Fight for control of polygamous church begins

SALT LAKE CITY -- A rival church elder is fighting to keep jailed polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs in charge of his Utah-based church after another member seized the presidency this week.

In papers filed with the Utah Department of Commerce on Thursday, Boyd Knudson argues that William E. Jessop never had authority to assume the role as president of the corporation that is the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

"According to church rules, William Edson Jessop has never been upheld by the church congregation as president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Common consent is required by the church," Knudson wrote in an affidavit.

Knudson is the church's registered agent. Four other people considered Jeffs loyalists, including his brother Lyle Jeffs, also filed affidavits in support of Jeffs' presidency.

Jessop, 41, took over the church Monday after filing papers with the department. Knudson seeks to reinstate Jeffs as president, which sets up a potential legal battle. Jeffs, 55, remains jailed in Texas while awaiting trial on bigamy and sexual assault charges.

If Jeffs challenges Jessop, Commerce
Department spokeswoman Jennifer Bolton said Tuesday, the department's Corporations Division would place a hold on Jessop's papers and grant both sides 30 days to prove their right to the presidency. If it can't be resolved, the state will ask the courts to settle the matter. A loss for Jessop would mean the church's presidency reverts to Jeffs.