Merril Jessop

Merril Jessop
Head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (de facto)
December 4, 2007 (2007-12-04)  February 2011 (2011-02)
PredecessorWarren Steed Jeffs
SuccessorWarren Steed Jeffs
Personal details
BornFrederick Merril Jessop
(1935-12-27)December 27, 1935
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
DiedFebruary 28, 2022(2022-02-28) (aged 86)
Cedar City, Utah, United States
Spouse(s)Foneta Marie Stokes Cook
Ruth Pugh Steed
Barbara Steed
Carolyn Bistline Blackmore (former)
Tammy Lauritzen Barlow
Ireta Cathleen Hammon Barlow
Lorraine Steed
and several others
Children54 total
10 children by Foneta Cook
16 children by Ruth Steed
14 children by Barbara Steed
8 children by Carolyn Blackmore
1 child by Tammy Barlow
5 children by Cathleen Barlow
ParentsRichard Seth Jessop and Ida Johnson

Merril Jessop (December 27, 1935 – February 28, 2022) was a high-ranking bishop in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly referred to as the FLDS Church. He was briefly the de facto leader of the FLDS. Jessop was also in charge of the YFZ Ranch during the 2008 raid.