Alex Joseph (June 24, 1936 – September 27, 1998) (born Alec Richard Joseph; also referred to as Ronald Ellison)[1] was an American outspoken polygamist and founder of the Confederate Nations of Israel, a Mormon fundamentalist sect.
In 1969, he abandoned the LDS Church and briefly joined a group of Mormon fundamentalists under the leadership of Rulon C. Allred in Pinesdale, Montana.
[5] Joseph's style of polygamy was formed out of his own reading of the Bible,[3] and contrasted with that practiced by some other Mormon fundamentalists in some notable ways.
First, his wives entered the marriages of their own accord, with initiative, and free will, rather than being designated by paternal authority.
Third, he was open about his polygamist lifestyle rather than being secretive and welcomed media coverage, believing that it is his constitutional right and because "he wants public opinion on his side".
[10] At different times in his life, Joseph was employed as a U.S. Marine, a police officer, a firefighter, a mail carrier, a car salesman, an accountant, an author of books, a health food producer,[9] a private investigator, and a manager for country and western music performers.