jeffs sexually assaulted a 12-year-old. Jessop decided the Jeffs reign didn’t make sense.
"The voice that I was hearing was not the voice of God," Jessop explained.
Jessop filed papers with the state of Utah in March 2011, asserting that he was the president of the FLDS corporation. Jeffs countered with his own filing, contending he retained the support of about 4,000 followers. Jessop abandoned his pursuit of the FLDS presidency. To this day, Jeffs is named as FLDS president on corporate documents filed with the state.
In a letter addressed to Lyle Jeffs and "all FLDS," dated Aug. 10, 2011, as Jeffs was on trial in Texas, Jessop encouraged everyone to turn away from the FLDS leadership. He accused the Jeffses of covering up their own immorality and of leading men into criminal behavior that sent them to prison and prompted the raid on the YFZ Ranch.
"This is our opportunity to come clean," Jessop wrote, "for the Lord said He will not be mocked, or you are going down with the wicked and be damned. I love you and ask the Lord to help us to come clean before him and be counted among His people that are the honest and pure in heart."
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