Rulon T. Jeffs

President Rulon T. Jeffs  HILDALE, UTAH – On September 8, 2002, Rulon Timpson Jeffs, President of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died of illness incident to age at the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah. President Jeffs was born December 6, 1909 in Salt Lake City, Utah, a son of David William Ward and Nettie Lenora Timpson Jeffs. He was a graduate of the LDS Business College and was an accountant by trade. He retired from his accounting practice in 1984, and moved to Hildale, Utah in September of 1998 in order to better serve the members of the faith of which he was leader. The members of the Fundamentalist Church revered President Jeffs as their spiritual leader and prophet. He first became affiliated with the Fundamentalist Church in the late 1930s, when the religious association was known as the Priesthood Work. He became a leader of the Priesthood Work in the 1940s, when he was appointed a member of its priesthood council. In 1942, he was instrumental in the formation of the United Effort Plan, which is the longest running United Order effort in modern history. President Jeffs served on the priesthood council continuously until November of 1986, when he assumed the leadership of the Church following the death of his predecessor, Leroy S. Johnson. President Jeffs shunned the publicity that often surrounded him. His followers knew him as a kind, thoughtful, and prayerful man. They will miss his humble wisdom and gentle guidance. President Jeffs is survived by a large and loving family, all of whom will miss his fatherly love and devotion. President Jeffs' funeral is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 12, 2002 at the L.S. Johnson Meetinghouse in Colorado City, Arizona. Friends may call Wednesday, September 11, 2002 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and again Thursday from 10:30 a.m. until time for services at the Meetinghouse. Interment will be at the Isaac Carling Memorial Park in Colorado City. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury & Beard Mortuary, St. George, UT, (435) 673-2454.