In a jailhouse visit with his brother Nephi, Jeffs reportedly stated that "Brother William E. Jessop has been the prophet" of the FLDS Church since the death of Rulon Jeffs.
[citation needed] Jessop is the son of Alma A. Timpson and one of his wives, Kathy.
However, his wife Kathy refused to follow him, and she and her children remained with the FLDS Church members.
Kathy became the wife of Fred Jessop, and William adopted his stepfather's surname.
[citation needed] Prior to his death, Rulon Jeffs had instructed his son Warren Jeffs to ordain William Jessop to be a counselor to Fred Jessop, who was a bishop in the FLDS Church in Hildale, Utah.